The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-17
The PrcSrcss of Secession, Peaceable or For
p cibtc-si sirncrdinary speech OF senator
klAIitr An GaYOY a NelN .slln

fVrc,n The Charleston Mercury. April II
We give brief account from the Edgeled Id
svyr,sr OF Senator Buffers speech on Monday last.
1t viii be that, the result of has best obser-
yaton in Wellington, he il convinced there will be
no attempt to coerce South Carolina that the act
of secession does not involve the danger OF civil
war. /! tIis he precisely agrees with Mr.. Rhett
who, on tle same day in Charleston, very clearly
and strong : sustained the same conclusion. Our
Senators also fully agree in another very important
conc.usiou, that an attempt on the part of the
genera! got ernment 10 NJ aAtain its authority
Sonth sro'ns by force, would certainly and ineyi
tsbly resist IN Southern confederacy.
Al this point they seem to divide. For the very
reason hat south Carolina would be suffered to 90
pescCably out of the Union, Judge Butler some
Whist shrluks from it. lie snpposes that it would
be the policy Of the federal government to draw
as bfoHd lines as possible between andour neigh
bcr States, aad by every means to fix uron the
character OF a foreign nation. MIR. Rbett admits
that TIE federal government would have no good
viii to u, but maintains that they would ha but
yer limited power relations with our
sister States, aud he looks with the utmost coEf-
dence to the ability of South Carolina to support
her sovereignty with honor, and her industrial pur
suits III prosperity. lie is willing to trust South
Carolina. alone, TO maintain on her own resources,
tho char sctcr OF an independent state.
los our part We agree with MIR. Rhett We
know well tas., IN contest Of foree, south Carolina
could be borne Down by the other states uniied
But they never can be united Cor such purpose
and any serious attempt to combine their power for
the o!.,ec, OF subjugatng one, will speedily end in
y
attempt would effect speedily the indirect attempt,
whether BY blockade, by collecting duties off our
baTbors or by any system OF harasing hostility on
our border. would effect in no long tune. The
Federal. government will have greater interest in
keeping the peace, and observing scrupulously all
the laws Of good neighborhood, with u, than we
with them.
Within ourselves then, have any reason to
fear the results Of an independent government
We saseer, decidedly not south Carolina j. larger
than al those Gre ,an States combined, which
filed taeis and all after times with the glory
of their achievements in war and peace. South
Carolina j. nearly third larger than the entire
swiss Confederation which for more than four CEN
turtles has maintained its republican Institutions
and sturdy independence against the assaults oil the
powerful military governments that hem II IN on
every sids. south Carolina Is larger than Belgium
and Ho.land united two kingdoms that maintain
o respectable place in the politics Of Europe.
We do aot fear the consequences OF independence.
South ayolina has q foreign commerce greater IN
proportion to her population than any people IN
the world and, in the condition Of her industry
and the variety other productions has n substantial
fouDda ton for independence. Let u come, then
We do rot fear the result Of the trRl
The follo@ing il the syIo.sis Of Senator Butler's
speech =
Ii will be perceived that we have not even at
tempted outline Of this speech. Copious notes
were taken with the intention Of giving IT IN full To
our readers Ia this weeks issue Of our paper but
finding that the time before ~, independent Of
other erga gcments will not suffice for preparing II
~.
The re-, Son Of the speaker himself, have thought
proper L. postpone its appearance. Believing;
however, that the views Of our esteemed senator
upon the exciting measures Of South Carolina lc-
gislatinn will be looked foE with much anxiety by
the people of the state, we take the liberty Of
giving, Ia advance, what occurs to as being the
sum and subtt3nce sf them.
lie r., then, clearly Of the opinion that the fede-
dersl government i but another name for the ges-
potism of a maioTity-that under H., the southern
states have been pundcrcd and insulted, until it
has become their duty aud only road OF escape y
dissolve their connection with II. We win say, ~
passing that the Judge was eloquent indeed, when
dwelling upon this point lie il, without . shadow
Of doubt, TIE advocate, under existing circum.
stances, Of dissolution g thc Union,
In refercnce 20 the action pf south Carolina, nc
Is convinced that secession viii not be opposed by
IN. &c; Of war on the part II the government a.
Washington. lie has come to the conclusion that
the State viii be permitted to serelc peaceably.
1his he considers by far the most formidable dan
ger that lies IN our path. Were war a consequence
Of our action. he would not dread the step a. much
M he docs But lac looks with alarm to the ndca-
tions which becoming pal pable. that will be
permitted 10 derart without m0lcstation. Ills ap-
prehensions Of evil from this of mastery in.
activity are based upon the d,sens'ons which, he
fears will spring up among our people from the
strong opposition Of the commercial interests in our
midst and from the annoyances which Federal gold
may bride the surrounding states to inhct upon
as. lie fears this may render our action failure.
But he firmly believes that if South Carolina were
united she could safely and certainly dissolve the
Union at oIce.
Heexpresses his determination TO 60 into the con-
vcnon orthe sole purpose Of sustaining that course
which shall then appear to him most advantageous
10 the state. lie declares bis resolve to go wit n
the state, whether that convention may choose to
adopt hls advice or not. such his views an
frrltupa. a. ON unflar tan n