The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-04-28
Hon. W. P Miles.

We make the following extracts fro,p
the speech Of this gentcrpau on the Kan.
sas question.
But sir, do not care to dwell on argu-
merts Of this kind. They have been Of
ten aud eiaOorately set forth bv far aLler
hands than mire. They are important
and valuable; but it is not on a question
OF dollars and cents tina, the South would
dissolve the Union. The history of long.
weary years OF unjust ard unequal Iegis.
latIon has sufficiently proved that point.
But when it shall DC proved TO the South
not only that the sceptre has forever DO.
parted from her that she can never
concurrentiy with the North, rule the
common country, but that she must for
ever occupy an inferior and subordinate
position that she can never expand, new
er occupy her just share of the common
territory that her institutions and civil
zation ale at the mercy of q sectional
majority, which tolerates them only TO
the end that her people, as "hewers of
wood and drawers of water" may minis
ter to it, prosperity believe, she
VIII initiate the example of our revolu.
t'onary sircs, and lake her destinies into
her own hands"
The South is often accused of an over
sensltlveness on the subject of slavery
of being morLidly irritable upon it. And,
sir, would 1t be strange it it were so D
Is she not perpetually taunted, reviled,
sncered at, by hundreds of Northern press
es, Northern pull pits and Northern ORA.
tors? Is she not held up TO ridicule and
contempt, to scorn and .execration, in eIe
ry possible occasion? But when South
em man, with natural and(one would
hmk) pardonablc, Indignation, resen!s
and repe!s with warmth these unoues,ion-
able attacks, he is requested :" to keep
cool" not 10 be "excited," and dubbed
"a iire.ea,er.' if he cannot practice the in
junction Of philosophical equauimity!-
l come here rs a new member, just init
ated into public life, and what are some
OF the first things that | hear on this very
floor? ] hear man, Mr.. Giddings. yen
cradle in years, one Of the oldest member
Of this House, one who has sat here wear
after year, and heard the cslnmuies
against the South exposed and refuted-
hear him, upon whose hoary head the
SHOWS OF many winters rest, and which
should have softened his asperity and Gil
ed his heart with Kindness and benevo
lence--l hear him, n man known to be
tottering upon the brink Of the grave,
denounce his Southern brethern with a
bitterness and vehemencc that seemed
almost intended as an incentive TO servie
inserrection, and TO fire the midnight torch
OF the incendary.
Let the South then set her house in
order, collect her strength, prep re for
whatever fate has in store for her in the
future, with faith in herself, and calm
sell confidence. She is strong; let her
be wise. She has many interests, not
antagonisIic : let her unite and harmo-
nlze them. She has untired resources
let him develope them. Let her cult
yate iraternal union within her borders
Let her past dissensions among her sons
he forgotten. Let them ignore petty is.
sues and stand shoulder to shoulder in
he defence. With distracted counsels,
she is at the mercy of her enemies
With united people, she will be nvinci
bic. Possessing within herself e, ery ele-
ment OF greatness, prosperity and strength
will an immense territory and fertile soil,
producing a staple which shapes, 10 no
small degree, the commerce of The world,
can never again do without, and which
it is scarcely possible that any other por-
ton o! the globe can ever successfully
compete with her in producing: with such
/" relation be ween capital and labor AS
gives the best assurance Of political con-
servatism and social stability, she is pre-
pared to fulfill her mission and occupy a
foremost place among the Powers of the
earth. She may do this in the union if
allowed her due expansion and develop.
ment. lfnecessity compels her, she can
and will do it independent and alone.