The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-14

but poiltless eloquenee, II We cniy intend ID /,
Inaiptaiu our equality and defend our right, BY /
the formidable battery OF rounded periods aud
sounding resolutions, let US at once, without
advancing another step, proclaim the humating
fact In my opinion, one single act in such
farce is quite enough. tits too costly an enter-3
tainment for change of scenes, or the introduce
ton OF interudes. Let the drop curtain close
ut once over us and our proceedings. Increased
taxation, to be justified by remote contingency
we are afraid TO face, is, assure you, music to
which the people will not long willingly dance
The truth is, tlrn and twist il as we nay, we
have reached that point in this controversy when
we must choose one of two alternatives; we
must either advance step forward, or take a
step backward. There Is no possible middle |
ground on which to stand. To doubt, to hesi-
tate, to waver at this stage of the game, will in
evitably lead to disgrace and disaster Fer one,
infinitely prefer that we give in our adhesion
now, than at some future period Notifying
us it will be, it will be far less ridiculous and
disgraceful than to keep up game of gascon-
AIDE and bluff, under the desperate idea that we
shall finally be rescued by the interposition of
some political legerdemain, which may shield
our bodies, but which will leave US degraded in
our own eyes, and contemplate in the eyes OF
the world
Will declaration that, in our opinion past
aggression not only just iies, but demands, our
secession, defeat or postpone the formation Of "a
Southern confederacy, which we all desire, and
which our friends, i'll advisedly. as think, make
a condition precedent to any aston whatever
on the part of South Carolina! The idea taat
we are to obtain Southern confederacy by
the deliberate, preconcerted, prearranged CO.
operation OF any number of Southern States, is
IN NV mir 4. ~ la, III
listing circumstances, it is folly to expect it.
madness TO hope IT, care not what the ma
ture OF the grievance, what the outrage perpe-
trated, what the danger impending, it is contrary
to the nature OF things, contrary to reason and
all experience, to calculate that the Southern
people, separated by State lines and distracted
by internal party divisions, will ever, voluntarily,
meet together, gravely discuss the question,
quietly arrange the terms, and unite on any
such scheme. No government ever was, or
ever will be, called into existence by any such
cooperation Sir, if we are to have Southern
confederacy, and have no doubt of it, it must,
it can only, be brought about by separate State
action. Ifsecession is revolution, then the re-
volution mrst begin somewhere. Some one
must strike the first blow. Some one State
must throw the tea overheard. This done and
the rest must inev tally follow care NJ, to
look beyond field Of Lexington. Common
wrongs and common dangers must unite com.
ZION sufferers, and lead TO common sacrifices
and common efforts. And why shall not South
Carolina strike the blow2 Is there any thing
in her past history to render her unworthy to
lead the fororn hope in this or any cause in
which her honor and her rights are at stake
Does any one of her sisters doubt but that her
sons will prove themselves worthy descendants
of men who have enriched her soil with their
blood, and have illustrated every page of her his
tory with undying examples of courage and
patriotism! Sir, it will not do to talk any
longer about prevailing prejudices, deep seated
jealousy against South Carolina; and that any
attempt on her part to move, will drive Others
of. Men who can be driven from duty, who
will desert their own cause, from any such
pnltry considerations have not the spirit, and
never intend, to defend their rights. If our
cause is to rest on cooperation with such
materials, then the day of our delverance will
never dawn. To hope for such cooperation is
submission, to lean on it is degradation. This
hue and cry about South Carolina, raised by
bought up political demagcgues, can only be
sileneed by direct appeal to practical issue
My life on it. when this issue is fair tnade, the
great macs of the Southern people Will be found
true TO us and true to themselves.
Mr.. President, do not feel called upon to dis
cuss the question whether secession be a mea-
sure ofpeaee or Of blood. it is matter about
which it Is idle to speculate Time alone can
solve The problem. As measure of peace, our
Senator regards as its most alarming aspect
This to me is passing strange. He has said with
great confidence that he believes no man will be
found bold enough TO advocate separate seces-
sion, if it leads only to our separate national ex
IL "a Il n
infinitely prefer a separate State existence to
a continuation in Union governed by heartless
fanatics and political scoundrels. What, sir, is
to hinder our separate national existence! Has
not South Carolina within herself ample re-
sources 10 maintain such an existence Have
we not intelligence enough to devise our own
form Of government, and virtue enough to sus-
tain and preserve it. South Carolina, peacea.
bly, out Of the Union, left free 10 establish her
own commercial relations, and It is clear TO my
mind, that she possesses within herself the
means, and can provide for herself the cheapest
the mildest and the purest government that ever
encouraged the hopes or blessed the labor Of
man. With me government is not a matter of
geography. Its value does not depend on ex-
tent of space or amount Of population. To
command my respect and challenge my obedi.
ence, II must inspire confidence instead Of dis
trust, it must bring repose, not agitation, II must
stimulate hope, not fear; above all, IL must
afford security, that security which enables me
TO feel that what have is my own, and that
may quietly sit beneath my own vine and fig
tree, with none to modest or disturb me.
Next it is conjectured that the government
win probably resort to q quasi blockade, and that
under its operation the commerce of Charleston
isto be destroyed. We'll, the answered. this is that
blockade Of any kind is coercion, -forcbe de-
nia of the right Of State to withdraw from the
Union, and as such VIC must meet il. Now, |
admit that secession may and will probably iu-
vove serious sacrifices, and that these will fail
most heavily on our cherished city. But shall
this deter us! Our fathers took counsel neither
Of their fears nor their weakness. IL we shrink
from the sacrifice now. will the future find as
willing to incur itl regret that my friend has
reduced this great question of liberty and right
TO the standard of dollars ind cents No peo-
pie who measure their principles BY the money
standard can long preserve their liberties III
o0mfnoraa oan onlv Dorrfoh a. tbo ov,o,so ~