The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-04
Prudent Counsel.

| The Charleston Standard reports a speech
delivered by ex- Governor JOHNSON, at Spar
tanburg, South Carolina, in which that gentle
man reasons soberly and plainly on the question
of separate secession, and the probable conse-
quences Of attempting to carry it into practice.
The chivalrous appeals Of patriotic orators have
little charm for the ex Governor, in view of
| the substantial obstacles that are to be encoun-
tered
| Firstly, on the score Of cost, Mr.. JOHNSON
thinks that the plans of the Secessionists would
| be found exceedingly inconvenient. without
| descending to minutis," he said, "we must
have all the paraphernalia of sovereign, in
endentgovernment:"
ministers other agents to represent us abroad;
l a navy TO protect our commerce, if we would have
| any; an army to protect against the petty in
! suits and lawless violence of our neighbors, and
\ both might be necessary to secure against the
crusades Of the fanatics of every portion of the
globe, made with view to liberate slaves. /
will not suppose our Immediate mel ghbors capable
of it, but it is not without the range of possibili,
ties to conjecture, that individuals might be found
who would be inclined TO strengthen their planta-
ton forces by occasional drafts from sable pop
ulation. 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
present expenditures would, in my judgment, fall
greatly short of our actual wants. Will our people,
they, bear this in the form of direct taxi Who
Of has not heard buzz of discomfort run through
out the State on account of the addition of a tax
I of few cents each hundred acres of land or
slaves Can impost duties be relied to supply
Off he mna ina can hnp
that the United States will allow to import for
them, and, unless we become nation of swindlers
and smugglers, our imports must be limited to our
\ own necessities, and If the duties them is limited
I to what would be bearabe, 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 that
4 alone. Want alone will drive thousands and tens
of thousands of the most worthy OF citizens TO
seek a refuge in the ncighboring States from these
\ burdens We say let them go-thcy are unwor-
4 thy of the blessings of freedom. Will that help
US? Will not that impose still greater burdens on
those of who remain, and drive off another colo
ny, and then another9 Let us look at all the
sequences before take another step in the pro-
\ gross of REFORM
4 Again, Mr.. JOHNSON perceives that ii is just
l possible that the National Government might
I not permit such a step as separate secession.
I South Carolina has valiant and self Sacrificing
1 men, he admits; but he also comedies that they
would be found unable tocope successfully with
| the resources at the command of the Federal
authorities. lie sees that the contest would be
hopeless and unequal"
"The war of the Revolution, that of 1872 and the
more recent with Mexico attest the power ofthe
Federal G overnmcnt in and resources Our nu-
merical force compared with hers would be
rated at one 10 fifty. She has army and navy
We have She has treasury into which money
flows through an hundred channels. Comparatively
we have none She has a credit at home nd abroad
our OF borrowing will depend on prospect
Of success and the most unequal contest that the
world has ever witnessed Individual distress will
follow in the train The millions invested in rail.
roads will be lost and the work consigned TO de
cay. Bank and commercial capital will fly our
borders and Geek profitable investments elsew here;
| our productions left to rot our hands Debtors
| utterly ruined and creditors unpaid This view
/ supposes conflict Of arms, and il would be some
consolation 10 strike hearty blow, If il should be
returned even with interest Bat the United States
will have motive TO butcher US or denolish
| cities A blockade Of our seacoast, and nterdc-
ton Of our intercourse with the neighboring Stacp
! Will inevitably accomplish all she can desire
There viii be necessity for her coming within
| the range OF our longest guns. An injured man
| chained to a stake may shout defiance, rave, and
thrcsh the air, but the enemy remains unscathcd."
Looking at the whole matter, Mr. JOHNSON
deems it wise to abstain from any separate ac-
ton He believes that South Carolina is
shamefully maltreaed by the National Gov
eminent, and he hopes sooner or later to see
her in the possession of ample redress; but in
the mean time he counsels prudence and pa
thence. Admitting that it IS probable that the
ensuing Southern Congress will prove failure,
he suggests the appointment of delegates by
the State TO. visit the other slave States, ito
endeavor to arouse them TO sense of common
danger, and the necessity of acting promptly,
decidedly, and in concert"
Our Southern exchanges daily afford proof
that views of this kind are making Roadway
| amongst the SecessOnists of South Carolina
| "THE NATIONAL DEMocRAT' is the title Of a
new Democratic paper just started in New York.
/ n ia adi tcd Inv nj hed NV