The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-26


We are told that Governor SEABRooK al
luded to the ''pcrilous condition Of the south
ern States" II is strange that South Caro-
lima alone, of fifteen States, should be alive to
that peril. 1t is strange that her sister States
should be tranquil and contented, willing to
acquiesce in the past and be hopeful for the flu
ture, and that South Carolina should alone be
aware of the extreme peril to which they are
all reduced. But we are not left at a loss for
the cause Of this extreme peril. 1t arises from
the fact that ''the present object of the central
power, instigated and supported by the fanati-
cism of the North, was to separate the cotton
from the non-Producing cotton States, and TO
create schism in the ranks Of the former"
And the evidence of this object is derived from
the recent "humiliating and offensive decision
Of Virginia, and the Submission resolutions Of
Georgia, with Speaker CoBB's late speech"
The most remarkable fact suggested by Gov
ernor SEABRooK is the existence of Irregular
conspiracy" against South Carolina "to pre-
vent the execution of her settled design,
should all other means of redress fail" All
the other States, it would seem, are engaged in
Irregular conspiracy" to prevent South Caro-
lima from going out of the Union. The same
sort of conspiracy existed among the States, no
doubt, to prevent Massachusetts from going
out of the Union, at the time when seditious
secession from the pulpit and recommending it
through the press. 1t is conspiracy Of all
good and patriotic men to prevent the occur
renee Of an event which they believe would be
fraught with innumerable evils to South Caro-
lima and all the States. 1t is conspiracy on the
part of the Federal Executive to execute the laws
and support the Constitution. 1t is a conspira-
cy on the part of the States to prevent rebellion
and revolution. Why does not Governor SEA-
BROOK look at the reverse of his picture2 He
may find that il there is any conspiracy on foot,
it is conspiracy among the discontinued and
inflamed population Of single State to defy
the laws and overthrow the Constitution which
they are sworn to support.
Governor SEABRooX goes on to demonstrate
that, if ''no other act Of aggression on the part
of the North or by Congress be committed,
9 the operation of the Compromise measures,
coyertly assisted by the devices of hostile
8 Administration, would insure the destruction
of the South, and that her only remedy was
secession. In the application Of that remedy,
he earnestly advised the exercise of great
z caution and prudence, and the absolute neces-
9 sty Of avoiding precipitation. If possible, the
8 end Of every movement by the State should
9 be seen from the beginning"
This, then, being assumed as the basis of his
argument, that "secession is the only RENE
dy," the Governor proceeds to lay down the
following programme Of State operations. We
suppose that more tranquil and deliberate
proposition for a seditious and reasonable en-
terprise was never submitted TO any people:
"The convention, as its first step, should dill
gently seek the cooperation of her sister States,
and after exposition of her wrongs addressed
9 to the people of the Union, should demand of
{ the Congress of the United States, through
deputation especially appointed for that pur-
pose, indemnity for the past and security for
: the future After the lapse of reasonable time,
: if no favorable change in the condition Of our
relations with our adversares take place, and
South Carolina be forced to choose between sub
mission and resistance by her unaided arm, then
: let our honored Commonwealth unfurl her banner
stitutions. II the time be designated, say six
months subsequent to the abandonment of all hope
of redress, when she shall bid adieu to her associ
ates. it ia reasonable to suppose that the great
question of the day in all its aspects and relations
will be thoroughly discussed in Congress, in the
State Legislatures-many of which will be assern-
bled for the special purpose-and by the people in
various sections of the country, at their primary
meetings. These discussions will tend greatly to
enlighten the public mind, and might result in
8 consequences of deeply important character
The amount Of this is, that South Carolina
is to make demand for the repeal of such of the
Compromise measures as are not to her liking
and if Congress does not give her indemnity
for the passage of these measures, and security
that Congress will never do any thing to dis
please her for the future, then she is, within a
reasonable time, to "mfurl her banner" 1t
would be pleasant to see this special deputation
coming to Congress with these very modest re-
misunderstanding Mr.. RHErr at its head, and
the Southern Press to explain its functions and
expound its doctrines!
The possible blockade of Charleston in the
event of South Carolina ''unfurling her ban
ner" next occupied the attention of the Cover
nor. He said this could not be, because civil
war, and, consequently, dissolution of the
Union, would ''follow." This could not be, the
Governor assured his hearers, because it would
violate Federal treaties with foreign powers;
violate the warehousing law, or the substitution
Of cash duties for the credit system; violate
certain constitutional provisions of personal i'm
munity and commercial uniformity; and be-
cause by the usurpation of an ungranted pow
er 1t would annul the sovereignty of the States
eff the law" he added, Concerning the
warehousng system be repealed in order to
operate with apparent safety against South
Carolina, or, more properly speaking, to wage
war against her, then that war will have to
be waged by the southern well as the
northern States, each section contributing its
contingent Of men and money That state of