Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-17

majority, or on the paft OF any cousioeisoie
minority, to engage in . scheme OF violent
resistance to the national authority. The
slave holders we're in the main peacefully
disposed, and contented With the situation.
But slavery as An economical Institution and
slavery ~ a political force were quite dis
tinct. Those who viewed it and used it mere
lly a. system of labor. naturally desired
peace and dreaded commotion- Those Who
used it - a political engine for the consoli-
dstion of political power had views and
ambitions inconsistent with the plans ana
hopes of Law abiding citizens Ii was only
by strenuous effort on the part of the iafter
class that an apparent majority OF the South
ern people committed themselves to the
desperate design of destroying the national
government
The first effort az secession was made, -
might have been expected. by South Caro-
liza. She did not wait for the actual result
of the election. but early 10 October, on the
assumption of Lincoln's success, began cor
re.pondence with the other Cotton States. The
general tenor of the responses did not indi-
cate a decided wish or purpose to separate
from the Union North Carolina was posi-
lively unwilling to take any hasty step
Louisiana, evidently remembering the impor-
lance and value of the Mississippi river and
of It's numerous tributaries to her CONNER
| cial prosperity, expressed an utter disincllna-
ton to separate from the North w est.
Georgia was not ready to make resistance.
and at most advocated some form of retalia-
| tory legislation It was evident that even in
the Cotton belt and the Gulf States there was
in the minds Of sober people the gravest
direction to revolutionary measures.
| II happened, most unfortunately, that the
South Carolina legislature assembled early
| in November for the purpose of choosing
| Presidential electors, who in that State were
never submitted to the popular vote. While
| il might seem extravagant TO ascribe the
revolution which convulsed the country to
an event so disconnected and apparently 50
inadequate, il is nevertheless true that
the sudden Juror which seized large num-
Der of the Southern people came directly
from that event Indeed, it is scarcely an
exsggeration to say that the great civil war,
which shook a continent, was precipitated by
the fact that the South Carolina Legislature
assembled at that unpropitions moment.
Without taking time for reflection, without
q review Of the situation, without stopping
to count the cost, with a boldness born of
pas -ionate resentment against the North. the
rash men of South Carolina fired the train
In a single hour they created in their own
State public sentiment which would not
brook delay or contradiction or argument.
The IL aders of it knew that the sober second
thought. even in South Carolina. would be
dangerous to the scheme OF a Southern Con-
federacy They knew that the feeling of re-
sentiment among the Southern people must be
kept at whitehead. and that whoever wished
to speak word of caution or moderation
must be held as a public enemy, and subject
ed to the scorn and the vengeance of the
people.
In tam mar
bv the legislature. The delegates were to
be chosen directly bv the people, and when
assembled were to determine the future re-
lation of South Carolina to the government
of the United States. The election to
be held in four weeks. and the convention
was to assemble on the 18th of December.
I he unnatural and Unprecedented haste of
this action, by which South Carolina proceed
ed, as she proclaimed. to throw off her nation
al relations. is more easily comprehended by
recalling the difficult mode provided in every
State for a change in its constitution. In not
a single State of the American Union can the
organic law be changed in less than year,
or without ample opportunity for serious con-
sideratiop by the people. At that very mo-
ment the people of South Carolina were in
hibited from making the slightest alteration
in their own constitution except by slow and
conservative processes which gave time for
deliberation and reflection. In determining
a question momentous beyond all calculation
to themselves and to their pOsterity. they
were hurried into the election of dele
gates and the delegates were hurried into
COW ention, AMI the convention was hurried
into secession by terror of public opinion
that would not endure resistance and would
not listen to reason.
The few who were left in possession of
al tb,,
lie men of South Carolina. desired to stay
the rush of events by waiting foe cn-opera-
ton with the other slave-holdins Hates. Their
request was denied and their argument an
swered by the declaration that co cooperation
had been tried in 1850. and had ended in de-
feating all measures looking to DisuniOn.
One of the members declared that if South
Carolina again waited for cooperation. slav-
cry and State rights would be abandoned.
State sovereignty and the cause of the South
would be lost forever. The action of the
convention was still further stimulated by
the resignation of Mr.. Hammond and Mr..
Chestnut. United States senators from South
Carolina. and by the action Of Governor
Pickens in appointing cabinet of the same
number and of the same division of depart
ments that had been adopted in the national
government
South Carolina was urged forward in this
course by leading Disunionists in other States
who needed the force of one bold example of
secession to furnish the requisite stimulus to
their own communities. The members of the
South Carolina convention, recognizing the
embarrassment and incongruity of basing
their action simply upon the constitutional
election of a President. declared that the
public opinion of their State chad for long
period been strengthening and ripening for