The southern press., 1851-04-25
Nom Mr Chsrieslou Xbrcuev.

saelap Hands, on Tassday the sd instant,
After a TN remarks OF local sharac 'es. he
alluded to the periIous condition of the South
ern States, the steady increase Of the dangers
that encompsased them, and the inevitable con-
sequences that must shortly flow from inaction
on their part. He referred also to the anoms-
lous character Of the controversy between the
North and South, and as being in many essen
tial respects unparalleled in the history Of ma
tons. In despite of these truths, the latter, the
party to be sacrificed, is divided even on the
question Of resistance, while at the North entire
unanimity prevails The object of the ASSISTANTS
has long been to obtain, for purposes Of plunder
and control. complete possession OF the federal
government in all It's departments. This has
been the unwavering aim Of every congressional
movement made by them since the foundation
Of the confederacy. Having at length succeeded,
we now live under a majority or Northern gov
ernment, which has already assumed the high
prerogative Of deciding upon the extent of its
own power, and enforcing it's decisions at the
point Of the bayouet. The causes Of divisions
in tho South are traceabe to the deep devotion
OF Its people to the legacy Of their fathers--to
the glorious recollections OF the past, and an un-
willingness to lift the veil which screens the fu-
ture from their vsion---to the trammels Of party,
which men are reluctant to throw OIL, but above
all to the influence and machinatons OF federal
omnipotence, Ii was now apparent, be said, that
the present object Of the central power, insti-
gated and supported by The fauaticism Of the
North, was TO separate the cotton from the nom
producing cotton States, and to create aschism
in the ranks of the former.
The recent Illuminating and offensive decision
of Virginia affords evidence Of the working of
the plan, and the submission resolutions of
Georgia, with Speaker Cobb's late speech that
Of the other. Mr.. Seabrook believed that regu.
lar conspiracy existed against South Carolina,
to prevent the execution of her settled design,
should all other means of redress fail. She has
been, and will continue to be, threatened by
States, the federal Executive, and by men in
power and out of power, both North and South,
with military coercion while, in other quarters,
| the more dangerous weapon of " atfectionate ap-
peas" will be welded against her. The object
of the former party is, by operating on the fears
| of our people, to cause them at least to pause
in the scheme of projecting their own interests,
well knowing, that if South Carolina withdrew
from the confederacy, their proposed mode Of
] restoring her to her senses will have to be
| abandoned; the design of the latter is to drag
| the Palmetto State down to the same Disgrace
ful level which they themselves occupy On
these points, and the responsibility Of South
Carolina as leader in the matter of Southern
and State rights Gov. Seabrook commented at
large. He then showed that, if no other act of
aggression on the part of the North, by Con-
gress, be committed, the operation of the COM
promise measures, covertly assisted by the de-
| vices of hostile administration, would insure
the destruction Of the South and that her only
remedy was secession. In the application of
that remedy, he earnestly advised the exercise
| NJ aof md nd ak nI.,fo
| necessity Of avoiding precipitation If possible,
the end of every movement by the State, should
be seen from the beginning.
The convention az its first step, should dill
gently seek the CO operation Other sister States,
and after an exposition of her wrongs addressed
| to the people Of the Union, should demand OF
the Congress of the United States, through
deputation, especially appointed for that pur-
| pose, indemnity for the past and security for
the future. After the lapse off reasonable time,
| if no favorable change in the condition of our
relations with our adversaries take place, and
South Carolina be forced to choose between
submission and resistance by her unaided arm ;,
then let our honored Commonwealth unfurl her
banner in her own behalf, and in defence of her
own institutions. If the time be designated, say
six months subsequent to the abandonment of
all hope of redress, when she shall bid adieu to
icE HSSOChtcS, III is TcISOnaDie 10 suppose tnat
the great question Of the day in all its aspects !
and relations will be thoroughly discussed in
Congress, in the State legislatures-many of
which will be assembled for the special purpos,
and by the people in various sections of the
country. at their primary meetings. These dis
cussions will tend greatly to enlighten the pub
lie mind, and might result in consequences of
deeply important character.
Gov. Seabrook then directed the attention of
the auditory to the declaration, by even promi-
nent men, that secession would fe quickly fol- |
lowed by blockade of the port of Charleston
Passing by the folly and danger of freemen cal
cuating the cost of maintaining their liberties at |
all hazards. he said that, by the execution of
that threat by the federal authorities. civil war,
with all its horrors, and consequently dissolu-
tion Of the Union, would instantly follow. The |
blockade, or establishment of floating custom
house, would be, first an infraction of existing
treaties between the general government and
foreign powers; secondly, violation of the
warehouslng law, or the substitution of cash du-
ties for the credit system; thirdly, violation of
the provisions of the Constitution which declare.
that the citizens of each State shall be entitled
to all the privileges and immunities of citizens
in the several States" and that " no preference
shall be given by any regulation of commerce
Of another nor shall vessels bound to, or from
one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay du-
ties in another; fourthly, the usurping of
power which the trainers of the Constitution re-
fused to give to Congress, as the rejection of
the propositions submitted by Mr. Randolph Of
Virginia, MIR. Pnckney of South Carolina, and
Mr.. Paterson of New Jersey, so clearly shows
hithlv, by exercising an ungranted power il
would anDu forever the sovereignty Of the
States and convert republic of checks and
balances into naked despotsm. If the federal
government can use force against member Of
the confederacy in the maintenance Of its granted
powers, the States certainly have the same right
to use force against their agent to protect their
reserved rights. In this way the government
would become one Of force
IL the law concerning the arebousDg sys-
tenn be repealed in order to operate with appar-
ent safety against South Carolina or more pro
perly speaking, to wage war against her, then
that war will have to be wagcd by the Southern