Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-09
Senator IIamm Oad,s views of North
ern Conservatism.

ern conservatism.
One of the most dispassionate and reason
ale speeches that has emanated from South
Carolina politician for many years, was
delivered by Hon JAMES III. HAMMOND, at
Barnwell Court House on the 29ih uit 1t
was addressed to his constituents. on the pre-
sent aspect of national politics. and the true
policy of the South. He explicitly renowned
his disunion sentiments and held that the
time had not yet arrived for such a step; and
that an overwhelming majority of the South
would, If assured that the government was
hereafter to be conducted on the true princi-
pies and construction OF the constitution.
decidedly prefer to remain in the Union.
rather their incur the unknown costs and
hazards of setting mp separate government.
To Justify these views, he assumed that the
North never lean he brought to concur per-
manently in a line Of policy thatwil subvert
the constitution and seriously damage the
South in this confederacy" On this head be
says:
Reckless as is political ambition. and
insane as fanaticism ever is, | have no idea
that the free States can be- consolidated on the
Wild project of ruling the shareholders by
mere brute numbers, either through the
ballot box or by force of arms; whether to
emancipate our slaves. or strip us of the fruits
of their labor; or TO govern US with the mild
moss and patprnal care due to interiors. The
nervous in the South. and the abolition dem
agogues of the North, may believe it. But
when il comes to the actual test, if neither
sober sense nor patriotism should prevail the
sense of danger and the love of cotton and
tobacco would. with our northern brethren.
in every crisis override their love of negros
On this / think you may depend. despite the
insolent boasts of the abolitionists of what
they will do when they get the government
in their hands. The North has only to be
made clearly sensible how far she can go, and
what the South will not submit to- She will
not trespass beyond that, hut will content
herself with the glory of carrying the alter
nate biennial elections as she has Just done
always leaving it to the democracy to carry
that which makes the President
In further confirmation ofthis view Mr. HAM
MoND proceeds to review the history of the
ani-slavery agitation, taking its origin in
England, adopted by France, and finally
spreading to the United States. While this
feeling has been cherished and infamed, the
South has kept on in path of uninterrupted
prosperity, until, notwithstanding the war
fare which has been waged against her. her
negroes have doubled in value. England
and France have seen their mistake and are
seeking to make good the losses occasioned
by their error. He then shows that the
aati-slavcry feeling is declining in this
country as it has done in England and
Franco. The abolitionists of this country.
he contends. have no rallying point for the
future, and cannot probably again be united
on any one man. He thus clearly embodies
these propositions:
Thus these two nations-France and Eng
land. whose adoption of this abolition crotchet
alone made it respectable and influential
have thoroughly renowned it, practically,
and almost in theory. The press of England.
perhaps the greatest power of the world, sus-
tains these movements; while in France the
newspapers are openly discussing the ques-
ton Of importing negro slaves. by name, into
Algeria. ! think il may be fairly said that
in Europe abolition has run its course.
Brougham PalmerstOn, Russell and all the
old political agitatOrs. are hanging their harps
upon the willows. Even the son of WILDER
force. the fanatic, approves of coolie slavery,
which we abhOr But recently the British
government openly surrendered 1t claim to
the right of search-a claim set up mainly TO
put down the African slave trade, and with
out which all attempts to do it will probably
be idle And there is nothing to surprise us
in all this If we are correct in our views of
African slavery. If it is sustained by the
religion of the Bible; if neither humanity
nor sound philosophy oppose it; if, as we are
convinced, it is a social, political and eco
nomical benefit to the world. then II was in
evitable that, sooner or later. the aboli-
ton crusade must die out--and why not
now,
If there is truth in what have stated to
you-if the abolition fever has nearly or quite
exhausted itself in Enrope-if time and facts
have proved there that it is an absurdity--
il seems to me we should not doubt that its
career is about to close here. Such is my
opinion however differently those maT think
who Judge only by appearances, or take their
cues from agitating politicians | ask any
one to tell me upon what measure or upon
what man the abolitionists ofthis country can
ever again muster their iegions as they did in
1856. Kansas is squeezed dry. 1t stinks in
the nostrils of all people. They can do no
NOR, there. VIII they try "cry" against
the Supreme Court for the bred Scott decis-
ion? What is there in that to infi'me popu-
lar sentiment? Ii is always uphill business
90 agitate against judiciary, but especially
against the Supreme Court of the United
States which the Northern people have been
taught to revere as the bulwark Of their liber-
ties VIII they demand the abolition of sla-
very in the District Of Columbia? They have
never been able to do much with that though
they have often tried. That issue is n little
too practical aud dangerous. Not many are
bold enough to embark in it. They might as
well make the question of disunion markedly.
Will they take up the abstract, and probably
never again be other than abstract, PROPOSE
zion of ..no more Slave States?" They have
done it, They have already split upon it.
rhp Northwest will not take il, anC the free
States. at bottom. all want Cuba. They love
,nolasses, and hancker after free trade with
that rich island. Where, then, are they to go,
i cannot see. They do not appear to see
VIII amy one state the practical
question. If we offer them n0ne.-and we have
none to Offer on which they are next TO raj
ly for the conquest Of the South! The meas
Ere or the MANI It does seem to me that this
great fire is dying out for want OF fuel That
this crusade a. many crusad = have done, has
exhausted itself. and that there is no argu-
ment or leader that can keep it alive. Their
Peter Hermits their Godfreys, their Baldwins.
their lion-hearted Richards, where are they?
1t seems that they will scarcely agree even On
their Louis IN who shall lead their Last pious
Campaign and suir.r mirtyrdon.
And let me say that II the aboiitionlsts can
not unite the tree States "a IA purely autI-Sla-
very party in thu presidential election oi 1860
and fail again ia 1864. we shall never hear
more of them a. "A political party; and it Is
only rs political parry that they are worthy
of our notice There always will be aool-
tionists-for fools. enthusiasts, men of morbid
rn,ginations, ls.nt GA mischief, OF ambitious
of notori ,ty always will exist. But the abo-
lition party Ia tle free States Is now almost
wholly political. Do yoL suppose that the
Stewards, Haies. WsldeS. Wilson's, Chasts, aud
their associates, care anything for African
slavery, or are realty hostile tn oar system OF
Labor. any more thtl is the President. Dick
iason. Bright, Pagl or Doasida! do not
Their object is political power. Tuey have
plicel taem,elVe, GA thls spriag-tide Of Ia
natirisn 20 Obtain il. Ii il fails them If at