Year: 1860

THE SECESSlON MUVEAENT.


All the indications now are that South Carolina


at least, and in all probability several other States


will secedO very soon-pcaceably if they can, for


chilly if they must, While we have not the slight


est regret at such an occurrence, and only wished


81 had taken place long ago. it may be we'll to mark


the causes Of the mUvement-not the causes allied


ged By the seeding States themselves, for they


know not what manner of spirit they are Of, but


the real causes as they arc understood by the


North and By all impartial men. These we shall


set down as follows:


L. The lguuIuuco induced by dleness and crime.
It is the nature Of vice to darken the mind. and
these slave-holdiug States have persisted in OPP
preston until just Gud in the exercise OF his
retributive providence has blottcd out the light Of


their understandings. This is the common condi-
tion of mind throughout all savedom. On no
other hypothesis than that Of judicially enfcebled
intellectual powers can we account for the foolish
notions current in that region. The people of
those unfortunate States cling to the idea that sla


very is good, and that its abolition would be
their ruin, just as the drunkard, dying from his
potatons clings to the infatuated notion that IL
quor is beneficial to him, and that be cannot live
without it.


Nov every one knows that this peculiar halluci-
nation of the Grunkard is weakness superinduced
BY his cups. The same is true of the Shareholder
The guilty practice Of slave-holding destroys the
normal condition of his mind, and causes that pc
culiar mbeclty which leads him to cling to sla-
very as a great blessing, though to everybody but
himself it appears to be what it really is-Gn un-
mitigated curse. 1t is under the influence of this
weakness that the slave States on every occasion
exhibit SO much inconsistency and reckessnoss.-
This is the secret of their mob law, their sensi.
tiVehess, their jealousy, their timidity, and in fact
their whole social state, They arc scarcely ra sed
above savdges. The reason is that they do not
know any moro than savagcs. IL is ignorance
sheer disgracefH ignorance that lies at the bottom
Of their secession schemes.


2. Another cause is the rcbukc always admins
tered oy the presence Of the free States. 1t is Just
as true of States as of individuals, that che that
doeth evil hateth the light" South Carolina
breads the reproof of her crime, and is anxious 30
retire from a confederacy in which she cannot be
respected. States too, like individuals, must find
their level By association, the slaye-hodng
States have been kept up in appearance and made
to take rank with civilized communities, but it is
of no use for their savGgCncss will out. Those
States must relinquish slavery yield all proen-
sions to civilization. AS ihe inebriate must reform
or lose his character SO these slavehoding States
must abandon slavery or be branded with n(amy.
Thieves and burglars shun the society Of honest
men, and for the same reason slave States must
wish to avoid all association with the free States.


3. Freedom is contagious. The save-holding
States have trouble enough in warring upon the
instincts of their slaves, without guarding against
the intrusion of free principles from contiguous
States. Since Providence has been so unkind as
not to make race Of men for Southern use desi-
tuts of freedom-loving propeusities, the South
mus: take care and not add to its labor by remain
ing in a Union which may foster the hurtlul ten Il
denotes of slave nature. When out of the Union e
they will be free from evil example, and if God a
would only conform to the peculiar institution"
and cease to give the African human nature, sla-
very might be dvescd of its POLITICAL if not of c
its social horrors.


4. But another reason for the exodus of these "
much aggrieved communities is the fact that they K
have been spoiled by indulgence. Had not the u
value of tho Union been considered so Whelm-
ing as to swallow up all other considerations and
lead to a most unwarrantabe compliance with the u
whims and cOpricos of slavedom, should never II
have witnessed the present ebullitiOn Of southern
wrath. In a word il tho free States had taught m
the slave States good manners and insisted here Ia
tofore on little decent behavior these threats Of ri
secession would never have occurred. But the Il
North has always gone into spasms when the dis