The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-11-29
From lbs Richmond Enquirer.
SOUTH CAROLINA sTATEsMANsHIP.-M MESSAGE
OF GOV. ADAMS

From lhs Richmond Enquirer
SOUTH CAROLINA CRAFTSMANSHIP MESSAGE
OF GOV. ADAMS.
is the fashion with certain class Of politicians to
crbe the influence which South Carolina yields in the
councils of the conederacy TO the rdSm rather than 10
the sagacty Of her craftsmanship We take that to be the
true and juster explanation which attributes the extraor
dnay aseendency of this small State to the courage
ssency and ability of her people in the discussion and
conduct of public affairs.
Slavery the predominant interest of the South and it is
interest against which is arrayed not only the popular
sentiment Of the world but the moral influence and
political action of the very government that affects to pro-
ect it. 1t the object of mpacable hostility, of nces-
SAINT attack and of almost universal crusade To repe
these assaults to battle crafty and powerful foe and to
maintain an institution on the stability of which repose
not simply the political equality and civil franchises but
also the social security and material welfare of the South
demands craftsmanship in which fertility Of resource and
energy of action should balance sustain and assist each
other in the noble object of conserving State and protect
ing the liberties of people
The rarer and perhaps the admirable element of
this great craftsmanship possessed by the public of
South Carolina in pre-eminent degree. They never
temporize in an emergency. They confront real
danger with faint hearts and halfway measures For
radical disease they propose palliative remedy They
candid they fearless they thorough in their
policy In the discussion of public affairs they bold
original and logically consistent to the most start
ling conclusion In the adoption of political expedients
they are direct and adventurous nsomuch as at times to
incur the reproach OF extreme folly and extreme temery
They never practise the Fabian system of delay and de-
fence the rapid vigorous and decisive strategy of Napo
more congenia to their ardent and intrepid nature
For thirty years they have sriven to stake the fortunes Of
| the war the issue of single battle.
These qualities of courage and energy which South
Carolina craftsmanship has brought to the defence of
slavery have been of infinite service to the
proper that should this appreciation of their
value as we intend to indulge in criticism Of the
which have resulted from their excessive development
or from the absence of the opposite qualities of caution and
prudence
For illustration of deficiency in the essential attributes
Of forecast and circumspecton with which the statesman
ship of South Carolina is habtuay reproached and some
times not without reason need not revert to the events
of past age AT the present moment have before
document which exhibits the distinguishing characteristics
of the South Carolina school of politicians in striking
and vivid relief 1t is the message of the governor of
the State and has just been submitted to the legislature
With its exposition of the peculiar interests of the State
we have special We propose only TO advert
to its suggestions the subec of slavery These are pre-
sented in the extract given in another column and
sented, we may say, with uncommon conciseness and
power of expression. Indeed the entire message is writ
ten with ability which reflects much credit upon the
| author
We concur heartily in what Gov Adams says of the
sanctions of slavery of conservative influence ofs
necessity and ancty the basis of the institutions OF the
South of the policy of consolidating 1t in our own midst
and of concang other interests in its support In this
exposition of the rights and guarantees of negro slavery
and of its ncacuabe services to humanity in redeeming
from barbarsm to the civilization of Christianity in
developing the production of staple which is essential
all Others the comfort and refinement of men, and
in supplying basis upon which republican institutions
repose with steadness and security than they
have before exhibited in the experiments Of popular
governmen-in this exposition of the POLITICAL economical
and benevolent Of slavery every candid and ine
gent citizen of the South will recognise the fidelity of the
| representation and the truth of the panegyrc
We equally impressed with the wisdom of the sug-
geson that certain proportion of negro property should
be exempted from liability legal execution. Some of
the sincere friends of slavery very socitous that
should be strengthened by external expansion In
conception it is far important thing that the ns
tuition should be consolidated at home. 1t the opin
ion of Mr. Jefferson who certainly comprehended the sub
ec in all its relations that slavery weakened rather
than streng thened by diffusion Without staying to dis
this problem may that all agreed upon
the necessity of giving the institution firm root before we
undertake to spread abroad The dsproporton Of num-
bers between the Shareholders and the nonsavehoders Of
the South gives the aboltoniss plausible reason to anti
cpat the ultimate Of their enterprise and 80 slim
uates them to constant and energetic exertion.
little reflection it is true inructs that each interest in
the community is dependent upon every other and that
the security Of slavery is the concern of every individual
member of social gystem But the fact is too re-
mote from ordinary observation TO resist the effect Of
the specous argument which the aboonsts address to
the preiudces and passions of the nonsayehodng class
For the stability Of the institution one negro in the pos
session OF poor family Is worth all the logic of Bedsoe
and all the learning Of Fletcher 1t is papable property
and the will fght for its security 1t is symbol Of
superiority which the master will never resign Exempt
from compulsory SALE 1t would be the last stay of msor
tune and poverty is question since prevention is bet
than cure whether general principles IL Is not the
wiser policy give every individual security against
extreme desution than to provide poor house for the
shelter Of mendcancy 1t is certain however that the
chance Of saving something from the possible wreck Of
fortune would be embraced by every who apprehends
the ills Of poverty The exemption OF one negroes
from SALE under legal process would make 1t the interest
Of every person in the community to identify his fortunes
with the value and safety of slave property and would inn
part TO the institution far broad and basis Of
support than that upon which reposes at present This
obvious Is oreseen by all who study the sub
ec and has commended the policy to the confidence Of the
most consderae friends of the nth We glad that
Gov Adams has given 1t the sanction Of his and
thery hope the legislature Of Virginia will be
slow in adopting the wise suggestion.
Pursuing the general of strengthening the founda
tons and augmentng the power Of slavery, Governor
Adams proposes another measure from which
strained to withhold appreciation.
Within the last few years the policy Of revivng the
slave trade has been suggested by of the ad