The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-11

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Ths PsoPls Of this country ho are 70 do the
a8aeng, cannot uniearn themselves il they
w9uA Ihe sword will fall powerless, the mus
kAt vii never be levefied, when told that it is
aeaiast people who only ask the right OF sell
9o@esnaenk II We acquiesce in the denial oil
tats T3ght, II the doctrines Of Webster are 10 be
elienay engrafted on the Constitution, then sir,
ours b not q confederacy Of Independent soyer-
eagntse, but vast consolidated Empiss--a huge
defornity, and we shall soon find ourselves the
miserable vip&ins OF ropacious, hesrtlsss soul.
les dsspotism, compared with, which the rule OF
The Autscvat Of Russia will be mildness and
mercy indeed.
an aware, MI. President, that at all times and
under the most favorable circumstances, it is ex-
txemsly difficult 10 effect q fundamental change
Of government Independent of various causes
that operate more or less powerfully against
oil change and experiment, there are to be found
IN all communities, two CLASSES, the one from
Instinct and the other by position, who always
aide with the existing government, and resist it's
overthrow, These are capitalists and Office
holders, and they WELD powerful influence in
every country. 1t il easy for these men to cry
Yevolution IN paint in its train, to frighten the
timA and ignorant, terrible scenes of suffering
cruelty and bloodshed.
How far thcse influences have already been
exerted In sowing the seeds of dissension in our
ranks, or to what extent they may hereafter be
exerted in swerving the State frem her true
course. l will not undertake to say, but il is
clear to my mind that these men for NICE delude
thsmsslvss. Now, deny the right Of the fed
srAl government to employ force against q
SssAe. But, suppose arm wrong, and that
these capitalists are right, and secession brings
revolution. What, let me ash, will they gain
by averting it now! In escaping the terrors
and blood Of civilized revolution, they arq
only reserving themselves for the more refined
cruelties and the more terrible horrors Of that
servile revolution, which abolition is sure to
bring, and which will sweep over the land like a
desolating scourge consuming them and their
substance. Viewed, then, in its worst possible
aspect, It seems to me, we have no alternative
left us Submission is present degradation, to
be followed by future ruin. Let us, then, man.
fully grapple with our own troubles, and not
basely shuttle them off on poaterity.
Ihave thus, sir, in as short a compass as posi-
bic, submitted my view on the great issue be-
( fore u.s. know they will be received for what
they are worth, and no more. They have, how
ever, been honestly conceived, and as frankly
ayowed. l shall vote for the resolutions and
the address, because, they meet fairly the ques-
ton before us because, in word, they look
directly to dissolution of this Union," con-
summation" in my opinion, most devoutly to
be wished" In fact, sir, regard this Union at
this moment as virtually dissolved. 1t may
drag outa few years of stormy convulsive exis-
tence, but its vitality is gone. The cement that
held it together melted away. The cords that
banded it about have been burst asunder. II
has lost its hold on the affections, the hearts
of our people, and | trust has lost it forever
Be the issue, then, one Of peace or Of force,
have made up my mind to meet it. have come
TO my conclusions cody and deliberately. and
sir,I sleep on them soundly. would strike
the fret blow with the certainty of being
whipped into submission, rather than shrink
from position to which we are impeled nike
by the dictates of duty, of honor, and of patriot
ism. In the language Of our dead McDuffie,
would rather see South Carolina the cemetery
Of freemen than the abode of slaves.