The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-30

We would, at this point gladly dismiss the
subject OF our federal relations and conclude
this address with brief remark or two upon
topics more intimately connected with our State
concerns; but the gravity of the consequences
likely to flow from the dissatisfied condition OF
I. one OF the States forbds US to pass that matter
nnnotced. Having, in regard to our relations
with the Northern States, exhibited sketch OF
The federal affairs hattering, we would fan be.
lieye, TO our national hopes, we would rejoice to
leave our fellow-citizens to its contemplation
J but since, unfortunately, the picture has another
side, truth requires that it should be turned
round and its darker aspect exposed to view.
]. The apparent determination of Congress TO
use the federal power for the exclusion of the
peculiar property Of the Southern States from
the territories acquired from Mexico, verpnatur-
ally excited this sensbity of the pee pie IL those
States, and carried some Of them so far as TO as
4 sumo an attitude ofthreateued hostility to such
action. The passage, however, Of the compro-
arise measures sssnaged for the most part -the
sensibility, and induced AMONGST the people a
disposition to acquesce in the adjustment, such
as,with the exception of South Carolina, brought
about in the States corresponding change of
position That State alone rejects the protfered
be explained, has provided by law for the ap-
pointment Of deputies to the Southern congress
recommended by the Nashville convention. 1t
is believed that such congress cannot at this
time be assembled; for we are not aware that
any other State has taken steps to be repre-
scented in that body. In the utter abortion of
that scheme the country will be relieved from
| the dangerous consequences too likely to flow
| from il.
/ But at the same time--as if anticipating the
/ future OF the proposed congress-South Caro-
lima summoned convention of her own people,
to meet at some time yet to be fixed, in order to
take into consideration her relations WILTSHIRE
federal government. Elections to that conven-
ton nave been held throughout her limits As
sured that in the present condition Of our affairs
there is nothing to justify extreme measures on
any part and trusting.to the good sense and pa
triotism of the people of that State, we should
apprehend nothing really dangerous to the Union,
did we not know that in the canvass preceding
the election, candidates before the people openly
avowed themselves in favor Of secession, and
that the election resulted in the choice of a great
majority of those who held that opinion.
| The act for the appointment of her deputies
| to The congress, and for the assembling of her
State convention, was formally communicated
to the other States, and was laid before the house
of delegates at an early day of the session Of
the general assembly Of Virginia.
| In The presence of these grave facts, and Of
others around us, we are not at liberty to doubt
the purpose of that State, or to shut our eyes TO
the evident dangers that threaten US from that
quarter.
We do not deny that out Of the acts of the
federal authorities, or the conduct of other
States, causes may rise 10 justify an aggrieved
State in resorting to the strongest measures Of
redress for, as has been well said to deny this
would be to question the very title by which the
| people Of this country hold their liberties But
we mean TO say that a cause sufficient TO justify
member Of this confederacy in Withdrawing
| from it, and violating the faith plightcd to the
rest, must be of such enormous magnitude.
marked by such uuquestionable aggravation, and
of such imperious necessity rs to leave no doubt
on the mind of an impartial public Of its ade-
quateness In the present case the injuries CON-
planned of are not peculiar TO the State COM
planning. but are shared in equal, IL not supe-
rior degree, by the other Southern States. And
vet these State, find in them no sufficient ex-
cuse for disturbing the Union. Indeed, the very
acts from which the injuries are supposed TO pro-
ceed-the admission of California as State, and
the settlement Of the Texan boundary-derived
:heir validity in part as the records of Congress
show, from the votes of Southern representa-
tives. We think, therefore, we hazard nothing
in declaring that, in the present condition of af-
fairs, federal and State, there is no justification
nor even excuse for the medtated secession
If the act were such in its consequences as TO
be visited only upon that State, we might remain
passive, yet not the less interested spectators Of
the issue. But, unfortunately, il is far other
wise, and but two well calculated TO involve in
the same indiscriminate ruin with the offending
member of the confederacy the most innocent,
and even deserving
We mean 10 express no opirion on the con-
troverted question Of the right Of State to Sc
cede from the confederqcy, nor Of the constitu-
tional duties Of the federal authorities in such
All emergency. We should certainly never de-
sire TO see the soil of our sister State pressed
by the hostile tread Of federal troops, nor her
sons slaughtered in unnatural war. But we
can give no assurance that the other States will
find it compatible with their safety TO surrender
the important port Of that State, or to behold
some European power establish a f3othold
there, and the very fortress erected by revolu.
tionary hands, pass-p rhaps under coerced
trcaties--into possession Of the naughty foe
against whose aggressions it was designed to
be defence
To Louisiana il would hardly be conceded
that she should sccede with the mouth of the
Mississippi, or to Florida, that she shoud secede
with the command Of the gulf, since either
would, by the act, convert into foreign, perhaps
hostile States, territory paid for out Of the com.
mon treasury, and obtained for the high purpose
Of the national safety. And yet il the act Of
successful secession be once committed, II will
be impossible, ever after, to deny TO any dissat
sfed member of the confederacy the right 10
follow the example. The inevitable conse.
quence must b., that the federal authority will
cease to be respected at home, and that abroad
dispositions will soon be manifested "to take
advantage Of its imbccjlity, AVID to speculate on
its approaching downfall"
Entertaining these opinions, and strongly i'm
pressed with the inpuy,aure Of the impending
crisis, we considered il incumbent on the legis-
aturc Of our State 10 avail itself of the occasion
furnished by the communication Of South Caro-
lima, for disayowing the idea Of Southern con
gress, for the expressing the acquiescing of our