The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-08-31

ton, should in my humble opinion copvince NJ
OF ,ttle, great necessity Of inaugura,ing somo
dehnate policy for our futurs protection. l do
not mean 10 ultimate that our institutions, as
now existing IN the States, " i'll be in immediate.
danger it Lincoln is elected. do not belisve
that his administration would attempt any meas
ure Of emancipation. The time for that ia not
yet. lookbehind the mere fact of his election.
know, and every man Of common sense must
realize, the unmstakable fact tha, the political
power of these Uuited States is being transferred
TO the Northern section Of the Uniori Tho
control and patronage Of tho Government smust
sooE pass from the South 10 the North. When
l am'convinced of this fact-when feel that
governmental authority over me and my prop
erly is passing into the hands Of the Northern
masses 1t then becomes duty, from which mono
OF us should shrink. 10 Examine, as far 4asxm may
oe practicable, into the friendship or animosty
OF those who are to rule as. If the power
which is to rule is friendly to our institutions
then they are safe; but OH the other hand, if it
is 'nimieei-if there is in it an inherent hatred
10 us and our institutions, then, in my humble
opInon' it Is dangerous policy to submit 10 it.
Tor moment. The Black Republican, power
may, and no doubt will, he cautious, perlaps,too
prudent ut present to precipitate the country into
revolution; yet with it's inveterate hatred to us,
its policy cannot but be insiduous aud dangerous.
Our proposition is, that if the power that con-
trole our Government holds to moral and poli,i-
cal convictions, which are inconsistent with ,''>-
rights, that there cannot be permanent peace
that there can he 10 such thing as harmonious
Union-that the conflict between our rights aud
the pRwer Of the Government must continue
without cessation until the last vesta ge of slave
~ shalt have been swept from the continent.
What, then. is the ruling spirit Of tho Black
Republican partya Is it one Of friendship and
| amity to u.s. Hatred and animosityi Do you
wish the evidence Of it's halred3 1t is not diff.
| cult to find it. 1t is scattered abroad i'd the
land as thick as the falling leaves Of autumn.
1t is seen in every line and paragraph of tho
Republican Journals. 1t is insultingly rung in
our ears upon the floor of Congress- II hangs
upon the lips Of all Ynnkeedon. 1t has invaded
the dplaces; supplanted true religion, yea,
t has lifted its defornty dtouhd The sacred al.
tar and is blasphemously proclaimed from the
pulpit. Volumes might be cited from tie
speeches Of its leaders to prove its hostility, but
forbeur, believing that the existence of their
| enmity is truth That none will presume to
| deny. Knowing and keenly f. cling this truth, I
| can scarcely imagine how the South can, con-
slate"t with her own safety, tamely submit to
the administration Of radically sectional party,
whose very soul and life -blood-whose cohesive
power rests upon the lone and single idea of
| implacab!e hatred to that institution which it
becomes us as mon and patriots to defend aud
preserve intact. Why should We wait when we
see the enemy advancing. Will the South strike
while she is able, or stand silent spectator of
the 'advuncing wave Of her own deso,ation and
ruina Shall We hope that the Government can
b. administered according 10 the spirit of the
Constitution, when those who are chosen for this
Office are the sworn enemies Of that instrume, ~
"'Tis to hope against reason" know that it is
difficult u look into the future, and realize the
consequences of our present action. l know
that it is hard for to reslize future danger.
that it is 10 easy tack TO awaken men to a sense
"f present duty, that evil may be prevented in
the future. Our present action should ulways
have reference TO the futue This generation
is charged with'the responsibility of acting for
The next sueceeding one.
The experience of the past thirty years agi.
tation of the slave question Is quite sufficient to
prove to me that there will bsssfo cessation OF
il in the fturf--that the conflict upon this issue
must continue while the Government, last. En-
PERTAINING these views shall upon tho election
of Lincoln. contribute muelsas m"y be IN my
power to BRING about the n1ion aud confedsra-
cy of any two or .of the Southern States.
I shall g decide at once for q Southern Confed-
eracy, and give myself unhestatingly TO the
accomplishment Of this object would leave
lno expedient untried, but would countenance
|any measure which believed would result in
the confederated union Of any two ~ moro
Southern States
shall next consider briefly the third inte >
rogato,y. in these words: lin case the form.
union and confederacy Of two or more cotton
Suites should prove impracticsbls, will you
or will you not espouse in G DDS strength the
secession Of South Carolina separate and alone /"
The proposition embraced in this query is
-ssperate and distinct from that coptainedsiu The
Second, and I do not think that the issue
which it makes should enter into the canvass.
The members Of the Legislature, if elected,
upon that issue, have no power TO decide It,
The Legislature is no, the sovereign power oI
the State, and IL Of itself cannot vSse the State
out Of the Union. 1t is only Conysntion Of
the people that can decide the quesiion;of aeces-
sion or no secession. The power, however, to
call this Convention Iiesin the Legislature If
the Legislature calls Convention, then and
not till then, should the question Of seperate
State action be'considered Il will result in NO
good to get up division and dsssnlion about It
now. II it is desired. that this issue shall be
made atthe proper time it is only necessary to
'end msn TO the LsSisla.ufe who Would vote for
the call Of eonsention. After the convention
has been called, delegates viii be elected who
will be clothed with authority to decide The mat.
ter. This is my visw.as, the policy Of making
it question in the present election Of members
to the Legislature. Yet do not shrin'sfom tho
responsibility Of Indicating tho position should