The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-10

eving ourselves from the wrongs already in
hcted, we see no hope in waiting for new out
RACES to arouse higher spirit Of resistance
The new outrages, we are well convinced, will
come in due time but we feel no assurance
that the spirit of the vassal will rise in proper
ton to the indignities heaped upon his head
On the contrary, we see that the South has
already borne what it would not for moment
have submitted to ten years ago, and what the
North would moi then have ventured to perpe-
trate
| We are not willing to try the experiment
how long it will be before our spiri, is COM
pletely broken by gradually and continually
Welding to slow and gradual, but unceasing en-
croachmeIts. And il the exercise of the right
of secession is to be followed by the attempt
on the part of the government of this confed-
eracy to subjugate South Carolina, il is better
that we should meet that attempt while we still
have some spirit and some power of resistance
left. If we are to submit to the condition of a
conquered people, we think it less dishonorable
not TO do so until we have first been conquered.
And if any thing could add to the necessity
which we believe exists for a withdrawal from
the existing Union, it would be the denial of the
right of secession For the denial of that right
indicates, of ITSELF extreme danger. The right
of secession has heretofore, and in better DAYS.
been regarded as unquestisnable, by all South
ern politicians, with the exception of an incon-
siderable number of consolidatonists And If
ever that right can be denied, ithout arousing
the whole Sou.h to sustain it, the South will be
ripe for the most miserable fate which has ever
befalen any people. 1t will then, as perma-
nent sectional minority, have no defence against
the tyranny of government combining all the
vices of the corruptest democracy, and the most
oppressive foreign despotisul.
We know the consequences which will follow
a failure, in our effort to maintain our liberty
We see clearly, that triumphant exertion of
the power of the federal government, in subju-
eating State, will vastly increase that power.
and greatly accelerate the change already far
advanced, Of our federative system into con.
solidated central despotism. We see, also, that
South Carolina will not suffer the consequences
of this change alone, but that the rest of the
Southern States must suffer in an equal degree.
They will have no Safeguard against the central
government, strengthened by crushing opposition
and rendered by triumphant force what our
Northern enemies have long been endeavoring
to make il by fraudulent usurpatOn, the supreme
government of a consolidated nation The sove-
rcignty of one Southern State cannot be des-
troyed, without the loss Of their sovereignty by
all the others. We are aware of the response
bilty of doing an act which may hasten these
consequences. We feel the respect which We
owe to States having a common interest," threa-
tened by common danger, but not equally
persuaded with ourselves of the necessity Of ac-
ton. And nothing could induce us to take,
without their concurrence, course which is to
involve them in its consequences, but a thorough
conviction of the necessity which urged u.s. and
of our right to do so.
Addressing citizens of Southern States asso-
ciated TO maintain the rights of the South, we
cannot imagine it to be necessary to argue about
the right of secession. We hold it to be the
State right, without which all Others are nuga-
tory and incapable of being enforced, and your
position assures us that your faith cannot be
different from ours. Nor can we regard it as
necessary any further, to discuss the wrongs
which have been inflicted on the Southern States.
They may be denied by those who shut their
eyes to them but you'do not belong to that
class Southern and State rights men, may
differ as to the necessity of exercising the right
OF secession at particular time, on account of
those wrongs; but, as certainly as the rgtex
isis, each State must possess the right of judg-
ing for herself, as to the occasion and time for
its exercise. If South Carolina decides that
honor and safety require her to secede, she has
the right to leave the confederacy, peaceably and
without molestation. If the act of secession is
not permitted to be peaceable, it will be from
usurpation Of power by the federal government,
not from the nature of the act performed by
South Carolina.
Accustomed as we have been to violations of
the Constitution, and of the rights of the South
ern States by the federal government, we have
TO look forward to the probability of another
outrage by that government in the attempt TO
fnre ha ata IN ,,xt - m
suppose the attempt will be made, If the other
Southern States permit it. Those States must
decide for themselves whether they will permit
it. South Carolina must decide for herself
whether it is necessary TO secede. Her sister
States of the South will have no right TO CON-
plain that she forces them into position where
they must either interpose to prevent her sub
jugatlon, or by conserving to it, abandon their
own sovereignty, aud lay themselves at the
merry of despotic power. In seeding, South
Carolina will simply do an act which all South
ern men who believe in the existence of State
rights at all, must admit that she has perfect
right to do; an which she regards as absolutely
necessary. She will be acting on her sacred
right. She will be acting as she would have 20
act If none of the other Southern States were
in existence, and she were the only object Of
aggression by the Northern States and the fed
eTaI government. one u not anSWeraOle Tor the
usurpntions and injustice which may Be CON-
mitted against her. And for the sister States of
the South to ask of her TO refrain from an exer-
else OF the right which she regards as in dispen-
sable for selfpreservation, would be an intcrfer-
ence with her free action Of far different char
acter from any with which she can be charged
towards them. Sovereigns are equals. In Sc
ceding alone, South Carolina would be placing
her sister States of the South under no re-
straint If they should find themselves in po-
sition of restraint, IL would come from the nc
ton of the federal government, not of South
Carolina But If they should insist on her re-
trimming from the exercise Of her right and SUBJ
hitting TO a condition which she regards ms i'm
tolerable, they would make themselves parties
with the federal government in placing an un-
justihable restraint upon a sovereign and an
equal.
We wish that the necessity for separate action
by South Carolina which we have contemp plated,
may be averted. We confide in the gallant
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