The southern press., 1851-05-03
mr.. Rhett's Speech.

We insert the recent speech of Mr.. Rhett to
the Southern Rights Association of Charleston,
South Carolina. 1t has thrown the Republic
here, into paroxysm of vituperation. The
speech arrived night before last, and that paper
broke out yesterday into such passages as the
following:
We think, in all candor, that the speech has
much of the merit here attributed to it. 1t is
quite intelligible from beginning to end. There
is no manner Of doubt rs to what Mr.. RHETT
desires or recommends. He means the dissolu-
ton of the Union, and the overthrow of the
Constitution peaceably, if there is any chance
for il; otherwise, by war and bloodshed. He
means sedition perjury, and treason. Here is
man who, q few weeks since, came in reeking
with treason from Nashville, and in the pres
ence of the Senate of the United States took
solemn oath to support the Constitution! With
that oath hardly cold on his lips, the same man
goes into an assembly at Charleston, and in.
vokes the people Of South Carolina to join with
him in the overthrow of that Constitution. Is
it not charity towards such man to believe that
he is lunatic! If not candidate for the asy-
lum-of what other place ought he to be an in
mate? II is difficult to conceive of any more
shocking manifestation than is made by Mr.
RHETT, IL we once admit him to be sane per.
son.
So Mr.. RHETT counsels his brethren to be.
come traitors that they may enrich themselves
by turning smugglers. Heightened morals these!
Dir RHETT is evidently gentleman, every inch
of him.
Mr.. RHETT, by his own confession, has been
working away at these reasonable projects of
his, for five and twenty years and yet report
says that he is about the very last man who
would be pleased at losing his seat in the Sem
ate of the United States. Perhaps he may yet
find some way of reconciling his speeches and
conduct in South. Carolina with his oath to sup
port the Constitution.
Although the Republic is an organ of the Ad-
ministration, get we cannot do the latter the in
justice of imputing to it the sentiments, the
temper, or the extreme indecorum of the organ
on this occasion. If there is even any consid-
cradle portion of tho people of the North capa.
bic of sympathizing in such eruptions of the
organ, they are poor and queer specimens of
section SO devoutly devoted to the cause of
Union and concord.
As for the proposition of State, or the peo-
pie of State, to secede from the Union, it i'm
plies no more moral or legal turpitude, than for
a person to declare bis intention to change his
residence from the United States to some other
country. Indeed, not SO much. For he would
leave not only the institutions of his country,
but his friends, neighbors, kindred, and native
Ill - L. a. = A..
sion Of State. Why, if South Carolina, or
Massachusetts,, or California, Were to come to-
morrow, and say, we intend to dissolve our po-
litical connection with the Union, simply because
We think our interest would be promoted by so
doing, what man of sense or principle could pre-
tend there was anything wrong or wicked about
Il. II might be thought unwise or imprudent
In the retiring State, but he who would call it
treason, perjury, or fraud, would exhibit the
weakness Of his understanding even more plainly
than the violence Of his passions But if a
State comes and says, we intend to withdraw
from the Union, not only because il is adverse
TO our interest, but because il has violated our
rights, taken our territory, broken the compact,
and sbounds with our enemies, who pervert the
press, the post, and the Congress, to our yli6ca-
ton, and therefore we think that our peace, our
safety, and our progress would all be promoted
by Withdrawing, the case Is still palmer Is not
A STATE TO be judge Of its own rights, Of its
own duties, Of its own interests! and is il not
bound, by all the obligations implied in the
6I.I a. 10 Al
people Are other States to be better Judges
Of the rights, duties, and interests Of a State,
than itself Why, II Is only necessary 10 ask
these questions, 10 make the argument that is con-
elusive on every principle Of common sense, Of
selEgoyernment, Of free government.
II will not do to deny the right Of secession
on account Of commercial or political inconve-
nience. The same argument would justify con-
quest for the same motives. II might be pro-
ftable or convenient TO include people Of the
most repugnant sentiments under one gov
eminent, 80 as 10 have free trade between
them. But there are some things Of more i'm.
portance tha freedom Of trade or social inter.
course; and the right Of self government Is
one Of them.
ltistrue that few enthusiasts, like Mr.. CLAY,
Mr. WEBSTER, &C., have such intense and diffu.
sive patriotism, that they love all sections ofthe
country and people precisely alike-California
and Carolina, Minnesota and Mas. achusetts. s.
But alas! common men are made Of different
stuf-and hence, positive diversity ofinterest, or
at least Of opinion, has arisen on vital questions
such as the right Of the respective sections to
property, TO territory, TO land itself. And such
Is the weakness Of human nature, that one sec.
ton, not content with the liberaty of Messrs.
CLAY and WEBSTER, in hepingit to nearly all
the common property Of the country, cries aloud
for more, whilst the other, although remarkabl,
meek and afIectionate, is after all selfish enough
to have a notion Of acting for itself, and keep
ing its own acquisitions for itself. The Repub.
lie thinks such notion is very wicked and
atrocious, but what mortal can rise to such