The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-28

understand that the most absoutey fatal policy thai css
prescribed limits. Thus localized and hemmed IN,
vitality langash and die given area oil coun-
Try will Afford lucIass employ mslt 70 much mole ha-
rous white than colored population. whether II be
slave or free population. Slaves not ntted Tor many
OF the avocaaioDs oil tbs white The slave popua
on of South Carolina increases more rapidly than lne
white race and al this time considerably exceeds ~
What would be OF dfusing over pew AND less
popuous countries rapidly increasing slave popuia
lion, il South Carolina make herself foreign slale oy
secessionl Our slaves may now be carried into any
Stale oil the Union which has not made the introduction
of them unlawful They may be sold to the c,,zens Of
such States or removed with their owners The vast
and fertile lands OF Mississippi and Texas offer tempting
fields for the slave labor OF the old southern States Con-
gress has power to intepose any pfohsilon or re-
sraiDt But Congress has long since under the special
provision OF the constitution, made the introduction OF
slaves from foreign country into State OF the Unlon
highly penal offence. The moment, therefore, South
Carolina shall secede from the Unlon-he other sounefh
States remaining in itthat moment IL would be high
crime to carry slave from this State to Georgia. OF 70
any other State Such State would have no power 20
authorize it, the power being in Congress ne oonhu
aries OF State could never be passed by save
so long as it should be foreign State: we nave al
ready been excluded from California, and utah ana New
Mexico by the unconstitutional and unjust LEGISLATION OF
Congress, and shall permit our own infaiuatoh
to exclude US from the rest OF the world! Heaven save
us from such insanity!
If secession would not place us in better position for
the recovery of fugitive slaves or Tor spreading our slave
population over other countries, but would nterpose m
more eectua OF depressing the fanatlcsm OF the
northern Siaes am incapable OF perceivIng any such
effect No, gentlemen, no; will require the resources
and energies of than OF the savehodng States
quiet this wicked agitation. TO resist its fatal inu-
ence The strongest governments in Chrisendom--
France and Sweden, and Great Brain-have been made
to Weld up their beautiful Islands in the West Indies
desolaon to appease the fury oil this demon. The
Spanish West India islands and Brazil now the only
civilized countries on EARTH beside these southern States
in which slavery exists, and the fourth OF century will
not leave vesge of it in either of them. And we mast
be wise to escape their doom at no distant day Win
these consequences before would it be wise to resort
secession, against the views and wishes OF all those
States that are bound in common destiny with u.s.
confess, with profound regret that can perceive no
regard the peril to slavery Immediate and imminent az
we do cannot however, believe that they less
resolved to protect and preserve the domestic institution
OF the South than ourselves. But whilst they under
estimate The danger to il from the action OF Congress,
they hugely magnify the difficulties and the dangers Of
disusion Yet they have made issues and conditions
connected with it which we take for granted they
will exact from the North. Their demands will not be
conceded and soon, very soon their "hnal hope will be
eve this Union and slavery cannot stand together And
unless greatly msinerpret the omens, this appalling
truth cannot much longer be disguised 1t has not yet
been realized by the North or the South.
You seem, gentlemen, to be amazed at the course pur
sued by Virginia 1t has not struck with either
prise or dismay know you are taught by more than
OF statesmen TO look TO this venerable State Tor
counsel and for lead. But never supposed she to
be the standard bearer of the South in contest for sa
the usurpatons of the general government in former
days but what has she done to rebuke fanacism
The great leader in the memorable contest OF l7SS
one OF the earliest and most eloquent of those who dep
recated, if they did not denounce. slavery. No; Vir-
gnia will lead the hosts OF the South whose des-
oy is to resist the crusade against slavery That great
duty, my opinion will devove upon South Carolina
Georgia
But lead who may it is our destiny to act conspicu-
Gus part in the contest when il shall and
will surely there God Interest and self pres
eryaon wall and unite the States that grow cot
ton, and rice, and sugar Let hinder this
great movement by any rashness OF ours Let us moi
vany endeavo 10 separate destiny from that OF all
those States that have common interest," and from whom
alone, of all mankind have right to hope for succor
OF TOT sympathy Renemoei we cannot preserve slavery
them yield ourselves to neither ashness despair lie
look to the future with courage and with hope. Lei
us do duty this great crisis and animate and
excite others to do theirs II the other southern Salei
shall follow the example OF Virginia still let not des
pair strike our coors. We shall sink below high
destiny II have the courage, and the constan
cy, and the forttude to meet all the vcissudes OF
test which involves hopes, happiness, exist
ence.
During the autumn of last year, both in speeches and
conversations repeatedly expressed the opinion that il
but one State should secede the general government
would attempt to enforce the laws OF Congress and
cree her into obedience. have since nothing to
change, but much to confirm that opinion Ii is the
province of Congress to make laws but the duty Of the
he will perform. The President and his Secretary OF
State have given repeated that this duty will
be discharged. know OF reason 10 doubt that il will
be attempted The army and navy placed at the
mand of the President for that purpose The Presdent
and Mr.. Webster belong 10 school OF politicians who
DO not admit the right OF Stats to secede from the
Union. This opinion has been often expressed by MIR
Webster, and expressed with reference South Caro-
lima They hold that resistance the laws OF Congress
by State 10 awess resistance and TO be treated the
act OF rebels and traitors
have taken much pains TO ascertain whether il South
Carolina secedes, she will be sustained by the the
public opinion OF any other State. The result is
vicion that our example would not be followed
conduct justified by any OF them They evidently do
not regard the past The present state OF things nst
Tying secession and fear they believe that South Caro-
na from facous and selfish motives, il endeavorDg TO
involve them IN contest without cause, and would look
upon struggle between the general government and this
State without concern and without sympathy
From the foregoing views il will be that my opin-
ions that the southern States remain in the
Union without degradation, and ultimately the abolition
OF slavery that slavery OF greater value to the South
than the Union that secession is the only remaining al
tentative but that il should be resored to only the
means OF establishing a confederacy OF more
saveholdng States that al this time the secession OF
South Carolina would neither be followed nor justified by
any other State that the secession OF South Carolina
the present time, the other southern States remaining in
the Union, would only aggravae the evils OF which
justly complain, and would be inexpeden and unwise
that such event force woud be attempted BY the fede
raj government, and the great object OF secession
seriously hndered and endangere II not utterly defeated
have now, gentlemen, expressed my opinions upon
the deeply interesting points indicated in your communi
cation with the frankness and candor that becomes
scrutiny and your consideration. They opinions de-
thc