Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-15
-, of cborles J. McDonald.
SUMMERv1LLE, GA, July 26, 1851.


SUMMERvILLE, GA, July 26, 1851.
1omen,-T received your note of invitation too
ponswer it at home. and | seize q moment of
while travelling, to say that | cannot, if it
fSS.berwise proper, be present at your meeting
Doth instant. Much will depend on the re-
fvour deliberations ; and allow me to say, that
rse YOUR State may pursue is destined to have
'~ondous influence for good or for evil on the
s5oracv. That the great principles of equality
ss'stice whick lie at the foundation of the Con-
:on have been fagrantly violated by the admis-
3nfCalifornia with her usurped Constitution, in
q Union and the organization of territorial Gov
~,a+s in Utah and New Mexico, with the under
1Irng bv those who enacted the law for the pur-
'" hat the Mexican law prohibiting slavery pre-
.bore over our own political regulations to ex-
y. + therefrOm, is unquestionable. 1t is equally
that this utter disregard Of Southern rights, has
a,ndation in a fixed purpose to abolish the insti
.r Of slavery in the States The purpose is avow-
Dr r the whole North that another State tOlera-
The institution of slavery shall never be admit
Ss.ato tbe Union, except such as the Government
Innd ly its compact with Texas, to admit 1t
y som be insisted, apprehend, that compact has
obrocated by the Compromise, Notwithstanding
:nnI9tions in the bribery act and State cree
n Texas territory will be refused admission, I'M
= nrohihit slavery. The Constitution is then to
%hanced and Congress is to acquire authority 10
fore with and take away the property OF the
a y. If the States. The Constitution of our ia
%E' Nv tbe change. is to be despoied of its excel
,, and the rights which the States now have TO
2.,ro and regulate in their own way, their own
D.9 Is to be prohibited to them. The system OF
(C,nment left by our ancestors, beautiful because
u Jf1llv administered, it is ust and equal IS 10
+so,fcrred into hideOus system capable OF wrong
Injustice even when constituhonally administer
# the powers now held by the people OF the
ties. and the States as independent communities
to be consolidated, and placed in the handS ' VI
General Government, the States OF the North
HI North West, being most powerful III huni-
rs will have absolute control and dominion upon
rights and interests Of the people in other Sec
Time will develope these things. They are in pro-
., and will be accomplished The people are to
ermine what is best to be done for their own pro-
l,ion and the people of each State must determine
themselves. The right of State to secede from
H. Union, is unquestiOnable The secession OF q
.e from the Union, being the exercise of a right
served by the people in the Constitution, it being
exercise of power not prohibited to the States,
follows that the government has no power to sub
-te her 1t being no offence against the COnstitu-
N against the law of nations. nor against the
lhs Ofthe general government, it will be no cause
war. If the State secede she will be a foreign
yap,O all intents and purposes, and the general
r1rT1
SrOrv, than it can on the territory of any other
gsn government. These positions are, believe
-iniable. If your State were to secede from the
rion, the General Government could not interfere
brcG her into the Union, nor could it enforce
g laws over her. IT the Government were tC
-mpt it, it would light up blaze of civil war
rcb could never be extinguished, but in the
+ Us blood of the lovers of constitutional freedom
it'll sincerely hope, that you will not take the as
60 L
Fragment to proceed to extreme measures, to Sc
alon from the Union. There are Southern States
T5ch are in the same predicament with South Car
na which have been as much wrOnged and as much
cured by the unequal measures of Congress. Then
aple however, do not see the danger to them sc
1nincnt, do the people of your gallant State.
They hope, and they are led to hope, by men II
those judgment they have confded, that the hanC
wrong has done its last work of injustice to them
md that the government has arrived at the point a
r6Ch its aggressions will cease. The people o
ergia entertaining these opinions, have in thel
uerign capacity, determined to abide the wrong
6g have suffered, and hope in tho future fidelity o
g&e@Vernmcnt to the constitution. You cannot
EXPECT therefore, the cooperation of Georgia, in any
measure Of resistance, against the past measures o
Congress. She has taken her ground, however, fo
nuure, and declared what she will and Ough
Dh should the General Government continue it,
Der Southern State would unite with you in Sc
smg from the Union, | do not know think i
Eremey improbable. A large nulnber of The
apIe, IN other States, who think with Carolina tina
eWronSS OF the Government are scarcely endura-
are unwilling to resort to so strong a measure
resistance. Is it not a matter we'll worthy to bt
DIdered by South Carolina whether it is not bGs
defer to the opinions of her sister States, equally
nnged with herself; and whose sympathy she has
iOnkV, Il
at least questionable eXpediency If the hopes
dher States are realized, and the Government re
11s to due respect for the rights of the South
MA faithful administration of the Constitution,
respectfully ask, if it is not better to remain
H@are united people ? | think so decidedly
oral we want is faithful administration Of the
institution 1t will give us all our rights. | con
mat my fears are, that those hopes are withou
" ioundat0n But it is matter that time must
aae' and the decision will soon be made |
ae against the constitutional rights of the people
snail be as one man, in any measure necessary
me safety and happiness of all having common
would ask if it would not be best to base you
lon upon the common public sentiment of the az
-Heu States. | assure you that the people ar
Fry appreciating the danger of tolerating pal
We violations of the Constitution and unless the.
nave their rights respected they will take NJ
EV"CAWafuS; their march Will be onward, untl
Aerights they are entitled to under the Constitu
are respected and protected.
must beg to be pardoned. from the interest fee
DIS subject for inviting your attention to mat
which has doubtless been we'll considered by you
the people of your State, generally. If Soutl
'olna resorts to secession and separates hersel
WI the Federal Government, she will be Foreign
eminent to all inteuts and purposes She viii
inject to all the policy adopted by our Govern
& n CTn Tlo,
les collected on foreign importations, will be col
aei on merchandise, coming through and from
% %5%lna Your great and growing seaport will b.
asy$goe to disadvantages that cannot now be wei
,r ,r'4 and if your example of secession should
a n% OIowed, it does not require much political
o"5'y to toreSee the difficulties to which you will
sGnyected. trust that whatever you do may