Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-02-13

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antees. If these be not strong enough,
if faith such as this is to be broken, then
there is nothing Of human institution that
can endure, and we find the inevitable
end of free consented Government.
The sin of slavery, if it be such, may
be carried by higher law" to Heaven !;
but here upon this earth Of ours, faith,
the bond, the law, the Constitution
these are its Qualifications. Sir, our pre-
sent national Affections are the direct re-
suits of an intermeddling spirit at the
North. Over and over again have the
slaveholding States argued, remonstrat-
ed, appealed in every way, by every eff
fort, to restrain the aggressive spirit of
the North from these invasions on its
rights of domestic slavery; and though
often passion has defed and denounced
its progress, reason has not failed to use
its persuasive power. Compromise after
compromise has been made in the hope
Of averting or postponing the evil day of
apprehended separation. Sir, the con-
WILSON'S Of these attempts were the disre-
garded warnings of our present calamity.
For years, for many years, have patient,
thoughtful statesmen and patriots from
North and South, in most impressive les
sons, warned our eountrymen, and pre-
dicted our present situation rs the inevita-
BILE result of these aggressions But,
alas in vain Instigated by the earnest
ness and success of lawless and mis-
chievous, though it be sincere fanati-
cism, the lust of power, selling the sub
ject of slavery, employed its humanitarian
aspects, regardless of all the sacred obi
cations Of government thus establishing
at the North, for the mere sake Of polti-
cal power, its honors, rewards and Offices,
o defiant spirit Of lawlessness, that, ha-
bitually aggressing upon the plainest
rights of equality, left no hope of future
peace and security to the South
And while slavery was to be abolished
at all events, yet no one among its wisest
enemies at the North was able to discover
a practicable plan for the future disposal
of the cmancipated slave nor, sir, to
this hour has any such plan been provid-
ed. The more improved and cultivated
black man being refused residence
among them by the policy of the laws Of
some Of the free States, resulting from
the evils attending such residence, yet
nevertheless these disinterested citizens
of such States would inAict the greater
evils of permanent abode Of the half
civilized negro among the people Of the
South Delivering themselves by a
gradual process from tho evils attending
the abolition of slavery, they propose,
suddenly and without preparation, to set
free the slaves Of the South, and bring
inevitable ruin upon the interests depend
ent upon their labor; nay, more than
this would instgate the forceful brutal
passions Of the slave, on principles " Of
self defence" as the proclamation insidi-
ously presents it, to take the torch, or
poison, or the knife, against sleeping
wife and children.
Mr. Speaker, it was the settled convic-
ton in the minds of the people of tho
! South that such were the plans Of the
people Of the North, and that the Federal
power was to be the instrument of such
savage aggressious, that caused the seces-
sion of their States They felt, and all
who understand the subject know how
just and natural was the feeling, that
such a state Of constant and Increasing
apprehension had rendered the influence
Of the General Government insupporta-
BILE. They felt that not only government,
but even life itself was not worth having
upon the terms Of such habitual strife,
anxiety and alarm The Government Of
the United States had failed, or was about
to fail, in those great objects Of "csta-
blishing Justice" " insuriug domestic
tranquility" aud promoting the gene
raj welfare" and which concerned so vi
tally their rights and happiness and they
resolved to separate from Government
they could no longer either trust or en-
dure. Sir, they did complain Of the in
justice that sectional interests of manu-
fac.ure, or Of commerce had inflicted but
the influence Of this complaint, while il
added to the prevailing discomfort by as
cribing a selfish and domineering spirit
to the North offensive to IDEAS Of equali-
ty, and raised up views of incompatible
aud conflicting interests, yet these causes
alone could never have separated our
Union.
II the existence of these destructive in
huences have been heretofore denied, is
there not now too much reason to feel
convinced that however concealed, they
have existed DO not the feelings and
motives that are signided in these meas
ures now presented, aud in the kindred
transactions Of Congress and the Execu-
tive, give every true lover Of republican
government the right to say that what
was a rebellion against law now stands
justified before God and the nations Of
the earth as revolution against the most
direful expressions that have ever threat
ened mankind? Happily, however, sir,
those whom the calamitios Of war have
most afflicted are to be spared the terri
bic vengeance now denounced against
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