The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-02-06
ADANGEROUS PRECEDENT.
Great Britain and South Carolina.

| A CORES spondence has taken place be
tween the British Consul al Charleston,
and the Governor of South Carolina,
which may be the means of creating some
difficulty between this Government and
Great Britain. The law of South Caro-
lima, which puts all colored men belonging
10 trading vessels in prison, until the vessel
is ready 10 dePar! is the cause of this
singular spnndence.
The newspapers are beginning to talk
rather sharply about the conduct of the
British Consul; and consider his proceed
ings a downright insult To the Government
at Washington. The Baltimore American
says
The Constitution places all our inler-
national relations in The hands of the
General Government, and declares that
'all treaties made, or which shall be made,
under the authority Of the United States,
shall be the supreme law of The land; and
the judges in every State shall be bound
thereby, anything III the Constitution or
laws of any StIle TO the contrary uotw.tI-
s,anding.'"
The Philadclphi Enquirer says:-
We fully subscribe 10 the following
comments of The New York Courier and
EnqurerupOn the correspondence inserted
below. An example should be made of
Consul Mathew. His letter cannot buL
be regarded as a national insult, and he
should be taught The folly OF improper
interference In delicate matters. We COM
mend his case in an especial manner 10
the notice of President Fillmore. The
Courier and Enquirer remarks:-
That Great Britain has dnxiously watch
ed the progress Of Rebellion in this coun-
try; anG that her public men, her Press,
and her people, have flalered themselves
with The belief that our dissolution was
close at hand, and she was about to reap
a rich harvest from II, at the same time
that her maratime and naval superiority
will thereby be Perpetuated we have al
ready proclaimed. Ii is known, that in
ignorance of our people and our insliIu-
tons, her emissaries have msled the gov
ernment Of England into the belief that
djsuuion was inevitable; and there can be
no doubt, that The very unwIse instructions
under hlch The Consul at Charleston is
acting, are the results of such ignorance.
But be this as Il may, the lime has arrived
10 teach all nations and all people-our
own included-ihat there is but one Sou
ereign power i'll this eonfederaey. The
time has arrived 10 scatter TO the wind,
the absurdity SO frequently and so sense
lesslY repeated by Politicians and Certain
presses, that the States are Sovereign Der
Sc. The mischief of this falIacy is now
being exhibited. 1t has led to misappre-
hension abroad, and it has been made
basis for insult to our Nationality.
Prominent among the attributes of Sow
ereignty, are the power 10 levy war and
10 make peace; the right 10 treat with
/ Foreign powers, 10 coin money, and 10
regulate commerce; and all these rights,
South Carolina, in common with every
oIher State, surrendered 10 the General
/ government at the time of lis formation;
and together herewith, every shadow OF
cleim To Sovereignty. That surrender oi
Sovereignty, was absolute and perpetual;
and without any reservation oil q right to
resume IL under any contingency whatever;
/ and the attempt 10 resume il now by Sc
cession and such a farcical corresp spondence
as that to which we refer, is absolutely
contemplate, as well as deliberate insull
10 the General Government.
That this correspondence was got up a
the instigation of South Carolina is no
improbable; but even if it be so, il in nc
way exonerates Great Britain for the
course pursued. That the law complained
of, is unconstitutional, there cannot exis
a doubt; and now that South Carolina ha:
foolishly brought upon herself this crisis
we hope that tue President will promptly
recall the Erequatur which Mr.. Consu
Mathew has abused, and at The same time
give orders that the treaty with Grea
Britain be carried into effect in good faitt
in the Ports of South Carolina and else
where, regardless of all local laws 10 tht
contrary; because all such laws are clearI,
unconstitutional