The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-11
A Georgian's Plea for the Secessionist.

J. o. CONVERSE, ESQ.,:
Dear Sir I'll am under many obligations
to you for publishing my letter, and do no
object to your comments, as presume yol
will give mo the privilege of correcting somt
of them. You still seem to believe tha
"Secesson is idle talk" But you now have
the news that South Carolina "scceded" OF
the Goth. What said with regard to the
other Cotton States, l bolevo will take
place before, or at the time of the Indugu
ration of the President. They will probabl,
proceed with more mode, method and cal
oulation than South Carolina has done
They will take the Constitution with then
as their guide and government. They are
satisfied with it-they havo always been.
They have never violated it, while many
other Statos have They have not interfered
with tho interests of others--thoy have
followed the "Golden Rule" with all. They
have never voted for President, whose
Avowed principles, and those of his party
were tho destruction of the interests and
lives of any portion of the country he is to
govern. But w6 fear nothing OF this. We
are as strong in our power to protect our.
selves from any outside force. as we are in
truth and principie,-and these will be
maintained, be the consequences what they
may; but, then, we fear not. We have
lived up to our pledges in tho Union, and
will DO the United States out Of it.
You think was mistaken in saying that
the South wore tho first to prevent the i'm.
portation of slaves. Tho records Of the
Colonial Legislature of Virginia will show
it; and to this | referred. Mr.. Jefferson
says, thoy placed almost q "prohibitory
duty" on the,n, but it was annuled or re
pealed by the English Government, which
would never permit it tc be restored The
first Virginia Legislature abolished the
slave trade in that State. Who did it sooneri
have not "the book" by mo, but these arc
the facts, in substance. Tho Constitution
of Georgia. on its adoption, had this clause
In It, which do not think has been violated
but once in over thirty years: "Thorc
shall be no future importation of slaves
into this State from Africa, or any foreign
place, after tho first day of October next.
! think that can assure you, that undol
any circumstances, tho slave trade vii
never be opened again, aud now, and always
II has been very unpopular doctrine. onl,
suited to a few reckless individuals. sale
that "tho South imported no slaves" Posi-
bly, might have been slightly in orror, bu
from all the information have boen able t.
obtain, l was not Tho Southern State
scarcely owned any shipping up to the tim,
OF the Revolution, and nearly all tho trad
was carried on by those of Northern ports
and by them the slaves wore brought to tn
South. Three or four Northern State
Teapod nearly all the proceeds of what yo'
now doom an "accursed traffic" Ant
nearly all that has taken place. for man,
years, has been by vessels from Northern
ports. Our hands are washed from partici
pating in II, aud our consclences are clear o
approving of it. Lost you should mistak
my feelings in this matter, will say that
would never mako free man a slave, aud
If there was not an African in the country,
would never bring one into it. In saying
this, believe express almost tho entir,
sentiment of our slavcholding territory
The present generation found them here
md what can we do with them, but to pur
sue our regular course and system of labor
They are contented, and the most bapp,
and best provided working population OF
tho face of the globe, and will remain so
let alone. You know that even John Brow
did not succeed in corrupting ono of them
and othors would do no better aud all hu,
better beware of attempting tho experiment
You are entirely mistaken when you sa,
that "slaves arc dangerous element in so
ciety." A few OF your hungry operative
may be dangerous element" in your so
ciety, but our slaves are never hungry, an,
mover have reason to look on them as
dangerous elcmeut" amongst US.
You say correctly. that We have "crack
braioed Fire-oaters" and conservative men.
The latter think will control, but oil tn
difference in their ACTION will DO, on
would be precipitate-the other. by a COO
and prudent course. But, as l told yo
before, Conservatism is at tho end of it
endurance" here. regret il. Tho sin O
aggression lios not at our door. Th
remedy for Cancellation is not with US t
propose, 1t is now only for US. with un
sullied hands and clear conscience, to tax
caro- of ourselves.
You seem surprised at tho sentiments
entertain. In reference to this, would ia
form you that largo number of our citizen
arc natives Of Northern States, or thoir dc
scendants. The are generally among tn
foremost, and leaders of this movement
You will ask the reason why is il so? Tho
will answer that they act from what the
know; have soon; and tho knowledge 0
the rights of all the country, aud that thos
of this section have boen violated. l ca
assure you that thoy will be among tho frs
90 defend our rights, to the last extremity.
In your remarks, you refer to the actio
OF the Convention with regard to Slavery,
adopting tho Constitution. l do not thin
that the North or tho South have much /
accuse each other OF, and it is a questio
that might lie as undistur5ed as any DIR
bones in the tomb of tho Capulets, for an
political effect that could be attached TO
~. n
and Georgia, wished the question TO be 10
open co the action Of their State LegislI
tnres. Virginia, Delaware and Marylar
gtates, Massachusetts. Rhode Island an
Connecticut. wished to leave The question I
eh.... fanah IL .vsfh ha Qeato I.aoialaIn.o