The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-11

States
Having met to take counsel together. aud having
agreed upon that course which we think il right and
necessary to puIsus wish lay before you the
alterations by which have been governed, with that
frsnkness which respect for you and desire TO
men. your good opinion require,
We regard the position oil The southern States IN this
conederacy as degraded and ruinous. The manifest
tendency OF those systematic agglessons which they
tuition OF slavery If those acts of hostile domination
which have been rendered more insulting by mockery of
languages under the term OF conpromise were final 10
their nature, aud be followed by any further
expressions. we shoald still regard them oulrages
which sovereign States possessing the spirit OF freedom,
ough, never TO submit. But those measures only form
part OF system gradually commenced, steadily carried
forward, gathering strength from development. and pro-
aeedng with fatal momentum to It's end That end IS th
abolition OF negro slavery in the southern States and the
lowering OF the Tree white population OF The South TO tho
level with that agrarian rabble which, already
strong and dangerous seems Destined before very long
to be the controlling power in the northern States
We see remedy and safely Tor the South IN the
present Union But we know that IN this we differ from
very many citizens Of the other southern Satessped
and inelligenhavng the same Interests and suffering
under The wrongs, with ourselves, and who cherish
the hope that the rights OF the South may be indicated
and secured without dissolvng the existing conederacy
In this difference it does not become US TO assume 10 dc
tate, and hope stand free from that charge. Up 10
this time the citizens OF South Carolina, aware that Pc
culiaTiy Of political position. arising from past events
have studiously avoided everything which might look
like assuming the lead in the defence OF southern rights
They desired 10 act because they that safety aud
honor required action; but they hoped that they might
find leaders in other States whom they might follow in
defence Of the common cause. When the ancient Com
monweath OF Virginia, the proper leader OF the South
and 10 the last extremity, hostile measures then threat
ened South Carolina, with all alacrity. stood ready to
support Virginia in carrying out her high resolution
When Georga-whose former resistance to federal usnr
paon under her heroic statesman, Troup, gave promise
Of unnching fTmnessin any contest in which she might
.engage--pIocaimed her determination 70 make stand
fnr TIM srkf snft hn mead at
the prospect OF rallyng under the banner OF Georgia
And when her young and gallant sister, Mississippi, pro
posed the wise measure OF Southern Convention, Tor
the purpose OF endeavorg 10 unite the southern States
in maintaining their constitutional rights, and al the same
time preserving if possible, the existing Union, South
Carolina heartily entered into this measure and she has
carried out the recommendation OF the convention
sembled al the instance Of Mississippi by providing for
the election Of delegates TO southern congress, TO whose
meeting she still looks with anxious interest
Ia all these proceedings think that the citizens OF
South Carolina have evnced all proper anxiety TO AVOID
the appearance OF dctaton 10 act in concert
with the citizens OF the other southern States, and TO do
nothing separately precpitaely And now, strongly
have expressed belief that there hope for
the South in the existing Union, are prepared TO give
trial, fairly and in good faith, TO any efecual plan
which may be proposed by any sister Stale OF the South
for obtaining redress for the past and security for the u
iare. without dissolution of the existing Uaion il there
be possibility OF such a contamination.
But we lind ourselves forced to consider the ulteror
question, what 10 do il we fnd Ii at there is
reasonable hope OF the operation OF any other south
tive IS presented TO us OF submitting or acting by our
selyesl And reluctant we are 10 separate ourselves
from our naiura! friends and allies, have made up
minds-we cannot submit. We know thai South Caro-
lima entered this contedefacy sovereign and ndepend
ent State, and that having been wronged, she has The
perfect right 10 withdraw from it. Her must exer
cise the right and the consequences. II no other
State will JOIN IN relieving ourselves from the wrongs
already inflicted, hope IN waiting for new out
ages TO arouse higher spirit OF resistance.
The ou'rages, we well convinced, will come
in due time but feel no assurance that the spirit Of
e vassa Will rise IN proportion TO the indgnes heap
ell upon his head. On the contrary, we see that the
South has already borne what il would not for
have submitted 10 ten years ago, and what The North
would not then have venured TO perpeirate we are no,
willing TO try the experiment how long It will be before
our spirit is completely broken, by gradually and con-
nually yielding TO slow and gradual, but snceasing
cession be followed by the attempt the part OF the
government OF THIS coDiederacy 10 subIugae South Car
DINA, il is better tina, should that attempt while
We s, have some spirit and some power OF resistance
left II are TO submit to the condition OF conquer.
ed people, think it less dishonorabe not 10 do un
we have hrst been conquered. And II anything could
add TO the necessity which believe exists Tor with
drawa from the existing Union, would be the denial
OF the right Of secession for the denial OF that right in
deales OF itse extreme danger The right Of secession
has heretofore and in better days, been regarded
questionable by all southern politicians, with the excep
non OF nconsdeable number OF consolidatonists
and tina, right can be denied without arousng the
whole South TO sustain it, the South will be ripe for the
most miserable fate which has befaIen any people.
IL will them as permanent sectional minority, have no
defence against Inc tyranny OF government combining
all the vices OF the corrupest democracy and the
oppressive foreign despotIsm.
We know the consequences which will follow failure
10 effort TO MAINTAIN our liberty We clearly that
triumphant exertion OF the power OF the federal gov.
eminent in subJug atpg Sale will vastly increase that
power and greatly accelerate the change already far ad
yanced, Of iedaalIve system into consolidated
trail despoilsm We see, aso that South Carolina will
no, suffer the consequences OF this change alone, but that
the res, Of the southern States must suffer in equal de-
They will have no safeguard against the central
government, strengthened by crushing opposition, and
rendered by triumphant, force what northern enemies
have long been endeavorng TO make by fraudulent
paton--the supreme government OF consolidated ma
ton The sovereignty OF southern State cannot be
destroyed without The loss OF their oyeregniy by all the
others We aware OF the responsibility OF doing an
act which may hasten these consequences We feel the
respect which States having interest,"
suaded with ourselves OF The necessity OF action And
nothing would induce us 10 take, without their
renee, course whics Is TO involve them in it's
qaences bul thorough conviction OF the necessity which
urges us. and OF our right 10 do so.
Addressing citizens of southern States, associated
to maintain the rights OF the South, cannot imagine II
to be necessary argue about the right OF secession We
nugaory and incapable OF being enforced, and your
position that your faith be different from
ours
Nor can we regard it "a necessary any further 10 dis
lie wrongs which have been inflicted the south
States They may be denied by those who shut their
TO Them but you do not belong that class South
and State may differ TO the necessity of
exercising The right OF al particular time, on
sccount of those wrongs But the right ex
ss each State must possess the right of Judging for her
sef the and time for its II South
Carolina decides that honor safety req ute her 10