The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-02-14
what the CottSp sAtes 1--we
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ner stone Of principle, and all laws fall ol
themselves; and Government exists, by it,
own will, us monstrous usurpation
A union Of any sort, a CoDfedcracy OF
States, or communities, especially implies
the presence of this foundation principle
The idea OF such confederacy or union
IN antagouism with the consent of any OF
the parties, is simply to conceive an alb
surdity and contradiction. Those, there.
fore, who arm to perpetuate the existAnce
OF the Union, rega dlcss of the feeling s or
wishes of the party governed, have AMPLY
resolved upon the despotism ofsnufiibers
and, relying on their supposed power,
would make force ccnIent, when it is, in
fact, the main agency of dcstructiveness
But when the Government became n
thing, not merely opposed to the wishes of
people, but absolutely and avowedly hos.
tile to their vital interests, and subversive
OF all their securities; how it is to be ex-
pected that people, having any will, char
acter, or manhood left-any intelligence to
see and know-any sensibili les to feel
any courage to resist-will submit is a
matter very difficult to conceive by common
reason; and none but people, vigorous with
undeseryed prosperity, and raging to mad
ness with the apprehension of its loss, would
possibly deceive themselves with the no.
ton that they can have their own way, and
cocrcc into submission those who have de.
ciared themselves against their G Government.
and whom they woull rule to their ruin.
South Caroina has simply insisted on the
grand lcadin, idea which constituted the
foundation stone Of the Confederacy-th that
the Government was one which derived its
existence solely from the consent of the
governed. She has refused her consent
any longer to the rule of the Federal Gov
ernmcnt.
The right of secession is the due result
OF the recognized princi pie upon which the
Contcdcracy was founded. So long us We
consent that you shall govern, so long may
you govern and no longer;-and lest YOU
should err in the knowledge of what your
Government shall be, with what powers,
and how limited, we here bind YOU by a
written instrument, to which you are re-
qulred to swear. You are to swear to the
Constitution, not to the Union;-not even
to the Govcrnment;-fo that is thing
which may fiuctuate, and have many ca
prices. 1t is to the Constitution onlv,-
the bond of compact, that you are sworn;
and that you must obey, if you would gov
ern Us. The Government. no longer able.
or willing, or carry out the conditions of
the Constitution, affords the best moral
Justification for Withdraw al of the aggrieved
party or parties. Legal justification, there
Is need Of none; the tenure Of govern
mcnt and authority Icing held simply
through the consent of the parties.
In taking her course, South Carolina
has been especially deliberate and circum-
spect She has argued, cutreat d, and
courcelled, deliberately appealed and ex-
postulated, and finally, warned with timely
notice. She has called her own people
into counsel, when she found counsel no
longer efficient with the usurpative par
ties, and appealed to them. And, with
one voice, her who'e people have with
drawn their consent any longer to be gov
crned by those who assail her institutions.
deny her rights, steal her property, and
mediate h r destruction.
She says, "govern yourselves as you
please, govern as you aud they please, those
who are stall wiling to submit TO YOU We
shall not trcspasS UPON your rights and coun-
try. We simply propose to save and rule our
own. We offer you peace, and amity, and
trade, anl commerce, the interchange of
business, and such communion as the seve-
raj civilized nations accord to each other.
We aim at 80 revcnges for previous wrong.
Whatever our rescntments, We shall suffer
them to cool. We prefer TO receive and
respect you, as a foreign power; and have
no desire TO shed your blood, or our own,
In an idle conflict, which cannot restore
the past condition OF things, and must
destroy your trade, your securities, your
people; lesson your advantages; convert
your prosperity into bane. We shall stand
slmsimpiy on the defensive We offer
your peace, io-bcaance good faith, and
generous intercourse. 1t is tor you to decide
whether, in return for the extended branch
of olive, you thrust Us back with the sword.
If you so will it, We shall not shrink from
the issue; but will maintain the grand
foundation principle of civil liberty in q
hcmisphere--that Government rishtfully
exist only through the consent o. the gov.
erncd. -Nercufy.
The FIRST AFRICAN RAuwAY.-The
first African railroad was inaugurated the
25th June last 1t is called the Natal
Railway, and connects the capital of the
colony, Peter Martizburgh, with Cape
Town. The whole enterprise has been
successfully carried through by the colonisl
no foreign aid having been received, and
very important advantages are expected tc
satise fronisthe sdre and rapid. eoI5manica
hon'hetyeeIlfhe interior a6a fthe coast