The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-10-31
The Crisis--Position of the South if Ere
mont be elected.

The Crisis--Position of the South if Ere
mont be elected.
MIR. Frcmonts election on anti-savcrv
grounds merely, will virtually exclude the
South from all share in the Executive Gov
crnmcnt, since no man of honor can accept
Il seat in the cabinet while he condemns the
election and the policy Of the President
No doubt Southern men will be found ready
to take office under Mr.. Fremont, but to
consider them rs representatives ofthc South
would he about rs reasonable rs to have con-
sidered Benedict Arnold General in the
American Armies after he had deserted to
those of England.
10 tell the South that she is represented
by men who are put in Office only because
they are against lcr, is adding insult TO in
jury. 1t is equivalent to notifying her that
unless will adopt rcncgadcs rs her reprcscn-
tatives she shall have nonc
Mr.. Fremont's election will, therefore, vir
tuallY exclude the South from all share in
the power Of appointing to Office, in the
dispcnsation Of fifty or sixty millions of the
common revenue, in the granting of nu-
mcrous lucrative contracts, in the command
Of the army aud navy, in the execution of
the laws, in the negotiation oc treaties, and,
most important of all, in the veto power.
And this will be done, avowclly, because
she claims ten out Of the twenty-five States
and territories added to the Union since its
formation, and really, because she has re-
tanned institutions which existed in twelve
Of the thirteen States when the confclera-
ton was formed. 1t is penalty for not
changing her opinions and institutions in
conformity with the change of her progress
sitivcness.
She lags behind what is called the spirit
of the age; she brings disgrace upon the
nation by clinging to notions that the North
having recently shutilcd off, has a peculiar
right to denounce she may remain where
she is if she behave herself; but if she at
tempt to colonize one square mile Of tile
territory belonging to her in part, if she pol
lutte its freesoi with her excrcabe and Ioath-
some institution, she shall be shut out of
| the government altogether.
Supposing the spirit Of the age right,
and the institution rs execrable as it is rep
resented to be, does that confer right up
! on the North to exclude US from the gov
crnmcnt Was not that institution respec-
ted in the formation of the government,
and its protection made condition of the
Union and if one of the parties change
its opinion with regard to it, and chooses to
to consider as wrong what the Constitution
treated as right, are we to be punished and
degraded for insisting on the Constitution
the standard OF right and wrong, instead Of
resorting to the ever changing views Of our
capricious co-Statesa No one disputes the
right Of those States to abhor and execrate
slavery to their hearts content, and to break
off all connection with it. They may 60
whenever they please. But we deny that
they can rightfully remain connected with
the institution, and condemn it as crime, or
punish us for retaining it. If the South
submits to such treatment she will be deeply
dishonored.
We shall be told that exclusion from the
Executive Government is no dishonor that
. lis must 5s the case with the minority
States u, every election, who are represent
ed. I if at all, SS,yanersons differing from them.
We do not complain {. C. being in the minor N
ity. We are ready to submit chserfa''y to
that condition, when constitutloi&;sally I'M
posed on us but we do complain Of a i.cst,
which, in violation of the Constitution, ex-
cludes us permanently from the Govern
ment, and subverts its fundamental princi-
pies. We complain that the Government
is revolutionised that the institution Of
slavery recognized by the Constitution, as no
cause Of exclusion, but, on the contrary, as
comforting the right to Governmental pow
or, is now made by a coup detat the, ground
of Punishment from the Federal Executive.
The Union we formed rwasa Union of slave
States. Mr.. Fremont's election will con-
: vert it into subjection Of slave States to
the rule Of aboIitionized States. Can we
submit With safety or honor to be conquer
ed?