The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-07

Letter frsn Jshn \. Howard, Esq,
TO Hon. Judge NicoA, on The .6oveveiq nv Of ssc
Stale, The right Of Peoceebk Necsssion, aud IL
Perilous Condition ffhS South.
CoLuMRun (GA,.) .Jxly 40, 1851.
To HIS Honor Judge N.c0k, Eauanpoh, Il g..
CoEcLUDED.
/ Having established, beyond doubt the lin
tied character of the government, and the SOW
EREIcNTY Of each State, with its right of peace
able secession, it will not be improper, with 80
robustness and candor, to pass Ia review those
acts OF partial and oppressive Legislation which
have for long time disturbed the public mind
and which are now stimulating large portion Of
the South 70 the anxious inquiry OF What shal
be done to save the country 7!
i We have substantial complaints against the
North for series of oppressive measures for q
number of years past The Constitution has
been violated and wholly dsregarded in all those
acts of Congressional legislation whereby the
South has been indirectly, but practically taxed
for the benefit of Northern manufacturers and
Northern sbip-owncrs. The same selfish limo
walton upon the Constitution has been practiced
in the appropriation of the public moneys, by a
majority of Congress-, to sectional internal i'm
provements, in which the South has no interest
We complain of the injustice of the tariff above
revenue duty, and after much excitement, OBJ
tanned compromise in 1888, by which the prin-
ciple OF protection was expressly abandoned by
bill requiring from that time an annual reduc-
| ton of duties upon foreign importations until
they should reach strictly revenue standard in
| 1912 | am sustained in this declaration as to
the abandonment of protection, by reference
to the law itself; but notwithstanding the 81
lemnity of the agreement, which for a time qui-
eted the angry and enraged feelings of those
who were oppressed BY those measures, this
compromise was openly and faithessy violated
| in l84I. But what is to be more deplored than
even this violation Of a solemn engagement, the
party spirit In the South, won many of our own
people to the vindication and defence of that
act Of extreme bad faith.
Yielding to one depreciation invites another
and on account of our unfortunate divisions
into parties, we have yielded so often and so much
that the North has boldly and daringly excluded
the South not only from an equal, but any par
ticipation in all that vast territory won from
Mexico by the common arms of the Union
Flushed with these repeated victories, under thu
popular delusion that thu will Of the majority
: must and shall control, the Northern section has
! thrown off the mask, and openly arrayed itsel
against the South upon the question of slavery
, itself Candor must force the acknowledgment
from every honorable and we'll informed man
; that the great question now between the two
} sections, which is shaking the government to it,
centre, is narrowed down to the existence Of
abolition of slavery within the limits of the
United States
/ take it for granted that the South docs moi
intend voluntarily to relinquish her right to holc
slaves, and the evidences of settled determine
ton on the part of the North to pursue such a
system of legislation if unresisted, as will ult
mately, and indeed in short time, abrogate thai
right, are 80 abundant and multifarous, an6
have been 80 fully laid before the public, that il
would be trespassing upon the general intelli-
gence of the country to attempt in this letter t.
recount them. What then is to be done in this
fearful emergency when contending sections Of
the confederacy, equally tenacious of their policy
come in dire conflict, threatening serious anc
, alarming disturbance to the quiet of constitu
tional and well regulated government? Mus
the South, who id on the right side, yield for thu
purpose of peace, and give up their rights, anC
: their property? or rather ought not every goot
n man, every lov,r of law and order pause, ant
a with his hand on his heart reflect and examine
for himself, whether the North has not assumed
and continues to assume, an authority upon thi
subject, destructive of our equality and of GU
h rights of property, and wholly incompatible will
the limited powers Of the government, and il
direct violation of solemn pledges to the South
independent of an officious intermeddIing with
right which is exclusively our own ? To de-
ternne this question of Interference with the
institutions of slavery intslligibly, and correctly
the righ0>bf the conflicting sections must be
9 looked into, that justice may be awarded to the
!, right side, and remedy provided to enforce that
Justice The North has no charge against the
South for trespassing upon her rights the South
never invaded any Of her privileges. She has nc
( complaint against us. We have then but one
+ side to examine in regard to expressions which
, renders the investigation less difficult We have
a right to our slaves-but as this is broad pro-
position upon which the whole question rests
and is disputed by almost the entire North and
regret to say by n number at the South it be-
comes necessary for me to adduce proof in sup
port of that right. ] will comply with this de
mand and present a testimony, the dec sions OF
, the courts of all civilized nations recognizing
African slavery from the earliest times. and fur
, ther, the fact of its existence, under our own
colonial government, as well rs being provided
for, supported, and protected by the Constitution
Of the United States.-Arf. Isl. Sec. and, and
4 9th, Art. 4th. Sec. and.
These references presume are satisfactory
to all but Aboitionists; a right 80 well estab
lished did not until lately deem necessary to
proue IN Southern State.
Who proposes to disturb and abrogate this
long existing and until lately. undsputed right
The North. BY what authority BY virtue Of
a connection in government with us, from which
they claim the power Of abolishing this institu.
: ton, and boast that the late victory over the
4 South in excluding slavery from California anc
= the territories, opens the way to its speedy ex
tinction throughout the Union.-Tbey loot
upon the battle as almost won. The main gu
ton, then is, slavery or no slavery. But there
7 is previous or antecedeot question which il
now put, and if decided in favor of the politics
of the North, clears the way for carrying by
majority, the main question against us This
antecedent question is, whether one of the
States of this Onion has the right to secede for
any cause which in her Judgment will justify
sucn course The trial of this question
J is going on before the great tribunal, the
people Of the South. The question is distinctly
made by those who support the compromise as
I" wise. liberal and Just" IN their declarations
there is no remedy against VIC alton of the
. Constitution but war and revoluton-that no