The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-08
Letter from John n. Howard, ESQ.,,

TO Hon. Judge Nlc0lI, ON the Sovereignty OF each
Stale, the righ Of Peaceable Secession, and the
Perilous Condition of The South.
COLUMBUS, (GA.,) july 20, 1851.
To His Honor Judge N,coll, Savannah, Ga:
(Concluded)
Having established beyond doubt, the lin
tied character Of the government, and the SOW
EREIGNTY of each State, with its right Of peace
able secession, it will not be improper, with Sc
robustness and candor, to pass in review those
acts of partial and oppressive legislation which
have for long time disturbed the public mind,
and which are now stimulating a large portion of
the South TO the anxious inquiry of "What shall
be done to save the country?"
We have substantial complaints against the
North for series of oppressive measures for
number of years past The Constitution has
been violated and wholly dsregarded in oil those
acts of Congressional legislation whereby the
South has been indirectly, but practically taxed
for the benefit of Northern manufacturers and
Northern ship-owners. The same selfish nDo-
walton upon the Constitution has been practiced
in the appropriation of the public moneys, by a
majority of Congress, to sectional internal i'm
in which the South has no interest
We complain Of the injustice of the tariff above
a revenue duty, and after much excitement, OBJ.
tanned compromise in 1888, by which the prn-
ciple of protection was expressly abandoned by
a 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 a reference
to the law itself; but Notwithstanding the So
emnity of the agreement, which for a time qui-
eted the angry and enraged feelings of those
uh n xuo hv fhnoa fhio
compromise was openly and faithlessly violated
in l84l. But what Is to be more deplored than
even this violation of 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 anu par
ticipation in all that vast territory won from
Mexico by the common arms Of the Union
Flushed with these repeated victories, under the
popular deluslon that the will of the majority
must and shall control, the Northern section has
thrown off the mask, and openly arrayed itself
against the South upon the question of slavery
itself. Candor must force the acknowledgment
from every honorable and well informed man,
that the great question now between the two
sections, which is shaking the government to its
centre, is narrowed down to the existence or
abolition of slavery within the limits of the
United States.
take 1t for granted that the South does not
intend, voluntarily to relinquish her right to hold
slaves, and the evidences Of a settled determine.
ton on the part of the North to pursue such a
system of legislation If unressted, as will ulti.
mately, and indeed in short time, abrogate that
right, are SO abundant and multifarious, and
have been 10 fully laid before the public that it
would be trespassing upon the general intel-
gence of the country to attempt in this letter to
recount them. What then is to be done in this
fearful emergency, when contendng sections of
the confederacy, equally tenacious of their policy,
come in dire conflict, threatening serious and
alarming disturbance TO the quiet of constitu-
tional and well regulated government? Must
the South, who is the right side, yield for the
purpose of peace, and give up their rights, and
their property or rather Ought not every good
man, every loy,r Of law aud order pause, and
with his hand on his heart reflect, and examine
FOR himself, whether the North has not assumed
and continues to assume, an authority upon this
subject, destructive Of our equality and Of our
rights Of property, and wholly incompatible with
the limited powers of the government, and in
direct violation Of solemn pledges to the South,
independent of an ofheious intermeddling with
a right which is exclusively our own To de-
termine this question of interference with the
institutions of slavery, ntslligiby and correctly,
the rights of the conflicting sections must be
looked into, that justice may be awarded to the
right side, and a 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 no
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 a number at the South, it be-
comes necessary for ms 10 adduce proof in sup
port Of that right. will comply with this de.
mand, aud present 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, rs we'll as being provided
for, supported, and protected by the Constitution
Of the United States.-Ari. Isl. Sec. And, and
4h, Art 4fh, Sec. and,
These references presume are satisfactory
to all but Abolitionists; n right so well estab
houoos NV iatciyy uetui UcCc5SatJ w
prove 10 a Southern State.
Who proposes TO disturb and abrogate this
long existing, and until lately, undisputed right!
The North. BY what authority by virtue of
connection in government with us, from which
they claim the power Of abolshing this institu-
ton, and boast that the late victory over the
South In excluding slavery from California, and
the territories, opens the way to its speedy ex.
tinction throughout the ulion--They look
upon the battle ss almost won. The main ques.
ton, then is, slavery or no slavery. But there
is a previous or antecedent question which is
now put, and ifdecided in favor Of the politics
Of the North, clears the way for carrying by n
majority, the main question against Us This
antecedent question Il, whether one of the
States of this Union has the right 10 sccede for
any cause which IN her Judgment will justify
such a course! The trial Of this question
is now going on before the great tribunal, the
people Of the South. The question Is distinctly
made by those who support the compromise as
wise, liberal and just" In their declarations
there !, no remedy against violation Of the
Constitution but war and revolution---that no