The southern press., 1851-07-08

Dug. WIN SUCH ui&u auuoStty s8utuut p19v u
u not isnprobsbs that may b. mistaken 10 my
conjec4ure, but il IL always wiser to be prepared
than to bs surprised do not mean to say that
the government will cali their mearure "block-
ade." They will merely term it enforcing the
revenue laws--coliscting the customs; but by
whatever name it may be called, the attempts
must very soon result in nothing more nor less
than actual blockade. 1t will soon become an
interception Of alI communication, commercial
or otherwise, between US and all other States and
nations, maintained by besieging force sutfi-
GENTLY powerful to render any intercourse with
us dangerous to third parties, and expose them
to seizure. To render their coercion eifectual,
their measure must come TO this 1t may CON-
mence in ove,hauling vessels at certain dis.
tance from shore, and in inspecting their mani
tests, or in attempting to erect floating custom.
houses, but it must end, repeat, in what through
respect to the rights Of foreign nations, must be
justified as blockade But blockade s belig-
erent measure, and must be made public, SO that
neutrals may have notice oft and actaccordngly.
War then public war, must be declared against
South Carolina, and Congress must be called on,
for Congress only has power to levy war.
think, therefore, that the question of coercion
must be referred to that body. The admins
tration will be compelled to do 30. But when
the question comes, then no human s,gacity can
predict what course things will take. The
Presidential question will then be in full dis
cussion. Much will depend upon the bearing
which the issue of coercion will have upon that
question, for it is the mighty whirlpool which
draws within its greedy vortex all other sub
jects,
Whilst the administration will be in the
hands of the Wings, the Democratic party will
be largely in the ascendancy in the next Con-
gress. II it is found that the South Carolina
question can be made political capital of, it will
be used for that purpose. Although the COM
promise has patched up hollow truce between
the old party leaders, yet there is no love between
them. There can be none whateyer. They
are as far apart as ever, and when the Presden-
tia race begins, the cry will be soccupat postre-
mum scabies. the dell take the hindmost."
This was clearly shown to be the state Of
feeling at the last Congress, when an attempt
was made to get upa great Union party under
a written compromise pledge. This pledge re-
ceived the signatures of many distinguished
Wbigs but, ii my memory serves me, of only
two prominent Southern Democrats (Messrs
Cobb and Foote.)
The cohesive power Of the compromise is
fast giving way between leaders, and they will
soon be found in hostile array.
But should the appeal to Congress by the
administration result in the passage of some
Force BILL or other measure ofcoerion, then we
will be called upon to defend ourselves with all
the resources we possess, and feel the utmost
confidence that in such contest the South will
never stand neutral Let the sword be put into
the hands Of the executive after long and
angry debate in Congress. for the purpose of
hewing down a sovereign State, whose only sin
has been her impatience to defend our common
institutions, but who can appeal to the Judge Of
the World for the purity of her purposes, and
the justice Of her cause, and that sword must be
dyed deep in Southern blood before it is re- |
turned to its scapbard In such struggle, |
whoever shall triumph, the Union will fall.
But it is said by some of our friends that we
will have no direct issue of force, but that
of customhouses and of commercial restrictions
will be waged against US, in other words, that
we will be destroyed by famine, and not by the
sword. Now, think this objection is only the
blockade--idea in another FORM and may as well
be classed under that head. cannot see how
our commerce can be ef,ctually restricted, ex-
cept by such measures as must ultimately result
in a practical blockade of our ports, and refer
to what ] have already said on that head. But
if something less than this is meant; if sort
of peaceable coercion is intended-then ask if
its hazards or extremties are too great to be en-
countered in defence Of cause which is worthy
of resistance at every hazard and to the last
extremity But think that with ten or fifteen
millions of the richest products of the earth for
sale, it would be difficult to destroy our CON-
merce by any measure Of practical coercion. If
we will be content TO realize moderate profits, |
and TO offer cheap market to the world, ven-
ture to assert that it cannot be closed by war
of custom houses. But these are but specula-
& go. Il.
exact cost of every hazard in dollars and cents,
we will never resist either separately or con-
jointly.
Supposing, however that coercion in no form
whatever is attempted, and that South Carolina
is permitted peaceaby to secede, still our friends
contend that she cannot maintain separate ex.
is,ence. Now this objection seems to me to
amount to nothing more or less than this
That il South Carolina .shoud resume those
powers which she has delegated to the general
and become, what we have always
contended she was, when she came into this
Union, free sovereign, and independent State,
then that moment she perishes must be per-
mitted to say, with due respect TO those who
urge this argument, that it proves too much, and
gives up everything in dispute. It is f,ta
concession to the consolidationists and will be
regarded by them as complete surrender
They have always contended that the sover
eighty Of the States is an " abstraction" a mere
thing of words; that it has no practical value,
and cannot protect the citizen, VINO, therefore,
owes it no allegiance. They say that this is not
a confederacy of sovereign States, but a govern
ment of one people--a unit, of which the States
are the fractions, and that, therefore, the ma
jority must govern. for there is no legal remedy
against its acts. From all this, it follows that
our only remedy is that which belong to us in
common with our slaves-reyolution, and no
more
cannot but think therefore, that if South
Carolina declines to secede for reason like
this, she will give a death blow to the great
cause Of State rights, for which she has hitherto
peried so much, and with which her name is so
proudly associated
Let us glance, however, at some Of the diff.
cultes which it is urged Ii, In our way as rec,
sovereign, and independent State. 1t is said we
will have TO resort to SMUGGLING for livelihood