The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-03

Wnehipatou. The 1sht for Ire war and purchass
Of Gallfoxnia, should be dsbited exclusively 4
tho free States, siuce they have appropriated the
whole Of It ~ themselves. At all events, ~
will honestly and fk(Tiy meet any proposition "a
adjaet any pecuninsy liabilities our withdrawal
| from the Union may Involve. But war cancels
ell obligations. II tHty choose IL. we must ex,
cept of it. But repeat do Aot believe that
war of any kind will follow NJ u consequence
Of our secession from the Union because war
cannot prevent it, and will only lead to wider
disruption Of the Union. It will be far easier
indeed, in my opinion, to get out Of the Union,
than to keep out of it. You see the movement
already made in Virginia to keep Us from going
out Of the Union. Such movements will be
multiplied after we are out Of 1t to induce our
return. Missions FROM our sister Southern
States-concessi0n with lavish professions of
regard from the Northern States--abolition
covering for the while--slavery agitation sup
pressed in Congressman and internal improve
ment apparently abandoned lin short every thing
will be done to concliate the Southern States,
and keep them from going with us out of the
Union. In the meantime our separation from
the Union will be made as harrassing as posi-
BILE by the operations Of the general government
to foster discomfort in South Carolina, and de-
feat the advantages which will naturally arise
from our separation. This will be our real time
Of trial. To hold on firmly to our purpose, of
an entire redress for the past and security for
the future, or to keep out OF the Union forever
will task all our fortitude and euergy.
Let them offer 70 us the Consultation of the
United States, with that equality Of rights and
privileges all its spirit breathes; equality in Con-
gress, where the disparaQing and insulting agi-
tston of the subject Of slavery shall no more
enter forever; equality in taxation without dis
ordinations in favor Of one pursuit Of industry
at the expense of another; equality in the ex-
penditure Of the taxes, by limiting nppropria-
tons to the objects expressly specified in the
Constitution equality in our territories, at least
as far as thirty-six degrees thirty minutes North
latitude can bestow it--from OUT Indian terri
tories to the Pacific ocean--let them offer to US
these, and all of these, secured to US by new and
distinct guarantees in the Constitution, and we
will listen to invitations TO return into the Union
To all else we should turn deaf but respect.
full ear. These are now ours, BY right, under
the Constitution of the United States The free
States have despoiled US of them. If they wish
such Union rs the Constitution establishes
and their faith pledged them to observe, they
can have it, il they will propose it. Any other
it would be insult to offer, Voluntarily to 20
back into degrading inferiority and bondage, will
be more infamous than to have endured it under
the stealthy usurpations of the Northern States.
Dsunion, and disunion forever, or all our rights,
should be our fixed and. unalterable determine
ton. la4 6ss
Fear is a very unreasonable passion--often
the more unreasonable when there is least to-
apprehend. We have alarmists from fear Of
war; but as the prospect of war disappears, we
have greater alarmists for fear Of peace. To
the imaginations of some, nothing is so terrible
as to be uDmolested--to be let alone bv the
general government, If it fights US, this ter
ror by no means to be encountered but then
we viii have company. But not to fight us is a
still greater terror 1t is to leave us alone,
without company; and what mortal man can face
such catastrophe. Why, gentlemen, have
thought that laissez nous fair" us alone)
was the grand principle of free trade, for which
we have been contending for the last thirty
years. ! have thought that to be let alone was
the grand principle Of all free government JUS
tice from without, against the aggressions or
wrongs Of foreign nations--justice within, be-
tween man and man--preveniion merely, this is
the righteous and limited aim of all free govern
mett As to all else, let us alone What have
we been asking, as to all tn great measures of
aggression, which have at length rendered the
general government no longer endurable to free
men, but let us alone" Let US alone on the
tariff Let us alone on internal improvements
Let MS alone as to the currency. Let us alone
with respect to our institution of slavery
Keep to the simple purpose of prevention, for
which you were created, and protect us against
foreign nations. Such have been our demands
They were not needed, and we cast off tyranny
which, like the frogs Of Egypt has come up into
our houses, and our bed chambers, and TIE
houses Of our servants. And now, shall we fear
being rid Of it! Shall we trembe at being let
alone Are we afraid of ourselves, or are We
incapable of ruling ourselves! If so, it is sheer
nonsense to aspire to liberty or Independence
Let us submit at once, without murmurs, and
without efforts for deverance, to be the colonies
we are in reality Blot out the proud motto
from our arms; and let our flag, once free, never
more greet the sun. If our enemies think
proper, let them lay in waste thousand miles
around us. Let them make South Carolina nm
island on the continent-cut off forever from all
sympathy or association with any other State in
the Union Who will suffer most by this policy
To reach US, the dagger must pass through
others. The great world of commerce is before
us, over the broad Atlantic. We can live, and
if we can live free, it is enough. Better any
fate than the slow, torturing death which awaits
ms in submission. If our neighboring States
choose this death, and think proper to let the
general government stop up the channels Of
their commerce with us, let them do it. If they
have not had enough of its interference in their
affairs, they take it still nearer home TO their
business and bosoms, although tainted with abo-
litonism itself But | believe in the prevalence
Of no such policy. South Carolina, in the heart
of the South, cannot be permanently isolated
from them in policy, as she cannot be in inter-
ests and institutions. The general government
may make some spasmodic efforts to produce
this result; but if we stand still and firm, they
will fail, as the passions Of the present give way
before the mighty tide of interests which must
sweep the South together.
But secession will not only bring us isolation
in the South but heavy burdens in the personal
military services we must render, and increased
taxes we must pay. We are to live in military
boots, with KNAPP sacks on our backs and have
costly foreign embassies, and standing army
and navy to support.