The southern press., 1851-10-18
Ex.Csssfnsr Jshnssn,s speech at spartan.
burg, 3. Carolina.

burg, q. Carolina.
Fsllo,o- Citizens Having been unexpectedly
called to preside over this vast assembly, Is, Of
course, expected that ] should attempt to ex-
plain the object OF our meeting here, and al
though it has deraDged, in some degree, the
course which had prescribed for myself, 1t Is,
perhaps, as well that should say now what
had proposed, if left to follow ont my own
plans.
On one OCCASION, not long past, which sup
pose, will be remembered by some, ayowed
nv intention of retiring forever from the tur
moils of public life, content TO spend the re-
mainder of my time here in the quietude OF my
own freside, and in the interchange OF kindly
Offices with my friends and neighbors; my age,
nv infirmlies, and inclnations, all conspire to
render this desirable; but had not then forseen
that, in so short a time, We should be involved
i'm controversy with our sister States, and in
deed, amongst Ourselves, presenting questions
of as great delicacy and magnitude as ever a
people were called ON to decide. And, howev-
er, consciously incapable of riding and directing
the storm, should feel myself unworthy the
claims of citizen, and degraded as man, if |
should shrink from sharing with you the respon-
sibilities that are involved in the issue. Ii l
had but day to live, tina. is due to Sonth Car
olina.
No one has ever yet questioned that in the
frame and substance OF the federal Constitution,
its authors had in view the perfect equality
amongst the States and individual citizens-
equality of burthens and responsibilities
equality Of rights, privileges, and immunities,
and until within the last four years, we, Eyes,
we ourselves,) supposed it the work OF holy In
spration, and regarded it rs the palladium Of
our liberties Now, it is denounced as scourge
and a curse How is this? Holy writ itself is
not secure against the assaults OF wicked and
perverse men. Some deny its authenticity,
others pervert lis meaning so as to make it sub
seryient to the vilest purposes. ;, it has
Jared with the Constitution; some hold that
there is q law paramount to it, and under color
Of it would fire our dwellings and butcher our
wives and children-others, admitting its au-
thority, use it as pretext for plundering US OF
our wealth. In this spirit the Congress- OF the
United States, governed of necessity by ma
jorty, has levied contributions on us in the form
of impost duties, to construct public works at
immense expense, professedly national, but, 10
truth, merely local, and in which the Southern
Atlantic States have no participation, and 10
build up and protect the manufactures Of the
non-slaveholding States.
The right of property in our slaves, which is
rendered Indispensable to us by our climate, our
prod and our usages are guaranteed by
the express provisions Of the Constitution, and
these have been undermined. In the spirit Of
fanatcism and diseased humanity, they have
been purloined from us, and are encouraged to
escape from us The thief and the fugitive
find protection in the local laws of some of the
States, and in others more potent security in
a wild fanatica pnblic opinion. This might be
borne, il we were free TO right ourselves. We
are restrained by the Constitution by which
we ought to be bound unless we can shake of
its trammels But this is not all The gov.
eminent itself has laid train that will blow up
the very foundations Of the institution of slave.
nv, unless we can cut it of. II is already laid
around the whole extent of the Eastern, North
ern, and Northwestern boundaries and have
manifested, by various overt acts, the will to
extend to the Gulf Of Mexico. Slavery is ex-
cluded from California ostensiby by the act OF
| California herself but does any rational man be-
| lieve that it was not done upon the suggestion
and procurement of the government, to shield
| itself against the odium and responsibility OF
nterdicting IT, New Mexico is destined to the
same course. Indeed, the ablest, and believe
the wisest and the most considerable politicians
of the non.saveholding States insist on the
necessity of combining slavery to its present
territorial limits, where il can no more exist
than an oyster on dry land, and they know IL
! They do not even Disguise the purpose Of final
" extirpating IT, But We madden ourselves
when we speak OF the wrongs We have suffered
at the hands Of the government, and those that
we know are in store for us, and may bndly
adopt measures that may not only be unwi e II
themselves, but subversive Of the ends we all
/ have IN view.
II is not expected, that we can obtain repara.
/ AZ. r. :.... al H., IA. L.,
we all agree that we owe il to ourselves and "a
posterity, to endeavor by all possible means, 10
protect ourselves against the wrongs which are
| in store for u.s. Unhappily we differ amongst
ourselves, as TO what these should be,
| Judging from what can collect Of the off
cial and authoritative acts of this State, she ID
| pledged 10 cooperate with all or even portion
of the other slaveholding States, TO oppose and
resist to the last extremity, and continuance OF
| the wrongs and oppression Of the federal gov.
eminent; and with that view the legislature al
its last session provided for the election Of dele
gates 10 a Southern Congress. In which 1t wa.
supposed all the non-slaveholding States would
unite Up 10 that time we all worked harmo
/ niously in the same harness But unmistakable
indications Of the disinclination OF the other
! States to unite with MS. gave rise 10 n party
which have gone Oft at tangent, and insist that
~e must follow at the peril Of prescription, and
maintains that South Carolina owes il TO herself
and i. able, solitary and alone" TO protect her.
self against the dangers with which she is threat
ened by the federal government, and pay thi-
party no compliment in saying that they are for.
midable IN numbers. sincerely pliriotic in their
views and highly respected r.. their intelligence
and wisdom. Another party deserving as he
eve. the same consideration and respect, and as
suppose equslly. If not more numerous, hold
on 10 the old platform, and Insist that any AZ.
tempt Of South Carolina 10 resist the action Of
the federal government and the Vaccinations Of
the Abolitionists of the Don-slaveholding States
without the aid NJ the oths, slaye States, or nj
least formidable portion Of them viii be fruit.
less and retard rather than forward he ends we
all have in view.
There are a few. and believe very few,
amongst us who suppose that in the end, our
best interests would be consulted by bearing as
well as we may, the wrongs done to us by the
federal government, and 10 submit TO those that
IRE in store for us. They reason thai all the