The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-17
Ex- Governor Jsbnson's speech at spartan.
burg. n. Carolina.

course, expected that should attempl 10 eA-
plain the object of our meeting here, and al
though it has deranged, in some degree, the
course which had prescribed for myself, II IS,
perhaps, as well that | should say now what
had proposed, if left to follow out my own
plans.
On one occasion, not long past, which sup
pose, will be remembered by some, avowed
my intention of retiring forever from the tur-
moils of public life, content 10 spend the re-
mainder of my time here in the qnietude OF my
own Preside, and in the interchange of kindly
| offices with nv friends and negbbors; my age,
my iniirmities, and inclinations all conspire to
render this de. irable; but had not then forseen
/ that in 80 short Il time we should be involved
! in a controversy with our sister States, and in
! deed, amongst ourselves, presenting questions
| of as great delicacy and magnitude as ever a
people were called on to decide And, hUwev-
or, consciously incapable Of riding and directing
/ the storm, | should feel myself unworthy the
claims of n citizen, and degraded as man, if !
should shrink from sharing with you the respon
sibilities that are involved in the issue. If
| had but day to live that is due to South Car.
oira.
No one has ever yet questioned that in the
| frame aud substance of the federal Constitution,
its authors had in view the perfect equality
amongst tho States and individual citizens
equality of burthens and responsibilities
equality of rights, privileges, and immunties.
and uulil within the last four years, we, Eyes,
We ourseves,) supposed it the work Of holy in
spration, and regarded il rs the palladium of
our Liberties. Now, it is denounced as a scourge
and curse. How is this Holy writ itself is
! not secure against the assaults of wicked and
perverse men. Some deny its authenticity,
others pervert lis meaning so as to make it sub
servient to the vilest purposes. 50 it has
Jared with the Constitution; some hold that
there is law paramount to it, and under color
Of it wonld fire our dwellings, and butcher our
wives and children-o hers, admitting its au-
thorty, use it as pretext tor pundering us of
our wealth. In this spirit the Congress of the
United States, governed of necessity by MAJ
jority, has levied contributions on us in the form
Of impost duties, to construct public works at
immense expense, professedly national, but in
truth, merely local, and in which the Southern
Atlantic States have no participation, and TO
build up and protect the manufactures of the
n-saveholding States
The right of roperty in our slaves, which is
rendered indispensable to us by our climate, our
productions and our usages are guaranteed by
the express provisions of the Constitution, ard
these have been undermined In the spirit of
ldHdtiClSlu IL ulSelStu Immunity, litY nave
been purloined from us, and are encouraged to
escape from us. The thief and the fugitive
find protection in the local laws of some of the
States, and in others more potent security in
wild fanatical public opinion. This might be
borne, if we were free to right ourselves. We
are restrained by the Constitution by which
we ought to be bound unless we can shake off
IFS trImmels But this is rot all The gov
eminent itself has laid train that will blow up
the very foundations of the institution of slave
ry, unless we can cut it off 1t is already laid
around the whole extent of the Eastern, North
ern, and Northwestern boundaries and have
manifested, by various overt acts, the will to
extend to the Gulf of Mexico. Slavery is ex-
cuded from California ostensibly by the act Of
California herself, but does any rational man be-
! lieve that it was not done upon the suggestion
and procurement of the government, to shield
/ itself against the odium and responsibility of
! nterdicting it. New Mexico is destined to the
same course. Indeed, the abest, and believe
the wisest and the most considerate politicians
Of the slaveholding States insist on the
necessity Of combining slavery to its present
| territorial limits, where it can no more exist
than an oyster on dry land, and they know it,
They do not even Disguise the purpose of final
y eatrpating it, But we madden ourselves,
at thS-hands of the government, and those that
we know are in store for ia, and NAV blindy
adopt measures that may not only be unwise in
themselves, but subversive of the ends we all
have in view.
1t is not expected, that we can obtain repara-
ton for the injuries already inflicted on us, but
we all agree that we owe it TO ourselves and TO
posterity, TO endeavor by alr possible means, TO
protect ourselves against the wrongs which are
in store for us. Unhappily we differ amongst
ourselves, as TO what these should be,
Judging from what can collect of the Off
cial and authoritative acts Of this State, she is
pledged TO cooperate with all or even portion
of the other slaveholding States, to oppose and
resist to the last extremity, and continuance of
the wrongs and oppression Of the federal gov
eminent and with that view the legislature al
its last session provided for the election of dele
gates to n Southern Congress- in which il was
supposed all the -saveholding States would
unite Up to that time we all worked harmo
niously in the same harness. But unmistakabe
Indications of the disinclination of the other
States to unite with u.s. gave rise to a party
which have gone off at tangent, and insist that
We must follow at the peril Of prescription, and
maintains that South Carolina owes it to herself,
and is able, solitary and alone" TO protect her
self against the dangers with which she is threat
ened by the federal government, and pay this
party no compliment in saying that they are for
midable in numbers, sincerely patriotic in their
views, and highly respected foy their intelligence
and wisdom. Another party deserving as be-
lieve, the same consideration and respect, and as
suppose equally, if not more numerous. hold
on to the old platform, and insist that any al
tempt Of South Carolina TO resist the action of
the federal government and the Vaccinations of
the Abolitonsts of the Don-slaveholding States,
without the aid of the other slave States, or at
least formidable portion of them, will be fruit
less, and retard rather than forward the ends we
all have in view.
There are a few, and ! believe very few,
amongst us who suppose that in the end, our
best interests would be consulted by bearing as
well rs VIC may, the wrongs done to us by the
federal government and TO submit TO those that
are in store for us. They reason that all the
saveholding States united, would be unable to
resist the power of the federal government
that all the civilized world are united against uq
on the question Of slavery, and that the protec
ton of this government is the only security we
have against, universal combination against
us. With these have no community of feel