The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-14

The people Of this cQuiisyy ahc 1rc u dc ths
fighting, cannot uDIeerfi themselves II they
| would The sword win fall pawerIess. the mus
ket will never be IevelIed, hen told that II u
against people who only ask the right Of self
government. five acquiesce IN the denial OF
this right, ii the doctrines of Webster are to be
silently engrafted on the Constitution, then sir,
ours is not confederacy Of independent sover-
eighties, but vast consolidated Empire--ahuge
deforHity, and we shall soon find ourselves the
miserable victims of rapacious. heartless soul
less despotsm, compared with which the rule of
the Autocrat of Russia will be mildness aud /,
mercy indeed.
am aware, Mr. President, that at all times and
under the most favorable circumstances, it is ex-
tremely difficult 10 effect fundamental change
of government Independent Of various causes
that operate more or less powerfully against
all change and experiment, there are to be found
in all communities, two classes, the one from
instinct and the other by position, who alwpys
side with the existing government, and resist its
overthrow. These are capitalists and office
holders, and they WELD powerful influence in
every country. II is easy for these men TO cry
revolution, and paint in it's train, to Brighten thu
iimid and ignorant, terrible scenes of suffering,
cruelty and bloodshed.
How far these influences have already been
excrted in sowing the seeds Of dissension in our
ranks, or to what extent they may hereafter be
exerted in swerying the State from her true
course, will not undertake to say, but Ills
clear to my mind that these men for once delude
themselves. Now, deny the right Of the fed
era government to employ force against
State. But, suppose | am wrong, and that
these capitalists are right, and secession brings
4 revolution. What, let me ask, will they gain
by averting 1t now In escaping the terrors
and blood of civilized revolution, they ara
! only reserving themselves for the more refined
cruelties and the more terrible horrors OF that
servile revolution. which abolition is sure to
bring, aud which will sweep over the land like
desolating scourge, consuming them and their
substance. Viewed, then, in its worst possible
aspect, it seems to me, we have no alternative
left us. Submission is present degradation, to
be followed by future ruin. Let US, then, man
/ fully grapple with our own troubles, and not
basely shuttle them off on posterity
4 have thus, sir, in short compass as posi-
BILE, submitted my view on the great issue be-
fore us. know they will be received for what
they are worth, and no more. They have, how
ever, been honestly conceived, and as frankly
. avowed shall vote for the resolutions and
the address, because, they meet fairly the ques-
ton before US; because, in a word, they look
} directly to a dissolution Of this Union," con-
} summation in my opinion, most devoutly to
be wished" In fact sir, regard this Union at
} this moment as virtually dissolved. 1t may
! drag out few years of stormy convulsive exis-
I tence but its vitality ~ gone. The cement that
J held it together melted away. The cords that
banded it about have been burst asunder 1t
has lost its hold on the affections, on the hearts
of our people, and | trust has lost it forever.
Be the ISSUE them one Of peace or of force, i
have made upmy mind to meet it. have como
to my conclusions cody and deliberately, and
sir, sleep on them soundy. | would strike
the first blow with the certainty of being
whipped into submission, rather than shrink
from a position to which we are impelled alike
BY the dictates of duty, Of honor, and of patriot
ism. In the language of our dead McDnfie, I
would rather see South Carolina the cemetery
of freemen than the abode of slaves.