Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-01-04
SOUTH CAROLINA'S DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE

The state Of South Carolina having determined TO re-
sumo separate and equal rank among nations, deems
u due to herself aud the remaining United States q A.
neca and the nations Of the world that she should de-
clare the causes which led to the In 1895 that por
ton OF the British empire embracing Great Britain. un-
dertook make laws Tor the government Of the Amer
'an colonies. struggle for the right " self govern
ment ensued, which resulted the 9Th Of July i776 in
declaration by the colonies that they and, Of right
ought 20 be- free and independent states, and that free
and independent states they have full power levy war;
conclude peace, alliances establish commerce.
and do such things independent states have the right
TO DO They further solemniy declared that whenever
any form Of government becomes destructive Of these
ends II the established right Of the people to alter aud
abolish II, and institute government Deeming
that the government Of Great Britain had become de-
suucve Of these ends they declared the colonies free
aud absolyed from allegiance to the British crown and
the political connection between them and Great Britain
was totally dissolved
The RICH, Of state to govern ITSELF and the right Of
the peonle abolish government when it becomes de-
siructye u The ends for which Il was instituted were ex
pressed when the colonies separated from the mother
country aud became free and independent states The
parties amending the constitution The l7th OF Sepem-
Der, llb1, were the several sovt fciun states.
On the 23d of May 1888, South Carolina by conven-
ton Of her people asscutcd 10 the amended constitution
Of the United States The failure Of one OF the contract
ing parties 60 maintain constitutional obligations re-
leases The other Fifteen Of the nothcm states have de.
lbefiey refused for years 10 fulfill their constitutional
obligations We would refer those staes for proof
OF this When the fourth article Of the constitution was
adopted the greater number Of the contracting parties
held slaves The hostility Of the northern states 10 the
instttuton u slavery has led them disregard their
constitutional obligations The laws Of the general gov
erumcn have ceased effect the objects uf the st-
tuition. Maine, New Hampshire. Vermont M,ssachu-
sets, Connecticut Rhode Island, New York, Pcnnsy J.
yania Illinois, Indiana. Ohio Michigan, Wisconsin and
Iowa have enacted laws either nufying the
ton or rendering useless all attempts the
acts OF Congress. In many of these states mgitvcs
held 10 service and 20 labor have been claimed but in
none OF them has the state government complied with
the stipulation Of this subject made In the consuon
VA the formation Of the federal government each state
was recognized as an equal the right Of property ia
slaves was recognized by giving all fee persons distinct
political uehte; by giving them the right represent
and burdcnng IA en- with direct taxes Tor thrcefhhs Of
Their slaves by authorizing the importation II slaves for
twenty years. and bt stpulating for the rendition Of u
giuve from labor The ends fpr which this government
was instituted have been defeated, and the government
i'sci made destructive by the action Of the slave
holding states Those states assumed the right Of dccid
ing upan me propriey u our domestic institutions -
They denied the rights ~ property established in hcen
states and recognized hy the constitution They have
denounced sinful the institution Of slavery have per
miticd open establishment Of societies whose ayowa
aud object disturb the peace aud prosperity n IN,
citizens Of other state they have encouraged and as
sisted Thousands or our slaves 10 leave their homes
and hose who remain have been melted by emssares
by books aud pictures 10 ssrve iusurection Twenty
I'VE years this agitation has been steadily increasing uut
they have secured the power Of the common government
Observing The forms Of the constitution sectional pa
" has found within that article, establishing an executive
department, means Of suhvertng the constitution itself
a geographical line has been drawn across the Union
and n states north u that line have united in the eleva
ton NJ TO the high Office OF president Of the Unit
ed States whose opinions and purposes are hostile q
Of the common government because IL is declared that
government cannot endure permanently half slave ant
half nee and that the public mind must rest in the be
net that slavery n the pf ultimate extinction
Dis sectional combination for the subveI-iln OF the con
s'tui1u has been aided IN the states by cleyang % c
uenshp persons who, by the supreme law Of the land
are incapable c becoming citizens, aud their votes how
been used to iuaugurlte the policy hostile 60 h
south and destructive 20 its peace and safety On the
ith OF March ueyt this party take possession OF h
government IL has been announced that the south sua
DE excluded nom The common territory; that the Judica
tribunals will hc made sectional that war must De wagpt
against slavery untilt shall throughout the Unit
cd States The guarantees Of the constitution will thet
longer eXiscqual rights Of the states will be lost
the savcholdug states will longer have the power
sefgn crunent or solfprOccon, and the fc,sTa gov
eminent have become their enemies. Sectional inter
aud luminosity will deepen the irritation aud al
hope OF remedy rendered vain hy the fact that the pub
lie opinion Of the North have invested the political efro
with the sanction Of religions belief
We, therefore, the people Of South Carolina, by GU
delegates IN convention assembled appealing TO the Su
prone Judge Of the world for the rccttude Of incn
lions have solemuy declared the Union heretofore
listing between is state aud the other states ~ Nort
America dissolved, end ihat The state NJ the South Car
ona has resumed har pusifinn among the nations " th
world rcc, sovereign, independent sia with ul
power 90 rFy war, conclude peace contract alliances
tahlish commerce, aud d. a otl and things whic
independent states may Of right do; aud supper
Of this declaration, with firm reliance for protection
Divine Providence. We mutually pledge each other GU
lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.