Year: 1861

| a memorandum OF the reasons for or against
it, as they would suggest themselves to his
mind, and that, by this means, lie arrived at
correct conclusion A correspondent of
the Georgia Chronicle and Sentinel having
adopted this plan, lays the result before the
public in the columns of that paper.


The question is, the propriety of secession
as a remedy for the political grievances of
the South, and these, he states are generally
admitted to be,


1st The denial of the right of the slave
holder to carry slaves into the Territories.


ID. The enactment of State laws TO prevent
the recovery offugitives from labor


Sd. The claim on the part of the Northern
people of the right to abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia, and in the arsenals,
doekyards, DC, of the United States.


4th. The existence Of sectional antipathy
if not of positive hostility, demonstrated 10y
the election of Lincoln and Hamlin.


AS remedy for these grievances, it is
proposed to withdraw from the Union separ
ately, or in concert with Others as circum-
stances may dictate, and the arguments in
favor of this plan, are:


lst. That the seeding States can get along
better outside than within the Union.


I'd. That as "cotton is king" they can die
tate terms of favorable treaties with foreign
nations.


Sd. That they can abolish Custom Houses
and have free trade with the world-an i'm
portant advantage to an agricultural people.


4th. And lastly, that if they should ever
desire to unite again with the North, they
could then do SO upon more favorable terms
than they can expect to obtain otherwise.


The correspondent gives from his memo
randum book the following objections to Sc.
cessiOn. lie says:


lst This is revolutionary step-and rev
olution should be the last resort of an en-
ligtened people, since it can rarely be effec-
ted without heavy natianal expense great
pecuniary distress among those least able TO
bear it, the excitement of violent passions,
the shedding of blood more or less abundant
ly, and the dangers of anarchy and despot-
ism.


ID Secession will not, per Sc, correct the
evils. 1t will not enable us to settle with
our slaves upon the Territorial domain of the
present United States. 1t will not cause
repeal of the personal liberty bills 1t will
not secure to us the rendition of our fugitives.
1t will not quiet the claim of the right to
abolish slavery in the districts and arsenals
under the jurisdiction of the General Gov
ernment. And, finally, it will not convince
fanatics that slavery is right and proper
Secession is then rather an abandonment of
our rights, than manly assertion and vindi-
cation of them.


Sd. 1t is not demonstrated that we could
get along better out of the Union than with
in it. If outside, it is true that we might
| abolish the tariff and thereby get many
things cheaper than we now do. But unless
we succeed in forming another large Confed
eracy, the expenditure incident to the for
nation and maintenance of a standing army
and respectable navy, post-oflice depart
ment, mint, and diplomatic intercourse with
the world, besides the construction of forts
and barracks, the supply of arms and ammu-
milton, the salaries of the high functionaries,
and Congressman DC, would be intolerabe
to people accustomed to the light taxation
to which we are subjected


H. Separate secession, besides Welding ev-
cry right we claim and loading us with taxa
tion and debt, would leave us out of the pale
OF nations, and at the mercy of the greater
powers whose recognition we would crave,
and with whom we would have to make trea.
ties. 1t Is not reasonable to suppose that so
weak a sovereignty as an isolated State
would constitute, would be more literally
treated by the great powers of Europe than
others similarly situated. The possibility is
That the people would soon cease to appreci
ate the blessings of such an independent SOW
eregnty and that they would 90 to some
other State where they could be governed at
less expense


.. Secession can be tolerated only on the
condition that all the slaveholding States. or
at least all the cotton growing ones, unite in
the movement, so as to constitute power of
sufficient magnitude to command the respect
OF other nations, that without which no peo-
pie can be free and prosperous.


q. The secession even of all the slavehold-
ing States will not secure to us the rights we
claim at the hands of the North; but will. on
the contrary, not only render poweress the
large number of friends we now have in
those States, but actutlly force them into the
ranks of the enemy, for the disastrous effects
OF such step upon the commercial and man
nfacturing interests of that section of the
country would bear equally hard upon both
friend and foe.


T. The consolidation of the slave interest
of this country, under one Government.
would probably lead, soon or late, to COM
blnation of all the anti-slavery elements of
the world against it, and although the i'm
portanee OF our agricultural products might
tor time, protect us from the overt acts of
hostility, we would be made continually TO
1eel the force OF popular opinion against us in
Europe as well as in America. Under such
circumstances any attempt to increase the
area OF slavery would encounter the most
determined opposition from all quarters.
s. England would realize the object she
has so long striven to bring about bv pro-
noting discord between the two great sec
tions of our country, if by secession we Grip
pie the only formidable competitor she has
for the trade of the world She may there
fore hold out to us the hand of fellowship. at
hrst, by way of encouragement; but, after
having consummated her nefarious DESIGNS
she will most assuredly treat us as she al,
ways does those who need her protectorate
$. 1t is by no means certain that We could
make new compact with the North more
advantageously after than before secession
Tor tins very etep will so inlame the passions
OF both sections that Reconciliation would be
very difficult; and neither party would be
disposed for long time to take the initia
tive on the subject 1t is very doubtful that
the South once fairly out of the Union would
ever listen to any overtures coming from the
North, and still more so that we would ever
make the advance ourselves


l0 Those who look to secession simplv ms
one OF the means of bringing about a better
state OF understanding and feeling between
! w hhs Ia