Newbern weekly progress., 1860-12-04
Hos HEnscHEL V. JouSsoN.-The Hon. Her

HoN HERSCHEL V. JoHNSoN.--I Hon. Her
schel " johnson has written letter in reply
to one signed by several members of the Geor-
gia Legislature, in which he contends that Lin
coins election is not sufficient cause for dissol-
wing the Union but adds:
Rnt the South has pri .vances of which to COM
nlain far more CALLING than the bare election of
Republican to the Presidency The surrender OF
fugitive slaves is constitutional oolgatlon upon
every State in the Union. Without such guar
anty the Union Would never have been formed.
II cannot long sueryive its continued and persis-
tent disregard by the non-siaVeholdlng States.
The violation of it, by some, commenced almost
simultaneously with the abolition agitation. 1t
has grown with its growth and strengthened
,itb IFS strength until now in defiance of Fed
eral enactments, a majority OF those States have
passed stringent laws to obstruct and hinder the
recovery of fugitive slaves. True the cotton
States have not suffered very considerably, on
this score the evil necessarily falls mainly upon
the border States But all the slaveholding States
have felt and do now keenly fell this lntidelty OF
their Northern sisters to their plain constitutional
obligation. They have said but little, however
they have submitted to it, almost without COM
plaint Amidst the almost unmixed evil which
I apprehend from the election of Lincoln, see
one good result, and that is the awakening of the
South to these great grievances. They ought not
to be permanently submitted to; but promptly re-
dressed upon the united demand OF the South
LII
Governor Johnson then refers to his previous
opinions on the positions of Georgia, and conclu
des as follows:
These were my opinions to the proper
course for Georgia to adopt IN lSoO. AS far as
they are applicable to the present crisis, would
advise their adoption now. Then L would
say:
l. Let the Legislature call convention of the
people. at such time as may be deemed most con-
venient, to consider and determine what the State
the State in a condition to meet any emergen-
cy.
3 Let that Convention reaffirm the Georgia Plat
form of 1885, and demand the repeal of all laws
passed by any of the non-slaveholdng States.
which obstruct the execution, in good faith, OF
the act of Congress for the rendition of fugitive
slaves.
g. Let that Convention appeal to the Northern
States to suppress by all legitimate measures the
slavery agitation as subversive of the peace and
fraternity between the Ststes of this Union.
4. Let that Convention ask consultation with
the other Southern States either IL a Congress
for that purpose, or in such other manner as
NAV be best calculated to secure concert of ac-
ton.
repeat what I said in tho letter alluded to-:
CAS- to the means a Southern Congress ought
to adopt to enforce these propositions, it would
be presumption in me to venture suggestion.
prefer rather to stand mute before the wisdom
of it's colnsels and bow submissively to its deci-
sions. I am willing to confde the interest,
the honor and the rights of the South in the
bands Of such body; and l feel sure that its
moral i'll allence, representing as it would, the
patriotism, the intelligence and firm resolve of
the South would be POTENT to save the Union and
awaken the Nort!''er States to the danger with
which their misguided fanaticsm has imperiled
it,
Should hope that .frnn and earnest appeal
by the South TO the Northern States would be
Needed that they would. un 1era sense of consti-
tutional obligations repeal their personal LIBERTY
bills and cease to hinder tie surrender OF fugl-
tive slaves. repeat a continued aid persistent
disregard of our rights in this pasticua ar by the
non-save holding States, cannot, anu ought
not to be submitted to. 1t is time fol the South
to demand exemption from the agitation of slave
ry, from unjustifabe interference with our DO
mesic peace and security, from further ae> rres-
sons upon our rights, and the faithful observance
by the Northern States of the requirements ana
guarantees of the Constitution Let the business
of redress he begun now and prosecuted to fl
nal consummation. Let every effort be made
and every means be exhausted to restore the I'm
ion back to what it intended to be by its
founders. If we fail in this, which | will not
tieipate then the interest," right, peace and honor
of the South will require dissolution Of the I'm
ion.