Year: 1860

of her people; and it may be, that
under ridiculous and false idea of be-
coming pride and true greatness, she
may involve herself in very serious diff
ficulty; she did so by Ordinance in
Convention in 1888 but still the Union
was not rent asunder, nor will it now
be, as think; no other State is likely
to go with her; and what is best and
surest of all, Virginia certainly scM
not, In her present state of mind. If
could see the least semblance of JUS
tification in the attitude South Carolina
has assumed, / would sympathize with
her-but l cannot, for reasons already
given in my speech, which you say you
have just read. / see nothing in that
position but plain, bold, daring fiat
footed rebellion against and treason to
the rest of the States, and l cannot,
under any contingency, be induced to
take sides with her in her disloyalty
and treachery. Who can ask it of me,
when her own most trusted and active
leader, Mr.. Yancey, in his Montgomery
speech, said:


eff l understand my distinguished
friend from Virginia (Mr. Pryor,) the
election of Black Republican Presi-
dent would be an issue for disunion.
understand my learned colleague, (Mr.
Hilliard,) to say upon that issue he
would be ready to dissolve the Union.
| say, with all Difference to my col
leagues here, that no more inferior is
sue could be rendered to the South
upon which we should dissolve the
Union than the loss of an election.
When l am asked to raise the flag of
revolution against an election under
the forms of law and the constitution,
L am asked to do an unconstitutional
thing, according to the constitution as
1T now exists. | am asked to put my
self in the position Of a REBEL, of a
TRAITOR in a position where, if the
government should succeed and put
down the revolution, l and my friends
can be arraigned before the Supreme
Court of the United States. and there
be sentenced to be hanged for violating
the laacs and the constitution Of ny
country"


Such is the admission of tire leader
whom you propose to follow, and you
make an earnest appeal to ME to unite
with you in assuming the position of a
rebel and traitor, for which / may be
sentenced to be hanged for violating
the constitution and laws of my coun-
try. Pardon me, my respected, but
impetuous friend, bit Ihadr0ther not ;
am impelled by every consideration
of honor and duty to decline your very
polite invitation.


Do you doubt, or does any sensible
and rejecting man doubt, that Mr..
Yancey described truly the situation
which every man occupies who favors
the movement of South Carolina be-
cause of the election of Mr.. Lincoln
for even she does not pretend that she
would have occupied her present posi-
ton if Lincoln had been defeated, and
yet are you not surprised to see so many
of our own people turning "rebels'
and traitors" at her bidding? are you
not indeed surprised at yourself? Rebel
and Traitor ! very imposing and high
sounding designations in the estimation
of some, perhaps, but have no partic-
ular desire that they should attach to
my name, either now or in after life.
My aspirations do not r,,a IN that line.


South Carolina, spurning the coun.
sells aud corporations of Virginia and
other southern states, has of her own
accord, and upon her own hook, chosen
to raise mighty aud fearful issue with
the general government, and upon the
general government rests the RESPONSE


bility Of settling the question. Hands
off and fair play to both say /. In its
present stage we have nothing to dc


with it, and so far as / am concerned


| turn her over to "Uncle SAM" and
if she can maintain her position against
that respectable and powerful old gen


tleman, let her have all the honor anG
glory and benefit of the achievement tC
n herself. / hope she may have a goot


and merry time Of it. She will still bt


state of the Union in a state of re
= bellion, and l have not shadow o
e doubt either of the right or the powe
y to control her; the only question woul(
3, be-Is 1t aoorth ohile? Would it no
y be better to let her go out, and stay on
d until she had made the experiment, ant
1t like the prodigal son, return to he
d home to eat up the fatted calf


But that, unfortunately, would lea,
g to another perplexing difficulty, whicl
r. is, that it would amount to acknowledg
e ment that we have no government, ant
e never had one; that our fathers wer
p set of old fools and fogies, VIII
Of thought they were making for thei
d posterity government that would en-
g dure forever, whilst it was nothin,
ID more than mere voluntary association
er of states, to be tolerated only so Ion!
IS as it was entirely convenient and agree
!; able to all the parties to remain in i,
ot but that the moment it became irksom
N to any one state it might be broken u
ct as readily as an ordinary party at whist


whenever one of the parties happene,
n to tire or grow drowsy and it require
n but little reflection TO satisfy any rea
l soning man that if the doctrine of tn
e, right of secession is once recognized b
c. the government all its powers cease a
a once, even although the doctrine ma
,e not be carried into practical effec
e, The government is now supported b