Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1847-1861, 1851-09-23

OF the American people. have dwclt more
cmphatically on this topic, because | con
slider the right Of secession as by far tho
most important Of all the questions involved
ia,tEc present controversy; and the attack
omit as one Of The most insidions, rs we'll
rs dangerous blows, ever levclled at the
rights of the States, all of whom are deep
" interested in the issue, since those, who
are now the aggressors. may one day be
plSced in Il position where it will be their
only refuge from tho uncontrolled dospo-
tisrn Of a maioritv. With regard to the OK.
pediercy Of the State of South Carolina
exercising this right ofsccessiou, either now
or at any future period, it would, conceive.
.bespresumptsous in one so far removed
from the scene OF action to offer his opiu-
ion, or intrude his advice. In such crisis,
South Carolina mnst act for herself alone.
! would only observe, that iii taking step
so decisive rs thar Of withdrawing from the
onion, unaninity among her ciimcns. or
something nearly approaching it, seems IN,
dispensable. it appears, however, that
manp-distiuguisLcl men among YOU, whose
rsMtalion is national, whose opinions are
entitled to great weight, and who have here
tofore taken the lead in opposing Ac Com
promise, believe that the time for secession
is not vet come that the cooperation Of
at least majority of the Southern States
is absolutely necessary to the sGcce5sta Is
spe Of such measure; that it is best to
wait for further injuries, or at least % sec
neither they will produce such co-opH;a-
y: Those whose views coincide with I'll"
.O"ol,,;or. ..o"i adopted By your Association, on
.I,o ..Lor ham, believe that Immediate Sc
cess;on. ',rs % or sccessio.' after waiting rGa'
sonablc time" for the & >'-opera'lon OF o'noT
States, is Indispensable to the safety and
,snor ,s Of tbc State of South Crrolna.-
Which Of these parties will even:n> ny pre-,
dominate remains to he seen and unt. ''''''
ia decidcd, shall content myself with a.
sertinc the right of secession, l>eTinG the
expedi,ucy of its exercise to be decided by
tho result. Should it be found that very
considerable minority is not only opposed
Int will rcsist n resort to this remedy l%r
their grievances, | conceive its immediate
,dnntion wo ald be hazardous in the extreme.
But when great interest are at stake, mnch
sbonld be risk ed in their preservation. For
myself, will only say, that were | citi-
zen of South C;volina. or any other South
ern State, II trust | should not he found a.
monc those, who, after placing themselves
3, f.e,t of tbe battle, and leading their fol.
lowers into a position whence they could
not retreat without t'ishonor retire from tho
field, only, it would Heem. TO see ii the enc
nv would pursue them,
A few words more, Gentlemen, IN order
that NAV not bc Misunderstood or m'S'
represented, and will no longer trespasS
on your time or patience.
iii know myself, and She innermost tecl'
ings Of my heart, ! am better i'ieno i"
the Union than many of those who, while
loudly protesting their devotion, are stcadI-
" pursuing course of policy that has al
.reodv al;enated considerable portion OF
IT'S Citizens, and Wftf assurEd1y -Dr1ng -Hbunt
its dissolution. 1t is under the influence
Of this attachment, that | have lent my fee
bic aid in opposition to that policy. Meth
er force nor coercion can preserve Union
voluntarily formed on the basis Of perfect
equality; nor do I believe il possible to pro-
serve or perpctuate this Confederation by
any attempts to extend the powers of the
General Government beyond the limits pre-
ssribed BY the Constitution, strictly con.
strued, agreeably to its letter and spirit
The srst attempt to cocrce any one Of its
members, will be the handwriting on the
wall, predicting The speedy and ccrtian fate
of the Union 1t is not to be presumed
that great States, many Of shem equal in
extent to powerful Kingdoms, and inhabit-
ed BY increasing millions of frcctncn, jeal-
Gus of their rights, brave, high spirited, and
energetic, can he held together except by
q voluntary cohesion. This Confederation
may be likened to the great system of the
universe, and it is only, by the benign and
gentle influence Of attraction, that the bright
stars of our constellation can he kept in
their orbits. Those who attempt IL hridlr
or spur them, will, in the end, fare like the
rash fool who aspired to direct the chariot
Of the sun.
am, gentlemen, your obd't scrv't,
J. X. pAULDING.
To +. D. Richardson, II. II. Raymond, VI.
H. Peronncau-Co Committec, &c. &c.
Charleston, South Carolina.