The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-26

attachment to the Union continued withoi 4
abatement Great as was her interest in free ade
she opposed reduction OF the revenue duties
as she was not deslrous of breaking down tn,
INDUSTRY OF the Northern States, where large
investments had been made in manufa etures. IN
der the encouragement and stimulus that war had
afforded. Her generous conce ssions were con
yered into an absolute right on the part of heed
less majority TO shacke the entire industry of the
country Dy system OF monopoly and restriction
as odious as 1t was tyrannical / need not recite
oyou the steps by which this monstrous system
ofBjustice at last reached its detestable maximun
of prohibition in the tariff OF 1928 South Carolina
single handed, struck for the freedom Of the in
dustry of the whole country. No base slandere
shall rob us OF the glory of this victory. TIL,
odious tariff was repealed, and a solemn pledg,
| was given 70 the people of the South that IN,
duties should be- hereafter levied tor revenue ant
not for protection, although the latter might be in
| cidentally promoted
This, General Houston, i, the sixth glorious item
70 the credit OF South Carolina, In the history o
this confederacy.
After this triumph, accorded in a spirit of so much
justice and amty by m ajority OF both branches
OF Congress, South Carolina returned 10 the track
other old loyalty to the Union; but unfortun aely
IT was but temporary truce. A gang of unprin-
cipled demaeogues, in comparison with whom
Cataline and Cethagus were patriots and honest
men, made the discovery that, by agitating on the
subject OF slavery as question of political power
they could summon to their aid the influence Of
The pulpit and light the fires of fanaticsm which
would give them control over the government Of
The Union, even If that Union was lost in the con-
flagration they had kndled. In the darkness Of
this night, did South Carolina ascend the watch
tower and treacherously cali out that :" all was
Wei, when we were in the midst Of this peril
No. She met il at the threshold; she denounced
the outrage, and demonstrated at once the viola
ion OF that compact by which the rights of the slave
holding States were guaranteed. She brought into
this discussion an august intellect which is now
hushed in the repose of death. No man could
meet the mighty argument which ne eauncIated,
and reason was triumphant where even prejudice
could not be subdued. maintain, fearless Of con-
uadicuon, however deeply deplore the present
excitement in South Carolina, that the reaction
which has taken place in the non n-slavehoding
States, on the subject of slavcry-the SCOTS and
shouts OF execration which are lavished upon the
Wimot provlso, and all The farago of an atrocious
fanalicsm-ar to be attributed to the attitude which
sne early assumed in this controversy. The Will
mots have fallen SO low that there is no newsboy.
even IN the streets of Washington, who would now
do them reverence
This Gen. Houston, is the seventh item to the
credit OF South Carolina, in The history of this con-
federacy.
Now, as one Of her sons, | think South Caro-
lima should pause here. Let her rest upon her
arms. She he's won honor enough
Although the violation of the great compact on
The subject Of slavery, stipulated and affirmed in
the celebrated Missouri compromise, has been
grossly and ffaerantly violated in the Territory of
Cahfornia, yet II is enough that vast majority of
the people Cf the other Southern States Ave ac-
guessed IN this wrong, TO induce South Carolina
10 submit to what seems to come with something
OF the force OF moral necessity. Between aveng-
ing an outrage OF this kind, and the responsibility
OF piecIpltatng the country into a civil war [
think no prudent man would long hesitate in his
election ! cannot resist the temptation of here
adopting the language OF one OF the most beautiful
and philosophical Of modern authors, who says,
and Justly says:-" That in revolutions as in ali
human movements, there are certain erhicaLcon.
dluons, as well as prudential ones which true men
and wise men VIII always respect. War has Its
morals as well as peace moreover, as war Is of
all controversies the most affecting, as il is that
which involves innocent parties W ho have had no
partin bringing II about, who yet may suffer the
worst OF lis consequen ces il should be the last as
II should be the most solemn, of human resolves"
nope That my countrymen, before they make
this solemn resolve, will bring home to their bo-
SONS at once the balm and charity of these truths
When, therefore, invited, in q letter which ad-
dressed To MIR. Cheves. from Texas, the in,erposi-
iion Of Virginia, looked TO the pre- eminent proba
bilty, II she invoked convention of all the South
eIn o'at. at her capital, constituted under the au
thofz.d forms OF the ir respective constitutions that
pachc solution of the whole controversy might
be achieved, or, II this was possible-whch did
not dee m probable under any contingency-its dis
soiuuon nightb De eonsummated withoutthe convul-
sion OF civil war, which the separate secession of
one or more OF the States might inilict on the
country. do not shrink under your rebuke from
The responsibility OF thls recommend ation. 1 be-
Ieye II 10 be WIS.,, pacific and consderate What
South Carolina could not do for the want of iniu-
ence, Virginia might accomplish with great DO
tency and effect. II she does not now consider
her honor, and the honor of the entire South, as
staked On the good faith with which the Fugitive
Slave law is 10 he enforced in the non -slavehold-
ing SIates-if on this point, she is not prepared to
caul "ior the niniy.nnth part OF hair''-she
must have made up her mind 10 surrender at dis
cretion 10 our adyersaries, and certainly can find
no fault with South Carolina il she advances and
throws herself in the breach. fear, General, you
are not quite as good prophet as you may be
statesman, The INK on the paper was scarcely dry
(which you prognostic aied thstthe Fugitive Slave
law, like the llalcyoD, wo lid float in peace in the
good city Of Boston, before negro mob, abetted
by white men, has broken inio her courts Of JUS
ice tnf put her officers TO a flight not very much
resembling the IetIeat Of the Ten Thousand of Ze-
nepbon.
hope, for the peace Of the country and the ineg.
MY OF the Union, your predictions may be verified.
Tear, however, that the peril of dissolution OF
the latter will have to become far more immine al
before conviction OF the necessity of executing
the law VIII be paramount 10 the present force OF
public opinion, not only IN Boston, but throughout
The non-slays sholding States. Nor do think your
apology for Vermont at sil more successful tn an
your prophecy Ii ! am not mistaken, you charac-
tenze The tnnulment of the Fugitive Save law, by
The Lt legislature Ct that State, fraud or surprise
on ne members at the last hour OF the session. Yet
surely IL could only have been passed by quorum
and majority Of those actually present. The act
does not since seem 10 have been repudated by
public opinion in that State. / have heard, how
tNcis NrfhioH gwen Ol tNc WH0le all
The act, II is said, passed when the members
OF the Legislature were usdef the influence Of an
inspiration which Is apt TO make men more
mtuy than wise. i must confess that | could
not well have believed that the people of Eer-
mont were obnoxious te the charge that John Ran
dolph made against ,our county-that I" we could
enter for the cup, Of be ing The most drunken nation
on earth; thought cold water ran over the sur
face OF Vermont with the copousness with which
The Nile mandates her delts, cleansing all the al
luviuns OF insobfieiy-th blue ruin and Monon-
pahela had been exercised from the limits Of the
STATE, not as adulterated potations, but :" as
the devils own'-that Bfatte borough was a
moral, a. well asmedical BeIhe ada, in which some
OF our hart victims, even in Texas, might be dip
ped 10 considerable advantage. But that there
shenld be drunkards in such religious and moral
con muniiy "a Vermont, which at once detests ne.
gro slavery, and. as | supposed, abhors whiskey
with equal loathlng--thst grave Assembly, under
the influence OF both, should have "run a muck
against" the constitution Of the United States, is
inceed passing strange NV object. General in