The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-04

Il
from the South the most violent denunciatons
Of the Union the most contemptuous epithets
bestowed upon people speaking the same
| tongue, worshipping the same God, bearing
the same banner. We have seen opposi-
| ton offered to the law, and open efforts TO
dissolve the Union yet, SO far as there were
expressions of opinions, we have thought such
discussions necessary before the people most
deeply interested in their truth. If the Union be
corruption and curse, it ought to be dissolved.
4 If people be abased and insulted, it is their
| duty TO resist But we have reason TO triumph
| in the renewed evidences that reason will ulti-
mately conquer error, and we witness the abate-
ment ofsectional violence, both at the North and
the South, with increased devotion to the nsttu-
tons of freedom. The propriety of dissolving
4 the Union Tor precedent or existing injuries in
tlicted by the Northern States, has been delib-
erately considered throughout the whole South;
and the result of this discussion has been that
the blessings Of the Union are inestimable, and
ought not to be sacrificed lightly. Even the
unwillingness of others to cooperate with South
Carolina in dlssolving the Union has convinced
many that it is unwise to embark upon an ocean
| whose limits are unknown without the guidance
or cooperation of others.
In abstaining from any Intervention in the dis
cussions of these questions, domestic to the South
we have been actuated by sense of propriety,
and have acted, we trust, not entirely without
magnanimity. The State of South Carolina has
been always an honorable and a-gallant State; but
she is not so powerful, physically and political
ly, as many others; certainly not so much so as
those who will continue united under the pres
ent form of government We have no wish
to gall or to goad her by ridicule, threats, or
reproaches. We deeply regret the course
to which she has committed herself, not
only on her own account but that of
others. We know that, if strife springs up in
| the republican household, it will spread scan
dial and reproach throughout the world We
4 know that the resistance to law leaves no dis
! erection except its enforcement; and we are not
\ now to eXpatate upon the inevitable conse-
quences of civil war. The dream of constitu-
tional freedom will be dissolved, and, amid
the mock of despots and demons, hostile
States will be seen struggling as Of old in
deadly contest for physical supremacy.
I There are many things in the meeting at
| Charleston which show a sense of returning re-
! Election The prospect that South Carolina
must "tread the wine press alone" forces upon
| every man who thinks of his home and its hap
piness the contemplation of the consequences OF
Disunion. 1t was shown in the discussions be-
4 &. IL. L. e Al.
States prohibiting the introduction of slaves
1 from foreign nation would operate as prac-
| teal ''Wilmot provso" upon South Carolina.
| The commercial consequences to Charleston of
| being cut off by system of diflerential duties
| from a communication with the interior, were
| no doubt not without their influence; whilst
| the desperate suggestion that she should, like
Moscow, light the returning pathway of the
invader, startled many with consequences
which, in their excitement, they had not paused
| to contemplate.
The Hon. ROBERT w. BARSwELL argued a
point of the utmost Importance The folly Of
| looking to Great Britain for countenance and
| aid" We trust he proved his position to the
| convictions of his audience. How could il be
| otherwise, when the great argument Of danger
to the South used by seceders is that England
has determined "to abolish slavery throughout
| the world" and that Northern Abolitionists
| rely upon her cooperation to effect their nefa-
rious designs2
| Such quotations as the following, from the
| Westminster Reuieac, have been used to prove
| the designs of England:
"Slavery ia extinct in the United Kingdom and
! in all its dependencies This end having been
l achieved, the means of bringing about its extnc-
! ton everywhere have been earnestly canvassed
There is but feeling in this country as regards
the Willingness to cooperate for the purpose with
other nations similarly disposed, although there are
numerous and conflicting opinions as to which, of
| all the means suggested for our adoption, can be
most successfully employed
| Will it be wise, then, for South Carolina to
sever herself from the Southern States, to aban-
don the protection Of the Union, to commit her
self to the guardianship of nation that has ex-
| tinguished slavery in her own dominions, and
wishes to bring about its extinction every
where 1t would be the infatuation Of the
| flock which, dismissing its tried and trusty
guardians, committed itself to the rapacous and
| instructive enemy Gifts race.
We look with deep anxiety for the results of
this meeting in South Carolina. We trust
that the people may see nothing so disastrous
or degrading in the political association in
which they were born as are to be apprehended
| from civil war and dependent foreign alliances
REFORM Convention Of Virginia Adjourned.
| This body closed its labors on Thursday, the
3lstJuly, after session of nearly eight months.
The constitution reported for popular adoption
contains, we believe, most of those reforms in