Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-13

friendly counsels, with seorn and contempt, when
expressed individually and separately, or collec-
lively in Southern Congress; and yet we are
old that In contradiction TO their earnest entrea-
ties and atfcctionate circumstances, we take our
tate into our own hands and withdraw ourselves
from the Union at whatever hazard to their peace
and prosperity, we shall be entitled to their SYM
pathy and their good wishes for our success! The
sight of our prosperity will at the end ofve years,
induce all the States of the South to follow our
example, ii we prove successful, and thus the
long desired conederacy of the South will be es-
tabhshed; and if unsuccessful we are instructed to
hope that the sympathies of our sister States will
DC so excited in our favor as to induce them to .
join us.
we are not left to conjecture how this prosperi-
ty is TO be attained with extraordinary candor the
speaker develops the plan to be pursued when
we are free In the first place, we are to have
roe trade with the States South of the Potomac
and ONO rivers, our relations with them are not
to be altered In any respect whatever, and upon all
lmportatons from States North of that line and all
other foreign nations, we are to levy duty of ten
per cent, not only producing an abundant revenue
but giving US the advantage of twenty per cent.
over all the other ates that remain in the Union.
Charleston is to be the emporium of this COM
merce, and not only the merchants and people of
the interior of South Carolina, are to be supplied
be had elsewhere in America, but those of the
cotermnous States 10 share the same advan-
tages. And if the Government of the United
States should attempt to prevent this fraudulent
Transmission of goods imported into Charleston, ORA
to disturb this active interchange of bales and
boxes, on which our prosperity is TO depend, they
may chance to find armed men ready to protect the
smuggers and fight for free trade and low priced
goods. We are 10 take no part in their illegal
moo nAd toto
his own accord and upon his own responsibility
But this part ofthe Senator's scheme for promoting
our prosperity is so extraordinary that we will
quote his own words. He says: eve have no
controversy with The people of Georgia, no con-
troversy with the General Government or its Off
GERS We have goods to sell twenty per cent.
cheaper than they can be obtained in Newly ork or
in any port in the Union. We will neither force
other people to buy them, nor enter other States
to sell them. The trade it exists will be at the
option OF those who think proper to come to US and
buy our goods. Relations of entire amy and of
mutual benefit (?) will thus exist between lis and
the Southern States. Such trade will not DESTROY
our merchants. 1t will make our trade pretty
nearly as free in going out as in entering our
State. "Charleston, the emporium OF this COM
merce, must especially rise in prosperity"
Without pausng to inquire of the honorable
and high minded merchants of Charleston what
they deem OF the morality of such proceedings,
let us examine the effect they would produce upon
the legitimate commerce of the Southern States
that remain in the Union. Would not sucha
course of illegal traffic, affect nuriously the trade
of Savannah, Wilmington, Norfolk and Baltimore,
to the same extent at least, that it benefited
Charleston? Will it be mutually advantageous to
them, thus to deprive those ports of the trade
of their own interior country? Would the adop-
ton of such measures by South-Carolina, excite
their sympathy or be followed by hearty good
wishes for our success?
The speaker encourages to immediate action by
assuring that there will be opposition to our Sc
cession on the part of the General Governments but if
the conduct he announces is really that which South
Carolina is to pursue, how long peaceful relations
with the U States be preserved And if war does
come, let it come, says the speaker. We will storm I
their forts and capture their rgates But do this
we must have an army the forts to be storme6
by volunteer unpaid militia, aud if not navy or ships
war must be procured for this especial service. Eve
II successful, we cannot expect our victories 10 be
achieved without serious loss for although we are no
laggards at lighting, the American troops and seamen
are conessedly brave and wei! disciplined, and will
probably make gallant deence; could not suffer
the brave men, who may be disabled in this contest to
perish with want or the widows and orphans of those
gallant spirits, who may fall fighting for our rights to
languish in poverty. We must have pension list in
addition to the expense of occasional embassy. and
altogether, 1t appears TO unsafe TO calculate our f-
lure expenditure IN time OF peace less than three mil
hons OF doll airs year, or at less than treble that
amount as long as the war may last.
1t is true that large may be counted upon in
the event of our secession being ulres.ted and orr
scheme OF free trade OF which Charleston to become
the depot being unopposed by the other States; but 1t
appears to me- such condition Of things would not be-
tolerated by hem or by the General Government for five
months much less for five years, the period fixed upon
by the Senator for the contamination he desires
should have been disposed place more reliance unon
the given by him that South Carolina will he
allowed 10 withdraw from the Unon without any oppo.
slion from the General Government, we're il not hathe
draws his inference of the probable policy of Congress
on this subject from two facts, which have no bearing
upon our being in or out OF the Union. They are that
the army bill proposing an increase OF the army and
the ortfcation bill both failed in the House of Renre
jorities The election OF the Convention in South Ca
rolina had then distinctly indicated her future course"
Now, it generally understood and expressly stated
that the Notifications called for be erected for
the defence OF the Gulf OF Mexico, and the additional
troops recommended to be raised destined to pro-
tect the Mexican frontier in iuilment OF our treaty
sipuations IA neglect of duty the part of the Re-
representatives. OF this country that cannot be widely
OF strongly reprobated9
All this has nothing to do with the secession of
South Carolina Ii the General Government should
determine to prevent South Coroina from seeding
from the United States and erecting in their midsta
great depot or goods which may be smuggled into the
coterminous territories, and from carrying out The sys-
tenn OF tree trade, umphantly announced as the chief
means OF our future prosperity and success they do not
require 10 increase the army or to erect foltca-
hons tor the purpose. What will De the means of CO.
erclon used by the government it the Senator should
prove to be mistaken in his peaceabe prognostcs do
not know, but feel myself called upon by the bro
thery feeling entertain towards every South Caroli-
man 10 warn my fellow citizens against all rash at
iempts to capture the frgaes storm the iors ofthe
United States | assure them that no number of yes
sells they could man and in the harbor of Charles.
ton would be able to contend with the least chance
OF success against single irigate war steamer; nor
lsit at all probable that any number of our militia ex-
cellent and brave as they PROFESSIONALLY are could
carry the forts in our harbor by Storm The attempt
would be attended with great and serious losses GER
tanly, while the success would be very doubtful
Notwithstanding, however, the Senator's repeated
assurances OF the peaceful acquiescence of the General
Government in secession, he advers occasionally
to the possibility of our project being opposed and in
that event proposes TO flight by land and sea- to fight
long; Unnecessary to fight eyerlastjuolvn Now no