The southern press., 1851-08-06
From tie UniospilIs Journal.
Hon. D. WaIlase's Position.

Hon. D. Wallass's Position.
According to the promise made in our last
number, We publish below a brief skstch Of the
address delivered by Hon. ID. Wallace, ON the
7th inst. The speech was delivered in the court.
house, and though no notice had been previ-
ousIy given, a large number of persons were in
attendance, who listened to the speaker with pro-
found attention, and frequently eyinced their APP
probation by repeated bursts of applause He
commenced his address by stating that he would
not attempt to discuss the wrongs inflicted upon
the South by the government OF the North.
| Upon that branch of the subject the argument
is exhausted The question before US relates to
the remedy which must be resorted to, to redress
these wrongs. 1t is of the utmost consequence
that the people Of South Carolina should un-
derstand their true position. In reference to
the wrongs which we suffer, and those which are
threatened, it may be said there is but one opin-
ion among the people Of South Carolina. We
have arrived at the point when we mpst deter
mine the mode Of resistance. There are three
!. alternatives which present themselves to our
nsideration-secesson, civil war, or submis-
sion. He regarded the latter as impossible.
The people Of South Carolina can never be SO
unjust to themselves and their prosterty us to
submit to dishonor and degradation. There re-
mains then, the two alternatives, secession and
civil war, and we must choose e.ween them
for, by one of these modes, we must resist, or
submit To resist by civil war in the Union is
to take up arms for overthrowing the govern
ment by violence and bloodshed. Secession
may be peaceable--if it be not peaceable, it will
be not our fault but that Of the government
which seeks to degrade and sruint,is. He be.
lieved that it would be effectual, and the only
mode by which we can secure our rank as an in
dependent people--our property-onr liberty,
and our honor.
/ II is due to ourselves and the cause we have
so much at heart, that the plain truth should be
spoken. The contest in which we are engaged,
! is not of our seeking. We have preferred
peace and tranquilty-they have been denied
I us. The aggressions of which we complain,
and which have created such deep discomfort in
the public mind, have been forced upon US, and
in repelling them, we resort only to the law of
self-preservation, which nature herself has
stamped upon every heart. We are not respon-
sible for the perils which surround US. We
cannot aIlay the excitement-it is beyond our
power It is not sudden ebulition of feeling,
which will cease with the passing hour it is in
fact, revolution, moral, social and political, and
we must prepare to breast the storm, or it will
sweep over us in an irresistible torrent, and
cover our country with desolati0n. This is
the alternative presented and we cannot eyade it.
We have now no check on the despotic power
of the government of the North. Our delega-
ton in Congress is powerless to protect us--as
much SO as if we were without representation
| ia the national legislature. If Congress, at its
next session were to pass law, emancipating
every African slave in the Southern States, to
what measure could we resort to save ourselves
from such violation Of her rights, except one
of those suggested, secession of civil war? The
veto power given to the President by the Con-
stitution, is virtually abrogated.--The war CON-
menced upon the dominant will Of the minority,
by Mr.. Clay, in the Senate. in l84l, has, in effect,
resulted in the repeal of that clause of the Con-
stitution. The will of the majority is the law,
and the government is now converted into a
despotism as despotic as that of Russia. Gen.
4 Taylor was elected upon virtual reputation
! of the veto power. He declared in his letter of
acceptance of the nomination for the Presidency,
that he should regard the action of Congress as
an expression of the public will and any meas-
ure passed by that body, should meet his ap-
Y proval.
i The only barrier which the Constitution inter-
poses between us and despotism, is thus broken
down. IL was the last foothold of Southern
rights We have now, no guards remaining to
protect US from the aggressive act of the govern
ment ; and it may be asserted without fear OF
contradiction, that the veto power will never be
resorted to, to arrest tyranical Legislation; for
no man will hereafter be elected President, ex-
4 cept upon the ground that he is opposed TO
/ African slavery We are thus placed in a con-
dition far worse than the people under the
monarchy of England. The House of CON-
mons of the British Parliament may compel a
reform in the government by refusing to levy
the necessary supplies; but the government OF
the North holds both the sword and the purse
in its grasp. II can tax the South to raise the
purse in its own subjugation by the sword. No
language can better define a despotism, than
this. The right Of secession is the only mode
by which we can exercise the veto power upon
the federal government. The veto power
should be left with the States, by the ex-ress
terms of the Constitution itself, where alone a
safe depository Of il can be found. IL becomes
the question of the last importance, that the
righ of secession should be established and ac-
knowedged and were there no other questions
now before the people Of the South than this
alone, IL would be incumbent upon them TO OBJ
tain clear and distinct recognition TO this right.
| How are we TO obtain this recognitionl There
is no way 10 obtain Il but to resort to the act
of secession. Until we have seeded from the
UnioH, we can obtain no recognition Of the
right to secede Once out of the Union by the
act Of secession--having resumed that sovereign
ty which is now denied us, our voices will be re-
spected, and until then IL never will be. We
will then be in condition to make terms IL we
desire TO save the Union this Is the only mode
by which it can be done. Let us suppose that
South Carolina has seeded from the Union. IL
the general government resort 10 coercion, and
South Carolina is subdued, there is an end fnr.
ever Of State sovereignty on this continent. BY
that act alone, the character Of the government
will be disclosed, and il becomes at once, to all
intents and purposes consolidated empire. IL
State sovereignty be thus crushed in the case of
South Carolina, in cur fate every Southern
State may read their own.
| What State south Of us would ever seek 10
defend themselves in any way against the ty-
ranny of the general government, after South
Carolina has been subjugatedi When that time
shall arrive, the phantom Of confed rated re.
II s..I- a.