The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-12-19
MIR. RoYcE oN sEcEssIoN.

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Mr., BoYCE on SECESSION
Hon. w. w. Boyce, of South Carolina,
wrote letter 10 the Chairman OF - South
ern Rights Association" in the year 1851,
opposing the Secession of his State, and set
ting forth the evils which would flow from
such step. We produce portion Of this
letter, as being applicable to the condition
of things now existing in the Southern
States:
Secession. then, whether attended with
peace or war, not Causing union OF the
South, il not in furtherance Of our great
policy Of bringing about Southern Union,
and therefore should not be adopted.
"As to the second purpose Of secession,
that il is good measure in it.elf--the Ma
tionaity of South Carolina-I hardly know
what to say, it seems to be Numerically an
tagOnistic to every princple Of our policy.
!" fhe first great fundamental, unanswer-
able objection to it is, that it IS the dIsunlon
Of the South-wor,ls of such fearful import
that | will not weaken them by elabora-
tion.
80. South Carolina CANNOT BEcoaR A MA
TlON. Cod makes nations, not nan. You
cannot estempnrize a nation out OF South
Carolina. 1t is simply impossible we have
not the resources. I'VE could exist by toler-
anse, and what that tolerance would be, when
we consider the present hostile spirit Of the
age TO the institution OF slavery, at which
we would be looked upon as the peculiar ex-
ponent, all may readily imagine. trust we
may never have 10 look upon the painful and
humiliating spectacle.
"5. From the weakness Of our National
Government, feeling Of insecurity would
arise, capital would take the alarm and leave
us. But it NAV be SAID, let capital ~. To
this, reply. that capital is the life blood Of
a modern community, and in losing il you
lose the vitality OF the State.
IS. This National Government would be
very, very costly machine. The cost pf .
government is in inverse proportion 70 its
numbers. 4 small national government Is
necessarily far more expensive than large
one. Look at the small German States. ground
down with taxation. So il would be With
Us. The Federal fleets would cut OF all i'm
port duties, and the immense burden Of the
Government would have to be raised BY d.
rect taxation.
SIS. The feeling of insecurity arising from
the weakness of our National Government.
together with the burden Of increased taxa
ton, would cause. or rather continue an im-
mence emigration. Emigration is naturally
going on all the time from the old States to the
fertile EldoradOs Of the West; put any further
burdens on the citizens Of the old States, and
you add immensely to this stream Of emigra-
ton. Unfortunately this emigration. in the
event Of your becoming a separate nation.
would be only from the white race. and y0u
would, therefore, be going down the decliyity
Of ruin with fearful velocity"
:" G. Following emigration, and natural
effect Of il, would be an immense deprecia-
ton Of property lands first, more land be-
ing thrown into the market than the demand
required; then negroes, as they would be cut
OF from the Western market. Millions would
be lost to The State IN this way."
." 10. Secession is against the wishes OF
the other Southern Safes Ol.ht not they
TO have some influence Wiihus: Should se
not defer 10 our allies, VIM have twenty
fines tie interest 10 Tie institution Of slave
~ that we have How can we ever hope for
q Union Of the South. il We. mere handful
Of the southern people, if We insist on en-.
forcing our opinions on the rest Of the South !
4 Southern Union implies modification d
the extremes Of all opinions.
. IL. 4 LARcE MINORITY, at least, Of our
eitizeus are opposed 10 secession. II there
Be no other objection, this should be conclu-
sise.
" IL. Secession, separate nationality. with
all its bsrllens, is 90 remedy. Il IS 90 re.
dress for the past !; il no security for the
future. II is only a magnificent sacrifice Of
the present, without in anywise gaining the
future. We are told, however, that i . re.
sistance aud that we must not submit 10
the late action 81 Congress. Now, would
like to know which one Of these assures
we resist by secession. Il is not the prohi.
bition OF slave marts 10 the District Of Go,
lumbia. Il i not TIE purchase Of the Ter.
a. territory I; is certainly not the admis.
sion 0f California. Which aggression, then,
DO we resist by secession! These are all
the recent aggressioas which we resist now
BY secession. Secession, gallant as may BE-
the spirit which prompts It, is only new
form Of Submission.
For the various reasons have stated. I
object ia as strong terms as can to the Sc
cession Of South Carolina. Such Is the in
tensity Of my conviction upon the subject,
that if secession shoald take pisee--oT WHICH
HAVE 10 IDEA, for [ cannot believe 10 the
existence OF such siUpendous mldness-I
stall consider the institution d slavery as
doomed, and that the Great God in our
blindness has made " the instruments Of its
destruction.
remain, with greatrespsct. &c.
w. w. B0YCE.