The republic., 1851-08-13
From Col. ]. S. Preston.

COLUMBIA, July "a 1851.
GENTLEMES: Yesterday received your letter,
postmarked the 2lst inviting me to meet portion
Of the citizens of Barnwe, at Barker's Mills, on
the Goth instant. While regret that cannot join
you, permit me to thank you very earnestly for
the honor you have done me in the cordial invita-
ton you have been kind enough to extend to me-
] agree with you thoroughly in the belief that
Separate action by South Carolina, under present
circumstances, Il mean without operation ac-
tually established,) can do no good to a cause in
which we all so much interested, and may do
incalculable evil" This does not deny by the re-
notest inference, the ndisputable and fundamen-
tai principle of the American system of federal
publcanism-the sovereignty of the contracting
States, and the consequent right of those States
interpose that sovereignty to remedy evils grow
ing under the compact, either by change of poll
cy or by annulling the contract. We, in South
Carolina, believe that the evil of this Union has be-
come to destroy that vital principle the
Confederaton-the equality of the States-that its
determined policy is destructive to our best inter-
csts-and, therefore, that the only remedy for us is
TO annul the contract. None of us hope for a
remedy in the Union. For one, do not desire
1t. We are disputing among ourselves, then, as
| to how and when shall political con-
nexion the dissolution of which, unless most care
fully and wisely done and at the right time, may
be fatal to all we cherish citizens and patriots.
Whether take counsel from fear or interest, or
both, (and both are comnendable in the patriot
cannot but believe, if South Carolina acts alone
in the effort dissolve the Union, that act will be
attended with results appalling to the contempla-
ton of every man who loves his country-and that
among these results, most prominent, and, to my
conception, most certain, is the consolidation of
/ ~
| ition of slavery. Besides this, am deeply inn
! pressed with the apprehension that, in conflict
! with the General Government, sustained by the
other slave States, South Carolina would fail ef
feet her own deliverance. She may become glo-
rious martyr-if glory can be predicated on such
raartyrdom-but apt to fear she will not eff.
feet distinct nationality. Arrogate TO ourselves
and for purposes a divine virtue, and all
we hope for may come without struggle. But
such seems not TO be the order Of Providence in
these latter days. Men must and fight
for their rights: Reason first, and if that fails,
then fight. Now, it seems to that reason
tells us, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and
other States, have interests identical with ours
that the power Of this interest is greater acting in
masses, than by segrcgation-thht these States
have like courage, intelligence, and appreciation
Of selfinterest as we have-and, if our cause s
right, they cannot resist the mpulsion which drives
them to unite with In this view cannot be-
lieve the power exists earth which can keep
Georgia in this Union ten years longer or half that
time, unless her emancipation is retarded by pre-
mature conflict brought on by our rnshness. Dis
union is now reigning through all her vast borders.
The unusual sound Cong familiar TO us) is arous-
ing her people to look to great political rights which
have been fast melting away while they we're en-
gagged in the petty interests Of cphemeral partizan
ships, the absorbing pursuits Of personal aggran-