The southern press., 1851-04-25


le4a GsAg cSttain powers tosgths of,csrt oi
the Cusl1m Hanse) Gov Ssah16ok invited ths
nodce Of HE leeetinat TO ~ Inspiring fact that
in four penths. After the ytsepti0n Of The news
that the port o. Boaeon was TO ~ blocksdcd hy
the mother country, continental Congress was
in secession at Philadelph Betwesa the events
Of that period Of our history and the present
day, he maintained that an almost perfect anal
ogy exists.
If, n despite OF the law, the Constitution, and
the fundamental principles of our political sys-
TEN, the central authority should venture on the
herculean task OF military coercion, then, indeed
the strongest reasons would exist for promptly
using every effort TO dissolve our connection
with it, In a few years, its mandates, for rea-
sons which he explained, could not bs success
fully resisted The re-enactuient Of the ~Iorce
Bill" which among other unwarrsntabl proyi-
sions superseded and anuihilatcd tho powers
and jurisdictions of tae State courts, would be
considered by South Carolina as a formal de-
claration Of war, to be carried into effect by con-
pelling our vessels by force to anchor tor the
payment Of duties. As soon as the first blow,
which must come from the enemy, be struck,
the stars and stripes will no longer be permitted
to wave over the heads OF a deeply wronged
people.
Mr., 8 here said the proposition could not be
controverted, that in every contest between the
general government and State, especially in
the cases where force had been threatened by
the former, the general government had yielded,
and further, that such result must always en-
sue, where unapimity prevailed in the State
lie neyt descanted on the "expense" Of a State
preserving an independent existence, and proved
that it would be infinitely less to the people than
what is now paid by them to their present gov
ernment II, from motives Of policy, we exacted
no duties on the products ofindustry introduced
into cur ports from the States of the Union,
still the vast Increase Of our trade with the rest
Of the world would insure an ample fund for an
economical government. Ina few years South
Carolina would be the carrier Of her own pro-
ducts and exchanges. II, however, she thought
fit to impose the same or lower rate Of duties
on importatons than is now required by law,
there would be annually paid into her treasury
over $2,0OO,0O0.
The subject Of South Carolina delaying her
final decision for few years, was then exam
ined. He advocated only SO much delay as
might be necessary to receive response to our
appeal to the Southern States, and to enable
Congress to grant or refuse the demand of the
State. To suppose that the North will volun-
v,
sidcred idle and visionary. Ga this point he
gave full exposition Of his views 1t was
equally chimerical in his opinion to believe that
the South would ever present an undivided front.
The allurements of federal honors and dstinc.
tons alone would prevent it. That few of the
cotton States, and large minorities in all ofthem
were preparing forte conflict, which politicians
might retari but could not prevent, he felt great
satisfaction in announcing. BY us as well as by
them, it is believed that that conflict will decide
forever the fate of the South 1t was also evil
dent that, as in future, the entire action Of the
government would be against the plantation
States, the longer continuance in the confederacy
by them would be incompatible with their safety.
The blessings of the Union to Southern men
were gone forever; its evils alone remained -
In the Union emancipation, with it's attendant
appalling results, was certain; out of It, the
South would soon be the moral governors Of the
world He further contended that under the
federal government there was no pro- ection for
life, liberty or property; nay, that through it's
agency, or by the direct action Of the majority
which compose it, assaults upon the Shareholder
have been substituted for protection I
The consequences of submission, or unneces
sary delay, which practically would be the same.
that were then adverted to, Governor Seabrook
presented in strong light, and with some
minuteness.
In concluding the expression of his views, he
invoked the people of the parish, whom he had
for nineteen consecutive years served in the le.
gslature, to hold fast to the faith of their fathers
to keep steadily in view the great landmarks of
never to submit to encroach
ments on the reserved rights of the States, and
TO remember that st. Johns Colleton was the
first section of the State which adopted resolu-
tions$ recommending resistance the Federal u.s.
urpaton.