The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-19

the part Of these miscreants, to reduce the
Southern States to another Jamaica or St.
Domingo.
Now what Shall we do! Shall we quietly
submit until the halter is fastened around our
neclls, until insurrlctionarV agents shall have
Aestroyed us! Or shall! we cut loose from
these miserable miscrcants and fall back on
our reserved rights, on our State sovereignty,
and upon the great 'irsL law Of nature, self,
preservation?
consider The Union already virtually de
stroyed. The objects TO be accomplished 10y
the Union Of the States arc very plainly ex-
pressed in the Cons,ituuon; they read IS
follows:
I'VE, the people Of the United States, in
"order TO form a more perfect Union, es;ab-
'.lisb Justice, insure domestic tranquility, pro
wide for the common deteuoe, promote the
general welfare and secure the blessings Of
'liberty to ourselves, and our posteritv, do or
"dain and establish this Constitution
Now we know that all these objects, for
which the Constitution was established, are
being subverled. and 10 remain longer in po-
litcal fellowship with fanatics, would furnish
them with the means to efectuate their
avowed Office, which implies our destruction.
Oh Virginia, the mother Of Statesmen and
Presidents; yes. the mother Of the immortal
Washington-Vrginia, the mother Of States
of Kentucky, her eldest daughter--of Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin
for these five free States, whose fanatical
population is now wagng war with tue
mother that cave them birth, were carved
/ cut Of that vast \ Northwestern territory which,
! in her magnal!mlties, she donated TO the
! federal Union by the celebrated ordinance Of
II767. Old mother Virginia, when she
adopted the federal Constitution, did it with
much opposition; Patrick Henry opposing to
the last; and with mach opposition accepted
it aith the following proyjso
"We, The delegates Of thepeop'o Of Vir-
'giuia, duly elected, III PURSUANCE Of d fs-
/ "c0nmendation from the general assembly,
and now met ia convention, having fully
land freely y,s;ieatcd. and discussed the
proceedings OF the Federal Convention, and
"beiug prepared as well as the most mature
! ,'deiiueratiun hath enabled Us 10 decide
'',hereon, de- in the name anil in behalf Of the
people of Virginia, declare and make known
| lAdt tDc powers 4fdHltu uatcE tIe NViiHtieu-
.'tion being de rived from the people OF the
u n:ted States, may be resumed BY tAeos
".chtnsoeuer tie same shall be perverted to
"their iaj&ry or oppression and that every
power not granted thereby remains with
them aud at their will tcc.
Now this Constitution is being perverted
TO her and our iy1ry oad oppression, and IS
ii coequai With her III The coutedcsacy, Louis
lana has the same unquestion;.5'e ''sit TO
withdraw from he Union tAat Virginia has
especially from a union with people whose
interests, passions aud preiStii'c'es aye engaged
in deliberate and leadls hostility TO our very
existence. =
Irbelieye t.,<Sou,'crn States should secede
and form, Il new confederacy, with such OF
oar ester States as have eonraon instit
..tion to maintain: and | have 40 DOUBT
that The border States. especially Kentucky,
will sooner CT later fall into line, as heir
associations, institutions and sgmpathies.
both civil and religious, are similar and
congenial with our own.
Respectfully,
HENRY J. PECK.
SICILY ISLAND, Dee. Is, 1860.