Year: 1861

| REPORT. :.


The Committee on Federal Relations beg
leave to report. On looking to the pres
ent condition Of our late prosperous, happy
and united country, we see seven of our
sister States by the action of their Conven-
tions declaring themselves separated from
the United States, and organizing for them
selves distinct national government; while
others are in disturbed condition, looking
anxiously to the future, and uncertain about
all that is 10 come. =


If, in our astonishment at the sudden
disruption of our nation, We attempt to
trace the causes that have produced the
disastrous result, we find that the origin
Of the difficulty is rather in the alienstsd
feelings existing between the Northern
and Southern sections Of the country, than
in the actual injury suffered BY either;
rather in the anticipation Of future evils,
than in the pressure Of any now actually
endured.


II is true that the people Of the Southern
States have a right 10 complain of the in
cessant abuse poured upon their ins,itu-
tions by the press, the pulpit, and many Of
the people Of the North. It is true that
they have rieh. to complsin OF legislative
enactments designed to interfere with the
assertion Of their constitutional rights. 1t
is true that the hostile feelings to Southern
institutions entertained by many at the
North have manifested themselves in mob
violence interfering with the execution Of
laws made to secure the rights of Southern
citizens. 1t is true that in one instance
this fanatical feeling has displayed itself
in the actual invasion of Southern State
by few madmen, who totally misunder-
stood the institution they came to subvert.
1t is true that sectional political party
has been organized at the North, based
upon the idea that the institaiion Of South.
ern slavery is not to be allowed to extend
itself into the Territories Of the United
States, and that this party has for the pres.
ent possessed itself Of the power of the
Government.


While it is thus true that the people Of
the South have well-grounded complaints
against many Of their fellow citizens of the
North, it is equally true that heretofore
there has been no complaint against the ac-
ton of the Federal Government in any of
its departments, as designed to violate the
rights ofthe Southern States.


BY some incomprehensible dslusion, many
Northern people have come TO believe that
in sons manner they are cbargeable with
completely in what they are pleased to con.
slider the sin Of slavery, and for which, as
existing in the Southern States, they are
just as much responsible as they are for
the same relation existing in the heart Of
Africa. This morbid sen.itiyeness has
been ministered TO by religious and political
ssltators for the purpose Of increasing their
own importance and advancing their own
interests, and the natural consequences have
followed. outbursts Of mob violence and
Of political action against the owners Of
slaves. ..,s,


While the prejudice thus existing in the
Northern mind is latent, not exhibiting IT.
self in action. we may lament its existence
and the arrangement il produces; but we
trust in such case, as in ell others Of SINH
lar character, that better knowledge Of
the subject viii remove the prejudice
Already the awakened attention Of the
Northern people gives promi,s that ths
miserable seitators will be stript Of their
power over the public mind, and that red.