The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-09-19
a Protest.

a Protest.
We find the subjoined protest against
Mr.. Douglas Norfolk speech, in the Rich.
mond Enquirer. 1t was prepared by the
visitors from the Southern States at the
Springs, and is signed by about fifty Of
them, thirteen Of whom arc South Caro-.
linaDs:
PROTEST.
The undersigned, citizens Of the South
ern States, accidentally assembled at the
White Sulphur Springs, have read with
much surprise the speech Of Judge Dou.
glas, recently delivered at Norfolk, and
being many of them TOO remote from
their home, to take par. in any public
expression Of opinion here, deem it due
to themselves to make known in this
manner their dissent from rs doctrines.
In this address, Mr.. Douglas declares
that if the Southern Safes mot n part
bu: ally shall secede from tho Union, upon
the Inauguration Of Abraham Lincoln, il
will be the duty Of the President of the
United States, who, in he case supposed,
will be Lincoln, by arm, TO punish or
su6due them. and that be wilrcounsel him
to do so and aid him &c do SO by all the
! means in his power.
Now IA there is n large party at the
North avowing the mos! inPlacable hos
tiity 10 the institutions Of the South,
! whose candidate for the Presidency is
MIR. Lincoln, this declaration of Mr.. Dou
| glas is in effect, that he election OF a
man to the Presidency of the United
States, by the votes alone OF one section,
who is pledged to nse all the powers OF
the Government for The destruction oi
tie rights and property Of the other Sec
ton, would not justify the weaker in re
sistence, but that Il IN such IN event, the
| fifteen Southern States should assume 20
| determine on the extent OF their danger.
aud TO quietly withdraw from it, he shOuld
regard their ac:ioD AS revolt, and as such
TO be punished with all .he force Of the
Government. Than ,his we Can conceive
OF no doctrine more dangerous 10 the
| South. 1t confounds resistance 10 estab
Iished law, by individuals which il should
be the duty Of the Chief Magistrate to
| punish. with the peaceable secession oil
States, from a compact no longer consS
tent with the interest or existence OF It's
constituents but 1t treats the Urion as a
perpetual bond, exacting unconditional
submission, ''orever, from a weaker to a
stronger section. 1t strips the States Of
The che! attribute OF sovereignty, to Wit
the right to determine when their exs
tence is put to hazard. ne to the means
necessary to their preservation, and aiiirms
that while 1t is legitimate in The people
OF the North having control OF the Gener.
al Government, through It. to intlict upon
the States o''the South whatever wrongs
II may be consistent wi'h their interest OF
feelings l" impoS", 1t w"nld be treason in
the people OF the South to obey the or
aerS o' 'he'r states IN opposition to Fed
ernl authority.
ftangh' WIN error "s this doctrine is,
su?'er''ve OF hat constitutional theory, IN
"hich alone The rights oi Tie States are
10 De tound, u has, al tiis moment, and
unuer me circumstances, bloody signiti
SH"'e' ne enc ''''eS OF the Sonth' ~ the
H"' ne'h states nave selected Abraham
i-''S"'" 10 ieaa mem IN The "irreireSSlh!e
C"""'''' """h "e nSa proclaimed. MT
| seward. III" most distinguished couhcei