The southern press., 1851-08-05
From tAs UsienuiiIs JouTnsi.
HAn. y. Wallaeo'u rooltion.

address delivered by Hon. ID. Wallace, on the
18th inst. The speech was delivered IN the court
house, and though 10 notice had been pIevi-
ously given, large number OF persons were In
attendance, who listened to the speaker with pro-
found attention, and frequently evnced their ap-
probation by repeated bursts of applause. lie
commenced his address by stating that he would
not attempt to discuss the wrongs inflicted upon
the South by the government OF the North.
Upon that branch of the subject the argument
Ia exhausted The question before US relates to
the remedy which must be resorted to, to redress
these wrongs. 1t IL Of the utmost conseq uence
that the people of South Carolina should un-
derstand their true position. In reference to
the wrongs which we suffer, and those which are
threatened it may be said there is but one opin-
ion among the people of South Carolina. We
have arrived at the point when we must deter
mine the mode Of resistance. There are three
alternatives which present themselves to our
deration--secession civil war; or submis-
sion. He regarded the latter as impossible.
The people Of South Carolina can never be 40
unjust to themselves and their prosterty AS to
submit to dishonor and degradation. There re-
mains then, the two alternatives, secession and
civil war, and we must choose between them !;
for, by one of these modes, we must resist, or
submit. To resist by civil war in the Union is
to take up nrms for overthrowing the govern
ment by violence and bloodshed. Secession
MAY be peaceable--if it be not pcaceable it will
be not our fault, but that of the government
which seeks to degrade and ruin US. He be-
leved that il would be effectual, and the only
mode by which we can secure our rank as an in
dependent people--our property--our liberty,
and our honor
1t is due to ourselves and the cause we have
80 much at heart, that the plain truth should be
spoken The contest in which we are engaged,
is not Of our seeking. We have preferred
peace and tranquility-they have been denied
us. The aggressions of which we complain,
and which hsve created such deep discomfort in
the public mind have been forced upon us, and
in repeling them, we resort only to the law of
sef-preservation, which. nature herself has
stamped upon every heart. Weare not respon-
sible for the pcrils which surround US. We
cannot allay the exctement--it is beyond our
power II is not a sudden ebulition OF feeling,
which will cease with the passing hour (; it is in
fact, revolution moral, social and political, md
we must prepare to breast the storm, or it will
sweep over US in an irresistible torrent, and
cover our country with dcsOlatlOn. This IL
the alternative presented and we cannot evade it.
We have now no check on the despotic power
of the government of the North. Our delega-
ton in Congress is powerless to protect us--as
much so as if we were without representation
in the national Legislature. II Congress-, at its
next session were to pass law, emancipating
every African slave in the Southern States, to
what measure could we resort to save ourselves
from such a violation of her rights, except one
Of those suggested, secession of civil war? 1-4s
veto power given to the President by the Con.
stitution, is virtually abrogated.-The war CON-
amenced upon the dominant will OF the majority,
by Mr. Clay, in the Senate, in l84l has, in effect
resulted in the repeal of that clause of the Con-
stitution. The will of the majority is the law,
and the government is now converted into
despotism as despotc as that of Russia. Gen.
Taylor was elected upon a virtual reputation
of the veto power. He declared in his letter of
acceptance Of the nomination for the Presidency,
that he should regard the action of Congress as
an expression Of the public will and any meas
ure passed by that body, should meet his ap-
proval.
The only barrier which the Constitution inter-
poses between us and despotism, is thus broken
down. 1t was the last foothold of Southern
rights. We have now, no guards remaining to
protect us from the aggressive act of the govern.
ment and it may be asserted without fear of
contradiction, that the veto power will never be
resorted to, to arrest tyranical legislation for
no man will hereafter be elected President, ex-
cept upon the ground that he is opposed TO
African slavery. We are thus placed in a con-
dtion far worse than the people under the
monarchy of England. The House of Com
mons of the British Parliament may compel
reform in the government by refusing to levy
the necessary suppes but the government of
the North holds both the sword and the purse
in its grasp It can tax the South to raise the
purse in its own subjugaton by the sword. No
language can better define despotism, than
this. The right of secession is the only mode
by which we can exercise the veto power upon
the federal government. The veto power
should be left with the States, by the express
terms of the Constitution itself, where alone
safe depository of it can be found. It becomes
the question of the last Importance, that the
right of secession should be established and ac.
knowledged; and were there no other questions
now before the people of the South than this
alone, it would be incumbent upon them to OBJ
tain clear and distinct recognition to this right
How are we to obtain this recogntionl There
is no way to obtain il but TO resort to the act
Of secession. Until we have seeded from the
Union, we can obtain no recognition of the
right to secede. Once out of the Union by the
act of secession-havng resumed that sovereign
ty which is now denied us, our voices will be re-
spected and until then it never will be- We
will then be in condition to make terms if we
desire to save the Union this is the only mode
by which it can be done. Let us suppose that
South Carolina has seeded from the Union Ifl
the general government resort to coercion, and
South Carolina is subdued, there is an end for
ever ofState sovereignty on this continent BY
that act alone, the character of the government
will be disclosed, and it becomes at once, to all
intents and purposes consolidated empire IfI
State sovereignty be thus crushed in the case of
South Carolina, in cur fate every Southern
Slate may read their own.
What State south of rs would ever seek to
defend themselves in any way against the ty-
ranny of the general government, after South |
Carolina has been subiugated When that time
shall arrive, the phantom of a confedorated re-
public Of independent States will disappear for
ever, and we will be under the iron rule Of re-
morseless despoiism. Do any suppose that the
people of the South are sufficiently blinded not to
see this ?-Whenever therefore, South Carolina
shall make the practical issue of secession the