Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-05
HOW THEY TALK

.
by ordinance, when her Convention meets on
the 18th of December. Her leading spirits,
taught to believe that s'Devotion to the Union
is Treason to the South,'' have become phren-
zied with excitement, and, disregarding all
consequences, will attempt to calry out their
reasonable designs. In order to give our
readers some idea of the temper displayed by
these rash men, We append few extracts from
couple of their speeches.
Hon. Lawrence NJ. Keitt, on the occasion of
serenade given him recently in Charleston,
after alluding to the general feeling for seces-
sion which pervaded that State, said
"We come, then, a unit in the prosecution
OF this great cause. We go before history,
and stand before the tribunal of public opinion
with violated Constitution in one hand, and
our sacred liberties, rescued from pollution. in
the other. We have sacred cause. We are
about to break up this Union. The time for
Union-saviug is past the time for compromi-
ses is past. Nothing, aye nothing, except the
withdrawal OF this State from the Union which
has become accursed, will do. We go with a
strong test before the tribunal of history. Our
fathers built up this country. John Rutledge
of South Carolina did more than any man to
achieve our liberties, save George Washing
ton; and old Christopher Gadsden-anothef
South Carolnian-initiated the great move
ment. Marion and Sumter kept the fires of
our liberty burning while in danger of going
out in darkness and gloom. Our second war
was carried through by Carolina statesmen.
We have built up this Government from cor
ner stone to turret, and now we mean to tear it
down from turret TO the foundation. Why?
history will ask us. 1t is because it has been
made by Black Republican fanaticism a hos
tile government in our very midst. Its pow
ers are about to pass into the hands of a Sec
tona majority, which majority declares slave
ry shall die; and they will put the scepter of
power in the hands of a man who has said that
the Northern mind has been right because it
believed that slavery was in process of extinc-
ton. 1t is because the Government is about
to pass into the hands of man hostile to the
great interests of the South, that we are about
to tear down this Union. How shall we do it
His answer was by the sovereign act of the
sovereign State of South Carolin He would
tell them what he said months ago. that if
South Carolina falters, the neck Of this South
ern movement is broken. Because of the una
nimity of her people, without party differen-
ces, she is everywhere looked upon as the sem
tinel upon the watch-tower, and if she sleeps,
no matter how wildly RACES the tempest in the
others, the enemy will look for peace and qui-
ct. He did not mean to discuss the ques-
tfon of right. The Convention of 1850 said
they had the right they themselves said they
have the right; he said they had the right, and
by heaven nothing but the strong hand shall
put it down. He said that the principle of
the Black Republican party was, that fidelity
to the Constitution is reasonable to the high
er law. He would tell them, in answer, that
loyalty to the Union, is treason to the South.
They tell us they have the Government, and
they intend TO WELD all its powers for our over
throw, and they tell us that resistance is trea-
son. He would tell the people of the South
that submission is slavery, and, when he was
called upon to choose whether ne would be
traitor or a slave, God help him, he would be
a traitor. Let us unfurl the flag, and, with
the sword of State, cut the bonds of this ac-
cursed Union.''
Hon. Robt. Barnweil Rhett, another South
CaroIinan, in a speech before the people of
Charleston, on the 18th of November, made
use of the following language:
tsThe last contest between the North and the !
South we have just witnessed in the Presiden- |
tal election. With the numerical power in |
both branches of Congress, it was only neces-
sary, to complete their mastery, that the Nor |
thern people should be united in using their
power. They have become united, in this e.
lection, on this principle of hostility to Afri-
can slavery in the Sauth. On this principle, |
purely sectional, they have elected Southern |
out of the bosom of Ken |
lucky into lllinois-and Northern mulatto, |
to be President and Vice President of the u |
nited States. naked sectional despotism is
over the South-as hating as il is |
all the fury of fanatcism, and all |
the lust of avarice and ambition, to direct it's |
power. have gone through all this detail of |
the various sectional issues, which have arisen |
between the North and the South, that you
might understand your true position, and weigh |
we'll your future destiny. After twenty
years of steady and INSCRIPTIONS effort to OBJ
tain the rule over you, will the North surren-
der it when acquired After the characteris-
tics the Northern people have developed, in
all their sectional contests with you what hope
can you have of any justice or safety under
their domination Selfshness, ambition, av-
arice, faithlessness, or fanaticism, have mark
ed their contests with you; whilst on your
part you have exhibited generosity, confidence,
iisinterestedness, and devotion to your COM
pact of union with them, not without weak
ness. The truth is, the Northern people are
not fit to live with any other people in the
world. They have not the least conception of
he principles of free government. Their idea
Of such government is, that majority shall
'ule a minority. If seven men formed a gov
four have the absolute power over
he three. Of those wise and delicate restric-
ions against absolute power, whether in one
nan, or in many, by which the rights and lib
,rties of all are secured, they know nothing
md care nothing. No regard, therefore, to
he great principles offree government will re-
train the exercise of their brute power for
'our destruction. They say, as the rich
nan in the Scriptures, my arm has gotten me
his wealth. Swollen with insolence, and
teeped in ignorance, selfishness, and fanati-
ism, they will never understand their depen-
lence on the South until the Union is dissoly-
ID, and they are left naked TO their own re-
sources. Then, and not till then, will they be
ble to appreciate the long forbearance and en-
.urance of the South.''
After making some suggestions as to what
he new Southern Confederacy should be, Mr..
shett proceeds in the following strain
"My friends, the Union is dissolved. 1t has
ong since been dissolved, in sympathy and