The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-21

To The Editors of the Charleston cour,s,

7th by the honorable H. D. hhstl, al meeting OF tue
Southern Rights Association Charleston and observed
in your leader OF the date OF that publication that you
nounce your readiness TO admit the frees discussion
The exciting topics o. .ss S1y PROVIDED inc a.c'ef Ms
looked anxously Tor reply TO this speech some com
ment upon the assurances and assumptions il contains
permit them 20 forth the deliberate opinions OF the
sober thinking portion OF the people OF South Carolina
without at least recording my dissent and assigning my
reasons for differing with the disDg shed orator give
him due credit for his manly and frank exposition oil his
own views and opinions as well as Tor his startling and
undiss used revelations Of the future conduct and policy
to be pursued by the independent Stale of South Carolina
He tells that he has been battling IN the cause Tor the
last twenty five years. and that the hour to
carry the great OF He says: "A
every hazard, and to the last extremity secedesecede
aone--for southern congress now would be rum
With Virginia. Maryland, Kentucky. Missouri, and Ten
nessee land he might have added all the other slave
Staes1 in such congress, what would be its counsel
Submission submission for Observation-Disclosures tor
us And should we, in disgust, retire from congress we
ourselves have convoked, cast their counses under
our feet might not excite the resentment and aena-
ton of our sister southern States composing it"
II is somewhat difficult to comprehend the difference
of feeling likely 10 be excited in those States by our
treating their opinions and even friendly counsels with
scorn and contempt, when expressed individually and
separately, or collectively in southern congress; and
yet told that il, in contradiction To their earnest
enreates and adectOnae circumstances. we take our
fate into hands and withdraw ourselves from
the Union, whatever hazard 10 their peace and pros
perty, shall be entitled to their sympathy and their
good wishes for success The sight of pros
perty WILL at the end OF five years. induce all the States
OF the South TO follow example, II prove
u and thus the long desired conederacy OF the South
will be established; and if unsuccessful, in
structed 10 hope that the sympahes OF sister States
will be excited in favor TO induce them Join
We are not left 10 conjecture how this prosperity to
be attained with extraordinary candor the speaker de-
velops the plan TO be pursued when free. in the
first place, we are to have free trade with States
south of the Potomac and Ohio rivers; relations
with them not TO be altered in any respect what
Of that line, and all other foreign nations, we are to
levy . duty OF 10 per cent, not only producing an
cent all the other States that remain in the Union
Charleston is 10 be the emporium OF this commerce and
not only the merchants and people of the interior Of
cheaper than they be had elsewhere in America, but
those OF the contermnous States share The ad
ana h 81 mt
goods imported into Charleston, to disturb this active
Interchange Of bales and boxes which prosperity
protect the smuggers and fight for free trade and low
priced goods We arg q take no part in their illegal
proceedlngsnot at all the smagser comes to US OF bis
own accord and upon his own responsibility But as hs
part of the senator's scheme for promoting prosperity
is so extraordinary. we will qaote his own words. He
says "We have no controversy with the people OF
Georgia controversy with the general government
its officers We have goods TO sell 20 per cent cheaper
than they be obtained in New York, in any port
the Union WE will neither force Other 70 A
exists will be at the option OF those who think proper to
come to and buy goods. Relations OF entire ami
soahsn trade
our merchants. 1t will make trade pretty nearly as
free in going out as in entering our State Charleston.
the emporium oil this commerce, must especially rise IN
prosperity" 49,.
minded merchants of Charleston what they deem OF the
morality OF such proceedings. let examine the effect
they would produce upon The Legitimate commerce OF the
southern States that remain in the Union. Would not
such course of illegal traffic affect inuriousy the trade
Of Saw a
the extent at least that it benefited Charleston
Will By mutually advantageous TO them thus TO deprive
Would tho adoption 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
surng us that there will be opposition TO
sion The part OF the general government but il the
conduct he announces is really that which South Caro-
lima - TO pursue how long can peaceful relations with
the United States be preserved! And il war does come,
lei II come, says the speaker we will storm their forts
and capture their fgaes But 10 do this must have
army the forts TO be stomed by volunteer
paid militia and il not, navy ships OF war must be
procured for this especial service Even successful
we cannot expect our victories TO be achieved without
serious loss for although lagyards fighting,
the American troops and confessedy brave
and well disciplined, and will probably make gallant
defence We could not suffer the brave men who may be
disabled in this contest TO perish with want, the
widows and orphans OF lhose gallant spirits who may
fall fighting for our rights 70 languish IN poverty. We
must have pension list in addition TO the expenses Of
occasional embassy; and, altogether, appears 10 ne
unsafe to calculate our future expenditure in time OF
peace less than three millions OF dollars year. or al
less than treble that amount long the may last
II is true that large revenue may be counted upon in
the event OF our secession being unressted and our
scheme OF free trade. OF which Charleston il 10 become
the depot being unopposed by the other States but II
appears TO such condition of things would not be
tolerated by them BY the general government for i've
months, much less Tor five yeaTshe period fixed upon
by the consummation he desires | should have been
disposed TO place reliance upon the given
by him that South Carolina will be allowed to withdraw
from tbs Union without any opposition from the general
government, were not that he draws his inference OF
the probable policy OF Congress on this subject from two
facts which have bearing upon being in out OF
the Union They are, that 'the army bill, proposing an
increase of the army and the fertilization BILL both failed
the House OF Representatives at the close OF the last
session by large maorities The election OF the
ton in South Carolina hal then distinctly indicated her
future course" Now, II was generally understood and
expressly stated that the Notifications called for 10
be erected for the defence OF the Gulf OF Mexico and the
additional troops ndcd be raised destined
TO project the Mexican frontier in fulhmeni of treaty
stpsIaionsa neglect OF duty the part Of the repre-
senatves OF this county that cannot be too widely or
strongly reprobated.
All this has nothing 10 do with the secession OF South
Carolina II The general government should determine
10 prevent South Carolina from seeding from the United
States and erecting IN their midst great depot Tor goods
which may be smuggled into The conlerminous territories
and from carry out the system OF free trade. trlum
phantly announced The chief means OF future
prosperity and they do not require to increase
The army or to erect ortIhcaons for the purpose
What will be the OF coercion used by the govern
nent the senator should prove 10 be mistaken in his
peaceable prognostics do not know but feel my self
called upon, by the bohefy feeling entertain towards
every South Carolinan, 10 my fellow citizens
sfNll H.