The Yazoo Democrat., 1851-05-28


convinced, will come in due time: but we /
feel no assurance that the spirit OF the vas
sal will rise in proportion to the indignities
heaped upon his head. On the contrary,
we seeIhat the south has already borne I
what i would not for moment have sub
miTed to ten years ago, and what the north
would not then have venlured TO perpetrate.
We are not willing to try the expert
m0nt how long il will be before our spirit
is completely broken by gradually and con
tinually yielding to SOW and gradual, bu
unceasing encroachmenIs. And ir the exer
else fthe right OF secession is TO be fol
lowed BY the attempt on the part Of the gov
ernment Of this cOnfederacy to subjngate
South Carolina, it is better that we should |
meet that attempt while we still have some
spirit and some power of resistance Iel |
Il we are 20 submit to the condition of |
conquered people, We think It less dshonor.
able not to do so until we have first been
conquered. And if any thing could add to
the necessity which we believe exists for at
withdrawal from the existing Union, it
would be denial Of the right OF secession.
For the denial Of that right indicates, of ii |
SELF extrt me danger. The right of seces
sion has heretofore, and in better days been
regarded as un7uestionable by al southern
politicians, with the exception of an incon
siderable number Of consoldalionists. And
if ever that right can be denied; without
arousing the whole south to sustain it, the
south will be ripe for the most miserable
fate which has ever belallen any people
twill then, as a Permanen; sectional min
norily, have no defense against he tyranny
ofa government combining all vices Of the
corruptest democracy and the most oPpres
sive foreign desPotsm.
We know the consequences which will
follow a failure in our effort to maintain
our liberty, We see clearly that triumph
ant exercise of the power Of the fedora
government, and subjugatng State, will
vastly increase that power, and greatly &C
celerate the change, already far advanced,
of our iedera:iva system into consolida ed
central dcspotism. We see, also, that
South Carolina will not suffer the conse
q1enccs Of this change alone, but the rest
Of the southern States must suffer in an
equal degree. They will have no safe
g lard against the central governm nj,
strengthened by crashing opposition, and
rendered by triumphant force what our
, nor hern enemies have long been endeavor
=, ng o make it by fraudulent usurpation, the
supreme government of consolidated ma
tion. The sovereignty tf one southern
S,a!e cannot be destroyed without the loss
pf their sovereignty by all the other. W.
; are aware Of the resp )nsiblity OF doing an
lrt which may hasten these Consequences
W. feel tn, respect which we owe ts
States having common interest, threaler
y I'd by a Common danger. but not equal,
! persuaded with ourselves of the necessity o
! action. Ard nothing cou'd induce US Il
= take, without their concurrence; cOurs,
Is which is to involve them in its consequel
c ces bu; thorough conviction of the neccss
- ty which urges u, and OfOur right to do 81
% Addressing citizens of sOuherh States
a. associated to maintain the rights Of tn
Z south. we cannot imagine it to be neces ssar
- to argue about the right Of secession. w
u hold it to be ths great State right, withol
> which all others are nugatOry and iucapabl
=, of being enforced; and your position assuse
. III US that your faith cannot be dffa rent frOl
!" ours. Nor can we regard it as necessary
'h any fIrther, to q, cIss the wrongs whic
T. have been inflicted on the southern S:ate
H. They may be denied by those who sh
y. ., their eyes TO Ihen, but you do not belong
ut that class. Southern and State Rights me
" may differ with US as TO the necessity Of
=" ercising the right el secession at partit
IN lar time, on account of those wrongs; but,
certainly as the right exists, each Sta
CT must possess the right of Judging for herse
u as TO the occasion and time for its exerciS
e" If South Carolina decides that honor a
" safety require her TO secede, she has rig
;, .nN to leave the confederacy, peaceably a
Tue without moestation. Ii the act of sec essi
en- is not permitted to be peaceable, it will
nas from usurpation Of power by the fedel
on Government, not from the nature Of the
OF performed by South Carolina. AccustOm
81 as we have been, to violations of the cor
70 tuition, and of the rights Of the south,
Gus States by the Federal government, we h'
!, to look forward TO the probability Of ano
ih@' er outrage by that government in the
ave tempt to force the State to remain in
aP' Union. We suppose the attempt will
! IN made If the southern States permit it.
ulh- Those States must decide for lhemsel
} OF whether they will permit it. South Car
we na must decide Cor herself whether Il Is
no cessary 10 secede. Her sister States
iOn' the s3u,h will have no right 10 comp
q IN that forces them into position; where 1
may must either interpose TO prevent her subj
me tion, or by consenlihg to il abandon /
and own sovereignty, and lay themselves at
ltlon mercy ofa despotic power. In seced
'bll- South Carolina will simply do an act VI
80 all southern met, who believe in the 81
o, il 49, oh 1erIacf riob, 10 do. and which
e OF S .le oEsoI.,afy 7n.,es,sssary sbo
.hern a'ui = =, Lo 5000 r;gb, sbo u;l
4 the e ~ ,vo,,ld bsva ~ act e non
tling la