The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-09-07


pressible conflict" already commenced, before
the party is i'll power. If tho a bolitionisls can
thus destroy our property and excite our people
by merely sending their agents and money in
our midst, what can they not do when the Treas
ury. the Navy. Amy and judiciary will be made
to su6serve their purrosea
But, says some of our "hopeful politicians" :"
we have friends in the midst of these Black
Republicans, and we ought to do al we can to
strengthen and sustain them l grant there are
aJe~ constitutional men OF the North; but let
me usk the question, where are they 3--ure thew
IN any political position, which can enable them
to correct public opinion of The North ,ou the
subject Of slnveryS-or can they arrest this
crusade against our domestic nstitutionsa Not
one can 1e found in place or pover. They have
long slice been reckci upon the quicksau,ls Of
Ab"i.oni:ln. They arc now us rowcrl.ss before
THIS Abolition blast as straws before the yybirl-
"'"h. IL Is IN vain, then, TO look to these friends
o' The North to bring back the Abuliionists TO a
returning sense Of justice to the South.
Inns Idea OF n returning sense OH the part
"i The North is suprcmcly ridiculous. Their
very nature, education, and feelings forbid
such an idea. They nrc taught around the
tircsidc, ut The Sabhatf schools, and in the mil
P''' 'i'"t slave owner is one of the greatest
monsters on earth. With such education, md
Such feelings of hatred to the South ms has been
lnstilicd into them from their cradle up. how
can any sane man Of the South, ever hope for n
returning sense Of Justice on their part .
"Can the Leopard change his spots, or the Eth
orian his skin.' iou might rs we'll attempt to
change the opinions and affections of the people
OF tie South upon the subject of slavery, as TO
change the opinious Of the Abolitouis,s. Tncv
have e't 'onc iIcn," and that is possession Of
tins Government as q means by which they in
tend TO accomplish their hcllisll work.
Ihc conflict, then. must conc sooner or later ::
there is 70 power that can avert it, short of
Omnipotoncc. 1t then becomes n grave oucs-
lion with the esllvcholdins States, whether they
VIII be better prepared to meet the issue next
March, if come it must? Or will the cotton
States be more united, and stronger four wears
hence?
am satisfied that there is more unanimitv
IN tic eight seeding States upon this question
OF resistance to the aggression of the North.
'fan there has been since the Rcvolu, ion of
1915. Tic masses in these States arc thor
oughly aroused, and are better prepared in
m"a ana resources to meet the crisis, than they
ever have or ever will be. I. for one, am in ia.
vor Of strkingthe blow, upon the election of
Black Republican to the Presidency. This
blow desire above all things to be stricken hv
all the slave holding States in concert. If not
by all, then by the eight seeding States, with
Alabama leading. But if VIC cannot get tie
cotton States to 60 with US on this vital aues
tion' before will submit to n loss of property
andpolitical degradation, |. in "Go,l's strength.
will espouse the secession of So,tl, Carolina
separate nd,nltnc." Tie contest il ".luvcrv
or no Slavery" and it is between the North and
South It is one Of ije or death to the political
existcnce' of the slaveholdihg States Then let
every. man face the issue, and answer the oues
tion for himself, and not throw off the RESPONSE
bihty upon postcri,y 1 then am in favor of
calling Convention of the people of this State.
in the event Of the election of Black Republi.
can; that the people in their sovereign capacity
may then and there consider "thc infractions
of the Constitution, and the mode and manner
Of redress
3rd. This brings me to tho next intcrroca-
tory which says: "In case tho formal union and
cohfederacy oftwo or more States should prove
impracticablc, will You not cspouse in Gods
strength the secession Of South Carolina alone !"
have already answered this question in con-
necuon with the second interrogatory but
introduce it again for the purpose of saying to
my friends at Greenwood that this is not the
proper time for the discussion Of seperate Stat
action: The members 10 be elected to the Leg
isiaf"ic :'Gw, or at any time hereafter, cannot
oct upon That question. 1t is alone reserved
for the action of the people of the State in Con-
ysntioh The utmost that the Legislature can
do TO bring about such action, is to place the
State IN position TO act, and that is to call q
convention of the people. This, as have nj.
ready said, am in favor of doing in the
event Of the election Of Black Republican
The true position of South Carolina, in INV
huihblc judgment, is contained in the following
Resolutions which were unanimously adopted by
both branches of the Legislature, in December.
1859:
Ateeo'tfd, 4hht tHe Otate OF south Carolina
still dcfers to her Southern sisters nevertheless
respectfully announces to them, that it is the
deliberate judgement of this General Assembly.
that the slnvcholding States should Immediately
meet together to concert measures of united ac-
ton" This vas the declared position Of the
State last wintec, and see nothing to change
that position now +; but every thing to encour.
age us IN deferritg get to our Southern sisters.
The secession movement in the Charleston Con.
venticn on the part of eighsastton States is sig
nificant of what the futufssWM be when the
honr Of trial comes.
9Ihe present juncture of orr political relations
With our Southern Sis,crs, demand concert and
united action. They have common interest
and common destiny with this State, and when
the dust and smoke of Douglas and Bell is
cleared by tho election of Lincoln, they will
then realize their. true position; and before
they will submit to Black Republican rule. they
viii strike for Southern Confederacy. Ithen
would exhaust every means to secure united
action, and would prefer the gallant and no.
BILE State of Alabama, or any of our South
e.. ern sisters, taking the lead upon this ques-
tion Of resistance to Black Republican rule.
Our State is united and prepared for the issue,