The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-12-08
SECESSION.

part of our political history, issued on the
occasion of the State of South Carolina
multiplying law of the Federal Govern
ment 1t is right and proper at times to
turn over the pages of the past, seeking
among the noble deeds and wise sayings
of those men that have shed lustre and re-
nown upon our common country, for wis
dom and instruction, wherewith TO direct
us in times of great difficulty and danger.
We therefore commend this proclama-
ton to the calm, careful and attentive pc
r,lsal Of our readers, as the words of one
whose long life, spent in the defence and
support of his country, both upon the field
of battle ms well as in the halls of legisla-
ton, entities them 70 the earnest attention
of all ; and more especially it is necessary
now, when unrcstrained passion is raging
80 fcarfully abroad in our land clouding
the mental and moral perception Of the
people that we should pause for reflection
before taking any hasty action, and lend
a listening ear to the voice of those who
have gone before us--thc glorious patriots
who fought and blcd for American liberty
and the happiness of the American people.
The South has suffered many grievan-
ccs mt the bands of the North the rights
of the people have undoubtedly often been
denied, and in some cases they have been
unjustly deprived Of their property; but
does this array of complaints call for So
ccssion upon the part of the South are
they of sufficient magnitude 10 set Mt
naught the supreme law Of the land, and
entail all the evils OF anarchy and civil
war or revolution upon country blessed
with peace, prosperity and happiness
Under the mild sway of the Constitution
of the United States, our property has
increased four, yea ten fold in value, our
territorial limits have been largely cX-
pandcd, we have enjoyed liberty of speech,
freedom of conscience, and the rights of
property. A government which produces
all these, surely cannot be oppressive, and
deserving of destruction, but more proper
ly, the effort .of all good men for its pre-
servation. 1t is true there may he botchcs
upon the body polite local disturbances
may arise and fanatics may occasionally
damage the rights aud property of others,
but these are no more than may be cx-
pectcd from the impcrfrctions of human
nature, and afford no argument for scccs-
sion.
The hasty action which has been taken
by some Of the Southern States is to be-
sincerely regretted and dcpricatcd. NJ
overt act of aggression has yet been com
mttcd by the Federal government, and
the employment of menace or violence is
most unwisc, as well rs most inconsistent
with that dignity which should mark the
intercourse of one man with another. \
convention of the States appears to he tn,
most correct mode of procedure, but il
should be a convention of all the States 81
the l'nion, and not OF the Southern States
only it should also be called by the Fed
cral authorities, in accordance with tn,
Constitution and the laws already pro
| ,.sIa1 | 81 a. H., &C al,
pie, through their own chosen representa-
tiycs, and not Il convention of political
demagogucs. The sober sense of tn,
American people is right, and if left t'
themselves they will preserve the frazier
nal feeling which existed between the TIVE
scctionsof the Republic in IFS earlier AM
better days.
But unfortunately the people of tn
country have had very little to do will
the affairs of our country for years past
; They have left the management of on
political affairs to set of political scoun
y drcls and dcmagogucs, whose policy ha
j been TO rule or ruin and our people he
u gin to see the effects of it. What car
these politicians whether our country j
prosperous or not, so they are provide
for! They have lived and fattcncd upo
internal commoticn brought on by them
selves for the purpose. What care til
Rhctts, Kcitts, Ianccys, SlidcIIs, Dayisc,
and a host of other disunionists of III
South about the liberties of the people, 5
: they become the chief rulers of a &" Soutl
crn Confcdcracy p They care nothin,
for reasonable ambition is their aim, an
=, they would break up the noblcst fabr
ever erected OH earth for the benefit of III
human race, to crafty that ambition.
| The ppoplp of the 'nitrd Statps nrr