The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-09-15
The Right of Secession.

Hon. A. Il. Stephens, of Georgia, has published
letter IN the Augusta Constitutionast in which he re-
plies to an editorial in the New York Tribune. crit.
clsng his work upon 9 The War Between the States
and advocates his doctrine of equality of power be-
tween the several States Of the Union In relation to
| the secession movement he says:
What he Mr. Greeley, says about secession having
been carried in the Southern States by violent SUBJ
versiye, bullying terrorsng minority overawing and
sitting majority Of the people of these States is
nothing but bald and naked assertion, which cannot be
maintained against the facts of history The question
was as thoroughly discussed as any ever was before
| the people Conventions regularly called by the
duly constituted authorities of the States and men,
bers duly elected thereto according to law in all the
States which seeded before Mr.. Lincolns procama-
ton of These elections as orderly as cleo
ons usually in any of the States great occa-
sons. In these conventions ordinances of secession
were passed by decided majortes. 1t is true that
large minority in all these conventions, one, and
in all these States were opposed to secession ques
ton of policy very few in any fthem questioned the
right or doubted their duty to go with the majority.
But after Mr.. Llncons proclamation of war-after his
illegal and unconstitutional call for troops-after his
suspension of the writ of habeas corpus people
earth were unanimous in any cause than
were the people of the Southern States in defence of
what they deemed the great essential principles of
American institutions There not in ten
thousand of the people in least of the Southern
States, whose heart mud suui thoroughly
listed in the cause Nor did any people earth
make greater heroic sacrifices for its success
during four long years of devastation blood and
mage. sse1
A majority of the people, over-awed and terrorised
by minority Indeed!
If so, what became of this majority when the Con-
federate armies, which stood between them and their
deiiverers, overpowered? Where is this majority
now, even with the sweeping dsfrachisement which
silences SO many of the over-awing tyrants? Why
has it not been permitted to exercise the nalienabe
right Of sefgovernment, with the reinforcement
of the enfranchsed blacks? Why are so many of
these States, till this day, held under military rule.
with their whole population "pinned to very bad
Government by Federal bayonets, under the pretext
Of their continued disloyalty? This assertion as
the state Of things in the beginning, is utterly
groundless in fact, is utterly inconsistent with the
gratutous assumptions which the present pretext is
based.
Is it not amazing, Messrs Editors that Mr. Greeley,
in the face of the facts for the last four years. say
nothing of those of the war, when according to this
showing, the Administration at Washington, in rush
ing into it. were in "the wrong II say to omit all
mention of the wrongs of the war, its immense sacri
fees of blood and treasure is it not amazing in the
highest degree that Mr. Greeley, in the face of the
facts of the last four years only should repeat to
US the principles of American Independence his
creed? Have not the constitutions of ten States
made and adopted by the people thereof founded on
such principles and organised in such form seemed
them most likely effect their safety and happiness
been swept from existence by military edict? Have
not the people in these ten States, including the arbi
trarly en1fanchlshed DackS DeeH Qeneu the fghG 10
form constitutions "layng their foundations
such principles and organising its powers in such form
to them shall most likely to effect their safety
and happiness ?" Have they not been required and
literally compelled to form such constitutions seemed
most likely effect the safety and security of the
dominant faction at Washington?
Is this holding up to our gaze these immutable and
bereverenced principles of the Declaration of
Independence this time and under the present cir
cumsances intended only mockery added to insult
injury and outrage?
CorToN MANUFAcrURE.-The autobiography of
bale of cotton appears in recent number of the Hem
derson Tex) Times. After stating that it had been
raised from land plowed by Yankee pows, made Of
Yankee iron, transported by Yankee shps-the pur-
chaser paying the said Yankees per cent profit
the labor invested, at every transformation, it
plains of the heavy cost of transportation to Yankee
land for manufacture, well losses in weight by
the way, etc 1t then continues:
will now ask my friend Casey to give you
count showing the difference in favor of manufactu
ring me at home in Rusk county, Texas, my native
region, the sunny South where was born and raised
and where can and will make you all rich if you
keep me at home instead of sending me to a Yankee
Doodle step mother.
will mt dour INV cort at Handarsnn at cents