Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-07-19

It's NlcLlm or ltS VlCIOr. L VIII not QWeu this
point The whole history of abolition, it's rise,
progress, present power and ultimate aim, un-
mistakably point us to our destiny. When ito this
you add the hissory of the imposition of taxation
and its disbursement by the federal Government
for the last twenty years, well may our Senator
declare to you that the Southern States occupy the
degraded condition of prescribed political commu-
mites. Mr.. President, have 'come deliberately
to the conclusion, that this Union cannot, and
ought no longer to exist To us of the South it is
hard bargain. 1t has failed to accomplish the
ends for which it instituted The compact
creating it has ceased to be of binding effect on
those who, by mere force of number, can control
its action. We ehave suffered until we can suffer
no longer 1t is time we should seek new safeguards
for our future security.
This brings me to the consideration of the real
question before us, and on which some difference
OF opinion seems to exist. Shall we send forth to
the country, the declaration that South Carolina
will secede from Union, faithless to its own OBJ
legations, regardless of rights and no longer
compatible with interests and safety The OBJ
lection to this course, so far as | comprehend
it is, that it will deprive of the cooperation of
the other Southern States and defeat the formation
of a Southern coufederacy, object all have
so much at heart, cooperation and Southern
Confederacy There was time when there was
some magic in the words. once listened with hope
to the sound, and fingered with delight over the
glowing picture which eloquence has SO often
drawn of that magnificent confederacy, which CO.
operation sure and so soon to usher into ex-
istence. But the humiliaiing realities that sur
round us, have broken the charm and dispelled
the illusion. With whom will you cooperate >
With Virginia A little more than year ago her
legislature solemnly resolved to resist legislation
the slave trade in the District of Columbia, at
all hazards and to the last extremity; and but
char
and cody intimates her dspleasure, at the course
she thinks South Carolina will pursue. Mr. Pres
ident what melancholy spectacle is here presen-
ted. The land that gave to the world the genius
that penned, and the immortal spirit that triumph
antly vindcated the great chart of American liber-
ty, has become the nursery of a new school of
statesmen, who draw their lessons of patriotism
from that comfortable philosophy, which teaches
submission to present ills rather than fly to those
we know not of VIII you wait on North Carroll
ma The honorable Senator has paid a merited
compliment to North Carolina, in the early days
of the Republic, but let him point me, if he can,
to single oasis in this wide waists of federalism.
There is not here single hook on which to hang
a hope. Itremains to be seen whether the gallant
Clingman will not be sacrificed, because of the
excess of his zeal in defence of Southern Rights.
Turn to Georgia and gather hope if you can by
listening to praises to glorious Union from the
ton marched up to the hill and then marched
down again. With a majority of her people, the
test of patriotism and the passport to honor, is
buse of South Carolina, and those of her sons
who have manfully stood up for Southern Rights
unseduced by the patronage and unterrihed by
the powers at Washington. How stand matters in
Alabama? Visions of federal honors, l fear have
absorbed the soul of her amiable King, and the
fiery Clemens, who eager to ''face the mu-
sic' has lowered his coors before the first roll of
the drum has been sounded In Mississippi the
prospect, though not altogether cheerless is by no
means encouraging l know, sir, that in all these
States, and throughout the South, we have many
gallant friends who think as we think, and who
feel as we feel and who at the first tap of the drum
will rally to standard, ready to sink or swim
with US in upholding our cause and theirs. But
these friends are in minority In their respective
States, and without some new issue must continue
Ifthen it is idle to wait for cooperation, what ef
feet will. our declaration have upon the cause of
our friends in these States. Will it weaken or
strengthen them? Surely Mr.. President, it can
not njure them for us to say to them, that we are
in earnest, and we intend to do what they expect
us to do, and what themselves are laboring to
bring public opinion up to in their States
On the contrary, dispirited by desertion at home,
will give them courage to learn that the cause has
not been abandoned everywhere, that one blow at
least will be struck in defence of the prescribed
and doomed South. Sir, it must, it will infuse
fresh zeal and renewed activity to their ranks
righteous cause never looses by an open and
fearless course. In such a cause we all feel en-
barked. Let us then defend it like men and leave
the consequences to God.
But, Mr.. President, independent of all consid
erations as to what effect such declaration will
exert ON the cause elsewhere, we owe to our peo-
pie distinct and unequivocal avowal of our in
tentons and purposes. If we are in earnest let
us say SO in so many words, and let the public
mind be fully prepared for the grave issue. Let
the people fairly contemplate it in all its hazards
and all its consequences. On the other hand, if
we only propose to crafty vanity by the lavish
expenditure of feryid but pontless eloquence; If
we only intend to maintain equality and de-
fend our rights by the formidable battery of round
ed periods and sounding resolutions let at once,
without advancing another step, proclaim the hui
initiating fact. In our opinion, one single act in
such farce is quite enough. 1t is too costly an
entertainment for change of scenes or the intro
ducton of nterludes. Let the drop curtain close
at once and our proceedings. Increased
taxation, to be justified by a remote contingency
we are afraid to face, is, [ assure you, music to
which the people will not willingly dance. The
truth is, turn and twist it as you may, we have
reached that point in this controversy when we
must choose one of two alternatives We must either
advance step forward, or take step backwards.
There is no possible middle ground on which to
stand. To doubt, to hesitate, to waver at this
stage of the game will inevitably lead to disgrace
and disaster For one, infinitely prefer that we
give in our adhesion now, than at some future pc
j rod Mortirvinp as IL will he If will he far Lose