The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-05-09


The people ofthc Southern States, whose
almost exclusive 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 as a protection
to their manufacturing and shipping inter
es's. l,oag and angry controversy grew
out Oft these attempts, often successful, to
benefit one section Of the couptry at the
expense Of the other. And the danger Of
disruption arising from this cause WAS Gu
hanccd by the fact that the Northern
population was increased by Immigration
and other causes in "A greater ratio than
the population of the South b. degrees as
he Northern States gained prcrondcrance
in the National Congress, self interest
taught their people to yield ready assent to
any plausible advocacy Of their right rs
majority to govern the minority without
control: 'hcy learn ,o listen with impaticEcr
10 the suggestion ot any constitutional inn
pcdlmcnt t. the exercise of their Will; and
so uttcry have the principles OF tie Con
S;itution been corrupted in The Northern
m n that in the inaugural al lreSs dclIv-
cred by resident lincoln in March last.
he asserts as an axiom which he plainly
deems to bc updcniIb!e, that theory OF
the Constitution roquirrs that in all cases
the majority shall govern; and in another
memorable instance, thc saline Chief Mag.
istrate did'nut hesitate to lkcu the relation,
between Il State and the United States to
those which exist between u country aud
the State in which il is situated and bv
which it WAS created This is the lamcn.
table aud fundamental error OH which res;s
the policy that has culminatcl in his dec
laratlOn oi war against these CUncdcrata
States
In addition to the long ccntinxcd 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 cnriching th: .uanu!ac-
turing and shipping classes OF ~ North
at the expense OF the South, there La, cN-
listed for nearly halfa century another sub
jcet OF discord, io"glvia. Interests rl >gch
transey udert nag i.uda, as ut ali times To
create tie apprehension in the minds OF
many devoted lovers OF the Uuiou, that iis
pcrmnueucc was impossible.
When the several States delegated Ger
tain powers to the Initcd State, Con sress.
4 large portion of the laboriug population
consisted .. Airican slaves imported into
the colonies by the mother country. In
twelve out of the thirteen States, negro
slavery existed, and the right of property
ip s.ayes WAS .r t. q - law. lhI,jH'
perty was recognized in the Constitution
and provision was made against lis loss by
the escape OF the slave The incrya il
the number OF slaves by further importl.
tion from Africa was also secured Il
clause torbiddlmg Congress to prohibit the
slave trade anterior To certain date !; aud
III no clause can there be found amy dele
CATION OF power to the Congress authoriA
my 1t IN any manner To ic%lSiate to the
prejudice, detrimcnt on u!>coura cement OF
the owners ol that species oi property, or
excluding 1t from the protection Of the
government.
The climate and S"il OF the Northern
States soon proved unprVpttiUu~ tothc CON
tinuancc oi slave labor, whilst he convcrs,
was the case AT thr S.lth. md'r the uu.
restricted Tree iHtelcuugSc between tLe wv,
sections, the Northern States consulted
their own interest hy Sru'n- their slaves
! 20 the H"nth and prohibiting slavery With.
la ther limits. The South were wl!in-
! purchasers OF property suitable - thci.
wants, and pa the prcc ot the acqulst
non without hAro"rInS Il NuSl cIon that
tho'r quiet possession was to be disturbed
by those who wcr" Inhibl eel, not only 10y
want "t constitutional authority, tut by
good ia'th rs vendors, !r"m dIsqu!ctInS I
t't!r emIn",Ing liom themselves.
rs soon however a. the Northern State
th't prohibited Atrican slavery within
thcIr hm'iS had reached number suAc
!cnt TO give Their representatives. Il control
lnS voice IN The Congress, persistent and
organized system OF hostile measure,
against the nights OF the owners Of slaves
III the Southern StatcS was inausurtcd and
gradually extended. Coz tIuuOus series
OF measures was JlVlSrl and uruspput,I far