The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-29

he coaaHaucy, and q Elbfsituds 70 mSts ~ ~
yicissitndes al Z coafest which Involves on
hopes, our happiness qRr existencs.
During the autumn d iast year, both In spsechee
and Conversations, repeatedly expressed re
epinou, that II but ons State should seeede, The
general government would attempt to enforce
the laws Of Congress and coerce her into obe'
dience. have since seen nothing To change,
but much to confirm, that opinion. u u the
province Of Congress to make laws, but the duty
of the President TO execute them. This duty he
solemnIy swears he will perform. The President
and his Secretary Of State have given repeated
assurances that this duty will be discharged.
know of no reason TO doubt that it will be at
tempted The army and navy are placed at the
command Of the President for that purpose
The President aud Mr.. Webster belong 70 .
school Of politicians who do not admit the right
of State to secede from the Union. This OPT
MON has been often expressed by DIR. webster
and expressed with reference to South carolina
They hold that resistance to the laws Of Congress
by State is lawless resistance, and to be treated
az the act Of rebels and traitors.
have taken much pains to ascertain whether
If South Carolina secedes, she will be sustained
by the act or the pnblic opinion OF any other
State. The result is conviction that our ex-
ample would not be followed nor our conduct
justified by any of them. They evidently do mol
regard the past or the present state OF things as
justifying secession. And | fear they believe
that South Carolina, from factious and selfish
motives, il endeavoring to involve them In q
contest without cause, and would look upon a
a.. L. 1ont
this State without concern and without sym
patty.
From the foregoing views it will be seen that
nv opinions are, that the Southern States cannot
remain in the Union without degradation, and
u timsteIy the abolition Of slavery: that slavery
il of greater value to the South than the Union:
that secession is tho only remaining alternative,
but that it should be resorted to only as the
means of establishing confederacy Of one or
more slaveholding States: that at this time the
secession Of South Carolina would neither be
followed nor justified by any other State: that
the secession of South Carolina at the present
time the other Southern States remaining in
the Union, would only aggravate the evils OF
which we justly complain, and would be mex
pedient and unwise that in such an event force
would be attempted by the federal government
and the great object of secession seriously hin.
dred and endangered, if not utterly defeated.
| have now, gentlemen, expressed my opinions
upon the deeply interesting point indicated in
your communication with the frankness and
candor that becomes me az q representative and
citizen. commend them to your scrutiny and
your consideration. They are opinions deliber-
ately formed, after the long and anxious reflec-
ton of one who has no ambition but to promote
the true glory of South Carolina. dare not
hope that they will be. acceptable to all Of you
they maynot be so to any of You-but lam will
ling to submit them to the test of time and truth,
as am content and resolved to stand or fall in
the public estimation by them, and upon them.
In public or in private life should not feel that
am patriot if did not, at whatever. personal
sacrifice, try to save my native State from the
disasters of blind and Needless counsels. But
South Carolina is the home of nv affections, and
her bosom shall be my grave. Her cause shall
be my cause, her fate my fate.
/ cannot lay down my pen without this ad-
monition to my fellow citizens: Before you &C.
cede make up your mind, unalterably, that the
step once taken can never be retraced without
unutterble shame and despair. Be, then, re-
solved to meet all its hazards and all its trials
If you are not ready to lay down life and for
tune, you are not prepared for secession. The
North cannot aDd'will not part with you, and
the treasure she wrings from you, without a
mighty struggle She will use force if she dare,
and there be need. Be sure before you move
that you cannot fail and be sure, also, that sue
cess will bring the realization of the bright
hopes and happy visions that lead you on to the
contest If you are. Induced to favor secession
by the idea which some Of those who are clamo-
rous for that measure hold out to you, that you
would be caressed and coaxed, by kindness and
concessions, to return to the Union, entreat you
to discard the vain and unworthy hope. Seces-
sion for such purpose would be paltry and a
miserable trifling with the gravest question of
the century. would scorn with as proud dis
dain as you could feel any unmanly appeal to
your fears. make 70 such appeal. | only
conjure you to bring home to your own con-
seriousness the realities of this great issue be-
fore the sword is 1rawn. That bright weapon
once drawn can never be sheathed without dis
honor. Retreat in such a contest would be as
disastrous, aud infinitely more disgraceful than
defeat. Either would be irretrievsbe ruin Then
be wise, be resolved, be ready before you strike
have not purpose, or hope, or wish that
is not inseparably connected with the destiny Of
South Carolina, and with the help Of God, her
destiny shall be my destiny.
am, gentlemen, with respect. your obedient
and humble servant. ARMISTEAD BURT.
To Capt THOMAS B. BYRD and Others