Year: 1863

ed our measures, and might have proved mis-
chlevous. Such services, if they had beer
rendered, would have been rejected as use
less, and regarded as an invasion of ou,
rights.


If we view the labors of the aboItionists
in the calm light of reason, undlsturbed by
| any morbid sympathy and uninfuenced by
| the spirit of fanaticism-if we look at this
means they are using to attain tiff we re.
gard the utter improbability of their ever
reaching the end by The use of these means,
and the certain consequences which must re-
suit from pushing forward their efforts in
the present direction-we must, | think.
characterize their schemes as visionary and
perncous.


Their avowed object is to abolish slavery
in the South and Southwestern States and
their means thus far have been confined to
the organization of societies among us and to
publications of various kinds on the subject
of slavery, which are regarded throughout
these states as libels on their citizens and
provocators to insurrection among theirsaves
So far as their proceeding are designed TO
operate upon this state, we may inquire what
end or object they have in view 1t cannot
be to abolish slavery here, for it does not
exist among US. Is it to convince the peo-
pie of this state that slavery is an evil O.
Such is now the universal sentiment, and no
man can be found among US who entertains
thought of returning to our former condi-
ton in this respect. If the abotionists de
sign to enlist our passions in their cause,
such course would be worse than useless,
unless 1t had reference to some subsequent
action. If it is expected in this manner to
influence the action Of Congress, then they
are aiming at a usurpation of power. Legis-
atiOn by Congress would be violation of
the Constitution by which that body exists.
and to support which every member oft is
bound by the solemn sanction of an OATH
SO as to bring the subject of slavery within
its cognzance without the consent of the
sIaveholding states. he proceedings of the
aboltionIsts have rendered their object in
this respect absolutely unattainable. They
have already excited such a feeling in all
those states that proposition so to enlarge
the powers of Congress would be instantly
rejected by each with indignation. If their
operations here are to infame the fanatcal
zeal of their emissaries, and to instigatc
them to 90 on missions to the slaveholding
states, there to distribute abolition publica-
tions and to Promulgate abolition doctrines,
their success in this enterprise is foretold by
the fate of the deluded men who have pre-
ceded them. The moment they pass the
borders of those states and begin their la
bors they violate the laws Of the jurisdic-
tion they have invaded, and incur the penal.
ty OF death, or other ignominious punish
ment. | can conceive no other object that
the abolitionists can have in view, SO far as
they propose to operate here, but to embark
the people of this state, under the sanction of
civil authority, or with its connivance, in a
crusade against the slavehodlng states, for
the purpose of forcing abolition upon them
by bloodshed. If such mad project as this
could be contemplated for a single moment
as possible thing, every one must see that
the first step toward its accomplishment
would be the end Of our confe1eracy and the
beginning ofa civil war.


So far therefore as it respects he people
of this state, or any action that can emanate
from them, can discover no one good that
has resulted, or can be reasonably
expected to result, from the proceedings of
the abotionists; bnt the train of evils
which must necessarily attend their onward
movements is in number and magnitude
most appalling


Those devastatlons which, in the course OF
Providence, are sometimes permitted to visit
populous and opulent cities, suddenly pros
trating the monuments of art and sweeping
away the vast accumulations of years of pa
tient and well directed industry and
severe as we now feel them te be-are small
indeed, compared with the ruin and desola-
ton which would attend the subversion OF
our federal government and the progress OF
civil and servile war, spreading Its ravages
through half the states of this confederacy
Such are the fatal issues to which, in the
Judgment of our sou thern brethren, the abo-
litlon efforts tend; and the recent indca'
tions of insurrectionsry movements among
the colored population Of the slaveholdne
states show that these fears are not entirely
imaginary.


As all the schemes of the abolitionists are
urofessedly prosecuted with particular refer
ence to results to be produced in the slave


holding states, it is proper that we shoult
inquire into the manner in which they de


sign to bring about these results. Is it ex


pected to operate on the slave population
| - 49,, o,,r ;v,,ro ali To agency to effec