Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-11-29


IL is frequently said, in outdoor discus
sionsoi the probabilities of secessionby South
Caroline, that she has now gone so far that
she cannot reeede When the history of the
years 1928 is adverted TO- and the remark
able discretion that was displayed by her
politicians when the time for action had ar
rived, the reply was TO this effect True, but
they had not gone so far then as they have
Bow-had not said so much, made such vio-
lent demonstrations, or proposed such decis-
i've measures They must be aware that to
recede now will expose them to the ridicule
of the whole world; therefore, for very
shame, they must do something that shall at
least look like secession.
This is a mistake, growing either out Of
a detective knowledge of the character of
the people of South Carolina, or an indis-
tinct recollection of the events of 1928.
South Carolina went farther then than she
has yet gone or will be likely to go in the
present case. She had the elements of
power that was felt throughout the Union,
and of which no equivalent remains. The
place of John @. Calhoun, George McDuHie,
Robert Y. Hayne and Samuel Cooper. the
leaders Of that movement--men- nf in,gb
courage and ungsdai ability-is but poorly
nned by the Keitts, Rhetts and Magraths
that now assume the leadership.
Neither have the proceedings been so
prompt, nor the progress of events so rapid
as before. On the oath day of November,
1882, just two weeks after the election, which
decided the fate of the tariff, her famous
Ordinance was issued by Convention called
for the purpose, in which the laws of the
Union were set aside, a punishment pro-
vided for such as should attempt to put
them in force, appeals to the Courts of the
United States prohibited, new 6aths of
allegiance to State authority prescribed, and
pledges made to stand by the rights of South
Carolina to the last extremity. Says Mr..
Benton:
"This Ordinance placed the State in the
attitude of forcible resistance to the laws of
the United States, to take effect on the first
day of February next, ensuing-a period
within which it was hardly possible for the
existing Congress, even if it had been so
disposed, to meliorate obnoxious laws, and
a period a month earlier than the COM
mencement of the legal existence of the new
Congress, on which all reliance was placed.
And in the meantime, if any attempt should
be made in any way TO enforce the ob-
noxious laws, except through her own tri-
bunals sworn against them, the fact of such
attempt was to terminate the continuance of
South Carolina in the Union-to absolve her
from all connection with the Federal Gov
ernment-end to establish her as a separate
Government not only unconnected with the
United States, but unconnected with any
one State. This Ordinance, signed by more
than hundred citizens of the greatest re-
spectability, was officially communicated to
the President of the United States"
On the 10th of December, 1882, was issued
the celebrated Proclamation of General
jackson, then President of the United
States, to thepeople ofSouth Carolina. This
document, after reciting the substance ofthe
Ordinance alluded to, and laying down the
principles esteemed by the author to be ap-
plicable to the circumstances, proceeds as
follows
Having the fullest confidence in the Just
ness of the legal and constitutional opinion
of my duties which has been expressed, /
rely with equal confidence on your undi-
vided support in my determination to exc
cute the laws TO preserve the Union by all
constitutional means to arrest if possible,
by moderate but firm measures, the necessity
of a recourse to force; and if it be the will of
Heaven that the recurrence of its primeVal
curse on man for the shedding ofa brothers
blood should fall upon our land, that it be
not called down by any offensive act on the
part of the United States"
This open declaration ofthe determination
of the Government to employ force to bring
the State of South Carolina to the perform
ance of her duty, produced, at first, no SEN
sible effect. The agitation went on taking
daily more aggravated form in the organi-
zation of troops, the collection of munitions
Of war, and in declarations hostile to the
Union, and continued until a reaction took
place under the force of public sentiment,
when il gradually expired, carrying down
the politicians under whose auspices it had
arisen. There was the form of a with
drawal of certain just causes of complaint;
of this the leaders, tired of the enterprise,
took advantage, and go. out as easily as they
could, not however, without loss of influ-
enee which they were never afterward able
to regain.