The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-01-16

indirectly, must be--the emancipation of
the slaves Of the South The hypocrisy
of thirty years--the faitblesness of :heir
whole course from the commencement of
our union with them, show that the peo
pie OF the slaveboIding North are not
aud cannot be,ssfe associa;s of the slave
holding South, under n common Govern
ment. Not only their fala.icism, but
their erroneous views Of ,h principles of
free governments, render it doubtful
whether. If separated from the South,
they can maintain n free government q.
mongst themselves. Numters with them
is the great element OF free government
A majority. is ipfallble aud omnipotent
-"Tho right divine to rulein King.," is
only trHi sferred to their majority. The
very object Of all Constitutions, in fee
popular Government, is D restrain the
! msjority. Constitutions, isrefore, accor-
ding to their theory, mut be most un
righteous inventions, restricting liLirlv.-
None ought 10 exist; but tie body polite
ought TO nave n political oganzation, to
bring out and enforce the vi of the ma
jority. This theory may L harmless in
n small community, havngsn identity Of
interests and pursuits; ut over vast
Stute-stili more, over a vat Confpdera.
cy, having various aud cofiicting inter
ests and pursuits, il is renorseless despo
tism. In resisting it, as applicable 10
ourselves, we are vindicaing the great
cause OF free government, ore importan,
perhaps, to tie world, thartLe existence
Of all the United States. Nor in resist
ing it do We intend to dpart from the
faie ins,rumen,slity. the sstem of GOV
ernment we have ESTABLISHED with them.
We invade 10 rights--uo ineres.s Of heirs
We violate no obligation o duty to them
As separate, independent States in Con
vention, we made the Cou,tulinn Of the
United States with them nd AS separate
independent States, each Safe acting for
itself, we adopted it, Soth Carolina.
scting in her sorereigH opacity, now
thinks proper 10 secede fron The Unior.
s.he did not part with her o,ereigntv in
adopting the Constitution. he last thing
u state can be presumed to have sur,en
dered is her sovereignty. Ter sovereign
" is her lie. No'hng bL clear ex'
press grant can ALLEVIATE il. ence has
no place. Yet it is no, At al surprising
that those who have coas;ned away all
the 'imi' a'ions II tho Consiiltion, should
also, by construction, claim ns annihila'
lion Of tie sovereignty Of he Slatea -
Having abolished all h,rrierto their ON
Impotence. by their faitkle>s distractions
in the operations Of the Genral Govern.
mont, it is most natural thatthey should
endeavor to do the same twards us in
the States. The truth is, Iey, having
violated the express provision Of the Con
stitntion, it is al an end as compact
II is morally obligatory o,y on those
Who choose 10 accept its pervrlsd terms.
South Carolina, deeming the ompact not
only violated in particular fe,ure., but
virtually abolished by her Nrtheru con
federates, Witbdraws herselas a party
from its obligations. Tie riga 10 do so
is Genied by her Northern cnfederates.
They desire 10 establish selona des
potism, not only omnipo,ent i Congress,
but omnipotent over the State; and, AS
If TO manifest the imperious necessity Of
our secession, they threaten a with the
sword, 10 coerce submis. ion iother rule.
| Citizens OF the Slaveholding States Of
the United States ! Circumssnces hey
ono our control have placed us the van
OF the great controversy bei,sen the
Northern and Southern STAGE We
would have preferred that cher States
should have assumed the osition we
no~ occupy. Independent, ouselves; we
disclaim any design CT desire 0 lead the
counsels Of the olhe! Souther States
Providence has cast our lot tgether, BY
extending over US An identity ,f pursuits
interests and institutions. Sanlh Caro-
lima desires no destiny sePsrted from
yours. To be one Of great slavehold
ing Confederacy, stretching i,sarms over
territory larger than any poser in Eu
rope possesses--with poptalion four
times greater than that Of the hole Uni
ted States when they achieved sheir indie
pendence Of the British Em ire--witb
productions which make our existence
mors important to tie world than ,hs, Of
xny other people iuhabitiu it--with
common institutions 10 defend and com
mon dangers TO tncounter--weask your
sympathy and confederation. Whilsl
constituting portion Of the United
States, il has been your sts,enanship
which has guided it 10 ito might strides
to power and expansion. In tli field, a.
in the cabinet. you have led tie way to
its renown and sgrsndenr. 'ou bav,
loved the Union, in whose ser'ice youl
great statesmen have lsbored, and your
great soldiers have fought and enquered
mot for the material bene6s il con
ferred, but with the faith Of agenerou,
and devoted chivalry. You lave long
fingered and hoped over the shattered re
maius Of q broken Constitution Com
promise afsr compro,nise, forsed BY
your concessicns has been t,amsed un
der foot BY your Northern confslerates
All fsAlssnjts Of feeling .bs,sAn tb,
North and The South 10 Iost, sos las beer
converted into hate; aud we OF IN. Soutl
are NJ Isst dpivso together by ths stern