The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-15

- 49, f~F~A VI SeVSsS"y, w ~"V"SW VIZ
futility of the causes assigned by the National
laeltigeacer for tho "discontents" Of South Car
ona with the Union as il is That there is
deep spirit Of dissatisfaction pervading the whole
South, and South Carolina especially, we do not
doubt. Whether il aims at dissolution OF the
Union, or will be content with reforming the Gov
eminent, by forcing it back within the limita-
tons OF the Constitution, we will not pretend to
determine The Inteitigencsr says, that South
Carolina has been in q conspiracy" for twenty
years to dissolve the Union. II so, It is a very
curious sort OF 8 conspiracy" for the Ii,telti-
gencer immediately after quotes, to prove it, the
open declarations Of the people at public festi-
vsls-of ministers in the pulpit--and Of COVER
nors and statesmen in their addresses to open
| legislatures and conventions 1t is certainly a
conspiracy which has no secrets, and walks out
In the open day. But admit the fact, that South
Carolina is resolved on breaking the Union
that IL, going out Of it herself---for we sup
pose no one imagines that she intends to inter-
fere with the free will of other States, which
wish to remain united together. She wishes to
dissolve the co-partnership for herself not
doubling that she has a perfect right to do 30.
Is not this most startling fact in the history Of
the country! One of the old thirteen States
that one Of the old thirteen States, which suf-
fered most in one rcvoluton--which was most
prosperous, wealthy and happy under the British
rule, yet cast in her lot with Massachusetts and
her sister States, and periled all, and lost all but
liberty--that State, which by her statesmen did
as much in framing the Constitution Of the Uni,
ted States, as any other State in the Union
(for from the draft of CHARLES PiNcKrEY in the
convention the Constitution arose THAT State,
which stood foremost in originating and main
tanning by her statesmen the second war for in
dependence in lSl2-and when the Treasury Of
the United States was exhausted, not only paid
| in advance all the direct taxes required of her
people, but emptied her treasury to carry on the
war and maintain the honor of the Union-that
State, which in our very last contest with for
sign power displayed by her militia an I'M
| dinchiDg valor, which veterans had cause to
praise-tfnt State is resolved to dissolve her
connexion with this Union. The InteHigencer
may stuff its columns with silly conjectures
about her climate, geography, or aristocracy.
He may call her mad-rresponsibly mad but
there Is not man in the Union, who has any
knowledge of human nature, or any knowledge
tempt at the display of sucli stoiidity or hypoc-
risy.
Does not every one know, that all men are
more prone to bear evils in government,
than to resist them 1t is this supineness in
the people, which has always tempted tyrants
and oppressors of all kinds, by one encroach-
ment after another, to sap and destroy their
liberties The spirit of resistance is hard to
arouse-harder still to keep alive and above
all, difficult to bring into direct action for re-
dress. The cares and business and pleasures of
life absorb the attention of the people; whilst
the hazards attending all changes in Govern
ment induce submission to misrule, SO long
as it is at all endurable. When any people
have made up their minds to throw off the
government under which they live-tbere must
be deep and vital causes for dissatisfaction.
The evils of the government must not only be
intolerable, but plain and obvious.
| Now what are the evils, which have made the
people Of South Carolina determined, accord
ing to the authority Of the Intelligencer) to
break off their connexion with the other States
of the Union! No one can look into their pub
lie proceedings, the columns of their press, or
the speeches of their statesmen, but must see
that this policy is advocated on the high and
holy grounds Of liberty and sef-protection.
They affirm that gigantic and unconsttn-
tonal fraud was perpetrated on them by the
admission of California into the Union. At the
motion of few emigrants in small corner Of
this magnificent territory the whole territory,
large enough for dozen States, was admitted
as a single State, for the plain and avowed Pur-
pose of excluding the Southern States from oc-
cupyiug and settling any portion oft with their
institution and this fraud was committed in the
House of Representatives, by admitting mem
bers to their seats, plainly in violation Of the
mandates of the Constitution. But it is not only
a violation of the Constitution which marks
the features of this atrocious transaction. The
Constitutions violated, on account of their ina-
tutions, and in order that they may be orerthrown
and rebuked. Their power, by an increase Of
States, is forever suppressed, whilst the power
of the free States by the addition of new States
to the Union, is forever secured All ability of
eIf-government--and oil hope Of selfprotec
ton, is therefore forever gone in the Union
The Constitution in the hands Of the majority
| in Congress is no longer in existence; and
instead Of its guarantees, the despotic will
of the people of the free States is the only
bond of the Union. The Government Of the
Union is therefore no longer free Cor
eminent for them Under the anti-savery feel
ings and policy of the free States, it is no longer
safe Government. II is a dangerous despot-
| ism 10 be resisted and overthrown. Liberty