North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-05-17


ever that right can be denied wi,honturousing the
whole South 10 sustain it, the South will be ripe
for the most miserable fate which has ever befaen
any people. twill then, as permanent sectional
minority. have no defence against the tvranny OF
a Government combining all the vices of the cor
ruptest democracy and the most oppressive foreign
despoIsm.
We know the consequences which will follow
failure in effort TO maintain our liberty. we
see clearly that triumphant exertion of the power
of the Federal Government in subjugating Stale
will vastly increase that power, and greatly acceie
rate the change already far advanced, OF our fede
rative system into consolidated central despotism
We see, ALSO that South Carolina Will not suffer
the consequences of this change alone, out tnat the
rest of the southern States must suner IN an fquh
degree They will have no safeguard against The
Contra Government. Strengthened by crushing OPP
position. and rendered by triumphant force what
our northern enemies have long been endeavorng
to make it BY fraudulent usurpation-lhe supreme
| Government of al consolidated nation. The SOW
errgnly of one southern State cannot be destroyed
without the loss OF their sovereignty by all the
others, We are aware of the responsibility of do
ing act which may hasten these consequences
We feel The respect which we owe to States having
a common interest, Threatened by common dan
ger, but not equally pursuaded with ourselves of
the necessity of action. And nRhin9 would in
which is to invoIe them in its consequences but
thorough conviction of the necessity which urges
u.s. and of our right TO do so.
Addressing citizens of southern States, assoc-
ated TO maintain the rights of the South, we can
not imagine it TO b" necessary to argue about the
right of secession We hold it TO be the great
State right without which all others are nugatory
and incapable of being enforced and your po.
sion assures US that your faith cannot be differed
from
Nor can we regard it as necessary anv farther
to discuss the wrongs which have been inflicted on
The southern States. They may be denied by those
who shut their eyes to them, but you do not b"
long TO that class. Southern and State Rights
men may differ as 10 the necessity of exercising
the right of secession at particular time, on
count of those wrongs. But, as certainly as the
right exists, each State must possess the right of
judging for herself to the occasion and time for
its exercise. If South Carolina decides that hon
or and safety require her to secede she has the
right to leave the Confrderacy peaceably and with
molestation II the act of secession is not PER
United to be peaceabe, it will be from usurparon
of power by the Federal Government moi from
the nature of the act performed by South Carolina.
Accustomed as we have been TO violations Of the
Constitution and of the rights of the southern
States by the Federal Government, we have TO
look forward the probability of anhther outra ge
by that Government, in the attempt TO force the
State 10 remain in the Union. We suppose the at.
tempt will be made, if the other southern States
permit it. Those States must decide for them
selves whether they will permit it. South Caro-
lima decide for herself whether 1t is necrssa
ry TO secede. Her sister States of the South will
have no right TO complain that she forces them into
position where they must either interpose TO pre-
vent her subjugation or, by conserving 10 it, aban
don their own sovereignty, and lay themselves at
the mercy ola despoic power. In seeding South
Carolina will simply do an act which all southern
men who believe in the existence of State rights
al al must admit that she has perfect light to do
and which she regards as absolutely necessary.
She Will be actlngas she would have to act if none
OF the other southern States were in existence and
she were the only object of aggression by the
northern States and the Federal Government She
is not answerable for the usurpations and injustice
which may be committed against her. And for
her sister States of the South ask of her to re-
frain from an exercise of right which she regards
as indispensable for sci preservation would BE- an
interference with her lee action of far different
character from any with which she can be charg-
ed towards them. Sovereiens are equals In
seeding alone, Sonth Carolina would be piacing
her sister States Of the South under no conslraini
If they should find lhemst Ives in a position of
constraint, it would come from the action of the
4
If they should insist upon her retaining from the
exercise of herright, and submitting 10 a coGdi
ton which she regards as iniolerable. they wonld
make themselves parties with the Federal Govern
ment in placing an unjuslifable constraint upon
sovereign and an equal.
We wish that the necessity for separate action
by South Carolina which we have contemplated
may be avered. We con6de in the gallant spirits
whom we address. There may be some hope of
the assembling of a Southern Congress to divise
measures of redress and relief upon which Some
of the injured States may unite. We have here
tofore been willing to sacrifice much for southern
union. We stillare. We do not desire to lead,
but to follow. Propose any effcctual measure for
vindicatng our common rights and providing for
our common SAFETY, and we will heartily unite
with you in carrying them out. We should re-
gret most deeply to incur the censure of friends.
with whom we have the strongest desire to act in
concert. But we feel deep conviction that we
have not acted heretofore with any precipitation,
and tina! in the right in the determination
which have formed The ESTABLISHMENT of
submission appears to US unworthy of men still
pretending to be free. The gloomy prospect Of
inevitable ruin, to follow submission. appears 10
us more formidable than any danger to be encoun-
tered in contcndng alone, against whatever odds,
for rights We have come to the deliberate
conclusion that if it be our fate be left alone in
the struggle, alone we must vindicate our liberty
by secession.
THE USE OF THE PASSIONS. The passions
are in morals what motion is in physics they Gre
ate, preserve. and animate; and without them all
would be silence and death. Avarice guides men
across the deserts of the ocean; pride covers the