Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-11-23

ment becomes destructive Of these ends, c
is the right Of the people TO alter or sbol-
'sh Il. and to institute n new government,
laying its foundation on such principles,
aud organizing its powers in such form as
to them shall seem mosi likely to effect their
safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed,
will dictate that governments long estab-
lished should not he changed for light and
transient causes; and accordingly, all ex-
perirnce hath shown that mankind are
more disposed TO suffer. Shile ills are suf-
ferable, than to right themselves 10y abol-
ishing the forms 10 which they are aecus-
toned. But whca long truia Of abuses
and asarpot,ons, pursuing invariably the
same object, evinces design TO reduce them
under absolute despotissp. u is their right,
it is their duty, to throw of such govern
ment, and to provide new guards for their
future security. Such has been the patient
sufferance Of the Southern States Of this
Union, and such is now the necessity which
cons,rains them to alter their present sys-
TEN Of Federal Government. The history
of repeated injuries, insults, and nsurpa-
tons, all having direct object in the es-
tablishmeSi of an absolute tyranny over the
Souehern States. To prove this, let facts
be submitted to candid worlds
First: The Northern States Of this In
ion have for 9sany long years warred
against our peculiar institution Of Slavery,
instigased by the dictates Of . relentless
fanaticism, which declares that Institution
to be moral SIN, while we hold it to be
Divine institution, established by God him.
self in the following decree enunciatcd to
Moses on Mount Sinai: " Both thy bond
men and bondmaids which thou shalt have
shall be sf t,ae icafhen that are around
about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen
and bondmaids; moreover the children Of
strangers that sojourn among you, of them
shall ye buy, and they shall be your possess
sion; ye shall take them as an inheritance
for your children after you, to inherit them
for possession; they shall he your bond
men forever" And we further hold that
this Diyinely established institution was al
ways sanctioned by our Saviour and His
Apostles.
Second: A large number of the North
era States have nudi fed the Constitutions Of
the present Union BY passing laws to pre-
vent the fulflnent of that Constitution,
which declares that fugitive slaves shall be
delivered up to their owners the principle
of which fugitive slave law has the express
and sacred sanction OF St. Paul the Apostle.
Third: The Northern States of this
Union have declared that the people of the
Southern States shall not emigrate with
their property into the Territories, which
rightfully belong to them equally with the
North and that the people of the South
shall not have their property protected by
the Federal Government, when such pro.
lection is (as above declared) the sole end
and object of all governments,
Fourth: Those Northern States hase, by
relentless and unscrupulous majority, con-
stantly imposed heavy taxes, not simply
scidtout, but directly against, our representa-
tion and our consent in the general Con-
gress, by leyying onerous and excessive
duties upon goods imported IN return for,
and purchased By, oar cotton, rice, and to-
bacco, in order TO protect and encourage their
own manufactures, and in order to expend
vast sums at the North in improuing and
| terrifying their own harbors, towns, and
cities, at the evident and direct expense ol
the products and labor of the South.
/ kyfhs Those Northern States have
elected by an overwhelming sectional vote
President and Vice President, both from
their own section Of country, in direct oppo-
siiion to our wishes and our protests, nci-
ther of whom has received one single vote
from our section, and whose express creed
is that "there is an irrepressible conflict
against Slavery, which can never cease un-
til Slavery is exiinguished,'
We have for long years, in vain, appeal
ed to their sense of justice and common
right; we have conjured them by the ties
of our common kindred to diSayow and
abandon those usarpations which would m
evitably interrupt and destroy our connec-
tons and our Union. But they have been
deaf to the voice Of justice, OF honor and
of consanguinity. We must therefore, &C.
quiesce in the necessity which denonncei
our separation; and hold them, as we hold
the rest Of mankind, enemies in war--iE
peace, friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of tbs
people of the State of South Carolina ID
Convention assembled, appealing to ths
Supreme Judge of the World for the nc.
.e"oc 80 oui ihtcptiouss uos ~ t1S 42suS atii
by the authority Of the good people Of this
State, solesnnly publish and declare thai
the State Of South Carolina is, and Of
right ought to be, free and independent
State; and that all political connection be-
tween it and the Northrn States is, and
ought TO be dissolved; and that as free
and independent State, we have full powe,
10 levy war, conclude peace, contract ALI.
ances. establish commerce, and to do all
other acts and things which an independent
State may of right do. And, for the sup
port of this declaration, with firm reliance
on the protection of Divine Providence. va
mutually, pledge TO each other our liSes
our fortunes, aud our sacred honor.