The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-11

Southern rights, hss been 70 elAhoyxtsly de
cusssA ~ S0ane Of the iFut miuds 81 w cOun
try, and y 10 well understood by oar people. tha
= woul1bs GtIrsly out al plaeA spk indsed
pFesn&1 tuoua IN me, 70 atfsmpt4e sd4Anythine
upon - subjArt tits proper, kowseg, that
should ~ = the fswest words possible, thai
the Unlen Il . voluntary compact Of t>e STATED
Composing t&at Uaion--that each State IL thu
srbiter Of her'0wn rlghts-tbat regard seces
sion A. a constitutional remedy, and that when
ever the Union fails of accomplishing the ends
and purposes Of il creation, and the powers o.
the central g0serRment are 80 used and abused
or perverted, a. to become oppressive to State
and tend to the destruction of her most cher
ished institutions, and to her dishon0r and deg.
radiation, It 10 not only the rigM but the duty Of
each StAte TO secede from the Union And
while have no hesitation in maintaining the
right Of secession, have as little hesitation in
Declaring It my settled conviction, that the time
has arrived for the exercise Of this right; for
think no attentive observer of passing events
can fail to zee that the entire demolition of our
constitutional rights is the aim and fixed deter
only from the open and undisguised expression
Of public sentiment at the North, but equally so
from the course Of legislation persisted ia by a
Northern majority in Congress.
The interests and welfare Of all the Southern
States am equally involved in the controversy,
and It u Of great moment and much to be de-
sired, that fhsre should be joint action and CO.
operation among the Southern States, II it can
be attained. TO that end approve Of the CON-
templated Southern Congress, in which South
Carolina, BY providing for the election Of dele
ga TO that body, has invited her Southern sis
tiers to myet her and take counsel together. II
is proper, therefore, and respectful to the other
Southern Ststss, that no time has been definite
~ fixed for the meeting Of our State conven-
ton, 30 az to allow reasonable tune for the
assembling of the Southern Congress before
our State decides upon her ultimate course OF
action. If, however, the Southern Congress
does not assemble in reasonable time, or,
should it assemble and advise tame acques-
cence in the grievous wrongs and aggressions
which have been, and are continued to be, heap
ed upon the South, then, in either of these
events, ! am decidedly favorable to separate
State action.
In short-for the present Union have no
vencration. 1t is not the Union established by
our fathers and religiDusly believe that a long
or continuance in the Union would be deroga-
tory to the honor of our State, destructive of
her best interests and result in her political de-
gredation and the social union Of our people
Thus believing and feeling see no other means
Of salvation but in secession; and therefore
advocate secession either with or without the
concurrence and cooperation of the other
Southern States. Ii the Southern States, or
any one or more of them, will cooperate with
US, 80 much the better /; if not, we have the
right, and believe the ability, " net alone.
II my views and opinions thus briefly and
hurriedly expressed, meet the concurrence oil
my fellow citizens of Williamsburg, then can
conscientiously represent them in the conyen-
ton, If they think proper to send me there. If
on the other hand, my views are not approved
by the people, there is no more effectua way OF
manifesting their disapprobation than by with
holding their votes from me, and casting them
for another and worthier man.
Very respectfully, A. w. DOZIER.
10 the Voters Of Georgetoaon District
As one of the nominees by late meeting in
Georgetown, to represent this district in the
convention ordered by the legislature at its last
session, am called upon, in pursuance of a
resolution of the same meeting, for some ex-
preston of opinion as to the position the State
should take in that convention.
am among those who have no superstitious
veneration" for the government under which we
live; but on the contrary deep rooted, and as
conceive, very rational hatred of it. It, like
all other governments, was formed for the pro-
lection Of the lives and property Of its citizens
but does it affo d that projection to our most
valuable property? On the contrary, is it not
through those who have the absolute control OF
it, the Abolitionists, constantly making the dead
lest assaults upon that property and have these
men not openly declared that these assaults
shall continue until their object is attained Be-
sides, we are already degraded from our position
Of equality In the governments position dearer
TO frcemen than all else.
The government then has failed of its object
Instead Of being our protector and friend, we
find it in relentless oppressor an incompromis
ing foe; and Is it not rational, il it not just to
hate such government, and to regard It's over
throw al "a contamination devou " to be
wished"
But it may be said we all agree as to the desir-
ableness Of such result-the question is ho,t
it may be accomplished more surely, admit, by
cooperation among the aggrived States, but
separate Slate action and, failing to obtain con
cert Of action, | am in favor Of secession by
this State alone.
/ We ale told that if we secede alone, orr de-
struclion is certain. Suppose that it is so
which do not however believe, can it be more
sure than that rnin will overtake US in the
Union. Will any rejecting man deny, in the
face Of the repeated declarations Of those who
now rule this confederacy, that il We remain
members Of It we are doomed people! What
then is the difference since both paths lead TO
ruin! II is ths-the one is the path of honor,
and of duty-the other of lasting infamy.--
And if we are to 60 down let it not be till we
have struck one blow at least for our indepen-
dence, and to redeem our pledges.
\ J. II. TRAPIER.
From the Fioridian and Journal.
FEDERAL RELATIoNs-While we feel little