Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-08-25


render up two fugitives from justice, because
the felony committed was carrying off slaves
from a Southern port. Massachusetts has
passed replcvn law, giving to fugitive
slaves trial by jury; and her Supreme Court
has determined, that slave who enters Mass
achusctts with tue assent of his master. shall
be free The prcss-the mghticst nstru
mcnt of revolution in all enlightened and civ
ilizcd throughout all the Northern
and Middle States, pours forth, unchecked,
Its abominablc libels and, by the most artful
and passionate appeals, arouscs whole masses
and, amongst them, some OF the most con
scicntious spirits in the land-against our in
stltutIons. Was the subject of such combin
alton, legislation, and agitation n mcrc alb.
stract or constitutional right, like the right of
taxation, VIC might be content to exercise our
rights, and let others pursue their follics, or
entertain their opinions. But here is sub.
Jcct, IN which passion and feeling and rcl-
gion arc all involved All the inexperienced
emotions OF the heart are against us; all the
distractions concerning human rights can be
preserved against us; all the theories of polit.
lcol droamcrS, athcstcal utiitarians, sclrcx.
alting and solErightcous religonists, who
would reform or cXpungc the Bible in short.
enthusiasts and fanatics of all sorts arc
against us. In truth, only those who have
had an opportunity of knowing what the ne
gro race really is, and Of being practically ac
qualntcd with slavery as it exists in the South.
behold 1t with any charity or appreciation. =
Throughout tho Northern States, throughout
the whole civilized world, the feeling of con.
demnatlon of this institution may be said to
be universal. Even in our sister States, those
who forbear interfering upon this subject from
a regard to the constitutional compact of the
Union, are Abolitionists in principle and feel.
ing Although they do not approve of the
unprlnciplcd course of the Aboltionsts, they
desire and hope to see slavery abolishc / !; and
IT they had the power, or lay under the re-
sponNlblity of its existence, they would de.
stroy 1T in day, Hence they stand passive.
" by and permit us to be assailcd, approving
of the end, although condcmning the means ;
and the Union, which was Designed to yuaran-
tee, or at least not to alicct injurously our in
! stitutlons, is pcrfidiously used for their over
throw. And mark the history of this fanati-
c'sm in foreign nations. Born in atheism,
and baptized in tho blood of revolutionary
Franco, 1T accomplished its purpose there.
In tingland it has sprung up under the guisc
OF religion, and it has accomplished it's pur-
pose there. 1t has never yet failed, and ncy,
or will fail, in accomplishing its purpose,
where the stakeholder does not control his
own drStlnes, 1t is now flaming in the Uni
ted States, and extending its numbers with
rapldlty far surprising the operation of the
gospel itself, in bringing converts to its causc
All efforts hitherto made for it's suppression,
have only famed, instead of extinguishne
the hame. The people in some parts of the
country, indignant at their open violation of
their constitutional faith and the principles
OF the Union. rise up and crush them The
cry OF persecution is raised, and new converts
crowd their ranks. Congress, in the spirit of
concillation, in tho vain hope of rcconcil
ing their demands with the powers of the
Constitution, instead Of rejecting, receive and
act upon their petitions. The right of petit
ton is said to be infringed, and sovereign
State of the Confcderacy demands, that Con
grcss shall rcscind the rules by which their
agitation is attempted to be suppressed. The
spirit OF abolition has advanced, and is advan-
eng; 1t increases by opposition 1t tr-
umnhs by defeat Every concession invico-
rates its powers, and has increased its capacity
for evil. In view of these facts and opinions,
am wrong in supposing that the Constitu
ton has failed in protecting the South in the
P''oC''pic ctJoJ'ncnC ol Cnclr rights ana prop
erty Unless systematic inference, agitation,
aggression and insult with respect to our in.
stitutions, is pcace-twll be difficult to prove
that the Southern States are in the poaceabc
enjoyment of their rights and property
Such course of deliberate hostility, as has
characterized the conduct of the citizens of
the Northern States towards the South, for
the last three years, would justify, by the
laws of nations, declaration of war between
independent sovereigntes.
If, then, fellow.citizens, the South is no
longer in the peaceablc enjoyment of her
: rights and peculiar institutions, under the
Constitution Of the United States the qucs-
tion arises upon the second proposition in the
resolution. 1t is cxpcdiont that the Constitu.
tion should be amended or the Union be dis.
solved.
Those, of course, who design using the
Union and the Constitution, for the purpose of
destroying the institution of slavery in the
South, will recognize no such cxpedicncy-
With them, the bonds of the Union consti.
tute tho cords by which they propose to bind
the victims to the altar With such designs,
next to the atrocity of holding slaves, will be
the least resistance to the means by which
they expect to accomplish their purpose
Traitors themselves to the Constitution, and
every principle of faith or honor which
brought us together, they may imagine, that
by clamorously accusing others of want of
fidelity to their constitutional engagements
they may conceal their own base per6dy to-