Year: 1860

| ConsututlOnal Southern Rights Association" Inc
following address to the young men of the country
has been prepared by Committee of that Associa-
ton


To the Young IHen of the Cou,try:


! For three-iOurths of a century our present form
| OF government has continued, shedding upon its
cltlzensS many blessings. From it have come great
happiness to us as people, and great prosperity
| as nation. The number of States has been more
than doubled, territory containing the materials of
| an empire has been added to our dominion in
scarcely an element of national greatness are we
surpassed, and more than 80 900 900 of people are
gathered under confederacy for security -
Combining many different, and, to some degree,
conflicting interests, it cOuld not be reasonably
expected that our experience should be of per
feet unanimity; but the character of our govern
ment the many terests and associations which we
have IN comm0n, all FORBID that that there should
be among us any differences which brothers could
not reconcile: But the truth cannot be hidden,
that we are dangerously divided. The vital prin-
ciple of our Constution-upon the efficient pre-
serVatlon OF which instrument the Union alone
depends the recognition of the sovereignty of |
| the States. BY this principle, all the powers of |
the Federal Government and the rights of the sepa
rate States are determined. Gett is this principle
| without which the Constitution can have no life
| the Union no continuance which is assaed bv |
| immense numbers, who either do not comprehend !
the character of our government, have regard
! Lnr the obligations it imposes. The evils which |
| nave thus come upon cannot be contemplated
with indifference. We believe that, thus, the
equality of the States has been impaired the spirit
ot our compact has been broken, and the Southern
States are denied the full of their rights
| We have associated ourselves in the trust that
ny cooperation, we may be able to do something
toward repairing these consequences and securing
from all parts OF the Union recognition of the
constitutional rights of the Southern States 1t is
Ihc part OF intelligent men to look upon their dan
gers WIN manllness, and, rather than be overcome
by the presence of an emergency seek to avert It's
consequences by the exercise of their skill and Wis
uoH as lne agents appointed by our association,
we invite you to consider with us the state of af
fairs and feeling in our country that we NAV do |
termine together whether We be right in our be-
lief, and whether there be advantage in the system
| of organization which we propose


In republican Government the existence of par
ties is almost political necessity. But in a con-
federated republic, founded upon such delicate
principles as is ours, and under Constitution
which, like ours, is but the record of compromises
and mutual pledges, there surely must be some
province sacred against par tisan encroachment.-
| The stipulatiOns upon which the Union is founded
must be preserved with an honor above reproach,
ana talth strong against all seduction. Not only
should the forms of the compact be regarded, but
we have right to expect continuance of the
| same spirit OF union which pervaded its conditions
| when they were made, and which alone gave them
any worthy vitality The Union that our
| fathers framed was not mechanical union, but it
was living union, and infused with one and
common spirit of vitality. When the spirit of that
Union is changed. its character is altered and the
| compact ceases to be the by which we are
bound This spirit of unity is of the cardinal
features of our compact, which shouId be safe from
lnvasion but it is in this particular that we first
charge our Northern brethren with violating their
obligations.


The Republican party, which now exists through
| the Northern States, controls nearly every one Of
them, and possesses great influence in those States
where 1t has not the ma aorty. 1t is founded upon
avOwed hostility to the institution of slavery and
has pursued its purposes with a tenactv and a bit
terness that could only be prompted Dy an evil
heart The institution of slavery has existed in the
! Southern States since the formation of the Union
The slave States held controlling influence in the
convention which framed the Constitution and
could have thrown additional safeguards around
this institution; but feeling that it was sufficiently
protected il the provisions there inserted were fair
ly observed, they never doubted the honor and
ialth which were pledged by those with whom thev
were dealing and were content to leave its further
fortunes to the Influence of natural causes and the
discretion OF each particular State. In that spirit
the Southern States have witnessed the change of
slave into free States, have assented TO the intro
ducton OF free States and thus have seen the con-
slant diminutiOn of their influence without alarm:
because their confidence placed, not in their
numerical strength, but in what they deemed
stronger place of safety-the honor and the nledpe
of their fellow States. But their confidence has
been betrayed, and the security within which they
reposed has proved false. The institution of slave.
ry is now so nertwined with the social and poiti-
cal system oil the Southern States that its freedom
from invasion is essential to safety. If it is to
be separated and removed, it can only be done by
patient and delicate labor, and that work must
be left tor our own hands to accomplish.


so vItay Is 1t part of our institutions, that its
security involves our fortunes, peace, our
honor, and almost every interest that a free people
can be Jealous to maintain. Thus serious and SEN
suve subject is 1t with us, and thus the northern
, people know it to be; clearly matter, under the
Constitution, within our contral and by the
obligations OF that instrument safe against any
assault OF spirit or OF deed and. thus, also, the
northern people know it to be. Yet it is in open
hostility to this institution that they have organi-
zed party, which controls the North and posses
ses almost the majority in House of Congress.


At loss for new issues after the disintegration of
parties, which occurred several years since, and
anxious to form popular one, they cast aside
their duty and patriotism, citizens in forming


party which violates the Constitution by its very


existence, and sacrificed their maj nhond as men, in
appealing to the meanness and prejudice of human
nature to swell its numbers


This party has met the success it sought, but its


first fruits have been the pr0stration of all spirit of
harmony and broherh hood, and the growth of fierce
sectional anmosites, bitterness and heart burn
lngs; until We now present the spectacle of peo-
Pile united under form of union, but distracted
among ourselves by the excitement of passions


darker and more bitter than could exhibit to-
ward common enemy. ln the name of those who
made this Union, and blessed it in making we ask
if this be the same they gave us? Can such things
be- and the Constitution still unimpaired? Can
we be despoiled of our peace, and hated by those
who are pledged to unite their fortunes with ours
and yet not be despoed in rights because the
spiritless form of the Constitution may vet remain
untouched? This is not simply union of States;
it is union of hearts and affections and while we
remain in it, we have a right to demand that we
be looked upon friends and not as foes: and that
our rights be accorded to us with such willingness
and promptness, as can alone consist with peace
able continuing together.


Such is the hostile feeling which has been kin
died against us, by men who prove themselves un-
worthy the blessings of free government, by their
prostitution of its privileges We might still be
silent, did this condition of feeling result in ac-
tive wrongs. For years have borne with the
utter notification of the Fugitive Slave law. A
law passed in pursuance of the most explicit pro-
vision of the ConstitutiOn-in obedience to which
all held by the strongest obligations which
upon citizens, the execution of which involves
the preservation of property and the security
l of our manifest rights-s rashly and reasonably
set at naught. Though the Constitution secures
us the right-thOugh Congress has acknowledged
its force, and the Supreme Court sanctioned its
ercise the Southerner dare not pursue his fugitive


into Northern territory, except at theimmnent risk
of his life and, to be at all successful must with
the secrecy and stealth of engaged in some un-
lawful enterprise. The fugitive is assisted, con-
cealed and FASTENED in his flight; and the author


iy of the law be invoked, it is nearly always given
with a lukewarmness that affords security, or
else it is overpOwered by mob. But the arrival


of the fugitive within their territory, even, is
not waited for. They steal upon plantations
under the cover of night, or of disguise, tamper
with the allegiance of the slave, teach him to flee,
and point out the way. Their emssaries are busily
at work in many parts of the South where they are
admitted under specious pretence another,





minds of our slaves, weakening their attachment to
their masters, and encouraging them to dsobed-
ence, rebellion and fight. And they have actually
come with the array of army, invaded a sister
State, and developed fearful Instruction The
peace of fresdes is mean right, and they
who would invade it can be prompted by no lrater-
nal feeling.


} The occurrence to which allnde but the
plainest consequence of their teachings, yet they
simply dsavow active participation with the men
who put in practice the principles they taught
and go on waxing stronger in an unchanged path.
Grown naughty in their strength, they invade
every department of government, and with the ir-
reverence of infidels sanctuary of rights is holy
to their tread no power the Constitution is sa-
cred their touch Even in the presence of the Su
preme Tribunal of the land, where, at least, there
is sancttv, if the majesty of government can be-
stow it, they stand unabashed, and receive its de-
crees in a spirit which could fill the breasts of no
men with whom patriotism honorable, OF duty
obligatory. The who are made the repositories
of our most solemn rights, and are clothed BY our
government with dignity which none others
possess, are the objects of their scofing and re-
proach. Vital questions are presented for
their solution. and their decisions re-
ceived in spirit of boastful rebellion, and
with the threat openly made, that this
tribunal shall be invaded and re-organized
by the appointment of subservient men, so soon as
they possess the power Once there was time
when the voice from the Supreme Court fell upon
the ears of the people with authority that knew
no appeal to their passions; all dissension was