The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-01-01
THE ADDRESS TO THE SOUTH.

lHE AUURESS 1V 1HL CUU 1ns
The address of the People of South Carolina
assembled IN Convention, to the People of the
iSlaceholding States Of the United States.
1t is seventy-three years since the Union be-
tween the United States made by the ,Consti-
tuition of the United States During this time,
their advance in wealth, prosperity and power
has been with scarcely parallel in the history of
the world. The great object of their Union was
external defence from the aggressions of more
powerful nations; which object is now attained,
from their mere progress in power. Thirty-on
millions of people, with commerce and naviga-
ton which explore every sea, and with agrlcultur-
al productions which necessary to every civil
lzed people, command the friendship of the world.
But, unfortunately, our internal peace has not
grown with our external prosperity. Discomfort
and contention have moved in the bosom of the
Confederacy for the last thirty-fve years Dur
ing this time, South Carolina has twice called her
people together in solemn Convention, to take into
consideration the aggressons and unconstitutional
wrongs perpetrated by the people of the North on
the people of the South These wrongs were sub
mitted to by the people of the South under the
hope and expectation that they would be final.
But such hope and expectation have proved to be
vain. Instead of producing forbearance, ouF &C
quiescence>has only instgated to new forms OF az
erosion and outrage; and South Carolina, again
dissolved her connection with the States constl-
tuting the United States.
The one great evil, from which all other evils
have flowed, is the overthrow of the Constitution
of the United States. The Government OF the
United States is no longer the Government OF
Confederated Republics, but of consolidated
Democracy. 1t is no longer free Government,
but despostism. 1t is, in fact, such Govern
ment as Great Brit ain attempted to set over our
1 L.
years struggle for independence.
The Revolution of l776 turned upon one great
principle, self-government-and selftaxation, the
criterion of self-government Where the interests
of two people united together under one govern
ment, are different, each must have the power to
protect its interests by the organization OF the Gov
ernment or they cannot be free. The interests of
q reat Britain and Colonies were different and an
taeonistc. Great Britain was desrous OF carry
ing out the policy of all nations towards their
Colonies, Of making them tributary to her wealth
and power She had vast and complicated rea-
tions with the whole world. Her policy towards
her North American Colonies was to identify them
with her in all these complicated relations; and to
make them bear in common with the rest OF the
Empire, the full burden of her obligations aud ne
cessties She had vast public debt; she had all
Asiatic policy, which had occasioned the accumu-
aCon of her public debt; and which kept her IN
continual wars The North American Colonies
their interests political and commercial, sacrl-
feed by such policy Their interests required
that they should not be identified with the burdens
and wars of the mother country. They hac been
settled under Charters which gave them seifgoE
eminent; at least far their property Was con-
cerned They had taxed themselves, and had
never been taxed by the Government OF Great
Britain. TO make them a part Of consolidated
Empire, the Parliament of Great Britain determln-
ed to the power Of legislating for the Col
ones in all cases whatsoever. Out ancestors re-
sisted the pretension. They refused to be part
of the consolidated Government of Great Britain.
The Southern States now stand exactly in the
same position towards TIE Northern States that
our ancestors in the Colonies did towards Great
Britain. The Northern States, having the ma
joriy in Congress- claim the same power OF omnipo-
tence in legislation the British Parliament.
The General Welfare is the only limit to the
legislation of either; and the majority in Congress
as in the British Parliament, are the sole judges
of the expedency Of the legislation this "General
Welfare requires. Thus, the Government OF the
United States has become consolidated Govern
ment; and the people Of the Southern States are
compelled to meet the very despotism their fathers
threw off in the Revolution of l776.
The consolidation of the Government of Great
Britain the Colonies, attempted to be
carried out by the taxes. The British Parliament
undertook to tax the Colonies, to promote British
interests. Our fathers resisted this pretens;on.
They claimed the right Of selftaxation through
their Colonial Legislatures. They not repre-
scented in the British Parliament, and therefore,
could not rightly be taxed by it's legislation. The
British Government, however, offered them rep
resentation in Parliament but it was not sufficient
to enable them to protect themselves from the ma
ority, and they refused the offer. Between taxa
ton without any representation and taxation with
out representation adequate to protection, there
was no difference. In neither case would the
Colonies tax themselves. Hence, they refused to
pay the taxes laid by the British Parliament
And so with the Southern States, towards North
ern States, in the vital matter Of taxation. They
are in minority in Congress. Their representa-
ton in Congress is useless to protect them against
unjust taxation; and they are taxed by the people
of the North for their benefit exactly the peo-
pie of Great Britain taxed our ancestors in the
British Parliament for their benefit For the last
forty years. the taxes laid by the Congress of the
United States, have been laid with view Of sub
serving the interests Of the North The people of
the South have been taxed by duties on imports
not for revenue but for an object inconsistent with
revcnue-to promote, by prohibitions, Northern
interests in the productions of their mines and
manufactures.
There is another evil, in the condition Of the
Southern towards the Northern States, which our
ancestors refused to bear towards Great Britain
Our ancestors not only taxed themselves, but all
| the taxes collected from them were expended
amongst them. Had they submitted to the pre-