The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-16


ing.-IAs Canada's maas.-Fors,ga asas.-DOmsstie
The correspondence between Governor Means. OF South
Carolina, and the Hon Mr.. Rhett s retiring senator. Is
fraught with instruction. and throws flood OF light
upon the present position and prevailing sentiment OF
that hgh-spirited and patriotic. but somewhat loo
susceptible member OF the eoniederacy For evidence
oil the admirable and esnabe traits OF her character
South Carolina safely appeal 10 the records oil the
hardest Tough, battle which have graoed
tional annals. from the time OF Sumper and Marion
down TO the days when her gaan, broke the ser
red ranks OF the enemy with the bayone under Gads-
den, or, with Butler, waered the plains oil Mexico with
their blood. Our national policy still bears the impress
OF her statesmen Our halls OF national council still ring
with the eloquence Of her orators, and il is only
sary to commence with the OF Pnckney and Rut-
ledge Poinse and Calhoun, suggest list OF worthless
such as no other State in the Union in proportion TO lis
extent and population, has contributed TO I'LL and
adorn national posts OF trust and honor home and
abroad We have said that South Carolina is too sus.
ceptble It is true; but II ault is a venal one and
growing out of an excess Of what under other cir
cumstances would be considered audable and virtuous
feeling She overesimates the value the Importance
and the influence Of those whom she eevaes to the dig.
nifty OF adversares and opponents She descends from
her lofty position to pit herself against The miserable and
despicabe horde Of anslavery and free soil fanatics
who degrade and disgrace the North, while they only
ate and disturb the South She is inclined call us
to account for the overt acts OF the political feons who
nfest borders If for the aggression OF servants
in the performance OF orders. In the height OF
her jealousy of all infractons Of southern rights in
the fervor OF her determination TO resist them, she
loses sight of the distinction between the wrong doer
and the community in which he finds shelter and is dis
posed 10 hold the North responsible for what is its mis-
fortune rather than its fault South Carolina has felt her
self aggeved she has felt that she and the whole South
were wronged by the recent adjustment OF the slavery
question She the conclusion that secession from
the Union the only remedy for this state of things
and determined if her sister States, her fellow sufferers
of The opinion that in concert with them she
would resort to it, In all this, we believe that South
Carolina, however Mistaken perfectly honest and
sincere. Nay more; she had far greater show of right
aye, and real right on her side, than generally admitted
supposed She would have seeded too, If her sister
States had responded to her appeal would any fear Of
the consequences have prevented her from seeding and
fighting out alone and believing all this honor her
the more for her wisdom and patriotism She has ex
hbled in her recent determination iorego the
of what she conceves to be vested right and the
of her fidelity to the Union We have always
felt confident that this would be the result OF the ccces
sion movement in South Carona-not that she would
be driven persuaded TO it, but that there sufficient
sound sense love OF country pride in and attachment to
our national flag, and name, and institutions, in the
es OF her population, eventually TO guaranty her ale
gance and insure that her star should be bloed
from the constellation OF the confederacy Such has
been the faith OF every hearted Amercan-of all who
hold all should hold, that is treason to imagine the
dissolution OF the Union, in Great Britain il is to i'm
agine the death OF the sovereign.
There those, however, both North and South, VINO
have thought, professed TO think differently: the
sboonsts, and their allies among the northern whigs
and all who, from greed Of gain hope Of preermeni
ignorance, malice revenge, have become imbued
mr. RIA kArst tha.r
sonable Practices have everywhere, and by all MEANS
taken pains 10 disseminate the impression that the South
Carolina demonstration but vain and empty buster ;
that her remonstrances might be dsregarded and her
rights. as well those of the entire South might be
tramped upon with IMMUNITY How often have we seen
IN the columns OF the Tribune, and prints OF kindred faith
and cabre, the reckless and insoent assertions Tbcy
dare secede." "They cannot be kicked into fight
How generally the first manifestations of modera
ton, forbearance, and attach 10 The Union
on the part OF our southern friends. met by this worth
less set with the ungenerous response, You are back
ing downwe knew you would" and similar brutal and
uncahd-for taunts
We lack words TO express the infinite scorn and con-
tempt in which, in common with the high.toned democ.
racy OF the North, hold this cowardly and degraded
horde OF ruians who, safe in their own nsgnifcance
essay TO goad brave and honest people into acts from
the terrible consequences OF which they would be the
first TO reco and flee, covering and shuddering into the
blaekness where they belong. But though there is
much TO disgust, there is nothing 10 surprise one in
all this-t IS too much in keeping with the spirit of
abolitonism and its kindred vices. II is the position
assumed by Mr. Rhett, and the language used BY
him in his correspondence with Governor Means,
that stares and That man OF his high Der.
sona and political characera exemplary in all the
walks OF lfe professor Of the religion Of Christ man
OF peace, and avowedy should resign
the lofty and responsible trust with which his State had
honored him. and decline TO her longer because she
refuses plunge herself and the confedeacy into all the
horrors OF civil war-perchance a servile war; a war
which would desolate the iares and happiest land the
shines on"his own, his native
the last hope OF freedom earth this is indeed in.
credible and yet what other construction will his resg
nation bearl how otherwise shall we explain the terms
on which he bases III II is not our purpose TO enter
into the controversy between the senator and the gov
ernorhe correspondence is before the public and every
one decide for himself upon its merits but we will
take the opportunity TO say, that while Mr. Rhetrs part
OF II exces establishment and almost gives rise to
donbs OF his mental sanity, the response OF Gov Means
10 behalf OF the State commands APPRECIATION and
places South Carolina in attitude which entities her to
the respect and admiration OF the other members of the
confederacy. Asserting and affirming TO the fullest ex.
tent all the rights she has claimed she has decided against
the necessity expedenoy OF exercising them to the pre-
odce OF her relations with her sister States or her allie
glance to the Union. What can be asked OF her
In regard 10 the right Of secession, what would be the
thing in this country, the right OF revolution there
be question about H. The elementary books of
common law themselves recognise the latter as an in
hcrent right. OF which man cannot be divesled: the