Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-07-28
Ex-senator Rhett on Union and
Disunion.

Hon. r. B. Rhett, formerly democratic
Senator in Congress from South CAROLINA
delivered an oration at Grahamvile, In tha
State, on the 4th. What he thinks of UnioI
and Disunion. of the relative position o
Republicans and Democrats on that ques
tien, and of Slavery agitation in general
will be seen from the followin ing extracts
which we take from his speech as reported
in The Charleston Ne,rs:
"WheD in the Senate of the United States
l deemed it expedient, plainly and frankly
to advocate dissoIu luton of the Union, and
the establishment of Southern Confederacy.
was not SO ignorant of human affairs as
to know that my position was exceeding ly
.sdverse To- the greater part Of the people
s1f the limited States. and taS ,one more so
than to the political abolitionist, the Sew
ards, the Hales and the Summers of the
North. For this Union was absolutely ne.
-cessary to their carrying out their policy
the subjugation of the South. They are,
therefore, Union men at all hazards. You
have made them Union men. For, with
nothing in the North to support their pre-
tentions, they are the last people to desire
dissolution of the Union"
"After the compromise of 1852, what was
the result? Have you had that peace and
quietness, that peace and safety which was
told you that compromise would bring you'll
When, ever since the foundation Of the
government, has it ever been SO fierce as
within the Last few years! The present
President of the United States is a practi-
cal exponent of pubic opinion. Personally,
he 10 my friend. In Tie controversy oe 1852
he wrote letter to a meeting in Philsdel.
phia. In that he says: "The agitation at
the North on the subject of domestic SIa.
very will have its day. We have already
reached or passed the crisis. Should this
prove to be the case, the country will be
better for the agitation. and the atmosphere
be 2urer." That was in 1852. But how
is it nowl Mr.. Buchanan was elected as
President of the United States, and before
the first Congress met. his administration
was prostrated on this very subjec, of Sla-
very. Then was got up the Kansas COM
promise, the most discreditable and most
isgraceful that was ever brought up on a
public occasion"
So much for the notorious English BILL
Mr. Rhett further said:
my friends, prognos,ics of a Union in
The South are not without encouragement. !
There are premonitions of moral as well
,s physical tempest. Did you hear the NUT !
eslngs of the tempest coming on The eve of
he Presidential elactioni II ia true here
ofore our policy has been submission. In
hat policy we have lifted up some of the
most bitter enemies of the North. 1t has
,een In vain that such as Dickinson or an
Everett have told them you will dissolve
his Union. Are you willing to be ruled by
uch men as the Wilson's, the Chases, and
he Summers of the Nor.hi - So
"Let US make up our minds; the North
'ecomes sectionalized; we will sectionalze
or our defence. We have done this. If
We do not sectionalize for our defence, the
esult is we may be overwhelmed. rhrc'-
mt the continent of the Southern Ststes
We see the people of the Soulh uniting their
orces. The Wing party are taking the
osilion for the rights of the South, and the
Democratic party dare not fall.
sIf in the Presidential election, our rights
re victorious, then we have a guarantee
nj an augury of a better future; il, ION the
ontrary, which think most certain to be
he case. then, my friends, let US seperate
rom the North; let the glorious day spring
# Southern Confederacy at length arise
BON our troubled counsels"