The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-05-09
tors; the principles have been made subor-
dinnte to the agent appointed by them

The people ofthe Southern States, whose
almost xclusive occupation was agriculture,
early perceived u tendency in the Northern
States to render the common Government
subserSient to their own purposes, by impo-
sing burthens ON commerce Us projection
70 their manufacturing and shipping inter
ests Lc1g and angry controversy grew
out OF these attempts, often successful, to
benefit one section Of the country at the
expense Of the other. And the danger Of
disruption arising from this cause was en-
hanced by the fact that the Northern
population was increased by immigration
and other causes in greater ratio than
the population of the South. BY degrees as
he Northern States gained preponderance
in the National Congress, self interest
taught their people to yield ready assem-, to
any plausible advocacy Of their right as
majority to govern the minority without
controls: they learn to listen with imraticscc
to the suggestion OF any constitutional inn
pcdimcnt t. the exercise of their will; and
so utterly have the principles Of tic Con
s,itution been corrupted in The Northern
m nj that in the inaugural address dcliv-
cred by resident Lincoln in March last
he asserts us AN axiom which he plainly
deeuls to be undcniable, that t theory OF
the Constitution roqaires that in all cases
memorable instance, the saline Chief Mag
istrate did.not hesitate to likcn the relations
between a State and the United States to
those which exist between country aud
the State in which it is situated and by
which it WAS created This is the lamep
table and fundamental error on which rests
the policy that has eliminated in his dee
laration oi war against these Conicderat,
States
In addition to the long continxed and
deep seated resentment felt by the South
ern States at the persistent abuse of the
powers they had delegated to the Congress,
for the purpose of enrching the manutac-
turing and shipping classes of the North
at the expense of the South, there Las ex-
listed for nearly half a century another sub.
jeet OF discord, iarGlying interests Of such
transGsldcnt ma@aitude, as ut all times to
create the apprehension in the minds oi
many devoted lovers of the uuion, that its
pcrmanence was impossible.
When the several States delegated Ger
tain powers to the United States Congress,
large portion of the laboriug population
consisted ot .Airican slaves imported into
the colonies by the mother country Iu
twelve out of the thirteen States, ncgru
slavery existed, and the right of property
iwsaves was vrut, cite. t,y law. Ihis pr,
perty was recognized in the Constitution
aud provision was made against its loss by
the escape of the slave. The incrca il
the number of slaves by further inporta
ton from Atrica was also secured y
clause forbidding Congress to prohibit III,
slave trade anterior To certain date aud
in no clause can there be found any dele
cation OF power to the Congress authoriz
ing it in any manner to lcglsiate to til,
prejudice, detrment OF encouragement o
the owners of that species OF property, ol
excluding it from the protection Of tn,
government.
The climate and soil of the Northerr
States soon proved unpropitious tothc con
tinuancc of slave labor, whilst thc convers,
was the case at thc South Under the nu
restricted free intercourse between the tw,
sections, The Northern States cousulte,
their own interest by sei,u. their slave.
to the South, and prohibiting slavery with
i'll their limits. The South were wllin.
purchasers of Il property suitable to thci
wants, and pal the price OF the acquisl
hon without harborlng SUSPECT tha
their quiet possession was to be disturbc,
by those who were inhibited, not only b,
want OF constitutional authority, but by
good faith as vendors, irnm disquicting
TUE emanating from themselves
As soon, however, aS the Northern State!
that prohibited African slavery within
their limits bad reached number suihc
lent TO give their representatives u control,
ing voice in th" Congress, u persistent anl
organized system OF hostile measure.
against the rights Of the owners of slave.
In the Southern States was :naugurated anC
gradually extended. \ co, tinuous serle:
OF measures was divised and prosecuted io
the purpose of rendering insecure the ten
ure OF property III slaves; ianalical orgdni
cations, supplied with money by voluntary
subscriptions, were assiduousl, engaged il
inclt"g among the slaves a spirit OF dis
content and revolt; means were furnished
ior their e'cipe from their owners anu
agents secrectly employed to entcc then
to abscond the constitutional provision
for their rendition to their owners was first
cvaded, then openly denounced It's Ii viola
ton OF conscientious obligation and rclig
lous duty; men We're taught that it was Il
merl to elude, disobcy and violently oppose
the execution of The laws enacted to sccur,
the Performance OF the promise contained
i'll the constitutional compact owners oI
slaves were mobbcd, and even murdered in
open day, solely ior applying to magis
trate for the arrest of a fugitive slave the
dogmas OF these voluntary organizatiQn>
soon obtained control Of the legislatures oi
many OF tho Northern States, and laws
were passed providing Tor the punishment
by ruinous fines and long continued I'M
prIsonmeut IN JIlls and ponltent,arscs, oil
citizens of Southern States who should dare
to ask aid of the officers oi the law ior the
rr nyarv nf thnir prnpart,,