The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1851-05-17
, action Of
jouth Caro-
secede from

Ally hnve deemed II |
-, until the period for the meet-
.us y, ,ne Convention approached. could then
have been better able 70 determine whut would be |
expedient to do. The events Of tho summer and |
autumn, will, as / think, throw much light The
great issue before us. should gladly have await
cd those events before the final judgmen. of the |
State was made up. Under thess circumstances
I cannot hope that my opinions con be of any
avail in assigning any "part" to SSuth Carolina.
But it is enough that you wish to know my opn. |
ions upon measure Of public policy. oven though
it bo a foregone conclusion. I have no selfish
motive to withhold such opinions, as have moth
Ing to lose by expressing them. / hsve never
sought ofice-I have never seen the day when I
would have held an Office under the federal gov.
ornment. could not do 90, at this time, with
out a feeling of personal degradation. come,
then. to tho confessional without fear and without
reserve. r.:
The Inquiries proposed by you suggest two pro-
positiopt:s Tho fst is whether secession be tho
only alternative now left to the Southern States.
The second h, whether in the event of tho olher
slave. holding States remaining III the Union, II
will become the duty Of South Carolina, forthwith
to secede, ON the ascertainment Of that fact
The only full aud fitting reply to enquiries Of such
grave import, must be found in confederation Of
the objects contemplated by secession, and Of ts
probable efficacy in accomplishing those objects.
Tho leading object to be attained by secession,
will be admitted to bc the preservation of the in-
stitution of African slavery, animpaired and un-
molested. II eomprehends the quiet and undis.
turbed enjoyment of ti,ia.anecie. of nronertys
well as tho means Of making il profitable and de-
sirable. These conditions are necessary to save
fifteen hundred millions of property, tho most prof.
table in the world, and tho source of countless
blessings to mankind-from becoming NUISANCE
aud a curse. Thoy are amply secured in the con-
stitution, and that instrument would never have
obtained the approval Of South Carolina and 9TH
or Southern States, without such security But
these stipulutions and compacts have not been
carried out in good faith, by the Northern States,
but have been violated and utterly diaregarded.-
We complain, especially, that slaves assenE 30 the
non-slavehoding States, are not delivered to their
owpers, on their demand (; that the property Of
fifteen States is excluded from countries which be-
long 10 all tho States, and that the subject of sla.
| mischievous discussion in the Northern States,
and in Congress. They are we'll founded COM
| plaints-acts that are palpsbe violations of the
Constitution, and would, in my opinion, any ono
Of them, justify tho secession Of tho Southern
States. They impair tho security and the value
of property in slaves. The experience of eight
years Of nnziers hope and apprehension, Hare
brought mo t, the concIusion, that these com:
plants will mover be removed or redressed BY any
exercise of the means provided by the Conssi,u.
tion. How can South C.rolina reform public opn.
ion in Massachusetts, Of. Ohio7 BY what poten,
instrument can me disenchant tho public opinion
Of the North, o. break tho spell which holds il
absolute sway, the intellect Of tho North7 Ou
appeals to their justice havo been unheeded, ant
our romonstrances condemned. We cannot dis
guise the fact, that the guarantees Of the Consttu
ton in favor Of slavery, arc mockeries. They ar,
openly repadisted by hoss who yielded them I,
the demand Of the South, as tho basis Of unio.
with them. Individuals may submit to wrsna
without tho los Of character, or of seIf.respect
but such submission by nations brings dishonor ant
degradation. Il implies both weakness and pur
sillann,iy, and invites aggression, b well a. in
cites contempt. Tho federal government cauuo
and would not il Il could, constrain these North
ern States to tho discharge Of their duty. It ha
neither functions nor functionaries, to reach Ii
evil. Tho great function of government, in mod
en times, 10 tho protection Of properly. Propert!
In slaves, Of al other property, can least sadur
? aggression, and most needs tho arm Of govern
ment. A government that fails either from II
weakness or its will, to protect his property frou
domestic a. we'll - foreiga foes, docs not dessrv
tho obedience or the respect Of a freeman. A gov
eminent that not only fails to protect but is actti
ally hostile to tho property Of fifteen States, =
monstioos despotism, and to overthrow Il b to pu
down q buge,naisancs. The ultimate abolition {
slavery must be the result. nnlees the s.aveholdin
States have Tho spirit to take aheir right ;uude
their own protection. Ths establishment 81
> eonfederacy Of slave holding States, it need nt
embrace all the Elave holding States, =, (ss so
emnly believe) the onIy measure, that promis.
I security, OF sveu HOPE to the South. hold III,
tho slaves OF !, South Caro,ina arc Of ip6ni.sI
greater value 70 her than this Union Of any Unio
0 And when tbs enormous evils Of which We cou
p'sin, and which have specified can be redre.se
by the secession Of South, Caroline alone, =,
d wthout hesitation, and instantly in favor Off
4 whatsoever other sts.ss may, do, aud whatever esr
scaneaess may follev. .;;. ,s,...; Y, .i;sfs
, Lst ~. then. 80 if our complaints, .ss any .
. them weuld b femeved, % rsdrsssed by tbs .,
: csaiot Of South Cafoiipa alo6e.-the sshse s,ss
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