The southern press., 1851-10-18

first and last BY, believe, all the slaveholdiug
States and some others; and it would be I'M
profitable 10 discuss it here where we all agree.
The right of the citizen to resist injustice and
oppression at the hands of the government, is
universally conceded, and with that concession,
it is of no consequence by what term the right
is designated. Call it rebellion, revolution, in
reciion-what you will, it is the same in its
results-and sece ,sion but expresses the same
idea emancipation from oppression. Both par
ties agree also, that the injuries we have suffered,
and the dangers with which we are threatened
by the obvious tendency OF the course of the
federal government, and the avowed purpose Of
the dominant party in Congress, demands of Us,
as a means Of sel-preseryaton, prompt, decided,
and Incorporating resistance. They differ
only as to the necessity OF waiting for the CO.
operation of the other slave States. The party
which is designated by the term secessionists,
maintaining, That having the right to secede, the
government Of the United States will not dare
in the face of the world, to oppose u.s. if we think
proper to exercise it; and, in any event, South
Carolina will be able to sustain herself against
all the power she can bring to bear upon u.s.
| These positions present the alternative Of n
peaceful, bloodless separation. or one of force.
| Let us suppose fret, that the United States bid
Us 90 in peace and freed from the trammels OF
the federal compact, we take our station among
! the other nations of the earth. Can we sustain
ourselves, surrounded as we shall be, by all the
other States, united rs one body, and under the
control Of majority, who, with civilized por.
tons Of all Europe, are combined against US on
the very point on which we differ with the
United States? Does history furnish no exam
pies of the inter impotency OF small aud feeble
States to resist the encroachmenis Of their more
powerful neighbors? is there no warning voice
! -. a. - Dnla nd n,,l
! still ringing in our ears? We nevertheless, take
our position, confident in our strength and re-
sources. Our own government must be re-mod-
eled to suit this new state Of things and with
out descending to minuti9, we must have all the
paraphernalia Of a sovereign, independent gov
ernment. Ministers, or other agents. to repre-
sent US abroad a navy to protect our commerce,
| If we should have any; an army 10 protect US
against the petty insults and laal less violence Of
our neighbors, and both might be necessary to
secure us against the crusades of the fanatics of
every portion of the globe, made with view to
| liberate our slaves. will not suppose our i'm
mediate neighbors capable of it, but it is not
without the range Of possibilities to conjecture,
that individuals might be found who are inclined
to strengthen their plantation forces by occasion
al drafts from our sable population.
! There is no data from which to estimate the
necessary expenses of this new order of things !;
but to put it down at FIVE times the amount of
our present expenditures would in my judg-
ment, fall greatly short of our actual wants.
i Will our people, can they, bear this in the form
Of direct tax Who Of US has not heard the
buzz of discomfort run throughout the State, on
account of the addition Of a tax of few cents
on each hundred acres of land, or a slave? Can
impost duties be relied on to supply any def
Cheney! The most sanguine cannot hope that
4 the United States will allow US to import for
them; and unless we become a nation of swim
dlers and smugglers, our imports must be lin
tied to our own necessities; and if the duties on
them is limited to what would be bearable, the
amount must fall greatly below the demands
upon our treasury. Men have, and may again
offer up their lives on the altar Of patriotism,
but they cannot subsist on that alone. Want
alone will drive thousands and tens of thous-
ands of the most worthy Of our citizens to seek
refuge in the neighboring States from these
btrthens. We say, let them go-they are un
worthy of the blessings of freedom. Will that
help usl Will not that impose still greater
burthens on those of us who remain, and drive
off another colony, and then another? Let us
look at all the consequences before we take
another step in the progress of reform.
Even this state of things, gloomy and for
bidding ms verify believe them TO be, ave merely
suppositions. BY the same rule under which
we claim the right to socede, because the United
States have violated the stipulations and condi-
ton Of the Constitution, the other States, col.
ectively or individually, have the same right to
determine whether we have not violated them
on our part and IL we differ, as in the construc.
ton Of n treaty between independent nations,
the party really injured, would, In the absence
OF any common and impartial umpire having the
power OF giving redress, b. justified in making
war upon the aQgressor. No one will question
that the United States win claim the right, and
there IL no ons so visionary as TO suppose that
she will consent TO separate from us in peace.
The example alone would DO ruinous-each
State. in it, turn, might take occasion to quar-
rel with and separate from her, and thus break
ND her foundations. The revenue she levies
T upon US, Is necessary 10 pamper the more ia.
yored portions Of the North. How are we 10
meet this state Of tbingsl Are we prepared
and ready. and have we the means Of success
fully opposing the force she can bring to bear
on usi pray You 10 believe that am not nd
dressing myself to your fears, but to your good
sense and SQUAD Impartial Judgment ] know
that am addressing people as patriotic, and
as any the light of heaven over shone upon I;
and also know that there are many who hear
me now, and thousands within the borders Of
the State, who would Offer their lives n willing
sacrifice in defence Of their rights, IL Il would
avail anything. Would this be prudent and
wise in a contest 40 hopeless and unequali The
war Of the revolution, that OF 1912, and the
more recent war Of Mexico, attest the power Of
the federal government In arms and resources
Our numerical force as compared wi h hers
would be oyerated az one to fifty She has nm
army and q nayy-we have none, She has
treasury, into which money flows through hun
: bred channels. Comparatively we have none
4 She has credit ut home and abroad-our means
Of borrowing will depend on our prospect OF
success in the most unequalled contest that the
world has ever witnessed. Individual distress
will follow in the tr in.
The miiiioas invested in railroads, will be lost,
and the wo.k consigned 10 decay. Bank and
commercial capital will fy our borders and seek
profitable investments elsewhere--our produc
tons left TO rot on COR hands. Debtors utterly
ruined and creditors unpaid. This view sup
poses conflict OF arms, and II would be sore
~ 40 "a