THE PAST, THE PRESENT,
AND
THE FUTURE.








A RESIDENT IN THE SOUTH, and deeply concerned besides in all that relates to
the interests, peculiar and general, of that region of country, having lately read, as
they successively appeared in the National Intelligencer, a series of articles upon the
Past, the Present, and the Future, and being deeply impressed with the facts which
they embody, and with the historical sketches which connect them, has undertaken to
collect and publish, at his own expense, a considerable number of copies of them in
the shape in which they appear in this Pamphlet.  His only object in doing this is to
advance the cause of Truth, by diffusing among others tile same information and
instruction which he has himself derived from their perusal.
FEBRUARY 25, 1851.
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, OF JANUARY 4, 1851.
THE PAST AND THE FUTURE.
We have now reached a point in our National of all, the State of GEORGIA, resisting every seduchistory, at which we may be permitted to rest for tion and appliance brought to bear upon her, has
a moment-to look back upon the year which has decisively repelled the tempter, declined the lead
just ended and those which went before it, and that was offered to her, and declared her adheforward to the years which are to come. To this rence to the Union, whose foundations were
retrospect of the past, and glance at the future, cemented by the blood shed by her brave ancestry
we are impelled by a sense of duty, but yet more and their compatriots in the common cause.
by a grateful appreciation of the generous confi-   Before entering further into the inquiry which
dence with which the readers of this paper have we propose to institute into the origin and the
encouraged and sustained the course of its Editors merits of the political combination which at one
in the trying conjuncture through which the time threatened the integrity and even the duracountry has lately passed.                  tion of the Union. it is proper that we do to the
Before, however, we enter upon our review of two States above referred to the justice of placing
the past, let us cast our eyes over the area of the before our readers copies of the official acts by
great field of controversy into which the Press, which each of them has engaged herself, to a cerwith the People of the United States, was forced tain extent, in an enterprise which has for its
some twelve months ago, and compare its general object the separation of the State of SOUTH CAROaspect at the present with that which it then wore. LINA certainly, and possibly also of MIssssIPPI:,
How glad the emotion which this survey, and the from  the Federal Union. Those acts will be
contrast between the condition of the country at found at large in the columns of this paper, and
that epoch and at this, cannot but excite in the can hardly fail to engage every reader's attention.
heart of every lover of his country! How fer-   From an analysis of these acts, it will be seen
vent his gratitude to the great Ruler of Heaven that they differ so much in their provisions that
and Earth, that the tempest into which the politi- they can hardly be classed together; for, though
cal elements were lashed to such fury as to seem  the grounds of them be identical. or nearly so, the
to jeopard the fabric of Government itself, has Mississippi act proposes only a Convention of the
thus far spent its force without effecting a breach People for deliberation upon their real or supposed
in any part of the Constitution, or displacing a grievances, and to adopt measures of redress, &c.;
single stone from the structure of the Union.  which, before they become binding upon the
Of all the States, fifteen in number, which had State, are to be submitted to the People at the balbeen counted upon to engage in the design of lot box for their approval or disapproval. When
breaking up this Confederation, the Governments we bear in mind that this act was passed by a
of two only have so much as entertained any pro- Legislature composed of the same individuals as
position looking to the severance of any member those who undertook, without any authority from
of the Union from the rest. Better still: of these the People, to appoint Delegates to the first Nashtwo, one only has acted with such method as to ville Convention, it may without violence be preinduce the belief that the heart of the People is sumed, that, in passing this act, they have been
with the Executive and Legislative branches of influenced, in some degree, by that pride of opinits Government in this movement. Every other ion, which, in high party times, plays so importState seems to be tranquil; whilst. latest and best ant a part in all deliberative bodies. When this




act was passed, moreover, the Convention of the irrefragable facts, that, so far from the legislation
People of' Georgia, called by the Governor of that referred to affording evidence of a determination
State upon grounds and allegations similar to on the part of a majority of Congress to destroy
those recited in the Preamble to the Mississippi the institution of slavery in the South, it affords
act, had not been held, nor was the result of the evidence of directly the reverse. No power denied
election of Delegates to that Convention then  to Congress by the Resolution of the Mississippi
ascertained: so that the Legislators of Mississippi, Convention-the same in which originated the
deceived by the confident predictions of the Dis- call of the Nashville Convention-providing for
organizers in Georgia that their friends would a call of a General Convention of the People of
prevail in that election, may have taken it for that State in either of the events specified in that
granted that they were only following the lead of resolution, (viz: " the passage by Congress of the
Georgia, and would not want for associates at Wilmot Proviso, or of any law abolishing slavery
least in the incipient measures of conflict with  in the District of Columbia, or prohibiting the
the Union.                                     slave-trade between the States,") was exercised
Be that as it may, the action of Mississippi by Congress during the last session. Congress
stops far short of that of South Carolina, whose took no issue upon either of the questions which
Legislative act cuts the knot which Mississippi that Convention had raised. So far, indeed, from
proposes rather to untie. It projects at once a any aggression upon the peculiar rights of the
Southern Congress, prescribes the mode of ap- South by Congress, during its last session, much
pointment of her representatives to it, and forth- was gained for those rights, in what was done as
with elects the quota of four of them  whose ap- well as what was not done by Congress. No atpointment it had devolved upon the Legislature; tempt was made to enact a law prohibiting the
whilst the Legislature of Mississippi has taken a slave-trade aniong the States: though, had it been
direct practical mode of ascertaining the sense of made and succeeded, the Supreme Court has, by
the People of the State upon the expediency of a decision upon a case arising in the State of Misany extra-constitutional action, and, in the event sissippi herself, forestalled any act of that characof any such action being proposed by the State ter; having in that case decided that each State
Convention, subjects the proposed action again has the exclusive power to permit or prohibit the
tothe popular vote. We have not the least ap- trade within her own limits, and that no such
prehension, in the case of Mississippi, should the power belongs to Congress. With regard to the
Disunionists or Secessionists succeed in electing Wilmot Proviso, also, though it had been incora majority i]:the State Convention-which, how- porated at a previous session in the act establishever, we cainnot believe that they will-that " the ing the Territorial Government of Oregon, yet a
sober second sense of the People" will not disarm majority in Congress did not, in the enactment
its measures of any danger to the People of that at the last session of laws for the Government of
State, or of any other State which might be dis. the Territories of Utah and New Mexico, exerposed to follow its example in a different event. cise the power by which slavery had been proWhilst, however, we express this hope and con- hibited in the Territory of Oregon. Neither was
fidence in the patriotism and sober sense of the any act passed, or sanctioned by either branch of
body of the People of MissIssiPPI, we cannot but Congress, abolishing slavery in the District of
express our astonishment at the assert'ions in the Columbia; but, on the contrary, decisive votes in
Preamble to the Act of that State, upon which each branch of Congress were given against it
the call of the Convention is founded. viz:    when proposed; whilst, instead of the old and inFirst. That the legislation of Congress at the last efficient law for carrying into effect the provision
of the Constitution for the recovery of fugitives
session was controlled by a dominant majority regard-   the   Constitution  for   the recovery of fugitives
less of the Constitutional rights of the Slaveholding fron the Slave States, Congress at the last SesStates; and,                                   sion enacted another-and by the aid of the votes
Secondly. That the legislation of Congress, such as of many of those Members from non-slaveholdit was, affords alarming evidence of a settled purpose ing States who are denounced in mass in the Preon the part of said majority to destroy the institution of amble of the Mississippi act as a dominant maslavery, not only in the State of Mississippi, but in her jority regardless of the rights of the Slaveholding
sister States, and to subvert the sovereign power of States, &c.-the effect of which enactment has
that and other Slaveholding States.            been to put a stop at once to the escape or abThese are sweeping assertions, the first of which straction of slaves from the States in which they
are held. If there be an exception to this stateis susceptible of easy refutation; for a simple re-            re be an  exception to this stateference to the yeas and nays on the passage in ment-though we do not remember to have heard
Congress of the several measures thus denounced, of a single one-it only constitutes an exception
will show, beyond all question, that no one of to a general fact.
these measures-would have become laws without   There is, in short, according to our understanda large contribution of Southern votes to its pas- ing of the matter, nothing which the Southern
sage; and that, therefore, the legislation of Con- States could reasonably desire-nothing within
gress at the last session was no more controlled the constitutional power of Congress which the
by a dominant majority adverse to the rights of South could reasonably ask to be done or omitthe South than it was by the votes of the Sena- ted-that Congress did not do or omit at its last
tors and Representatives from the South itself.   Session.
It is equally demonstrable, if not by figures, by    Upon this head we may cite the authority of




Gen. HAMILTON, of South Carolina, the leader of   In one or two of the States, indeed. as in the
the first conflict of his State with the General States of VIRGINIA ind NORTH CAROLINA proGovernment-the citizen selected, moreover, by positions have been made. probably with too little
Governor SEABROOK, as most worthy to succeed reflection, calculated to bring  each of them in
her great leader in the seat in the Senate which conflict with the Government. In both States,
his death had made vacant-who, in his late Let- designs hostile to the Government of the United
ter addressed to the People of South Carolina, States are disavowed, the People of those States
declares his opinion to be in concurrence with that holding the idea of breaking up the Union in deof a majority of the People of all the States except served detestation; and no direct proposition havSouth Carolina, and that "neitherone nor all of the ing that object even remotely in view would be
measures" passedat thelate Session of Congress"af- for a moment countenanced by the Legislature of
ford a justification for the disruption of this Confed- either of these States. It may be very well queseracy."  And, more recently, the gravecounsels of tioned, however, if the two leading propositions
another Carolinian, an eminent and a wise states- in those bodies-the one, theoretic, to recognise
man, (Mr. POINSETT,) addressed to his country- the right of "secession" by any State; the other,
men, have shown, too conclusively for denial, that practical, to exclude the products of one State, or
thereis nothinginthelateactionofCon gresswhich  a range of States, from another State-be not
any intelligent rational Southron ought to consider each of them fraught with more real danger to
as calling for or justifying vindictive or extra-con- the Union than the undisguised proposition of
stitutionalaction by anylStatedor Stateseofthe South. South Carolina to hew it asunder.
The act of the State of SOUTH CAROLINA makes   Let us hope, however, that eventually neither
no statement of grievances. but merely a general of these propositions will receive the assent of the
allusion to " aggressions," placing its action solely Legislatures pf the States in which they are deupon the ground of the recommendation by the pending; or that. if they do, the mischief will be
Nashville Convention of the call of a Southern  promptly rebuked by the People of.those States,
Congress, and directing, in compliance therewith, in whose bosoms devotion to the Union is no afan election of Members to a State Convention to fectation, but a deep-seated sentiment.
ratify whatever provision the SOUTHERN CON-   With regard to the right of SECESSION, which,
GRESS may recommend for the "future safety and as a State Rights' doctrine, presented a bold front
independence" of the South. Regardless of the a year ago in the Capitol of Virginia, pluming
lessons of history, of the warnings of her wisest itself upon its derivation from the Resolutions of
statesmen, and of the welfare of the mass of her 1798-'99, and Mr. Madison's Report of that daycitizens, this State, in appointing and directing the error of which was then exposed and exploded
the appointment of Representatives in such a by producing the authority of Mr. MADISON himCongress, has taken a step by which she has com- self, directly against it-we never expect to hear
mitted the destinies of the State to an experiment of it again as a doctrine of the State Rights' school,
of the most reckless and hazardous character-  after the evidence which has been just brought to
nothing less than revolutionary-should any other light, that, in the opinion of the Head and Oracle
Southern State or Statesbefound demented ordelu- of that school, SPENCER ROANE, and his political
ded enough to meet her in her proposed Congress. associates, expressed more than forty years ago,
The stand which South Carolina has thus taken "SEcESSION" IS "TREASON." The occasion which
is one which separates her case from that of ally called for this denunciation of a doctrine which
other State, and places her in the attitude of ac- last year found many supporters in Virginia, was
tually attempting a DISSOLUTION OF THE UNION. doubtless the threat of'secession" thrown out
An issue of such gravity demands a separate con- from New England about that time, when suffersideration at another day, in which we shall en- ing under the excruciating pressure of an unlimdeavor to trace to its source the series of events ited embargo. A like menace, as some of our
of which this act of South Carolina is one that readers may remember, was subsequently reitercan have taken by surprise only those who have ated on the floor of the House of Representatives,
been indifferent to what was passing before them. by a distinguished gentleman who then represented
It is enough for us here to say that if South Car- the city of Boston in Congress, (who yet livesolina be present by her Representatives at the and has lived long enough to regard as a dream
city of Montgomery, on the day indicated in that the scenes in which he in his younger days bore a
act, we are confident in the belief that she will part;) who declared with studied precision of lanfind herself " alone in her glory."          guage that a certain bill (that for the admission of
With regard to the remaining Southern States, Louisiana into the Union) "would free the States
we do not believe that there is one which, after' from moral obligation, and, as it would be the
due consideration-a sufficient time for that pur-' RIGHT of all, it would be the duty of some to prepose being allowed by the whole year interven-'pare for a separation, peaceably if they could,
ing —will accept the overture of the State of'VIOLENTLY IF THEY MUST."  Whatever theoccaSOUTH CAROLINA to meet her in the " Southern sion which extorted it, the sentiment of the Vir-.Congress," in which she proposes that whoever ginia patriarch, repeated in substance and unangoes into it with her shall, in contempt and de- swerably enforced by Mr. MADISON more than
fiance of the Constitution, enter into a political twenty years afterwards, is true; the violent
covenant by which they are to sever themselves secession of a State from the Union, as it cannot
from the Union.                              be effected without levying war against the Uni



ted States, is Treason, and nothing less. When  goods imported become mingled with the other
it comes to be understood by-persons of the present property of the State, they are subject to taxation
generation, under whatever party banner they have  by the State in the same way as other property.
heretofore ranged themselves, that the doctrine of This principle has been practically admitted, and,
the Right of Secession originated with the Essex  perhaps, never seriously questioned since the adopJunto, was arraigned and condemned, as soon as tion of the Constitution.  Licenses have been
promulgated, by the Conscript Fathers of the required to be taken out by all who sell foreign
Ancient Dominion, and is, as now revived, but a merchandise, wholesale or retail, by every State
sickly sprout from the root of Nullification, we in the Union: and in some of the States the value
shall hear no more, be assured, from any respect- of merchandise in trade has been taxed the same
able quarter, of State Secession, whether, as has as other property.
been figured in the flowers of oratory, as "a grace-   But the Governor, in his message, states that
ful retirement" from the Union, or in the form,';a necessity now exists for increased revenue,"
more consistent with the reality, of a fearful and  and recommends earnestly to the consideration of
fatal avulsion of one of its limbs from the body of the Legislature " the propriety of laying a tax upon
the Republic.                                   "all the products of the non-slaveholding States ofAnd now, with regard to the proposition, favored  " feredfor sale within our territory." And he adds, " I
by many good Whigs as well as Democrats, friends "would also recommend that such a tax be imposed
to the Union too, for bringing back, through the "upon foreign goods imported through non-slavetaxing power of the individual States, the discord "holding States, as will offer effectual encourageand dissonance of Legislation between the States "ment to direct importation into our own ports.":
and Congress which existed under the old Confed- Here are acts recommended for the avowed double
eration, and bringing it back, too, with the avowed purpose of taxing the products of other States, and
intent of commercial retaliation or warfare upon  also the merchandise imported from them.
Sister States: those persons must be blinded by    In the Constitution, power is given to Congress
unreasonable resentments, who do not at once per- "to regulate commerce with foreign nations and
ceive that any such legislation would be directly  among the several States, and with the Indian
against the spirit and intent of the Constitution  tribes."  Now, it will be observed that the same
of the United States. To bring the matter more power is given to Congress over commerce among
plainly to the apprehension of those of our readers the several States as with foreign nations; and
who may not have had time or occasion to look such is the doctrine of the Supreme Court. The
into it before, we quote from the Message of the  Supreme Court has said, in the case of GibGovernor of Virginia to the Legislature —being bons v. Ogden, "commerce among the several
the most respectable source from which the propo- "States means commerce intermingled with the
sition has been directly made-his recent recom-i "States, which may pass the external boundary of
mendation of such taxation, as follows:' each, and be introduced into the interior." And,
in the case of the United States v. Coombs, the
EXTRACT FROM GOVERNOR FLOYD S MESSAGE.     Court says that the commercial power of Congress.
"A necessity now exists for increased amounts of " does not stop at the mere boundary line of a
revenue; and I earnestly recommend to your consider- " State; nor is it confined to acts done on the waation the propriety oflaying a tax upon all the products " ter, or in the necessary course of the navigation
of the non-slaveholding States offeredfor sale within  " thereof. It extends to such acts, done on land,
our territory. It can be easily accomplished, and will, " which interfere with, obstruct. or prevent the exin my opinion, constitute the most persuasive of all ar- " ercise of the power to regulate commerce and
guments to ensure a proper recognition of our rights.   "navigation   with foreign nations and among the
" Let inspectors be appointed for each county and navigation with foreign nations and among the
town in the State, whose duty it shall be to examine   a es.
all manufactures brought into their districts; and let a   If the power to tax property brought into a
tax of ten per cent. be imposed upon such as are found State, whether from abroad or from a sister State,
to be manufactured orproduced in the non-slaveholding  shall be so exercised as clearly to show an intenStates. It should be provided, moreover, that all mer- tion by the State to regulate commerce, it would
chandise be taken and regarded as the production of be void. And the classification which the Governon-slaveholding States, unless sufficient proof to the nor makes between goods imported by the slave
contrary is afforded by the vender. I would also recom- States and the free ones, would show clearly that
mend that such a tax be imposed upon foreign goods the measure was designed to regulate commerce.
imported through non-slaveholding States as will offer No State can tax the products of any other State~
effectual encouragement to direct importation into our as SUCH, without coming in conflict with the Conown ports."                                    stitutton. Such products may be taxed in comIn examining the decisions of the highest judi- mon with similar products within the State. but
cial authority on analogous questions, we find that not as the Governor proposes.
in the case of Brown vs. the State of Maryland,   A Legislature of a State may select the objects
(recently quoted in the Richmond Enquirer as of taxation; but if those objects are so selected as
affirming the right of a State to tax imports,) the materially to affect commerce among the States or
Supreme Court held that goods imported before from abroad, and especially if laid with the exthe package is broken, may be sold at auction by pressed purpose of so doing, the tax would be unthe importer without the payment of auction du- constitutional. If this principle could be carried
ties; but that, when the package is broken and the out as proposed by Governor FLOYD, it would




supersede the regulation of commerce by Con- and any one or more of the State Governments
gress, to which body the Constitution has exclu- to which it could have been exposed.
sively confided the power. A State cannot do that   That test it has stood unharmed. The exciteindirectly which the Constitution prohibits it from  ment in many parts of the country. but in the
doing directly. This maxim, the soundness of South especially, has been intense; the Debates
which cannot be questioned, strongly applies to in Congress, in State Legislatures, at Conventhe case under consideration.                tions, and at gatherings of the People, have been
Ithas been remarked by ChiefJustice MARSHALL, animated, often vehement, and at times of alarmand other members of the Bench, as is indeed ing import. This excitement has in a great deknown to every one acquainted with the history gree subsided: the Debates have ended, as Deof his own country, that a necessity for the exer- bates in a Representative Government always
cise of a general power to regulate commerce should do, in putting to the vote the contested
abroad and commerce among the States, con- questions, and in peaceful acquiescence, by the
duced, more than any other argument, to the body of the people, in the will of the majority,
adoption of the Constitution. Before this was ascertained through organs established by the
done, some of the States, with a view to advance People themselves.  If there be factious exceptheir respective local interests, adopted commercial tions to this in the North or in the South, the
regulations hostile to other States, and this, it was faithful execution of the laws will prevent any
seen, could only be prevented by giving the com- serious consequences from them.
mercial power to the Federal Government  But   In. all this conflict of opinion and action during
if the course indicated by the Governor of Virginia the last twelve months and more, in which the
should receive the sanction of the Legislature, and interests, the affections, and the passions of milbe carried out, it would subvert the Constitution. lions of men were engaged, not a drop of blood
We do not believe that the great State of Virginia, has been spilled, nor a hair of the head of any
so distinguished for its loyalty to the General man harmed by the Government. Sedition has
Government in times past, will, by sanctioning been publicly taught, in places high and low;
the recommendation of its Governor, consent to been preached from  the pulpit, and expounded
occupy so unenviable a position in the Confeder- from the bar; State Conventions to deliberate on
acy, and in the estimation of public opinion.  propositions of a nature highly dangerous to the
The opinion of Chief Justice RUFFTN, of North Government and to the public welfare, have met
Carolina, referred to in the "Richmond Enquirer" and have adjourned: and the liberty of no man
of the 24th of December, (reported in Dev. & Bat. has been restrained on account of any of these
1st vol. p. 19,) goes no further, we presume, than things, though in  any other Government on
that of Chief Justice MARSHALL, which was, as earth such seditious practices would have been
above stated, that, after an import becomes mixed visited with condign punishment. Have we not
up with other property of the State, it is subject reason to be proud of a Government so free and
to taxation. To subject it to taxation, therefore, yet so strong?
it must be mixed up with other property in the   The authority of the Judiciary and the supreState. But the Governor of Virginia proposes to macy of the Constitution and the Laws of the
lay a duty of ten per cent. on all property from  United States, meanwhile, in matters within its
abroad brought into the State, whether the product proper jurisdiction, remain in full force and vigor.
of the free States, or brought into Virginia The machinery o the Government has wored
through the instrumentality of those States. This on as steadily, as harmoniously, and as efficiently,
would be a tax upon the import, and would violate as though no Nashville Convention had been
that part of the Constitution which declares that planned, nor any Southern Congress summoned
no State "shall lay any imposts or duties on im- Even the demise of the Chief Magistrate of the
ports," &c.                                  Nation —the brave, the kind-hearted, and yet
A proposition so directly opposed to the posi- gravely wise old man, whose death drew copious
tive provisions of the Constitution, as a tax by tears from his political enemies as well as friendsSouthern States upon the products of the free and the sudden substitution in his place of the
States, one would have thought, had we not this patriot President whose firm  and trusty hand
evidence to the contrary, could hardly be proposed now guides the helm of State-except as a great
by any one who had ever read that instrument, moral lesson of the uncertainty of life and the
and will surely, now that attention has been perishable quality of all earthly honors-even
called to it, never receive countenance, from  such an event as this, occurring in the midst of
either Governors, Legislators, or People, who the domestic contention which we have just reprofess any respect for that fundamental law.  ferred to, involving an entire change of AdminisIn conclusion of our survey of the actual state tration, did not disturb the regular operation of
of the relations between the General Government the Government for a single day.
and those States which were, a year and more   May we not exult in testimony such as these
ago, represented as so disaffected that nothing facts afford that the Government under which we
short of revolution would appease their malcon- live-the strength of which has twice passed the
tent, let us remark, that the test to which the ordeal of foreign wars; which has escaped the
General Government has been subjected in the dangers, during the first of these wars, of a bankintermediate time has been the severest, short of rupt treasury and a degraded and depreciated curactual collision of arms between that Government rency —is able to bear also the trying calm of pro



8
found peace, accompanied by an inundation of confidence and esteem, is the triumph which
mineral wealth, and a plethora of commercial these facts exhibit over the restlessness, the proprosperity, more dangerous to internal tranquillity jects of change, the wish to be "better than well"
than all the excitements of war and the allure- which a general peace breeds, than the most
ments of conquest and its dazzling acquisitions? brilliant victory that could be achieved, by the
Far more honorable, in our estimation, to the best appointed forces, by land or sea, over the
character of our People and of our Institutions-far most redoubtable of human powers!
more likely to ensure our own and the world's
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, OF JANUARY 11, 1851.
SOUTH CAROLINA AND HER POSITION.
It is a matter of propriety, as well as conveni- and are not to be argued out of it, it may become
ence, to separate the case of SOUTH CAROLINA  US to pretise that no thought of disparagement
from that of other States which have given evi- to the people of that State, in their personal capadence of discontent with their condition in the city or their private relations, enters into our
Union, because, whilst this exhibition of discon- mind. We have known too many of them, and
tent began with South Carolina, and has been known them too well, to entertain any unkind or
continued by her, with little intermission, for disrespectful sentiment towards them. We speak
more-than twenty years-having been the leaven of the community only, the political body of the
of the excitement in other Southern States, which State, and of the position which its Government
rose during the last year to such a height as to be has ostentatiously taken in view of the world, as
supposed by many persons to endanger the exist- a disaffected and disloyal member of this heretoence of the Union-it is she that has now'"passed fore harmonious Confederacy. In the language
the Rubicon," and constituted herself the head of of a writer in a late number of a Georgia journal,
a proposed league, the undisguised object of which  (the "Constitutional Union" of December 6,) who,
is, and the effect of which, if it answers the ex- with more intimate knowledge that we can prepectation of those who have labored to get it up, tend to of the People of that State, says, what we
will be, to dissolve the Union of the States.  believe to be substantially true, " there are many
That such is the purpose of South Carolina we "considerations connected with the history of
do not ask our readers to believe upon our asser- "South Carolina calculated to win the regard of
tion, but upon such evidence as shall leave in the "honorable and generous-mirded men.  Who
mind of no man a doubt of the fact. The People "that has visited Charleston," says this writer,
of that State would, themselves, in their present "has not observed the courtesy, frankness, and
temper, be deeply offended at any one's so much  "obliging spirit of her merchants? The people
as hinting a doubt of their intention.        "of that enlightened commercial metropolis are
The attitude in which we now find this State "the very soul of enlightened, devoted, and recannot be accounted for upon the hypothesis of "fined hospitality. There is enchantment in their
any single impulse. It is not wholly referable to'warm  and sincere society.  Her women are
"beautiful-her men are brave-her statesmen
the climate and other circumstances of her geo- "are patriotic, and especially devoted to Carolina.
graphical position, nor exclusively nor altogether
" Her orators are eloquent —her lawyers profound.
to the resentments of thwarted ambition, but to "Her orators are eloquent-her lawyers profound.
the compound effect, upon a fervid temperament,  "But," continues this observing writer, "the city
of both those causes.            ~"of Charleston —the State of South Carolina —is
of both those causes.
On thesubjectof theclimate and circumstances "the very home of aristocracy. It is the most
which surround the Stateit is not necessary here "aristocratic State in the Union. I mean to say
which surround the State, it is not necessary here c"that there is less intimate intercourse between
to dilate. Nor, in this place, will we say more of "the masses of her people and those by whom
thhat her disappointment of ambition which she has "they are governed-less sympathy between the
experienced, than that her disappointment is in "dth
two points, in each of which she appears to have
been equally sensitive, viz: first, in the ascen- "do with elections than n any other State, perdency, in station and power, to which, as a State,  haps, in the Union. In that State the people do
she aspired among the States; and, secondly, i  "not vote for their Governor-they do not vote
she       aspired among the States; a nd, secondly, oin  "for Electors of President and Vice President. In
the hope in which, as a people, she indulged, of  visiting the State one is forcibly struck with the
the elevation to the highest trust in the National exclusiveness and aristocrState one is forcibly struck with the
Government of that favorite son of hers, whose "exclusiveness and aristocratic tone of societyrecent death is still mourned  throughout the "with the imperious deportment and cold politeznness  which mark the intercourse between the
country, as well as in South Carolina, by ardent "ness which mark the    intercourse between the
admirers of his politics, and his intellect.  " lordly man of wealth and the working classes.*
admirers of his politics, and his intellect.
T'hough these remarks are not addressed to   * A reported incident in a speech made in the first
South Carolinians, who have taken their position, Nashville Convention, by Ex-Governor HAMMOZND, of




"The same anti-republican and aristocratic fea- ration of her present attempt to break up the Go"tures, as before suggested, mark the institutions vernment to which she owes her past security
o' f the State.  The People exercise but few po- and that prosperity which has to all appearance
"litical rights. Hence they are less enlightened on actually turned her head. Not only her journal" the history of the country and know less of the ists and her political declaimers, but even her pul" measures of the Government than the people of pit orators, betray, in their most studied effusions,
"other States who are in the enjoyment of a larger an aberration of sense, the natural consequence of
"share of power in the direction of public affairs." continual excitement and inflammation of the
Though, as we have already intimated, having  mind, stimulated by representations of reputed inno claim  to any thing like the opportunities of dignities and aggressions on the part of the Genpersonal knowledge which this writer seems to eral Government, and on the part of some of the
have enjoyed, our impression, derived from long individual States, which. no more than the Genobservation of her political action and the lan- eral Government, entertain any sentiment of illguage employed by her public journals, is, that willtowards the People orStateof South Carolina,
the preceding portrait of the character and pecu- and of others which, in taking care of their own
liarities of the State has sufficient general resem- interests, have not been even thinkingof that State.
blance to the original to explain much in her pre-   To what else than a derangement of the senses
sent position. If to these traits we add others, can we impute the falsifications, absurdities, and
ascribed to the State by another writer in the same impieties which have lately, and within the last
journal, viz: " an overweening pride of ancestry; few  days, been uttered in South Carolina, not
"a haughty defiance of all restraints not self-im- only from the press and by the " young Apollos"
"posed; an innate hankering after power, and a in the Legislative bodies, but from  the pulpit?' self-opiniated assumption of supremacy," as be- What but a knowledge of an entire concurrence
ing characteristics of her policy, we have a com- of sentiment between the journalist and -his readbination of qualities which account for much in ers could, for example, have led the recognised
her political history which would be otherwise organ of the ruling party in the State and city
incomprehensible.                                in which it is published, on the first day of the
With this understanding of the character of the New Year —the arrival of which is ordinarily in
State, it becomes much more easy to comprehend all communities distinguished by acts of courtesy,
how an enlightened and gifted circle, such as that by reciprocal amenities, by reconciliation of old
of the political leaders in that State, may have feuds and enmities —in a word, by the exercise of
been enabled to work not only themselves, but the all the charities of life —to the train of thought
body of the qualified voters of the State-not, in which he has indulged in the subjoined exhowever, the mass of those who would in almost tract?  What, short of absolute dementation,
every other State in the Union constitute the body could have conceived the idea of its being a pleasof the voters at elections —up to the state of ex- ing task to the future historian to relate as glories
altation which has at different times, but especi- of the year that has passed, " the marshalling and
ally within the last year, characterized all her arraying of those hostile forces" which are to " removements-the tone of the debates in her Legis- suit" in "dissolution of the American Union;" or
lative Houses and other public assemblies, the in- have indulged in such disgusting levity upon the
temperance of her public prints and of her anni- re-arrangement of our American States around
versary explosions of sentiment,* and the despe- new central points, as things not in themselves to
be deplored or deprecated except by " blind idolaSouth Carolina, curiously corroborates this remark of ters" of the Union?
the distance which separates the wealthy and the working classes in South Carolina.  In reply to Judge of the first modern attempt, by people of different inSHARKEY, the Ex-Governor is reported to have said:
~" A good deal had been said about what their con- stitutions, to live under the same Government.
stitents had sent them here to do. The gentleman   By Dr. Talbird-The Union: For it we have enstitulents had sent them here to do. The gentleman dured much; for it we have sacrificed much. Let us
from Mississippi thought they were not sent here to beware lest we endure too uch; lest we sacrificed much. Let us
discuss measures before Congress. They were sent here beware lest we endure too much; lest we sacrifice too
to propose or discuss any measure they thought proper- muBy Capt. John G. Barwell: Disnion rather than
any measure bearing upon the rights or interests of the degradation.
Southern people. They were (said Mr. H.) the'leaders   By Col. B. J. Johnson —outh Carolina: She struck
of the South, THE APPOINTED LEADERS OF THE SOUTH; for the Union when it was a blessing; when it becomes
they were not sent here to hunt up at barbecues and a curse, she will strike for herself.
a curse, she will strike for herself.
court-houses what were the opinions of this or that
By Col. G. P. Elliott —The Compromise: " The
man, to adopt them. They were sent here to make best the South can get."  A cowardly banner held out
up their minds as to what is to be done by the South-  by the  oilsman that would sell his country for a mess
that they might go home to their constituents and tell of the polman that would ell hi country for a me
them what is to be done. THE PEOPLE are to do WHAT-    pg
By Capt. T. R. S. Elliott —The American Eagle:
EVER WE COMMbAND THEM. They sent us here as leaders In the event of a dissolution of the Union, the South
to point them to the way of freedom and equality. If we claims, as her portion, the heart of the noble bird; to
shrink from our duty, we cover ourselves with infamy."  the Yankees we leave the feathers and carcass.
~ Such as the following Volunteer Toasts, for ex-   By Lieut. B. W. Barnwell-The South: Fortified
ample, drunk at the last Fourth of July Celebration at by right, she considers neither threats nor consequences.
Beaufort:                                          By D. J. A. Johnson-The Union: Once a holy alBy Edmund Rhett-The Union: A splendid failure liance, now an accursed bond.




10
Let any man in his senses consider well the  The debates at the late session of the Legislature
passages which we have italicized in the follow- of the State also abound in evidences of an uning paragraphs, and say whether he who feels sound state of mind, as every sensible reader canany gratification in uttering such sentiments as
these, or those who receive them  with compla- Government, and secede from  the Union if she sees
cency, can be of sound mind and understanding: fit.his assumption of a threat of South Carolina by
This assumption of a threat of South Carolina by
FROM THE " COLUMBIA TELEGRAPH," JAN. 1, 1850.  the General Government, after asserting that he " does
When the future historian shall address himself to  not affirm it," the Reverend gentleman goes on to susthe task of portraying the rise, progress, and decline tain by the following further gratuitous and preposteof the American Union, the year 1850 will arrest his rous proposition:
attention as denoting and presenting the first MAR-   "In the present controversy with the South, the
SHALLING and ARRAYING of those HOSTILE FORCES  General Government is an usurper."
and opposing elements WHICH RESULTED IN DISSOLU-   After fortifying this position as he best can-showTIoN, and the world will have another illustration of ing, in doing so, his want of acquaintance with the
the great truth that forms and modes of government, plainest provisions of the Constitution, and perverting
however correct in theory, are only valuable as they  the most notorious facts of history-he slanders the
conduce to the great ends of all government —the  " God of Truth and Righteousness" by undertaking to
peace, quiet, and conscious security of the governed.   make HIM  a partner in the political heresies of the
It becomes us not at this time to indulge in specula- State of South Carolina:
tions as to the time when, or the manner in which   "; Believing then, as I do, that in this whole crusade
such an event as the dissolution of our present league against the institutions of the South, which the General
and the re-arrangement of our American States around  Government is waging, it is acting the part of a usurper,
new central points will take place; but that it will and  and believing that God is the God of Truth and Rightmust occur, we are as firmly convinced as we can be eousness, and is opposed to usurpation, I would have
of any thing beyond the immediate cognizance of the our State do ANTY THING but acquiesce in the right of
external senses. Nor do we deem this a-matter to be the Federal authority to coerce her."
deplored or lamented in itself, unless by the blind    The Reverend gentleman, after showing the most
idolaters who look upon the mere framework and scaf- absolute misapprehension of the character of those now
folding of government as intrinsically valuable. There  and heretofore engaged in the Administration of the
is something in the word family beyond the mere roof General Government, saying that they are " under inthat shelters the parents and children; there is some- fluences confessedly luxurious," goes on with ludicrous
thing in the idea of the church more than wood or consciousness that in what he is saying he is desecrating
stone; and so there is a living spirit and essence of the House of God, as follows:
republicanism which can exist independently of the  "cIt is not for me to speak evil of dignities, or to convisible badges by which its presence may be denoted, descend to personalities from this sacred place; but I
or any ceremonies OR INSTITUTIONS with which it may  may be pardoned for expressing the opinion that the
be for a time connected," &c.                     powers that be at Washington are not of that hardy,
But even this is surpassed in absurdity and  energetic, warlike stamp whose threats are to be dreaded
seditious spirit by other contemporaneous publica- as the unerring preludes to execution. Epicures (!) do
tions in the same State, by those exaltes who see not usually evince either courage or strength. It is
visions and dream dreams of things which are not not every Sardanapulus (!) who turns out to be a hero.
even shadows of reality. Among, these we have  Before paper blockades, and the accidental reinforcelately seen some passages from  Discourse deli- ment of the garrisons in her harbor, can frighten South
lately seen some ypassages ofCarltom   on Disc     De- Carolina into submission, her oppressors (!) must learn
vered in the city of Charleston on Fast Day, something of Marion's dinner."
(about a month ago,) by a Clergyman whose    After charitably insinuating that all those who have
mind is obviously  so deeply tainted  by  the pre- ventured to oppose the spirit of Disunion in his own
vailing mania of Disunion as to be disqualified  State have been bought by the General Government,
not only for the proper functions of his station, he breaks out into the following rhapsody:
but for distinguishing between right and wrong.*    "Better, far better, that, in proud and honest poverty, she gave her children to the sword, and her soil
* Not to interrupt the thread of our remarks by quo- to her slaves, and her ports to the pirate, and her mantations from this discourse, by the Rev. WM. H. BARN- sions to the owls and the bats, and her civilization, and
WELL, Rector of St. Peter's church, delivered on the 6th  refinement, and religion to barbarism, than that she
day of December last, and "published by request," we permit herself to be bought by the fascinating but fatal
employ this note to give our readers some idea of its bribe of a corrupt and corrupting Government."
substance and its quality.                          Better she should do all this than do what? Than
Beginning his discourse with' the proposition that that any citizen of the sovereign and independent govSOUTH CAROLINA " has been threatened by those who  ernment of South Carolina should accept an office unwield the power of the General Government," the der the Government! How appalling must not this
Reverend gentleman makes out this proposition as anathema be to the respected gentlemen who hold the
follows:                                          offices of Collector, Dictrict Attorney, and Postmaster
" That South Carolina has been formally threatened, of the city of Charleston, those being, we believe, about
at present, by the General Government, Ido not affirm; all the offices in the gift of the Government within the
but he must have cast an unobservant eye upon the city of Charleston.
current of public affairs who does not discover a covert   We will only quote further from this seditious habut decided menace on the part of those in authority to rangue the following piece of gasconade:
prohibit, by force, the exercise of her unquestionable   "Pretexts of all kinds should be avoided at present,
right to resume the powers delegated to the General especially such as affect our relations to our co-States




11
not fail to perceive when we come to refer to I originating in no events of recent date, but early
them.                                            cherished, and prosecuted with constant care and
In this view of the influences under which the assiduity by leading politicians, who seem always
State of South Carolina has, though in the solemn  to have been able, as they now are, to command a
form  of Legislative acts, engaged in an attempt majority in the councils of that State.
to dissolve the Union; has authorized her Gov-   Before we proceed to this demonstration, it will
ernor, by sending ambassadors-envoys extraor- be proper to exhibit to our readers proof that Disdinary they would certainly be-or in any other UNION, consequent disgrace to our country, and
way which he may think proper, to " urge" other demolition to all the hopes which humanity has
States to attend her Southern Congress; has by  founded upon the success of a Confederate Reother measures shown her determination, in almost public like that of the United States, are in the
any event, to place herself in arms against the -contemplation of the Councils of SOUTH CAROGovernment of the Union; she can yet hardly  LINA, and  those who  despotically rule them.
be held morally accountable for what she has They have looked this alternative in the face,
done. If not morally, of course she cannot be and, pleased with its reflection of their own sentiheld criminally responsible.  It is no part of our ments, they have embraced it. For this proof
purpose to hold up her conduct in that light. ex- we have no occasion to go further back than to
cept with the view of showing that what she has the late Session of her Legislature.
~done and proposes to do, upon the pretences which    At the opening of that session. the late Govshe sets up, would be justly reprobate in any other ernor of the State (whose term  of service has
State or States not under the same unhappy  since expired) transmitted to the Legislature a
influences.                                      Message, very able and plausible-artful, we had
A correspondent act, however criminal in the  like to have said-consisting mainly of a "lofty
eye of the law, committed by any individual in  and sounding manifesto" against the Northern
the same condition of mind as the State of South  States-keeping out of view the section of States
Carolina appears to be-that is to say, wholly  (the West) of whom  South Carolina has the
unconscious that the act which he has done or greatest cause of complaint, because of their overattempted is one which he ought not to do, he would  shadowing growth-and against the Government
not, if we understand rightly the law, be held  of the United States; in which. however, after
legally accountable in a court of justice.  The  Mr. CALHOUN'S late speech, there is absolutely
benefit of that plea, whether she accept it or not, nothing new, except the great additional damage
we are entirely willing to allow, in her present which, it appears, the Southern States have susposition, to the State of South Carolina.  The  tained by the "Peace Measures" of the last session
acts which she does and proposes, are not, how- of Congress; those measures which were not only
ever, the less condemnable, nor the object at which  passed by Southern votes, but in every instance
she aims less criminal, because, in her present proposed and moulded into form  by  Southern
delusion of mind, she considers it no offence, Members. to meet Southern views. At the close of
moral or criminal, to embark in a conspiracy  this Manifesto the Governor points out in the folagainst the life of the Union. and deliberately to  lowing passages the remedy for all these grieprepare the ways and means for carrying out so vances:
damnable a design.          t" The startling truth at length stands openly revealed
Such is our confidence in the intelligence and  that the last hope of arresting the career of infatuated
the patriotism of the Southern States and People rulers is gone forever. The final act of the drama is
generally, that we feel an entire conviction that over, and when the curtain which screens the future
nothing more can be necessary to prevent any one from the eye of the patriot shall be lifted, it may be that
of them from co-operating with her in this object, the Palmetto banner will be seen, among other standthan to show, beyond doubt, that her designs are  ards, waving over a triumphant people, united in instithose of abstract enmity to the Union; designs tutions and in determination to maintain with fidelity
their new relations with their co-sovereigns and the
of the South. When we tell them that we feel incom- nations of the world. But, should it please the Allpetent or unwilling to lead in this opposition to the wise Disposer of events, in His inscrutable Providence,
General Government, they do not believe us; and they to assign us the condition of the British islands of the
ought not to believe us, for we [South Carolina, to wit:] West, and to rivet the chains with which we are manare the proper leaders in such a contest. We have acled, the people of South Carolina will at least be combeen in it before single-handed, nay, without the aid of forted with the assurance that, while ignorant of their
a large part of our ablest and best men, yet we gained  destiny, they were not unmindful of the duty they owed
our point.  We broke down the tariff  We hurled de- to themselves, their descendants, and their country.
fiance at the head of the great captain of the country,    " The time has arrived to resume the exercise of the
with the whole force of the Union at his disposal. We pow ers of self-protection, which, in the hour of unsusdeclared' null and void'-and it has been, and is, and pecting confidence, we surrendered to foreign hands.
will continue to be' null and void' within the limits of We must re-organize our political system on some
South Carolina —the odious force bill."          surer and safer basis. There is no power, moral or
The Reverend gentleman sadly errs in his recol- physical, that can prevent it. The event is indissolections or his reading. It was "the great captain  lubly linked with its cause, and fixed as destiny. In
of the country" who successfully defied the Nullifi- the admonitory language of our lamented statesman,
ers, and it was nullification, and not "the tariff,"' the worst calamity that could befall us would be to-lose
that " broke down' on that occasion.            our independence, and to sink down into a state of ac



12
knowledged inferiority, depending for security upon  He hated and detested the Union, and was in favor of
forbearance, and not on our capacity and disposition to cutting the connexion. He avowed himself a DISUNIdefend ourselves.'                                ONIST-a DISUNIONIST per se. If he had the power,
"In recommending, as I now do, that South Caroli- he WOULD CRUSH THIS UNION TO-MORROW.
na should interpose her sovereignty, in order to protect   Mr. SULLIVAN proceeded to discuss the sovereignty of
her citizens, and that, by co-operation with her ag- the States and the right of secession, and denied the
grieved sister States, she may be enabled to-aid in avert- right or the power of the General Government to coing the doom which impends over the civil institutions erce the State in case of secession. This State is sovof the South, it is fit and proper that, as a Common- ereign and independent so soon as she sees proper to
wealth, we should, at an early day, to be designated by  assert that sovereignty. And when can we be stronger
you, implore the God of our fathers for the pardon of than we are now? If we intend to wait until we beour manifold transgressions," &c. &c.             come superior to the Federal Government in numerical
Our object, in quoting this Message, being sole-' strength we will wait forever. In the event of an atly to preserve the connexion of the chain of inci- tempt to coerce her, sacrifices might be made, but we
dents in the recent action of the State of South  are willing and ready to make those sacrifices. But he
Carolina, we resist the temptation of the opportu- did not believe one gun would be fired in this contest.
nity which it offers to us to expose the mistakes of' South Carolina would achieve a bloodless victory. But,
fact, the misconception of the relations of cause should there be a war, all the nations of Europe would
and effect, the subjection of every point of' law, of be desirous of preserving their commercial intercourse
with the Southern States, and would make the effortmorals, or philosophy, to the one selfish and antisocial purpose of withdrawing that State (even if to do so. He thought there neverwould be a union of
social purpose of withdra1Winghat State (even if,the South until this State strikes the blow and makes
failing to seduce others into the conspiracy) from  the issue.
the bond of union to which she was one of the first   Mr. F. D. RICHARDSON would not recapitulate the
signers.                                          evils which had been perpetrated upon the South.
In what manner the Legislature of the State we- Great as they have been, they are comparatively unimsponded to this Message, the country has seen, by  portant, when compared with the evils to which they
the act for calling a Southern Congress, &c. which  would inevitably lead.  We must not consider what
we have already published. Of the debates in the we have borne, but what we must bear hereafter. There
Legislature upon this topic, though we took no care is no remedy for these evils in the Government; we
to preserve them, we are able to offer to the reader have no alternative left us, then, but to come out of the
who is curious in such matters a few brief notes, Government.
which comprise a fair sample of the general spirit   Mr. PRESTON said that the question for the Legislaof the whole.                                     ture to decide is, whether those delegates could be choIn the House of Representatives, (as reported  sen by the Legislature, or whether they could only be
for the Charleston Courier)-                      elected by a Convention of the people. He advocated
Mr. LEITNER proceeded to address the Committee. He the proposition that the Legislature had the power unsaid that the Southern States are now in a state of abso- der the Constitution to do so. He was opposed to calllute dependence; we have lost all power in the Gov- ing a Convention, because he thought it would impede
ernment; and, if we are not released from our present the action of this State on the questions now before the
condition, we are slaves. We must secede from a Union  country. He thought it would impede our PROGRESS
perverted from its original purpose, and which has now  TOWARDS DISUNION. All his objections to a Convenbecome an engine of oppression to the South. He tion of the people applied only to the proposition to
thought our proper course was for this Legislature to call it now. He thought Conventions dangerous things,
proceed directly to the election of delegates to a South- except when the necessities of the country absolutely
ern Congress. He thought we should not await the demand them. He said that hehadadopted thecourse
action of all the Southern States; but it is prudent for he had taken on these weighty matters simply and enus to await the action of such States as Alabama, Geor- tirely with the view of HASTENING THE DISSOLUTION
gia, Mississippi, and Florida; because these States have OF THIS UNION.
requested us to wait. If we can get but ONE State to    Mr. KEITT said he would sustain the bill for electing
unite with us, then we must act. Once being inde- delegates to a Southern Congress, because he thought
pendent, we would have a strong ally in England. But it would bring about a more speedy dissolution of the
we must prepare for secession. He thought that Union.
$200,000 would be sufficient to place the State in a    These extracts will suffice to show the spirit in
complete condition of defence.                    which the act of South Carolina was passed.  If
Mr. W. S. LYLES said he would not recapitulate the  any doubt remained of the temper of the political
series of wrongs inflicted upon us, and the only ques- leaders assembled at Columbia, it would be dissi- 
tion which he would consider was the remedy. The pated by the tenor of the Address delivered by the
remedy is the union of the South and the formation of pated by the tenor of the State on t he occasion of his
a Southern Confederacy. The friends of the Southern  new Governor of the State on the occasion of his
movement in the other States     to the action of takice. In the oath of office.the
of  Address we find the following sentence, in which,
South Carolina; and he would make the issue in a
reasonable time, and the only way to do so is'by seces- bespeakng kindness to his Administration from
sion. There would be no concert among the Southern  those who elected him, he sums up his idea of the
States until a blow is struck. And if we are sincere  creed of a Carolinian:
in our determination to resist, we must give the South   " I may, no doubt will, frequently err, but never insome guaranty that we are in earnest. He could not tentionally; for, thank God, I bear about me a heart
concur-with the gentleman from Greenville (Mr. B. F. burning with indignation at my country's wrongs, and
PERRY) in his expressions of attachment to the Union. which has never known a thought, feeling, or emotion




higher than that which beats for the glory, honor, and  South Carolina legislators said of himself) a diswelfare of my native State."                      unionist per se. But, as it is the only thing by
It is not necessary, in order to understand the  which that Convention will ever hereafter be resentiment of which the new Governor is the cho- membered, and was fully in the mind of all the
sen representative, to follow his speech out further Members of the Legislature of South Carolina
than the purpose of our reference to him requires. when the authority of the Nashville Convention
This object will be accomplished by the following  was cited in her act calling the Convention, we
additional brief quotations:                      turn to it now, only to show what were the tem"To this Union, with tyrants and plunderers, WE  per and burden of the speech.  We quote from it
OWE NO ALLEGIANCE; for it we have no love; under it the subjoined passages, which, from  a speech of
we will not live, unless we are recreant to all we have  such length, are little more satisfactory, as *a speheretofore held dear or sacred, to our honor, our inter- cimen of the whole fabric, than was the one brick
est, the example of a gallant ancestry, aye to the bright taken from the tower of Babel. They will, howand glorious destiny which awaits us."            ever, give the reader some apprehension of what
"Although I feel impatient at delay, yet, as we have  it is:
gone into consultation with our sister States of the
South, good faith demands that we should wait the re-    The great matter in contest, when the recent consult of the measures suggested by the Nashville Con- troversy began, was about the territory which we had
vention. We should meet them in the proposed Con- conquered from Mexico. I say, which we of the South
gress. But if all our honest exertions to unite the  had conquered; for our opponents were opposed to the
South should fail, and South Carolina should stand  war, opposed to the appropriations, and their section
alone, then solitary and alone let her throw her banner contributed only a few noble spirits who rose above
to the breeze, and leave the consequences to God."  their low aspirations. Have they not taken all 
"Every effort has been made to isolate our State and    " They have not, however, been satisfied with taking
prejudice her in the eyes of the other Southern States, all. They have made that all a wicked instrument for
by holding out the idea that she wishes tb lead them. the abolition of the Constitution and of every safeguard
But I am sure I speak her universal sentiment when I of our property and our lives."
say that she is willing to follow any one of her gallant   " I have said they have made the appropriation of this
sisters that will lead off upon the path of honor or duty. territory an instrument to abolish the Constitution.
All we ask is, that in the day and hour of her danger There is no doubt that they have alolished the Constiwe may be assigned a'place in the picture near the tution. The carcass may remain, but the spirit has
flashing of the guns."'                           left it. It is now a fetid mass, generating disease ana
death. IT STINKS Ir OUR NOSTRILS!
Notwithstanding her willingness tofollow, however, it was but a few  days after the delivery of   "A Constitution means, ex vi termini, a guaranty
this Address that South Carolina actually led off  of the rights, liberty, and security of a free people, and
by the passage of the act convoking a " Southern  can never survive in the shape of dead formalities. It
Congress," which we have  already published.     is a thing of life, and just and fair proportions; not
The Preamble of that act recites only that the  the caput mortuum which the so called Constitution
late Nashville Convention had recommended the of the United States has now become. Is there a
measure to which it refers. To show how des- Southern man who bears a soul within his ribs, who
will consent to be governed by this vulgar tyrantitute of any title to authority or respect that Con- w
vention was! it is suffcient to state that although "ny," &c.
vention was, it is sufficient to state that although    "I shall enumerate no more of the wrongs that we
Representatives from  seven States were counted  have suffered, or the dangers with which we are threatas present, and as voting upon the resolves, one  ened. If these, so enormous and so atrocious, are not
State only (South Carolina) was actually (fully) sufficient to arouse the Southern mind, our case is desrepresented.  The pretended representation from  perate.  But, supposing that we shall be roused, and
Virginia was concentrated in the person of a sin- that we shall act like freemen, and, knowing our rights
gle individual, appointed by a minority of one  and our wrongs, shall be prepared to sustain the one
county, (out of the hundred and odd which the  and redress the other, what is the remedy? I answer,
State contains.) after that county had, by a large  secession-UNITED SECESSION of the SLAVEHOLDING
majority, refused to be represented at all; and the  STATES, or a large number of them. Nothing else
representation of every other State, except South  will be wise-nothing else will be practicable.  The
Carolina, was partial, unauthorized, or irregular. Rubicon is passed. THE UNION IS ALREADY DISSO.VThe proceedings of that Convention have been  ED. What was the Union? A Government wisely
regarded, as they deserved to be, as wholly insig-and practically balanced," &c.
nificant.  The Convention itself ended in a row.   " Instead of wishing the perpetuity of any GovernThe only thing which had any point in the whole  ment over such vast boundaries, the rational lover of
affair was a speech. which one of the Delegates  liberty should wish FOR ITS SPEEDY DISSOLUTION, as
prepared at home, carried out with him to Ten- dangerous to all just and free rule. Is not all this exnlessee, and read to the few Delegates assembled. emplified in our own case? In nine months, in one
That speech we have, out of respect to the former session of Congress, by a great coup d'etat, our ConThat speech we have, out of respect to the former stitution has been completely and forever subverted.
public services and high personal character of its stitution has been completely and forever subverted.
public services and high personal character of its Instead of a well balanced Government, all power is
author, hitherto refrained from  speaking of, be- vested in one section of the country which is in bitter
cause no language could be employed which could  hostility with the other. And this is the glorious Union
exaggerate the unfavorable impression, notwith- which we are to support, for whose eternal duration we
standing its ability, it is calculated to make upon  are to pray, and before which the once proud SOUTH
the mind of every man who is not (as one of the  RoN is to bow down. HE OUGHT TO PERISH RATHER!"




14
After reading these passages, marking their im- speech from which the above extracts are taken,
port, and considering that the doctrines of this the Hon. LANGDON CHEVES himself.
speech are effectively endorsed by the act of   If any one, after this cumulation of evidence,
South Carolina, does any reader yet hesitate in yet doubts that DISUNION is the real object of the
the belief that DISUNION, and nothing short of proposed " Southern Congress," he would not beit, is the object of the late action of South Car- lieve, though one should rise from the dead and
olina?                                         declare to him the truth.
Let one more fact be added. After the passage   Enough for to-day. In our next number on
of the act authorizing the election of Representa- this subject we propose to commence the retrotives in the proposed Southern Congress, when spection which seems to be necessary to a just
the Legislature came to elect the four Delegates comprehension of the origin and growth of the
assigned to its choice, the first citizen chosen for Agitation, chiefly in the South, which during the
that distinguished trust was the author of the last year rose to so great a height.
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, OF JAN. 18, 1851.
THE PAST.
THE SOURCE OF THE'EVIL OF THE DAY.'
NoTE.-Having, in the first of two preceding num- cerning those objects were laws, constitutionally
bers, pointed out the favorable contrast between the binding on the members of the Union, yet in pracpresent circumstances of the country and those of this tice they were mere recommendations, which the
time twelve months ago; and having, in the second, States obeyed or disregarded at their option. The
exhibited, with a particularity due its importance as a concurrence of as many distinct wills as there
exhibited, with a particularity due its importance as a were States in the Confederation was requisite to
fact, and its still greater consequence as an issue, the the complete execution. of every important public
position taken by one of the Southern States upon the measure that proceeded from  the Union.  The
ground of grievances alleged to have been sustained in result of all this was-as might well be imagined,
consequence of the Union's being to the South no had we not direct testimony to the fact-that the
longer what it was, but a source of unnumbered wrongs measures of the Union were not executed: "the
and injuries, it is fit that a cursory review should be delinquencies of the States had, step by step, maed injuries, iP  is fi t that   a cursory review should be tured themselves to an extreme which had at length
taken of the Past, in order to ascertain how far these arrested all the wheels of the National Governallegations against the Union are true, and to what ex- ment, and brought them to an awful stand."  The
tent the UNIoN is justly chargeable with the offences greater deficiencies of some States furnished the
which the accusing State lays at its door.  To this pretext of example and the temptation of interest
task we devote the present number.             to other States. "Why should we do more (said
they) in proportion than those who are embarked
with us in the same political voyage? Why should
If we look back to the foundation of this Gov- we consent to bear more than our proper share in
ernment, we shall find that it was called into being the common burdens?"  " These were suggesby the very general conviction, on the part of the tions," says the high authority from which we
leading patriots in every State of the Confedera- quote,'"which human selfishness could not withtion of the United States, soon after the close of stand. Each State, yielding to the persuasive voice
the War of Independence, that the Government, of immediate interest or convenience, successively
as it was then composed, was too weak to sustain withdrew its support, till (says our author) the frail
itself, and, if not strengthened by the process of a and tottering edifice seemed ready to fall upon our
re-organization, must fall to pieces, and leave the heads and to crush us beneath its ruins!"
States and the People to be the prey of wild anar-   Under circumstances such as these it was that
chy, with a probable certainty of civil war.   the patriots, who had carried the country through
The cause of this imbecility in the Government the great crisis of revolution and war, saw the
was the absence of any authority in Congress to indispensable necessity of infusing into the exenforce its acts but through the agency of the State isting Government greater energy and vigor, or
Governments, and that agency a voluntary one of substituting for it one which should have the
merely. The United States, as then constituted, capacity of executing as well as resolving what
had an indefinite discretion to make requisitions was for the good of the country. In view of this
upon the States for men and money, but had no state of things, Gen. WASHINGTON, availing himauthority to raise either the one or the other by self of the occasion of resigning his commission
regulations extending to the individual citizens of in the army, addressed to the Governors of the
the country. The consequence of which was, that several States in the Confederacy a circular, callthough, in theory, the resolutions of Congress con- ing their attention, in the most impressive terms,




15
to the condition of things which we have concisely  Carolina, as we have heretofore intimated, we do
described, and pressing upon them, with the great- so because of her being, though among the foreest earnestness, the necessity of infusing greater most in the construction of the Government of the
efficiency into the Government-upon their con- Union, the first to enlist in a scheme for a disrupduct in regard to which recommendation, he as- tion of it.
sured them, depended whether the country would   In that Convention the State of SOUTH CARObe respectable and prosperous, or contemptible and LINA was represented by four of her most distinmiserable as a nation: for, he said, according to guished sons. JOHN RUTLEDGE, CHARLES COTESthe system of policy which the States should then WORTH PINCKNEY,CHARLES PINCKNEY, and PIERCE
adopt, they would stand or fall; and by their BUTLER. Oneofthese gentlemen, Mr. RUTLEDG9,
course in that conjuncture, it was yet to be deci- seconded the nomination by ROBERT MORRIS of
ded whether the Revolution must ultimately be General WASHINGTON for President of the Conconsidered a blessing or a curse, not to the present vention, expressing his confidence that the vote
age alone, but to unborn millions whose destiny  in his favor would be unanimous: and a ballotwas involved in this question. This letter, much tin his favor would be diction was justified a ballotting being had, the prediction was justified by the
less generally known and studied than the Fare- result of the election. On the first day of entering
well Address of WASHINGTON. is' worthy, for its seriously upon business, of two plans offered for
fervid patriotism ahd its profound political wisdom, the consideration of the Convention, one was from
of being engraved, by the side of that Address, on VIRGINIA, by Goveinor RANDOLPH, proposing to
the base of the Monument now rising on the bank " correct and enlarge the Articles of Confederation,
of the Potomac to his ilemory. In this Letter the so as to accomplish the objects proposed by their
General specified three things, which, he humbly institution;" and another, from SOUTH CAROLINA,
conceived, were essential to the vell-being, and, byMr. CHARLES PINCKNEY, the very title ofwhich,
he even ventured to say, to the existence of the " Plan of a Federal Constitution," was significant
United States as an independent Power, viz:   of its contents, embracing, with the exception of: 1. An indissoluble union of the States under the composition of the Senate, (which, by his plan,
one Federal head.                             was to be chosen by the Popular Representative
" 2. A sacred regard to public justice.     body,) substantially most of those features, and es-': 3. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly pecially most of the powers to be delegated to
"disposition among the People of the United  Congress which are comprised within the Consti" States which will induce them to. forget their tution of the United States as it now stands, and
"local prejudices and politics, to make those mu- has stood for more than sixty years. Throughout
" tual concessions which are requisite to the gen- the proceedings of the Convention, the views of
"eral prosperity, and, in some instances, to sacrifice the Delegates from South Carolina (except, pertheir individual advantages to the interest of the haps, Mr. P. BUTLER) were generally as high-toned
community."                                 in regard to the power and authority to be vested
In this enunciation of objects essential to an in the General Government as those of the Deleeffective Governmentof the United States,though  gation of any other State whatever.  For inpreceding by four or five years the birth of the stance: In an early stage of the proceedings, a
Constitution, the reader cannot fail to perceive the proposition being before the Convention to give
great lineaments of the existing Government of Congress " power to regulate such laws of the
the Union; those features, the destruction of which  "States as might be contrary to the articles of the
is now demanded by the Disunionists as the alter- "Union or to Treaties with Foreign Powers,"
native to their project of a Southern Confederation. MIr. C. PINCKNEY moved to amend the same, so
For, take'away the indissolubility of the Union, as that: the National Legislature should have
the "Federal head," the supremacy of the Laws, "authority to negative all laws of the States
the compromise of individual interests for the gen-" which they should judge to be improper;" urging
eral good-a surrender of all of which features are in support of this motion that " such a universality
now demanded by all South Carolina and parts of'  of the power was indispensably necessary to
one or two other States of the South-and what "render it effectual; that the States must be kept
would remain of either the Government or the "in due subordination to the Nation; that. if the
Union?                                        "States were left to themselves in any case, it
But, to pursue our historical review: After three "would be impossible to defend the National preor four years of most anxious solicitude and con-'" rogatives, however extensive they might be upon
tinual interchange of opinion on the part of the;paper; that acts of Congress (under the Confeddistinguished patriots of that day, a Convention of' eration) had been defeated by this means; that
Delegates from twelve of the thirteen States was: this universal negative was in fact the cornerat length got together; having met in the city of "stone of an efficient National Government."
Philadelphia on the 14th of May, 1787, and con- Though this motion was seconded by Mr. MADItinuing in session until the 15th day of September. SON, and sustained by his powerful influence, he
In this Convention were present all the States of too " regarding an indefinite power to negative
the South including the State of South Carolina, legislative acts of the States as absolutely necesthan which State no one had a greater instrumen- sary to a perfect system," it was fortunately negatality in framing the Constitution, as the invalu- tived, or, as must now be obvious, it would have
able record preserved by Mr. MADISON distinctly been the.seed of early destruction of the Governshows.  In individualizing the State of South  ment: for, as we have seen, in the case of South




16
Carolina, twenty years ago, a State is more likely support of the Government must be derived printo undertake to negative an act of Congress, or even cipally from direct taxation. Under this compact,
the most solemn and sacred provisions of the Con- the South gains now about twenty members in
stitution, (as is now proposed by the same State,) the House of Representatives, and in the election
than the General Government is to undertake of a Chief Magistrate exercises the same proporto negative the acts of any State, other than such tionate power. But the equivalent of taxation
as are in themselves void from being in direct con- has only been realized by the non-slaveholding
flict with its authority. It does not need to par- States, in the way of direct taxes, for a very few
ticularize further the movements or votes of the years. that is to say shortly after the organization
Carolina Delegates. It is enough to say that they of the Government, and during the time of the
not only co-operated in but zealously sustained the war of 1812; in all not more than five or six
main features of the Constitution. There was one years out of the sixty-two that have elapsed since
incident, late in the proceedings, however, which the Constitution went into operation. We do not
reflects so much light upon the share that South mention this as a matter of complaint on the part
Carolina had in this great work, whilst it does of the free States, as direct taxation has been
honor to the candor and liberality of one of those found more unpopular in the free than in the slave
of her citizens whom at that day she delighted to States. And we only now advert to the subject to
honor, that we cannot refrain from  copying it remind our friends in the South that there were
entire.                                       compromises on both sides.
Mr. CHARLES PINCKNEY having moved a pro-   The reclamation of fugitives from labor was devision that "no act of Congress for regulating manded as an indispensable constitutional procommerce with foreign powers or among the sev- vision by the South, not as an equivalent for any
eral States shall pass without the assent of two- concession it had made, but as an act of justice.
thirds of the Members of both Houses," General And we wish that we could say that the North,
CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY said:            in this respect, had been as faithful to the Consti" It was the true interest of the Southern States to tution as we believe they have been in every other.
have no regulation of Commerce. But, considering the We shall see,'in the sequel, whether there are not
loss brought on the commerce of the Eastern States circumstances which may, at least to some exby the Revolution, their liberal conduct towards the tent, palliate the excesses of the North on this
views of South Carolina, and the interest the weak subject.
Southern States had in being united with the strong   After a long and arduous conflict of the friends
Eastern States, he thought it better that no fetters and adversaries of the Constitution before the Peoshould be imposed on the power of making commer- ple, in which all the great intellects and almost
cial regulations; and that his constituents, though pre- allthe passions of the country were aroused into
judiced against the Eastern States, would be reconciled   the   ons of the country were aroused into
to this liberality. He had hmself, he said, prejudices action, the assent of eleven of the States by the
against the Eastern States before he came there, but means of Conventions in each, having been obwould acknowledge that he had found them as liberal tained, the Constitution took effect: elections for
and candid as any men whatever."              Members of Congress were forthwith held, and
the First Congress of the United States assemNothing can be more conclusive as to the satis- bled in the city of New York on the 4th of March,
faction of the South, and especially of South Ca- 1789.in the city of Ne   ork on the 4th of March,
rolinians, at the conduct of the Northern States, or
at the terms of the union into which these States   To this Congress SOUTH CAROLINA lost no time
were entering with them, than this really touching in sending as her contribution of Representatives
incident.                                     her  most honored citizens —gentlemen  distinNo candid mind, indeed, can rise from a perusal guished  by  birth, wealth, and approved public
of the authentic and deeply instructive narrative of service; to the Senate, PIERCE BUTLER  and
the Proceedings of this great Convention, without RALPH IZARD, and to the House of Representaentire conviction of its members having almost tives EDANUS BURKE, DANIEL HUGER, WILLIAM
literally followed the advice of WASHINGTON in  SMITH, THOMAS SUMPTER, and THOMAS TUDOR
the Letter of 1783 to which we have adverted; TUCKER. She thus gave every indication of the
and, in doing so, forgotten for a season their local appreciation by her citizens of the Constitution
politics and prejudices, and made those mutual which she had lent her aid to build up.
concessions requisite to the success of the general   Nor did she for forty years thereafter exhibit in
object.                                      this respect any change or shadow of turning.
The CONSTITUTION was, in a word, formed on    Our own near acquaintance with Congress
the principles of compromise. This may be a trite dates from the opening of the first session of the
saying, but it is not the less a true one.    Tenth Congress, (in October, 1807.) The repreAnd, arrived at this point, let us inquire, have sentation of South Carolina in the Senate then
the South duly considered the whole compromise consisted of THOMAS SUMPTER and JOHN GAILon the subject of Slavery? To the South was ac- LARD; the former a man venerable in years and
corded the representation in the Government of distinguished for his revolutionary services, and
three-fifths of their slaves; and as an equivalent the other a genuine representative of his race,
for this it was agreed that direct taxes should be conscientious, courteous, and conservative, who
apportioned among the respective States in the served as a Senator for two and twenty successive
same manner as representation. At that period it years, and until he was called by his Maker to a
was generally supposed that the revenue for the better world. To the House of Representatives




17
were elected in that Congress WILLIAM BUTLER, higher in flights of lofty aspiration and daring
(Father of the present distinguished Senator from  independence, of which, the inevitable war havthe same State,) THOMAS MOORE, RICHARD WINN, ing broke out, he gave even stronger evidence
ROBERT MARION, DAVID R. WILLIAMS. LEMUEL than his denunciation of the restrictive policy.
J. ALSTON, JOSEPH CALHOUN, and JOHN TAYLOR.   Of the war of 1812, which succeeded the reAs we write down their names memory recalls to strictive system, in thelegislative support of which
mind the features and the figures of every one of these gentlemen bore, with other leading memthem, from the soldier-like and erect form of the bers of the Republican party, so conspicuous a
first named among them to the stout but active part, we shall not stop here to recount the history,
proportions, the kindly heart, and the sturdy in- already familiar to our readers.
dependence, of the last. Having at that time   Mr. CHEvES, who had with distinguished abilievery opportunity of scanning the actions of those ty filled the Chair of Speaker of the House of Rewho served in Congress, we pronounce, without presentatives after Mr. CLAY'S departure on the
hesitation, that up to that day no sentiment of dis- Mission to Ghent, retired from  Congress immecontent with the Union, or with their condition diately after the termination of the war. Mr. CALunder it, entered into the mind of any one of the HOUN remaining in service through the succeedRepresentatives of South  Carolina in either ing Congress, and Mr. LOWNDES for several years
House. No body of men could be more true than  afterwards.
they were to the Union and to the party of which    The Congress following the war was one of
President JEFFERSON was at the head and front: buoyant hope, of cheerfulness, and of tolerance in
so much so that when the President, a few weeks regard to political differences, so great that there
after the commencement of that Session, recom- may be said to have then began that fusion of
mended the laying of an Embargo without limi- party which afterwards characterized the Admintation, every Representative from South Caroli- istration of Mr. MONROE.  Great questions of
na, with almost every other Southerner, (certain  national policy were discussed in a liberal spirit,
Georgians and two or three Virginians excepted,) as well by those old members who had rode out
voted in favor of a measure which effectively cut the storm of war, and brought the ship of State
up commerce by the roots on the plea of keeping into safe harbor, as by those gifted and distinguished
it out of harm's way. In doing so, they placed im- gentlemen who came into the House of Repreplicit confidence in the wisdom of Mr. JEFFERSON. sentatives upon the flood-tide of opposition to the
And with the same steadiness South Carolina sus- war, having been elected whilst the war was still
tained the Jefferson and Madison Administrations raging and heavy clouds lowering over its prosduring the whole of that and the next Congress. pects. In this Congress Mr. CALHOUN particuThe elections for the Twelfth Congress brought larly distinguished himself by the patriotic and
into the House of Representatives from South liberal spirit in which he advocated the retention,
Carolina three individuals of a new race of men, for the protection of manufactures, of the duties
who, if stature could be measured by intellectual upon imports, laid for revenue during the war;.
ability, might have sprung from a race of giants. by his agency in the establishment of the Bank of
We need hardly name, in their alphabetical or  the United States; by his efforts in favor of the
der, the names of JoHN/ C. CALHOUN, LANGDON
vder, the names of JOHN C. CALHOU, LANGDON  principle of Internal Improvement by the General
CHEVES, and WILLIAM  LOWNDES, all in the prime Government; and by a corresponding liberality
upon other questions in which he took an active
of life, and yet untried in the General Govern- upon other questions in which he took an active
ment. To what a deserved eminence, during their part. It was at the close of a celebrated speech of
service in Congress, they rose in the estimation ofsubjects that Mr. GRSvFNOR
their peers and their countrymen, we need not un- of New York, himself one of the ablest offhand
dertake to instruct our readers. These gentlemen, debaters that ever appeared in Congress, opposed
though friends to the Administraton, and ran in his party associations to Mr. CALHOUN-with
ing, with Mr. Speaker CLAY and his compatriots, whom he had not long before had a serious persoamongst its most efficient supporters in speech nal difference, not without difficulty adjusted
and action, came into public life with a thorough  through the interposition of friends-rose, and,
dislike and aversion to the Embargo policy which with a generosity which did him honor, complihad received the support of their predecessors, and mented Mr. CALHOUN on his independent course,
decidedly preferring to it the alternative of war. and closed his remarks with these memorable
The triumphant speech of Mr. CHEVES upon the words; " Let the honorable gentleman continue
question of releasing the merchants from the pen- " with the same manly independence, aloof from
alties of their bonds given under this restrictive "party views and local prejudices, to pursue the
system, in which he bore down with unsparing' great interests of his country, andfulfil the high
severity upon that system, drew forth universal ad- "destiny for which it is manifest he was born.
miration by its boldness and its brilliancy. Equal-  " The buzz of popular applause may not cheer
ly admired, in a different but quite as effective " him on the way, but he will inevitably arrive at
style, were the speeches of Mr. LOWNDES, in sup- " a high and happy elevation in the view of his
port of an enlarged policy in regard to the "country and the world."*
Navy and liberal expenditures for other institutionsa essential to  the National defense at that   * This incident, as reported in the public prints at
timos essential to the m National dfence, ato theat the time, is altogether of sufficient interest to be here
time become the most important object of the care transcribed entire, as follows
of Congress. Mr. CALHOUN soared perhaps still  "Mr. GnosvEwOu said:'He had heard with pec2




With this prophecy yet ringing in his ears, Mr. years, came into Congress from the State of South
CALHOUN had but just returned home from Con- Carolina two other gentlemen, ROBERT Y. HAYNE,
gress, when he was called by President MONROE  in the Senate, of whom, now no more, we shall
into his Cabinet to assume the duties of Secretary  say nothing but what expresses his praise as an
of War; a position which placed him in commu- honorable gentleman, and our sincere regret that
nication with all the leading men of the day, and  he had not lived till now, if only to have averted.
most nearly, of course, with the gallant spirits of as we are persuaded he would have done, by his
the army of about his own age, who had seen ser- wise and sobered counsels, the rash and ill-advised
vice, and gained honor in it. The devotion of so course which his State is now taking; and of
large a circle of friends as Mr. CALHOUN had JAMES'HAMILTON, jr., of whom we will say nomade in Congress, with those others who came to thing because he is still living, and, as he has
him in troops after he entered into the Adminis- proved by a portrait from his own hand, (recently
tration, could not have failed to awaken in his published in our columns,) his gnaturel has underbosom  ambition of a higher eminence, though  gone no change during the twenty-eight years
Mr. GROSVENOR had not predicted his elevation  which have elapsed since he first took his seat as
to it. And that eminence we have never doubted the Representative of the metropolitan district of
that Mr. CALHOUN would in due time have at- his State. The advent of these gentlemen into
tained. had not the march of events been antici- Congress indicated the growth of a feeling in the
pated by his eagerness for it, and by such accidents State of South Carolina directly opposite to that
as would have defeated the wisest and best-laid under which her Representatives in Congress had
plans. which placed it finally beyond his reach. acted but a few years earlier-that is to say, a
Upon the public duties of Mr. CALHOUN, this am- feeling of hostility to the manufacturing interests
bition, in itself not unreasonable or unbecoming, of the country as quasi adverse to the planting inhad not, whilst he remained in the station which  terest of the South; a hostility to the Tariff; in
he then occupied, so far as we know, any other a word, and to all those who were supposed to be
than a salutary influence.  Nor would it have benefited by it. This feeling, not wholly unnatubeen within our province even thus cursorily to ral at first, became, through the efforts made to
allude to it in the present discussion, had not the aggravate it, so intense as to monopolize nearly all
subsequent disappointment of it constituted a the consideration which the State of South Caromaterial link in the chain of circumstances which  lina had to bestow upon the affairs of the General
have brought the State of South Carolina into  Government.
her present unfortunate predicament.              At the period at which Mr. HAYNE and Mr.
For the first four years after Mr. CALHOUN'S HAMILTON came into public life (in the year 1823)
withdrawal from Congress, his place was supplied  the country was, if we may use the expression, in
by Mr. ELDRED SIMPKINS, his ardent personal a transition state; about to exchange the last of
and political friend, to whom succeeded, in 1821, the Presidents of the Revolutionary Era for some
Mr. McDuFFTE, the disciple of Mr. CALHOUN, one of the succeeding generation.  Up to the
deeply imbued with his national sentiments, of time of which we speak, though occasional comwhich, even before coming to Congress, he had  plaints of inequality or oppressiveness of the dugiven evidence by able writings, in opposition to ties on imports had been heard from Southern
the doctrines of what was then called the Radical men in the Halls of Congress, hostility to the
school of politics. He entered earnestly and at Tariff had hardly then become, as it was afteronce into the business of the House, defending  wards attempted to make it, an article of political
the Administration, and especially the War De- faith upon which an opposition was to be made in
partment, against the Radicals, as they were  Congress to the Administration, and eventually,
called, with great zeal and power.             in the State of South Carolina, to the execution
Following Mr. MCDUFFIE, at an interval of two  of laws passed by Congress in the clearest exercise
of constitutional authority.
liar satisfaction the able, manly, and constitutional   In the course of the canvass for the succession
speech of the gentleman from South Carolina.' [Here to Mr. MONROE, the friends of Mr. CALHOUN preMr. G., recurring in his own mind to a personal differ- sented his name as one of the competitors in the
eftce with Mr. Calhoun, which arose out of the warm  race: public journals were established to support
party discussions during the war, paused for a moment, his claims, and they were advocated by his Conand then proceeded.]' Mr. Speaker, I will not be re- gressional friends and others with characteristic
strained. No barrier shall exist which I will not leap gre onalfrend s and others against those of the other
over for the purpose of offering to that gentleman my  eminent men whose names were before the Public.
thanks for the judicious, independent, and national t         en
course which he has pursued in this House for the last The State of Pennsylvania, however, on whose
two years, and particularly upon the subject now before support Mr. CALHOUN had in a great degree reus. Let the honorable gentleman continue with the lied, evincing a preference for General JACKSON.
same manly independence, aloof from party views and the friends of the former, with his consent, withlocal prejudices, to pursue the great interests of his drew his name from the competition for the Presicountry, and fulfil the high destiny for which it was dency. He became the candidate for the Vicemanifest he was born. The buzz of popular applause Presidency, and was elected; and at the expiramay not cheer him on the way, but he will inevitably tion of his first term  of four years he was rearrive at a high and happy elevation in the view of his elected to the same office.
country and the world.'"                         It was not, if we remember rightly, until after




19
the great debate in the Senate upon Mr. FOOT'S confers in very terms the precise power to the exresolution concerning the Public Lands, in which  ercise of which the orator objected, saying " ConMr. WEBSTER SO triumphantly sustained the Con- gress SHALL HAVE power to regulate commerce
stitution against the assaults upon it, that the idea with foreign Powers and among  the several
of a forcible resistance of the Tariff Laws was States."  Intimating the probability of resistance
broached in any public assembly. The occasion  of the law by force, the peroration of Mr. McDuFon which it was introduced was the celebration  FIE'S speech was an appeal of the most solemn
in this city, on the 13th day of April, 1830, of the  character to the advocates of discriminating duanniversary of the birthday of THOMAS JEFFER- ties "to retrace their steps as speedily as possible
SON, at which, besides a large assembly'of the'and relieve a patriotic and high-minded people'
political friends of the Administration, President "from an unconstitutional and oppressive burden
JACKSOrN, then in the zenith of his power, was pres- "which they cannot longer bear."
ent; when Mr. Sen'ator HAYNE, replying to a toast,   These facts of history are thus minutely referin which no allusion had been made to the politics red to, for the purpose of showing that up to the
of South Carolina, undertook to define "the position  year 1830, when South Carolina was piling up
"of South Carolina in relation to certain powers accusations against the Government of the United
"assumed and measures adopted by the Federal States, and threatening nullification of its Laws
"Government, and the grounds of her opposition  for grievances too oppressive to be borne, not a
"to those measures," &c. It being an idea quite word was heard of resistance, forcible or othernew to the greater part of the company that South  wise, by South Carolina, to wrongs sustained in
Carolina had taken a position in opposition to the her relations of a Slaveholding State, nor because
powers referred to, (chiefly, of course, the power of any interference with her rights by the Misto raise a revenue by taxes upon imports,) the souri Compromise-wrongs now pretended or exspeech of Mr. HAYNE was listened to with great aggerated into sufficient consequence to justify a
attention. In resisting the Tariffpolicy, the ope- dissolution of the Union. Not a word was said
ration of which, he said, had been grievous upon  of these. Some twelve months more had elapsed
the South, to relieve themselves from its pressure without any attempt to carry into effect the threat
was not the only object of the South Carolinians. of nullification, when the incident occurred of an
1 "We are striving." said he " for the establishment open rupture between the President and the Vice
of those great fundamental principles on which  President of the United States, Gen. JACKSON and
our Government is based, and which are essential Mr. CALHOUN, resulting in a bitter quarrel, which
to the permanence of our free institutions.  Gen- became public in February, 1831.  With the
tlemen might be assured," he said, "that no free merits of that controversy we do not meddle. Its
Government could long endure under the influ- consequence, undoubtedly, was an entire alienaence of such a system."  " The South," said he, tion of Mr. CALHOUN, his friends, and his State,
is striving to resist this system  with all the  from  Gen. JACKSON. This event, undoubtedly,
means in her power: if she succeeds [in resisting gave a new and decisive impulse to the act of
the Tariff system] she will save the Constitution," Nullification by the State of South Carolina,
&c.-concluding by saying, " We shall go steadi- which had been plainly foreshadowed in the publy forward (doubting nothing and fearing nothing) lished discussions of the preceding year.
in the full assurance that the Constitution will be   With the course and event of that attempt to
restored," &c.  This formal annunciation of a upset the Government of the United States under
determination on the part of South Carolina to  color of exercising a constitutional right, our elder
restore a Constitution which was still supposed to readers are too familiar to require any informabe sound and heart-whole, was generally consid- tion upon it. There are, however, no inconsideered as an intimation of the design of the State to rable number of readers whose personal knowl"nullify" the Tariff laws, and was so interpreted  edge of political issues does not embrace events
by the journals of the day, and by General JACK- as old as twenty years.
SON himself, who, taken as much by surprise as any   For the information of our younger readers, thereone at the disclosure, on a festive occasion. of de- fore, we copy from the official record so much of
signs so little expected, being soon after called  the act by which the State of SOUTH CAROLINA
upon for a sentiment, gave the following well-re- attempted to nullify a Law of Congress not palamembered toast, italicized in the copy furnished  table to her, as will show upon what ground that
by him as it is here:                           attempt was made:
" Our Federal Union: It must be preserved."    AN ORDINANCE to Mullify certain Acts of the ConThe discontent of the South at this period was   gress of the United States, purporting to be Laws,
depicted in still higher colors in a speech delivered   laying Duties and Imposts on the Importation of
in the same month in the House of Representa-   Foreign Commodities.
tives by Mr. McDuFFIE, in which he declared that
the " Southern States are to all intents and pur- various acts, purporting to be acts laying duties and
poses re-colonized, as much so as if the British  imposts on foreign imports, but in reality intended for
Parliament had the supreme legislative power of the protection of domestic manufactures, and the giving
regulating their commerce."  One would have of bounties to classes and individuals engaged in parthought it an all-sufficient answer to such an ar- ticular employments, at the expense and to the injury
gument as this —which. however, appears to have and oppression of other classes and individuals, and by
been urged in seriousness-that the Constitution  wholly exempting from taxation certain foreign comrn



20
modities, such as are not produced or manufactured in  abolishing or closing the ports of this State, or any of
the United States, to afford a pretext for imposing  them, or otherwise obstructing the free ingress and
higher and excessive duties on articles similar to those egress of vessels to and from the said ports, or any other
intended to be protected, hath exceeded its just powers act on the part of the Federal Government to coerce
under the Constitution, which confers on it no autho- the State, shut up her ports, destroy or harass her comrity to afford such protection, and hath violated the merce, or to enforce the acts hereby declared to be null
true meaning and intent of the Constitution, which  and void, otherwise than through the civil tribunals of
provides for equality in imposing the burdens of taxa- the country, as inconsistent with the longer continution upon the several States and portions of the Con- ance of South Carolina in the Union: and that the
federacy; and whereas the said Congress, exceeding  people of this State will thenceforth hold themselves
its just power to impose taxes and collect revenue for absolved from all further obligation to maintain or
the purpose of effecting and accomplishing the specific preserve their political connexion with the people of the
objects and purposes which the Constitution of the  other States, and will forthwith proceed to organize a
United States authorizes it to effect and accomplish, separate Government, and do all other acts and things
hath raised and collected unnecessary revenue, for ob- which sovereign  and independent States may of
jects unauthorized by the Constitution:            right do.
We, therefore, the People of the State of South Car-   Done in Convention at Columbia, the 24th day of
olina, in Convention assembled, do declare and ordain,  November, in the year of our Lord eighteen hunand it is hereby declared and ordained, That the sev-  dred and thirty-two, and in the fifty seventh year
eral acts and parts of acts of the Congress of the iUnited  of the Declaration of the Independence of the UniStates, purporting to be laws for the imposing of duties  ted States of America.
and imposts on the importation offoreign commodities,                JAMES HAMILTON, JR.,
and now having actual operation and effect within the                  President of the Convention.
United States, and more especially an act entitled "An    The grounds on which this proceeding are
act in alteration of the several acts imposing duties on  placed in the Preamble of the Ordinance, are, as
imports," approved on the 19th day of May, 1828, and  the reader will perceive, that certain acts had
also an act entitled " An act to alter and amend the been passed by Congress to lay duties on foreign
several acts imposing duties on imports," approved on  imports, which, though not denied to be for purthe 14th day of July, 1832, are unauthorized by the           v            n  de
Constitution of the United States, and violate the true  poses of revenue, also made discriminations in
meaning and intent thereof, and are null, void, and no  those duties favorable to home manufactures and
law; nor binding upon this State, its officers, or citi- products, and were therefore unconstitutional, &c.
zens; and all promises, contracts, and obligations, made    Now, in the first place, the power of laying and
or entered into, or to be made or entered into, with pur- collecting taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, is
pose to secure the duties imposed by said acts, and all entirely and exclusively vested in Congress, and
judicial proceedings which shall le hereafter had in  is therefore wholly beyond the control of any
affirmance thereof, are, and shall be, held utterly null State Government.
and void.                                            And, in the next place, so far from the laying
And it is further ordained, That it shall not be law- of taxes or imposts with a view to the protection
ful for any of the constituted authorities, whether of of manufactures being against the intention of the
this State or of the United States, to enforce the pay- Constitution, that object, as incidental to taxation,
ment of duties imposed by the said acts within the was distinctly recognised, at the First Congress
limits of this State, &c.                         under the Constitution, (of which a number of the
And it is further ordained, That in no case of law  framers of the Constitution were leading memor equity decided in the courts of this State, wherein  hers,) in the first legislative act passed by that
shall be drawn in question the authority of this ordin- body, entitled " An act for laying a duty on goods,
ance, or the validity of such act or acts of the Legisla- wares, and merchandise imported into the United
ture as may be passed for the purpose of giving effect States."  For thus ran the Preamble of that act:
thereto, or the validity of the aforesaid acts of Congress
imposing duties, shall any appeal be taken or allowed    "  Whereas it is necessary for the support of Governto the Supreme Court of the United States, nor shall ment, for the discharge of the debts of the United
any copy of the record be permitted or allowed for that States, and the encouragement andprotection ofmanupurpose; and if any such appeal shall be attempted to factures, that duties be laid on goods, wares, and
be taken, the courts of this State shall proceed to exe- merchandise imported: Be it enacted," &c.
cute and enforce their judgments according to the laws    It is a fact, established by the official record,
and usages of the State, without reference to such at- that though some doubt was expressed by one or
tempted appeal; and the person or persons attempting  more members of the expediency of duties for proto take such appeal may be dealt with as for a con- tection, yet no motion was made in Congress to
tempt of the court, &c.                            strike out or to amend this preamble; nor, on the
And we, the People of South Carolina, to the end  passae o  the bill with this preamble, does the
that it may be fully understood by the Government of passe  of the  ill with this preamble, does there
the United States, and the people of the co-States, that appear to have been a dissenting vote.  The yeas
we are determined to maintain this our ordinance and  and nays even were not taken upon it.
declaration at ever hazard: Do further declare,  hat    The Nullification Ordinance took what effect it
we will not submit to the application of force, on the  could ithout  bringing   on a conflict with the
part of the Federal Government, to reduce this State  Military or Naval forces of the United States,
to obedience; but that we will consider the passage by  placed  in reserve to protect the Revenue Officers
Congress of any act authorizing the employment of a  of the United States in the discharge of their dumilitary or naval force against the State of South Car- ties. Most happily, through the prudence and
olina, her constituted authorities or citizens, or any act discretion of the Commander of the United States




forces then on that station,(Major General ScoTr'r.)    Done at Columbia, the 15th day of March, in the
no collision actually occurred between the authori-  year of our Lord 1833, and in the fifty-seventh
ties of the General and State Governments during    year of the sovereignty and independence of the
the existence of the Ordinance on the statute-book  United States of America.
of the State, (it having had no effective existence,             ROBERT Y. HAYNE,
as regarded its avowed object, any where else.)                     President of the Convention.
Congress having been in session pending this    IAAc W. HAYNE, Clerk.
state of things, and having passed a general law    Three days after passing this Ordinance, the
in which some of the duties were modified, and  same Convention passed another, by the title of
having at the same time passed an act " further to  " An Ordinance to nullify an act of the Congress
provide for the collection of duties" calculated to  of the United States entitled' An act to provide
meet and defeat the process of "Nullification,"  for the collection of duties on Imports,' commonly
the Convention of the State of South Carolina, called the Force Bill.'"
being again called together, revoked the act of   Upon this pair of Ordinances the remark is alNullification by the following Ordinance:       most too obvious to be made, that the first of them
does not even pretend that Congress had relinAN ORDINANCE.                   guished the claim of power to lay duties for the
WHEREAS the Congress of the United States, by an  protection of home industry as well as for revenue,
act recently passed, has provided for such a reduction  which was the main allegation against the action
and modification of the duties upon foreign imports as of Congress by the Ordinance of Nullification;
will ultimately reduce them to the revenue standard, and that the second of them, being passed after
and provides that no more revenue shall be raised than  the original Ordinance had been revoked, and had
may be necessary to defray the economical expenses of left nothing for the "1Force Bill" to act upon,
the Government:                                 amounted to just nothing at all.
It is therefore ordained and declared, That the ordi-arounted to jis t not hins at allh
nance adopted by this Convention on the 24th day of   Our younger friends will, from this brief history
nance adopted by this Convention on the 24thday    of Nullification, learn that the late call of a SouthNovember last, entitled " An ordinance to nullify cer-        Congress is not the t tie tat South -
tain acts of the Congress of the United States, pur- ern Congress is attempnot the first time that South Caroporting to be laws laying duties on the importation of lna has attempted  to secede from the Union; and
foreign commodities," and all acts passed by the Gene- that it is not upon any ground then taken by that
ral Assembly of this State in pursuance thereof, be  State that she now calls upon other Southern
henceforth deemed and held to have no force or effect: States to range themselves under the banner of
Provided, That the act entitled "An act further to  Disunion, which she has thrown to the breeze.
alter and amend the militia laws of this State," passed    Having passed Point Nullification, we must
by the General Assembly of this State on the 20th day  call a halt for the present. In another day's
of December, 1832, shall remain in force until it shall journey we shall complete our review of "The
be repealed or modified by the Legislature.     Past."
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, JAN. 25, 1851.
THE PAST'-No. 2.
THE SOURCE OF THE'EVIL OF THE DAY.'
The expedient of Nullification was, as we have  ed to be trodden under foot with impunity?  To
seen in the preceding number on this subject, re- be abrogated by the mere show of resistance to
sorted to by the State of South Carolina. ostensi- their execution?  To be made a butt of by the
bly as a peaceful mode of procuring an abandon- State Authorities, in total disregard to the suprement by Congress of the existing Tariff. It was  macy of the Government of the Union, the vital
so represented by Mr. CALHOUN on different pub- principle of the Constitution; of the allegiance
lic occasions, and especially in an elaborate Letter rightfully due to the United States by tile People
on the subject addressed by him, whilst Vice Pre- of South Carolina, as of all the other States; of
sident, to the Pendleton Messenger, under date of the faith plighted by oaths of so many of them
July 26, 1831, in which he denied Nullification to  who were and had been in public life; and of the
be " anarchical and revolutionary," as it was rep- influences of honor which all men of character
resented by its opponents to be, professing at the habitually respect?  It would be difficult to pesame time his own " deep and sincere attachment suade us that the Convention which resolved upon
to our political institutions and the Union of these this dangerous experiment did delude themselves.
States."  In his place in the Senate of the United  They were too predetermined, had too long been
States, to which body he was returned in January, bent upon a trial of strength with the General Gov1833, after resigning the office of Vice President, ernment, to haveoverlooked the hazardswhich they
he reiterated that construction. But could any  incurred. If any portion of the South Carolina
man of sound mind have deluded himself into a  Convention was so deceived, certainly the framers
belief that the laws of the Union would be allow- of the Ordinance were not. No one can look at




the terms of the Ordinance of Nullification with sensitiveness, which is not generally understood
any idea that it intended only a legal and civil in the North, and which is there, because misapresistance to the authority of the United States. prehended, so generally condemned. Looking at
It is clear, on the contrary; that the framers of that the frame-work of society in the South, we make
act looked to consequences altogether ulterior to every reasonable allowance for the excitement of
the purposes avowed by Mr. CALHOUN, when they its people on a subject so absorbing.
ordained that any attempt on the part of the Fed-   But we feel bound to say, as our columns will
eral Government to "enforce" the acts thereby show we have often said, of the condemnation al" declared null and void" would be considered as luded to in the North, and its consequent exciteinconsistent with the' continuation of the people ments, that there are certain limits to such moveof South Carolina in the Union; and when, with- ments, imposed by the Constitution, which it was
out waiting for the event, the State proceeded, by their duty to respect. To the people on both sides
Legislative acts, to authorize enlistments of men of Mason & Dixon's line, indeed, we would say,
for military service, to collect munitions of war, in all good feeling, are not your sufferings exagto provide a commissariat, to organize at once gerated, and do you not greatly magnify the acts
a body of two thousand volunteers "for the de- of injustice by your brethren?
fence of Charleston," to call out Militia and Vol-   Under the act of Congress of 1793 for the reclaunteers, and to make, in a word, preparations very mation of fugitives from labor. which mainly denearly as formidable on paper as the General Gov- pended for its execution upon State officers, there
ernment has ever made preliminary to war with was little complaint. The public mind generally
a foreign Power.                              acquiesced in the justice of the law, and fugitives
Most happily, however. the explosion was pre- were returned on claim being made, accompanied
vented, and the project of Disunion, to be effected with proof of right. From the commencement of
through the process of Nullification, by whomso- the Government, as we have heretofore had occaever entertained, was frustrated for the time. sion to show, it was not uncommon for petitions
Frustrated, we say, but, as is shown by recent and to be addressed to Congress on the subject of
intermediate events, never lost sight of.     slavery. After the removal of the Government to
Through the whole of the excitement which  its present seat, these petitions were confined, for
preceded and attended the Nullification era, let us the most part, to slavery in this District. At first
here repeat, not a breath was breathed of wrongs these petitions generally proceeded from the Sociexperienced by South Carolina, in her relation of ety of" Friends," than whom no citizens certainly
a slave-holding State, from the Federal Govern- can be found of purer morals, or who maintain a
ment, as a component part of the grievances upon higher conservative character.  These petitions
which she undertook to legislate herself out of the were respectfully received and referred, and no
Union, and. if checkmated in the game of nullifi- further action was had upon them. This was not
cation, finally to absolve herself from all connex- much complained of by the petitioners. and they
ion with it. In no one of the public documents were contented with simply renewing  their
issued by the Nullifiers, either before or during the petitions.
experiment of nullification; neither in the several   At length "Anti-Slavery" Societies were organtreatises on nullification issued in the form  of ized in certain of the States, and the subject was
Letters by Mr. CALHOUN; nor in the Ordinances frequently brought before the People in the form
of the State; nor in the Proclamations of her of lectures. All desire to interfere with the politics
Governor, do we find any trace of this grievance, of the country was disclaimed, and no other force
which is now made the pretext for another at- than that of moral suasion was spoken of. This
tempt on the part of the same State to break up continued for some years, the societies, and also
the Union.                                    the general interest felt in the subject by the peoNot that the South had not had occasion to ple of the free States, gradually increasing.
complain of a disregard of her rights, not by the This movement excited but little attention, and
General Government, but by individuals and so-                  It was considered harmless.
cieties who officiously and impertinently interfered Politicians eventually fixed their eyes upon it, and
with them. But the discontent of the South at saw. or thought they saw in it, a means of gratifythese intrusions into her ",peculiar institutions," ing their political aspirations. At this point the
we again repeat, and desire it to be remembered. evil may be said to have commenced. Not that
constituted no part of the ground upon which the we suppose the discussion of the abstract question
first attempt was made by South Carolina to get of slavery is an evil to be deprecated: but the
out of the Union; and that her alleged grievances practical results of such discussions become danin that particular are of more modern date.   gerous when they array in hostile action one secThat the South should feel a deep solicitude on tion of our country against another. We have no
the subject of the institution referred to, from the doubt, and had at the time no doubt, that the innature and extent of the interest involved, is most cessant attacks made on anti-slavery associations
natural. The slaves of the South are estimated  and feelings, by a political journal then published
at a value of nearly a thousand millions of dollars. in this city, did more than all other causes united
And when, to the consideration of this large to increase the anti-slavery feeling in the free
amount of property, we add that of the relations States. That paper was notoriously devoted to the
which the slaves bear to the white race in that views of a particular party in the South, and it
section of country, we realize the cause of that was generally supposed that its course was not




unadvised by it.  The object of this apparently  we think it is-the people of the South will see
concerted movement was hardly sought to be dis- that the evil which has been so portentous, and is
guised.  A single quotation from the press of that yet sufficiently so, had its dangerous origin in the
day sufficiently discloses this object:           South as well as in the North.  To this source of
FROM THE WEEKLY " TELEGRAPH OF OCTOBER 23, 1833. agitation may be added, without entering into;
"And why is it that the South do not act together   their history, the facts of the annexation of Texas
Can any Southern statesman give any reason why the and the Mexican war, both of which measures oiSouth do not act together? If the bare apprehension  ginated in the South, and  were prosecutedagainst
that Garrison and Tappan will alarm the South and the will and the remonstrances of the North.
force them to act together has put the whole political   Our friends of the South complain that their
hive [in New York] into a ferment, what could be the rights have been outraged by the obstacles raised
effect of a united action in the South, if all our presses to the extension of slavery in Territories in which
and all our people spoke one language? If it is seen  slavery did not already exist. We ask them  to
that we are one in sentiment and action, as we are in  consider, deliberately, how much slave territory
interest, who would dare invade our rights?"     has been actually acquired since the adoption of
"If the movement of Garrison & Co. in New York  the Constitution? By the purchase of LOUISIANA
has been such as to call forth a town meeting, is itnot and FLORIDA, and the annexation of TEXAS, a
time that the people of the South, who are the owners greater extent of Slave Territory has been added
of this property, should consult together as to the steps to the Union than the whole territory that was
necessary to protect their firesides   If, in a few short embraced by the thirteen Colonies at the comweeks, these agitators have grown so much as to call mencement of our Revolution.  CALIFORNIA was
forth such a meeting, how long will it be before those admitted as a free State slavery in that territory
who approve of the object, but disapprove of the time havig bee  as a free State, if it ever existed territory
of Garrison's movement, will be found acting with  havingbeen longabolihedift ever existed there
him? The answer is with every one: they will act with and the people in their Constitution having prohim when they find the majority acting with him; and  hibited it.  LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS, MISSOURI
judging from the progress of his party, that time will FLORIDA, and TEXAS, having been formed out of
not long be deferred, unless the South, by a common and  slave territory, were admi tted  into  the  Union as
unitedresistance, shall alarm those who control public Slave States. Whether there shall be slavery or
sentiment, and convince them that, upon this subject not, depends upon the decision of the people of a
at least, there is a common interest and will be a com- territory in their sovereign capacity, when called
mon resistance."                                  to form a Constitution.  This is a doctrine which
The purpose of such publications as this, con- has had its highest sanction in the South, if its
tinually repeated, obviously was to unite the  clearest affirmation in legislative form  was not
whole South on this absorbing question, and, by the great South Carolinian himself, in the
through its instrumentality, to control the politi- Senate, only three years before his death.*
cal action of the country. So vigorously was this
object prosecuted, that in a short time the Senate, Confederacy, then her purpose is, we believe conscienand afterwards the House of Representatives, tiously, to disconnect herself from the Union, and set
were induced to refuse the reception of petitions up for an independent Power. Will delay bring to our
in relation to slavery.  This made a false issue  assistance the slaveholding States? If the slavery agibefore the country on "the right of petition," tation, its tendencies and objects, were of recent origin,
which produced great excitement in  the free  and not fully disclosed to the people of the South, delay
States, and added much to the strength of aboli- might unite us in concerted action. We have no inditionisr.  This result. we think, was not wholly  cation that Congress will soon pass obnoxious meaunanticipated by the contributors to the excite-  sures, restricting or crippling directly the institution of
ment: and we are not sure that it was not desired,. EVERY INDICATION MAKES US FEAR THAT
as a means of further consolidating the action of A PAUSE IN FANATICISM IS ABOUT TO FOLLOW, to althe South.*  If this be a true representation —and  low the Government time to consolidate her late acqui.
teoh*fhsetrrpen a_  sitions and usurpations of power. Then the storm will
* Confirmatory of the probability of such being at be again let loose to gather its fury, and burst upon our
that time the desire of the party referred to, we have heads.  We have no HOPES THAT THE AGITATIOW
evidence of remarkable coincidence in the same party  in Congress, this or next year, will bring about the
desiring, at the present day, such a state of things. union of the South."
We instance the following passage from an elaborate      The following Resolution, moved in the Senate by
article in a leading paper of the State of South Caro- Mr. CALHOUN, in Feb. 1847, includes the very clear and
lina, the object of which undisguisedly was to whip into  distinct affirmation of the doctrine to which we refer:
the traces such members of the State Legislature as   " Resolved, That, as a fundamental principle in our
were still reluctant and half unwilling to embark their political creed, a people, in forming a constitution, have
reputation and their destiny in the impracticable pro- the unconditional right to form and adopt the governject of a Southern Confederacy, or of separate secession   ent which they may think best calculated to secure
of the State of South Carolina in the event of her not liberty, prosperity, and happiness; and that, in con*being able to seduce any other State to become her as- formity thereto, no other condition is imposed by the
sociate in so perilous an undertaking:            Federal Constitution on a State, in order to her admission into this Union, except that its constitution be reFrom the Abbeville (S. C.) Banner of Dec. 21, 1850. publican; and that the imposition of any other by
" The object of South Carolina is undoubtedly to  Congress would not only be in violation of the constdissolve this Union, and form a Confederacy of slave- tution, but in direct conflict with the principle on
holding States. Should it be impossible to form this which our political system rests."




24
The North, on the other hand, is greatly ex- persons of his political party. Though he may
cited at the provision of the bill respecting fugi- not have had, and we dare say had not, persontives from labor, passed at the last session of Con- ally any hand in the beginning of it in 1833, it was
gress. When that bill is well understood, the oppo- yet visibly connected, in the minds of those ensition to it will be less than it now is. Under the gaged in it, with a belief that, by uniting the whole
Constitution, the People of the South are entitled South, with some aid from  the North and West, a
to a law whtich shall carry out fairly and fully rally might yet be made, with fair prospect of sucthe provision for the reclamation of such fugi- cess, for the elevation of their idolized statesman
tives. If the free States are- unwilling to stand  to the Presidency on the expiration of the second
by the Constitution in this respect, how can the term of President JACKSON. After that prospect
South be expected to obey it?  We believe there faded away before the ascendency of the star of Mr.
is good sense and patriotism enough in the Free VAN BUREN, the disappointment and the irritation
States to perform their duty under the law, un- of the adherents of Mr. CALHOUN, if kept within
popular as it may be. At some future session, bounds, were butill-concealed. Though dismayed,
should any modification of the law  be deemed  stili not disheartened, the same party took courage,
necessary which shall remove objections to it and again, in 1837, as though in defiance of fate,
without impairing its. efficiency, it may then be ran up its standard in favor of Mr. CALHOUN'S elecmade.                                          tion to the Presidency upon the expiration of Mr.
Many of the objections urged against the act VAN BUREN'S term. In the press of this city so
are, we know, without foundation. The first and long devoted to him, which had by that time been
strongest objection is, that it suspends or denies transf rred to Baltimore, with the accession of an
the writ of habeas corpus. The shortest and most Editor wholly and enthusiastically devoted to the
effectual answer to this objection is, that Congress great Senator, there appeared (as we had occasion
has not power to suspend this writ, " unless when, last year to show) a number of successive articles,' in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety  proving very clearly that all hope was not yet lost,'may require it."  As neither of these contingen- in the view of the zealous conductors of that jourcies existed when the law was passed-it is im- nal, of the advancement of their candidate of
material what may have been the motive of Con- twenty years' standing for the Presidency. The
gress in passing it-they had not the power to ground then taken was, that the selection of a
suspend the writ. Another objection to the law  Southern candidate for the Presidency, in opposiis, that the Commissioner of the United States re- tion to Mr. Van Buren's re-election, would "receives a fee of a larger amount for remanding the'store harmony and good feeling between the
fugitive to the custody of the claimant, than he'North and the South: it would strengthen the
receives if he be discharged. And the difference'bonds of theUnion: it would give QUIET and sebetween the amount of these fees (five dollars, all'curity to the Slaveholding interest."
told) is said to be given as a bribe to the Commis-   It was about this time, though apparently besioner to decide in favor of the master. Now, fore the triumph of the party of Mr. VAN BUREN,
should the Commissioner find the claim of the that was composed, by one of the persons most
master supported by satisfactory evidence, it be- closely allied with the politicians of Mr. CALcomes his duty to make out a statement of the HOUN)S school, a work, in the shape of a novel,
facts proved describing the fugitive, and his judg-which  then attracted no great attention, though
nment upon the whole case, which shall authorize it has now become an important point in political
the master or his agent to take the fugitive to the history.
place whence he escaped. For this service the   Of the character of The Partisan Leader, (the
five dollars in addition is given; and, we suppose, title of the book referred to,) by means of which,
if the law had so specified, there could have been without the aid of the clearer light which subseno objection to the compensation. Another ob- quent events have cast upon its pages, we were
jection urged is, that the evidence made a matter happily enabled twelve months ago to detect and
of record by the master is to be held conclusive proclaim the true motive and object of that stuagainst the fugitive. But Congress could not have penduous imposture, "the Nashville Convention,"
intended, if they had the power, by this provision our readers doubtless have some recollection. Preto change the condition of a free man into that of mising that the design of that work could have
a slave. The absurdity of such a supposition re- been no other than to prepare the public mind for
futes the argument. Upon the whole, we think the very catastrophe which the State of South
the objections to the act are greatly magnified, Carolina is attempting to bring about, we now reand that no citizen can be made liable under it' cur to the "Partisan Leader" for the purpose of
except he be convicted of rescuing or secreting the showing-on the authority of one of the earliest
fugitive.                                      projectors of the scheme of a Southern ConfedeTo resume, however, our review of " the past," racy-that up to a period two or three years later
from which we have for an instant been led away  than the defeat of the Nullirs the insecurity of
by a matter of present moment: From  1833, let slave property, and alleged aggressions upon it by.
us pass on to the year 1835, the year of our Lord  the General Governrent-though the plot against
in which Mr. CALHOUN, in his last speech in the the Union was then ripening-were not regarded
Senate, considered the "agitation" to have begun, as formin even a part of the grounds on which it
but which actually began, as we have shown, two was to be justified.
years earlier, and was sedulously cultivated by    Early in the work referred to, the writer intro



25
duces the readers to a knot of politicians'" in the Uncle and Nephew to be found in it. in which the
neighborhood of Richmond," in Virginia, who  former is endeavoring to beguile his unsophistihad remarked the "steady tendency of Federal cated relative into the belief that a dissolution of
m" measures to weaken the malcontent States in  the Union would be a mere child's play:
"the South and to increase the resources of their     What are the evils of disunion?
"Northern oppressors and those of the General   "Weakness, dissension, and the danger to liberty' Government.  Hence they feared that, when- from the standing armies of distinct and rival Powers."
"ever Virginia or any other of the slaveholding    "Hence you have never permitted yourself to look
" States should find itself driven to secession, the  narrowly into the question!"
"other party, in the consciousness of superior   "I never have. I have no doubt of our wrongs; but
"strength, might be tempted forcibly to resist the I have never suffered myself to weigh them against
"exercise of the right. They thus arrived at the  disunion.  That I have been taught to regard as the
" conclusion that SEPARATION. (which they deemed. maximum of evil."
" to be inevitable,) to be peaceable, must be prompt."   "But disunion has now come. The question now is,
This, taken in connexion with the events of the whether you shall continue to bear these wrongs or seek
last year, is, if not conclusive, strong circum- the remedy offered by an invitation to join the Southstantial evidence that the design of a dissolution ern Confederacy? The evils of which you speak
of the Union was deliberately entertained, as long would certainly not be increased by such a step. We
ago as fifteen years. by a certain class of Southern might weaken the North, but not ourselves. As to
men. A few pages further in the story, we are standing armies, here we have one among us. The motold that 1" the power and will of a fixed najority  tive which that danger presented is now reversed in its
in the North to give a master to the South had operation. While we remain as we are, the standing
been made maifet  [the proba-army is fastened upon us. By the proposed change,
bility.of Mr. VAN BUREN' accession to.  s,.     the.Pres- we shake it off. Then, as to dissension, if there is no
bility of Mr. VAN BUREN'S accession to the Presi- cause of war now, there would be none then. Indeed
dency had been ascertained.] "Under these cir- the only cause would be removed, and it would be seen
" cumstances, the Southern States had been at that both parties had every inducement to peace. Even
" length forced to see that the day for decisive in the present unnatural condition, you see that, the
"action had arrived: they determined therefore separation having once taken place, there remains no" no longer to abide the obligations of a Constitu- thing to quarrel about."
"tion the forms of which alone remained; and    No one who has been familiar with the topics
"having, by a movement nearly simultaneous, and tone of the discussions in the South for the
" seceded fro  the Union, they had immediately  last two years but will at once recognise in this
"formed a SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY."  A little fiction-a fiction not at all more strange than the
further on, after informing us that the hero of it reality-the projected shadow of what has already
had "travelled into South Carolina," and that the come to pass. From  that day to this these deeffect of this journey on his opinions was not a feated and disaffected " partisans" have spared no
matter of doubt to his friends —the story runs, that pains to make their story come true, by diffusing
the opponents of the Administration, (in disgrace doubts and discontents into the quiet homes as
with it,) "had consulted much together. Not only  well as the political circles of the South, with a
" had they sketched provisiontally the plan of a  view to bring about a revolution, which, had their
" Southern Confederacy"-the identical plan, per- ambition succeeded, would, in its consequences,
haps, (who knows?) that was said to be here in have desolated  those homes, broken up those
Washington, at this time last year, wanting only abodes of peace and happiness, and devastated the
a signature and seal to fit it for immediate use-  country with the flames of a fierce, unsparing, and
but they had also taken measures:'to regulate their unrelenting civil war.
"relations with foreign Powers.  One of their   From  the epoch of 1837, when most of the
number, travelling abroad, had been instructed  friends of Mr. CALHOUN began to relinquish the
" to prepare the way for a commercial treaty with chershed hope of seeing him ever placed at the
Great Britain," &c. "So matters stood (in Vir- head of the Federal Government, that distin"ginia) when the astounding intelligence reached guished gentleman remained in the Senate, for
"Richmond that a diplomatic agent from  the four or five years. discharging the duties of that
"State of South Carolina had been long secretly  station with assiduity and ability, and then re"entertained at the Court of St. James, and that signed his seat. After living in the retirement of
"he was supposed to have negotiated an informal domestic life for three years, he was, upon the
"arrangement for a commercial treaty between  death of Mr. UPSHURe called to t  h wead of the'F that  Government  and  the Confederacy THEN  Department of State, in which station he was
c" FORMINGintheSouth." Thisnewsisrepresented  effectively instrumental in  the  annexation of
" to have "filled the whole Northern faction in  Texas to the United States, with the avowed poli" Virginia"-the Van Buren democracy, to wit- cy of adding so much Slave Territory to the
"with consternation. It was feared  thatthat. State  Union. In the fall of 1845 he returned to the
could not be withheld from joining the South- Senate; and when in 1846 the war with Mexico
Ci ern league except by force. and that, in a con- broke out, acting in a truly conservative spirit, he
" test of force, she would be backed, not only by most zealously deprecated it, and withheld his vote
"the Southern States, but by the power of Great from the recognition of it. Time passed on until
"Britain."  We conclude our present notice of
Britain. We conclude our present notice of after the Presidential election of 1848, when,
this book with the following Dialogue between the though It was a Southern President that was to




26
be installed, he became the author of the Address 1796. Minister to France, Charles C. Pinckney.
sent forth to the People in February, 1849, by a 1797. Minister to Portugal, William Smith.
portion of the Southern Members of Congress. 1797. Joint Envoy to France, Charles C. Pinckney.
which, having heretofore had occasion to analyze' 1801. Minister to Spain, Charles Pinckney.
we shall now pass by.                           1802. Treasurer of the U. States, Thos. Tudor Tucker.
Referring to one of the heads of this Address, 1804. Judge of the Supreme Court, William Johnson.
however, we do not know that we shall ever have 1809. Secretary of the Navy, Paul Hamilton.
a fairer opportunity to bring to the notice of our 1809. Minister to Brazil, Thomas R. Sumpter.
Southern readers the fact-which all the Agitators 1817. Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun.
withhol  fromh,   p r  1820. Minister to Russia, Henry Middleton.
seem carefully to withhold from them, probably  1825. Minister to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett.
because that fact nullifies the theory of Northern  1827. Minister to Panama, Joel R. Poinsett.
ascendency in the Federal Government, which  1827. Charged'Affairesto Colombia, Beauft. T. Watts.
constitutes the staple of all their appeals to the  1832. Charge d'Affaires to Belgium, Hugh S. Legare.
sectional feeling of the South-that of the ten  1837. Secretary of War, Joel R. Poinsett.
Presidents elected by the People since the forma- 1841. Attorney General, Hugh S. Legare.
tion of the Government, seven have been South- 1842. Minister to Mexico, Waddy Thompson.
ern men and Southern born. one from the North- 1843. Secretary of State, Hugh S. Legare.
west, but Southern born and bred, and two only  1844. Secretary of State, John C. Calhoun.
from  the North-that North, whose gigantic   [The eight years' service of Mr. CALHOUNN as Vice
strides over the prostrate body of the crippled South  President is not included in the above list, being an
have been a favorite theme of Demagogues and  appointment by the People, and not by the Executive.]
Disorganizers of every degree in the South itself.*           FROM VERMONT.
Again: we shall find no more fitting time and  1823. Minister to Chili, Heman Allen.
place than this to expose another egregious error, 1830. Minister to Spain, Cornelius P. Van Ness.
which is to be found in not only the addresses of   These facts speak for themselves.
her field orators and declamations of her "young    The Speech of Mr. CALHOUN not many days
Apollos" in the Legislature, but in grave manifes- before his death, the dying effort of a great and
toes issued by really eminent men of the State of tenacious spirit, was in a strain which could
South Carolina, who pathetically deplore the un- hardly be accounted for by any cause but that
dervaluation of the merit of her Statesmen, and  pressure of fell disease, under the influence of
indignantly resent the manner in which the ava- which his life was rapidly drawing to a close.
ricious and sordid North has actually monopolized  There are, however, two or three passages in
all the offices and honors in the gift of the Gov- that speech which alone would stamp it as all his
ernment. The truth of all the allegations to this own: that, for example, in which, in speaking of
effect will be best tested by a simple statement of the memory of WASHINGTON, he describes him
facts, after a glance at which some of our readers as "one of us, a slaveholder and a planter;" that,
may become wiser, though. we trust, not sadder men. again, wherein he speaks of the connexion of the
The State of SOUTH CAROLINA is one of the States in the Union as a mere matter of interest
original thirteen States, now increased, by succes- or inclination with the States respectively: and
sive additions, to the number of thirty-one. For that other, in which he proposes to substitute, by
the purpose of comparison between her and some amendment of the Constitution, for the.admirably
one of the Northern States in regard to the rela- constituted Executive department of this Govtive distribution of offices, we select the State of ernment, a sort of Tribunitian check upon the
VERMONT, whose white population (the class out Legislative Department-a double-headed Cerbeof which all appointments are made) at the last rus —one of its heads with a Southern, the other
census (that of 1840, which we use for want of a with a Northern aspect.*
return of the present census) was 291.218, whilst   The critical state of the health of Mr. CALHOUN
that of South Carolina was 259,084. From these gave to this Speech, throughout the South, an
States, (excluding all appointments to offices  influence so powerful, and almost irresistible, that,
within the respective States,) from the beginning  had the Session of Congress been a short one,
of the Government to the commencement of the  ending on the 4th of March instead of seven
present Presidential term, the following appoint- months afterwards, no one can say what might
ments have been made by the President of the not have been the consequence.
United States, with the advice and consent of the   By this protraction of the Session time was
Senate:                                         allowed for the fires of discord in Congress to exFROM  SOUTH CAROLINA.                 haust themselves. Reason resumed her empire;
APPOINTMENTS to Office of Citizens of South  House of Representatives-177 out of the 261 electoCarolina by the General Government up to ral votes at the popular election, having, however, been
March 4, 1849.                                given to Southern candidates.
1789. Judge of the Supreme Court, John Rutledge.  ~ The particulars of this amendment were not spe1792. Minister to Great Britain, Thomas Pinckney.   cified in the Speech, but the general understanding
1794. Minister to Spain, Thomas Pinckney.      that it proposed an Executive to be composed of two
inembers, to be chosen from the two great geographi* In this enumeration of Presidents " elected by the cal divisions, each to be a check upon the other, and
People" we do not of course include Mr. JoHN Q. AD- both of them to exercise the veto power, has since been
AMS, who was not elected by the People but by the corroborated by authentic evidence.




27
and majorities in both Houses united in a series the well-considered judgment of the late Senator
of measures for organizing Governments in the  CALHOUN, in the prime and vigor of his life. will
newly acquired territories, admitting a new State  not be without its just weight. It must, at least,
into the Union with a Constitution of her own  have weight against mere inferences from casual
choice, adjusting the dangerous boundary ques- expressions at later periods in his life.
tion between the State of Texas and the United   In a very long and elaborate Letter from Mr.
States, and, finally, passing the Fugitive Slave  CALHOUN, dated August 28, 1832, drawn forth by
Law, by which the only grievance of the South  a request from Gen. JAMES HAMILTON, arguing,
within the jurisdiction of the General Govern- with the greatest ingenuity, but entirely to his
ment, having been fairly examined, was fully  own satisfaction, the constitutionality of the prinremedied to the utmost extent of the power of ciple of Nullification, we have the following inCongress. But the Disunionists, like the froward  contestable proof of the opinion of this eminent
child, C"will be bad;" they will not be satisfied; statesman that the line of conduct which, perthey spurn the hand that proffers them kindness. haps as much in honor of his memory as for any
The Charleston Mercury, the amiable exponent other cause rational or irrational, the State of
of the sentiments of that predominant party in  South Carolina has chalked out for herself, and
South Carolina which will be content with no- invites other States to stand up to. receives, and
thing short of a dissolution of the Union, says, for ought to receive, the execrations of this and all
instance, in one of its late numbers, that "'the future generations! We quote the passage entire,
" Compromise was the very source of the resist- italicised as we find it in the original:
"ance spirit of South Carolina, and it isfor wrongs    " With institutions every way so fortunate,
"and remedies EMBODIED THERE that they demand  "possessed of means so well calculated to pre"redress."                                    "vent disorders, and so admirable to correct them
Upon persons so intent on mischief that they  "when they cannot be prevented, he who would
will not only not listen to reason themselves, but "prescribe for our political disease disunion on
will not so much as tolerate those who do, we  "one side, or coercion of a State, in the assertion
cannot expect that either precept or example will "of its rights, on the other, would deserve and
exercise much influence. But there are persons "will receive the execrations of this and all fuin other States than South Carolina, upon whom' ture generations."
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, OF. FEBRUARY 1, 1851.
THE FUTURE.
Taking in at one view the whole circuit of the  determination to regard the measures comprised
Union, there is nothing in present appearances in it as " a final settlement" of the vexed question,
calculated to excite in hopeful minds serious ap- and to enforce them  with all the power of the
prehensions of disturbance of the general tran- Government; if, in other words, any State, in
quillity and order in any quarter of the country, what, for brevity's sake, we will term the Northunless through the action of the State of South  ern interest, catching the infection of'Nullification
Carolina, who threatens to secede from the Union  from the opposite quarter of the country, shall
by herself alone, should she not be able to induce encourage opposition, under any pretence, to the
certain other States of the South to make com- full and prompt execution of any one of those
mon cause with her in breaking up the Union be- laws, to the extent of defeating its operation in
cause of her morbid discontent under it. There  such State, such nullification of the law, it is
are indeed a few fleeting clouds visible in the  greatly to be feared, may lead to consequences
North and Northwest; but we regard them rather which no man, who has not a heart of flint where
as the scud of a storm that has spent its force, one of flesh and blood ought to be, can think of
than as indications of any disaffection to the Union  without shuddering.
in that section. With the disgracious example    The case that has arisen in the South, which
of the one State of the South before it, and the  we have more specially to consider at present,
judgment passed thereon by all who profess at- howsoever it may justly pain the sensibilities of
tachment to the Union of the States, the spectacle  the friends of the Union, ought hardly to surprise
would indeed be a melancholy one of any State  more than it alarms them. It is one which has
in the North or the West following that example. occurred before, though less conspicuously and
by withholding effective support from the laws less formidably; one of a class of difficulties, to
of the United States, and especially from any one  be encountered in the working of the Federal
of those laws, by the recent passage of which, in  Government, which was clearly foreseen by the
a spirit of compromise, quiet and repose were re- framers of that Government, and guarded against
stored to the agitated and excited passions of dif- by all the precautions which it was in their power
ferent parts of the country. Of those laws and  to interpose. Considering how much this class of
that compromise, let us say, in passing, that if our contingencies occupied the thoughts and weighed
patriot President be not sustained in his avowed  upon the minds of the Washingtons, the Frank



28
lins, the Madisons, the Hamiltons, the Pinckneys, drop the project of a general discretionary superintendand the Kings, who framed the Constitution, it is ence, the scheme would indeed be pernicious, and would
rather matter of wonder that such a case as that entail upon us all the mischiefs which have been enunow before us has not occurred more frequently  merated under the first head; but it would have the
than that it should have occurred at all. - The  merit of being at least consistent and practicable.
pages of that great text-book of the principles of Abandoning all views towards a confederate GovernRepublican Government, " the Federalist," abound  ment, this would bring us to a simple alliance, offenwith proofs of the forecast, in this particular, of sive and defensive, and would place usin a situation to
its distin~guished authors, wjho had mainly assisted  be alternately friends and enemies of each other, as our
to build up our admirable Constitution.  With  mutual jealousies and rivalships, nourished by the inthe permission of the reader we will refer to one trigues of foreign nations, should prescribe to us. But
th   e permi ssion of the reader we w i refer toh one if we are unwilling to be placed in this perilous situaor two of the passages of that work, within our tion; if we still adhere to the design of a National
own recollection, bearing more or less directly  Government, or which is the same thing, of a superinupon the subject before us:                        tending power, under the direction of a dommon coun" The utility of a Confederacy, as well to suppress cil, we must resolve to incorporate into our plan those
faction and to guard the internal tranquillity of States, ingredients which may be considered as forming the
as to increase their external force and security, is in re- characteristic difference between a League and a Govality not a new idea. It has been practised upon in ernment; we must extend the authority of the Union
different countries and ages, and has received the sanc- to the persons of the citizens-the only proper objects
tion of the most approved writers on the subject of poli- of government."
tics."                                               "If opposition to the National Government should
" It is very probable,' says Montesquieu,' that man- arise from the disorderly conduct of refractory or sedi-'kind would have been obliged, at length, to live con- tious individuals, it could be overcome by the same'stantly under the government of a single person, had means which are daily employed against the same evil'they not contrived a kind of constitution that has all under the State Governments. The magistracy, being' the internal advantages of a republican, together with equally the ministers of the law of the land, from what-'the external force of a monarchical government. I ever source it might emanate, would doubtless be as'mean a confederate republic.                     ready to guard the national as the local regulations from
d"' A  republic of this kind, able to withstand an ex- the inroads of private licentiousness. As to those par-' ternal force, may support itself without any internal tial commotions and insurrections which sometimes dis-'corruption. The form of this society prevents all man- quiet society, from the intrigues of an inconsiderable' ner of inconveniences."
ner of inconveniences."                           faction, or from sudden or occasional ill humors, that
"If a single member should attempt to usurp the do not infect the great body of the community, the'supreme authority, he could not be supposed to have General Government could command more extensive'an equal authority and credit in all the confederate resources for the suppression of disturbances of that' States. Were he to have too great influence over one, kind, than would be in the power of any single mem-'this would alarm the rest. Were he to subdue a part, ber," &c.'that which would still remain free might oppose him  Among the advantages of a confederate republic,' with forces, independent of those which he had usurped, enumerated by Montesquieu an important one is that' and overpower him before he could be settled in his enumerated a popular insurrection important one is'th' usurpation.' should a popular  insurrection happen  in one of the
" Should a popular insurrection happen in one of' States, the others are able to quell it. Should abuses
ccreep into one part, they are reformed by those that' the confederate States, the others are able to quell it."                   reformed by those that
" The influence of factious leaders may kindle a'remain sound."'
flame within their particular States, but will be una-   Other passages scattered through the same work,
ble to spread a general conflagration through the other which the narrowness of our limits prevents our
States; a rage for paper money, for an abolition of copying, show how entirely those wise framers of
debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other the Constitution realized the difficulties which this
improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade Confederacy, though the most perfect Government
the whole body of the Union than a particular member that ever came from  the hands of man, was desof it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more tined to encounter. It was under the influence of
likely to taint a particular county or district than an this sagacity and forecast of theirs, most obviously,
entire State. In the extent and proper structure of the that those imperative provisions were incorporated
Union, therefore, we behold a REPUBLICAN REMEDY  in the Constitution which ordain that "no State
for the diseases most incident to a republican govern-' shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confedment."
"There is nothing absurd or impracticable in the' eration; grant letters of marque and reprisal;
"There is nothing absurd or impracticable in the, pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or
idea of a league or alliance between independent na-   pass any bin  of attainder, ex post facto law, or
tions, for certain defined purposes precisely stated in a  law  impairing the obligation of contracts; nor,
treaty; regulating all the details of time, place, circum-  without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of
stance, and quantity, leaving nothing to fiture discre-   tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of
tion, and depending for its execution on the good faith' peace, enter into any agreement or compact with
of the parties. Compacts of this kind exist among all' another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage
civilized nations, subject to the usual vicissitudes of   in war, unless actually invaded, or in such immipeace and war, of observance and non-observance, as' nent danger as will not admit of delay."  Wise
the interests or passions of the contracting powers dic- precautions these, certainly, but which, with all
tate.                                             their precision, would be of littl, efficacy were
"If the particular States in this country are disposed any State to be allowed, at pleasure, or in anger,
to stand in a similar relation to each other, and to to overleap thenm all at a bound, and estrange her



29
self from  that Government under which ninety- wholesome aliment of truth and reason the inconine out of every hundred of her people have been  herent ravings of diseased and distempered minds,
born, have suffered, have prospered, and are doing  in the various shapes of sermons, speeches, and
well.                                            epistles, such as those which we have lately given
This is precisely what the State of South Caro- samples of to our readers-what hope can be reasonlina is about to do, assigning as a motive for it ably entertained of a salutary change of sentiment
discontents altogether.vague-the gravest of them  within the few months which are to intervene begroundless —which, as a whole. if undeniable, tween the inception and the consummation of the
would only go to prove that in the opinion of those rising up of that State in arms against the Fedewho set them up to justify revolution, all Govern- ral Government?
ment is (per se, as the Disunionists say) but a    Under these circumstances, if no moral restraint,
pestilent restraint upon natural inclinations and  nor any apprehension of legal consequences, has
propensities.                                    been sufficient to deter the public authorities of
Action on the part of the State of South Carolina  South Carolina from hostile denunciations against
has. indeed, been postponed for some months, but the National authority, we can conceive of noavowedly only under the hope of bringing about a thing short of some signal interposition of Proviunion of the Southern States in her revolutionary  dence which can now save these Disunionists from
purposes. The remoteness of her proposed period  the consequences of their own misguided action.
of action might encourage the hope that an abate- Contrary to the spirit if not the letter of the Conment of the present excitement is expected even stitution, the State Government, without waiting
in that State, to such an extent as to enable its for even a show of authority from the people, has
rulers to retreat from their present position. There  already resorted to military preparations, said to
are in South Carolina many noble spirits, who  be for the defence of the State. but obviously for
would not contentedly rest in the false attitude in  purposes of hostile conflict with the Government
which they have been placed by the Quixotes of of the United States, should that Government not
the States. We look, indeed, but we confess with  submit to be controlled in the exercise of its confaint'hope, to the possibility of a patriotic effort stitutional authority by this unconstitutional exyet being made, throughout the State, by thecon- hibition of military force and menace.
siderate portion of its citizens, to rally the intelli-   One fatal error seems to have run through the
gence, to rouse the senses of the masses, and re- action of the Legislature of South Carolina at its
store the State to her former elevated standing  late session, as it has done through the arguments
and character.                                   upon which it is based, in regard to which we
Feeble, however, must be that hope, in the face of cannot expect to open the eyes of the persons by
the evidences of the entire subjection of the body  whom the destinies of that State are at present
of the People of this State to the wilful though  controlled, but which it may not be without use
long-cherished designs of a comparatively small to expose to our readers in other parts of the counnumber of citizens, whom their descent land their try. The error consists in the delusive notion that
alliances, their respectability in private life, and  crimes committed against the United States by
the power and influence which wealth confers, individuals of any State can be privileged or sancenable to look down opposition to their plans, and  tified by interposition of that State Government;
even to bend to their purposes both the pulpit and  that is to say, that a legislative act or ordinance
the press. Where the press (to say nothing more  of a State may be pleaded in bar of judgment for
now of the pulpit) is perverted-as, with rare ex- crimes declared to be such by the Constitution
ceptions, it now is in South Carolina-from  its and Statutes of the United States. Delusive as
proper office of diffusing light and intelligence to  it is, this doctrine is seriously maintained by the
that of raying out darkness, by concealing from  authorities of the State of South Carolina, and
the People every thing that, in reference to their
present welfare and their future destiny, it con- lina is effectually denied to them by the leading presses
cerns them  to know,* and substituting for the of that State at the present juncture:
From the Columbia Telegraph of December 4, 1850.
* At the instant of composing this article, as has in-   "TaE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.-This document reachdeed been the case from the moment that we' began to ed us in the Charleston papers yesterday, and is as
write upon the subject, we are embarrassed by the elaborately jejeune, as cautiously non-committal, and
quantity of material before us which we are unable, for as decently insignificant, as such documents are now
want of space, to produce to our readers in corrobora- expected to be. It is rather short, and this may be action of our statements and opinions. We can make counted its greatest merit, although, as the traveller
room for but one out of the very many illustrations said of the old lady's coffee,' there's enough of it, such
which we could give of the subjection of the press of as it is.' The President gives the usual information
South Carolina to the purposes of the Disunionists, to concerning thle affairs of the nation, internal and exthe extent of deliberately withholding from the People ternal, or rather he tells Congress where such informaall knowledge of such facts as would, if published, tion may be found, and recommends a return to specific
effectually counteract the poison which that press has duties sufficiently high for the purposes required — home
been continually administering to the public mind. valuation, the establishment of an agricultural bureau,
The following notice of the late Annual Message of the (more consolidation,) a mint in California, a reduction
President to Congress will enable the reader to form  of postage to three cents prepaid, and five cents unpaid,
some conception of the manner in which intelligence uniform rate-and other things oF LESS INTEREST, for
of the utmost consequence to the People of South Caro- which we have no room."




30
gravely affirmed as emanating from the "reserved" States, it may be well to consider the consequenrights of the States. Than this theory, and its ces which follow such violations of law. And,
cognate doctrines, the right of' State Nullification, in referring to the consequences of such illegal
Secession, and Resistance to the Laws of the resistance to the laws, we include such resistance
United States, in any form of State action in in the North as well as in the South. If obstrucwhich force is employed, nothing can be more tion to the Federal laws shall be interposed in any
fallacious.  It is indeed so utterly inconsistent part of the Union, the consequences must be met.
with the provisions of the Constitution, and with And we consider it our duty to warn our fellowthe idea of a Federal Government, that no sound citizens of what the law is in such cases, that they
and practical mind, free from an unaccountable may know, if they do not already know, under
infatuation, can maintain it.                what responsibilities they act; responsibilities
We are not about to argue this question. Men which no excitement or fanaticism can diminish
who advocate the doctrine are beyond conviction. or avoid. The law on this subject was laid down
They have a method in their madness which no by the judicial tribunals of the country more than
argument can reach. We would only remark, fifty years ago, and some ten years later was rethat, within the powers delegated to it, the Fed- affirmed by the highest Court and by the most
eral Government is supreme. It is paramount to learned Judges of our country. It is to be found
any State authority, or any combination of the in the printed reports of the cases in which it has
People.  They may amend the Constitution in been at different times delivered, and is of course
any of the modes provided by the Constitution easily referred to. To save the reader the trouitself. Beyond this, every movement to change ble of searching the books for it, however, we cite
the Government or obstruct its legitimate action. from them in brief, as follows:
is revolutionary in its character, and may become   Under the Insurrection in 1794, in Western
treasonable.                                 Pennsylvania, (commonly called the Whiskey
The Constitution is not a treaty or compact Insurrection,) Philip Vizol and John Mitchell
among the States, as the enemies of the Union were indicted for treason, consisting of levying
pretend, but a Government established by THE war against the United States, by resisting and
PEOPLE of the States; by the same People, in preventing, by force, the execution of the laws
their sovereign capacity, which formed the State which imposed a duty on distilled spirits; and,
Governments. And THE PEOPLE gave to the after a full and solemn trial before the Circuit
Federal Government, within its sphere, powers Court of the United States, held by Mr. Justice
paramount to those of the States, and the means PATTERSON and Judge PETERS, they were conof carrying out those powers.                victed and sentenced to death. [The sentence
" If any one proposition could command the was not carried into execution, President WASH"universal assent of mankind," says Chief Jus- rNGTON having thought the lesson of the judgtice MARSHALL on this subject, "we might expect ment sufficient, and saved the lives of the crimi"it would be this: that the Government of the nals under the pardoning power.]
"' Union, though limited in its powers, is supreme   In 1798 an act was passed by Congress for the
"within its sphere of action. This would seem  valuation of lands and dwelling-houses, and the
"to result necessarily from its nature. It is the enumeration of slaves throughout the United
"Government of all: its powers are delegated by States; and in the succeeding year an insurrec"all: it represents all, and acts foi all. Though tion took place in the counties of Bucks and
"4 any one State may be willing to control its ope- Northampton, in Pennsylvania, against the exe"rations, no State is willing to allow others to cution of the law. In the same year, John Fries'Ccontrol them. The Nation, on those subjects was indicted for treason against the United States
"upon which it can act, must necessarily bind its for resisting the execution of that law, and was
" component parts. But this question is not left convicted before the Circuit Court of the United
"to mere reason: THE PEOPLE have, in express States held by Mr. Justice IREDELL and Judge
terms, decidedit by saying'ThisConstitutionand PETERS. A new trial was granted on the ground
"'the Laws of the United States which shall be that one of the jurors before hewas sworn made
"'made in pursuance thereof. shall be the Su- some declaration unfavorable to the prisoner.
"'preme Law of the Land;' and by requiring Fries was afterwards tried on the same indict"that the Members of the State Legislatures, and ment before Mr. Justice CHASE and Judge PE"the officers of the Executive and Judicial De- TERS, and, being found guilty by the jury, the
"partments of the States, shall take the oath of Court passed the sentence of death upon him.
"fidelity to it. The Government of the United He was, after much hesitation, pardoned by Pre"States, then, though limited in its powers, is su-sident ADAMS.  [He was so near being hung, af"preme; and its laws, when made ix pursuance ter either his first or second conviction, that the
"of the Constitution, form the supreme law of gallows was actually erected on the skirts of the
nthe land,'any thing in the Constitution or Laws city of Philadelphia for his execution.]
"'of any State to the contrary notwithstanding."'  In these cases the Court held " that if a body of
If, under any false impression of State author- "people conspire and meditate an insurrection to
ity contravening this fundamental law, violence " resist or oppose the execution of any statute of
may be resorted to by any portion of the People "the United States by force, they are only guilty
of any State. such as shall be wholly incompati-' of a high misdemeanor; but if they proceed to
ble with the Constitution and laws of the United "carry such intention into execution by force,




31
"they are guilty of the treason of levying war, and    The Judiciary of the United States was, of
"the quantum  of the force employed  neither course, not deterred by the action of the State Le"lessens nor increases the crime-whether by one gislature from  the discharge of its duty.  The,
"hundred or one thousand persons is wholly im- Marshal was ordered to execute the law and the
" material."                                     decree of the Court. A regiment of Pennsylvania
In the case of the United States vs. Bollman  militia was called out, under the command, if we
and Swartwout, at a later period, the Supreme remember right, of General BRIGHT, and stationed
Court say, by Chief Justice MARSHALL:': It is not in front of the house in Philadelphia in which the
" the intention of the Court to say that no individ- process of the Federal Court was to be served.
"C ual can be guilty of this crime [treason] who Brave and determined, doubtless, were the citizen
"has not appeared in arms against his country. soldiery who assembled that day at the call of their
" On the contrary, if war be actually levied-that gallant commander. Many were they who offered
"is, if a body of men be actually assembled for to devote themselves to the cause, and die in the
"the purpose of effecting by force a treasonable ob- last ditch. Not more resolute and confident of
"ject-all those who perform any part, however victory were the embattled Nullifiers in a certain
"minute, or however remote from  the scene of Southern State on the dread first of February,
"action, and who are actually leagued in the gen- 1833. But, alas for the chivalry of the city of
"eral conspiracy. are to be considered as traitors." Brotherly Love! Whilst the military force, with
The only actual attempt by a State Govern- its colors flying and its drums beating, was still
ment in its corporate capacity to resist the lawful stationed in front of the house aforesaid, the Uniauthority of the United States, of which we have ted States Marshal, through a back door or winany recollection, is that which we alluded to dow, entered the house and served the prrocess t
lately as having occurred in Pennsylvania, and  This being done, the matter terminated in a farce,
which ended-as things are very apt to do which  and was the cause of much merriment.  The
are undertaken with more zeal than knowledge-  brows of the gallant soldiery were not, indeed,
in a total failure.  We recur to it now more par- " bound with victorious wreaths," but certainly
ticularly as affording an illustration of the princi- their "stern alarums were changed to merry meetple denied by South Carolina, that any tumultu- ings," (or greetings,) and their "dreadfulmarches"
ous assemblage of individuals, with intents hostile to very different if not " delightful measures."
to the constitutional authority of the United  There was probably some covert understanding
States, is equally amenable to the law, whether between the authorities that no blood should be
acting for themselves or under the authority of a shed on the occasion; Pennsylvania was too patriState.                                           otic to push her opposition to the extremity of
The case referred to is that of a conflict of de- war.  However that may be, this attempt at recision between the Courts of the United States sistance of the authority of the United States had
and the State of Pennsylvania, (in what was all the air of being laughed out of countenance.
known as the Olmstead case,) in which the Legis-   May the next attempt of the Government or the
lature of that State undertook to interfere, and  People of any State to overpower the authority of
(asserting the right of Pennsylvania in the matter the Government of the United States have no
in dispute) to authorize the Governor to call out more disastrous issue!
a military force to resist the decision of the Fed-   The Message of the Governor of SOUTH CAROeral Court, passing at the same time resolutions LINA to the Legislature of that State, at the openasserting the right of State interposition against ing of its late session, contained little else than
the judicial authority of the United States of very denunciations against the Federal Government
much the same tenor as those of the State of and a recommendation to prepare for war. So
South Carolina in the palmy days of nullification.*  bold and deliberate an exhibition of disloyalty to
the Union, we believe, never before occurred in
*Copies of these Resolutions were, in pursuance of our country: certainly not ie any quarter entitled
an injunction of the Legislature, forwarded by SIMON  to respect of any kind. It is not the first time
SNYDER, then Governor of the State, to JaMES MADI- that the same State has exhibited herself in an
soN, President of the United States. The reception of  e which wo
them was acknowledged by the President in a Letter attitud          uld be ludicrous if the consewhich bore date April 13, 1809, the following extract quences were not so seous.  What those consefrom which will -show what was his idea of the duty of quences might be, should South Carolina prevail
the Executive of the United States in the case of resist- with any other State or States to renounce its
ance, whether by a State or by individuals, to the execu- allegiance to the Union and enter with it into a
tion of the Laws of the United States:           Confederacy in hostility to the United States, it
SWASHINGTON, April 13, 1809.   is saddening, nay, frightful, even to conjecture.
The People in South Carolina  are, however,
" SIR: I have received your letter of the 6th instant, tauclht to see the matter in a different light. They
accompanied by certain acts of the Legislature of Penn- even glory in the prospect of success in their prosylvania, which will be laid before Congress according
to the desire expressed.                        the United States is not only unauthorized to prevent
"Considering our respective relations to the subject the execution of a decree sanctioned by the Supreme
of these communications, it would be unnecessary, if not Court of the United States, but is expressly enjoined,
improper, to enter into any examination of some of the by statute, to carry into effect any such decree where
questions connected with it. It is sufficient, in the ac- opposition may be made to it."
tual posture of the case, to remark, that the Executive of.          " JAMES MADISON,"




32
ject of seducing the People of other States to join  the Union, is in the great Valley of the Missis-.
them. Witness the promises, by their leaders to sippi.
their followers, of halcyon days which are to come    We are sufficiently confident in our information
upon the success of the Revolution of which they  of the interest as well as the disposition of that
are the pioneers:                                vast region to undertake to say that the bonds of
" By our physical power," said one of the foremost of an indissoluble mutual interest must forever keep
those leaders, in a late speech to his constituents, " we the people of THE VALLEY one nation. No intercan protect ourselves against foreign nations; whilst by est now perceptible, or ever likely to be developed,
our productions we can command their peace or sup- can induce any part of it to voluntarily seek a
port.  The keys oftheir wealth and commerce are in our separation from the rest, or make the whole wish
hands, which we will freely offer to them by a system of to cast off any of its parts.
free trade, making our prosperity their interest-our se- Seated in the centre of that valley are the two
curity their care.'I'he lingering or decaying cities of large slaveholding States TENNESSEE and KENthe South, which, before our Revolution, carried on all TUCKY. Separated by a mere geographical line,
their foreign commerce, buoyant with prosperity and they have an identity of interest, habits, manners,
wealth, but which now are only provincial towns, slug- and character, which, with the aid of natural pogish suburbs of Boston and New York, will rise up to
theirnatural destiny, and again enfold in their embraces sition, binds them together in a sisterly embrace
the richest commerce of the world."  "Wealth, honor, that can  never be torn asunder.  Whichever way
and power, and one of the most glorious destinies which the one goes the other must follow; or, if one of
ever crowned agreat and happypeople awaits the South, them cannot be moved from her position, the othor
if she but control her own fate; but, controlled by another must stand still also. No conceivable interest can
people, what pen shall paint the infamous and bloody induc e one to seek a separation from theother.
catastrophe which must mark her fall!"          They have a young and thrifty daughter across
the great river, which is bone of their bone and
This was said before the passage of the late flesh of the ir fleshgreat rive, and which, though not having
revolutionary act of the Legislature of his State, precisely the same identity of interest with them
and is by no means either as exulting in its con- thatreisely the have with eachntity other yet has with them
templation of victory, or as ferocious in its appre-more similarity of interest, habits, manners, and
more similarity of interest, habits, manners, and
hension of defeat as the speech of Mr. CHEvES
hension of defeat, as the speech of Mr. CHEVES, character, than with any other portion of the Union.
or as many addresses delivered about the same These three largest slave States of the Valley may
time. Here is a specimen, of later date, of the be- therefore be said to have a common and inseparable
atific visions which now beam upon the minds of interest. Their strength and position, in the very
centre of the Valley, give them  such an influence
At a meeting of " the Southern Rights' Association of over the remaining States in the Valley that no
Christ Church Parish," held on the 17th of January, the separation can take place without their consent;
President of the Association indulged in the following and, as their interest will never prompt such sepastrain:                                          ration, we may well conclude that no separation
" Wemust form a separate Government.  The slave- of the Valley can ever take place. Even if by'holding States must all yet see that their only salvation any unforeseen casualty, or from  excess of irri-'consists in uniting, and that promptly too, in organi- tation, it were torn asunder, the strong necessity'zing a Southern Confederacy. Should we be wise of mutual interest would soon compel the several' enough thus to unite, all California, with her exhaust- parts to again coalesce and speedily reunite under' less treasures, would be ours, all New Mexico also; and the same Government. So strong and universal'the sun would never shine upon a country so rich, so is this conviction, that not a single man can be'great, and sopowerful, as would be our Southern Re- found in these three States who believes that any'public."                                        mode of dissolution can promote their interests,
How lamentable is not all this! How utterly  or, if such man there be, he does not avow an
the reverse of it all would not be the consequences opinion so obnoxious to public sentiment.
of an attempt by any two or three States to with-   We have spoken of the interest and the affinity
draw from  the Government for the purpose of of the Slave States in the Valley, because it is to
forming a Confederacy to themselves! We say  their sympathies that the Southern Confederates
nothing of what course the Government of the have appealed against the Union.  The feelings of
Union would pursue in such a contingency-  the People of OHIO. INDIANA, and ILLINOIS, not to
which, within our day, be it understood, we no  speak of other States of the West, are in every
more expect to witness than we do to see the sun  thing connected with the unity and inseparability
(which is to " shine" upon it) stricken from the  of the States in the Great Valley, identically the
firmament.                                       same. They are all for the Union and against the
Should nothing else arise to prevent so dread a Disorganizers.
catastrophe, does any man, who understands the    With this community of interest, it is ridicucharacter of the different divisions of his own  lous to suppose that the Great Valley can consent
country, believe that the States of THE WEST will to any dissolution. or, even, to any remodelling of
permit any such amputationfrom  the body of the the Union, except such as will suit its own interUnion?  If he does, let him undeceive himself.   est. Whilst factionists in the Southern Atlantic
If the Census of 1850 does not disclose the fact, States have been coolly making a dollar and cent
that of 1860 will undoubtedly prove that the seat calculation of the value of the Union to them, can
of empire, the numerical strength or majority of they suppose that the people of the Great Valley




will not make a similar calculation of its value to CAROLINA should succeed in seducing into her
themselves also?  Whilst they are re-shaping and " Southern Confederacy," beside herself, one, two,
re-modelling the Union to suit themselves, must three, or more of the Southern States, what would
not the people of the Valley, with the conscious- be her position in that Confederacy? Without
ness of so much more power, and a much closer pretending to make an array of all the humiliaidentity of interest, take care that the remodel- tions that are in store for her on that hypothesis,
ling shall suit them also?                    let us advert to one or two of them.
But the Disunionists of the South delude them-   First. There is a reflection connected with the
selves with the idea that they have the power of South Carolina notion of a Southern Confedecoercing the Great Valley into a scheme of disso- ration which does not appear to have so much as
lution which will suit them, though it may not once occurred to the politicians of that State.
suit the People of the Valley.  The delectable This reflection and its consequences are those
scheme is. that three or four States are by mere which belong to the resources of a State, fiscal
sympathy to seduce the People of LOUIsIANA from  and numerical. Now, the whole white populatheir interest and natural allegiance, and to join tion of South Carolina is, we believe, about three
them in the projected dissolution. The "Southern hundred thousand. Her fiscal resources are someConfederacy" is thus to become master, of the what proportional to these numbers. Comparing
mouth of the Mississippi, and by means of her in these respects with any one of the other
that masterdom coerce the whole Valley into that slaveholding States, Maryland, Virginia, North
Confederacy! In the first place, the People of Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, LouisLouisiana will be guilty of no such blind folly. iana, Tennessee. Kentucky, Missouri, and even
They know their interest too well, even to wish with Texas, her resources in these particulars
to detach themselves from  the Valley.  They  would place her at the lower end of the list. And
know still better their impotency to effect it. certainly she could not expect to play a more imThey know, as all the world knows, that the true portant part in such a Confederacy than one proultimate owners of the mouth of the Missis- portioned to her population and her fiscal resippi live higher up stream; that all the. Powers sources.
of earth cannot permanently wrest it from the    Secondly. But it may be said that South Carograsp of those true owners.                    lina would assume the position due to her claimed
Important as this main outlet is to the Great intellectual superiority.  This is a position to'Valley, yet the West needs the other access to the which assuredly no one of her sister States would
ocean afforded it through the Middle Atlantic yield, and which it would puzzle the most deStates. It needs this for the exportation of its voted of the South Carolina school to find facts
products, as well as the  importation  of its goods. to sustain. Her highest rank in the Confederacy
Such an empire as is now seated in the Valley, to would be that of equality with the other memsay nothing of what it will be hereafter, cannot sub- bers of it.
mit to have only one outlet to the ocean, such as the    Thirdly. At the bottom of this great cry from
mouth of the Mississippi, where its commerce can- South Carolina for a Southern Confederation, it
not have any protection from an adequate naval must be observed lies a profound and vast specuforce. Neither Louisiana nor the Southern At- lation. Charleston is to be the great port of the
lantic States can furnish such a naval force. To  Southern Confederation, the great centreoftrade,
obtain it, the West must preserve its connexion  the "New York of the South."  How! Charleswith the lMliddle Atlantic States.             ton, with but eighteen feet water over her seabar,
If they were to attempt a severance from the to become the centle of trade? What, then, is to
If they were to attempt a severance from the become of New Orleans, of Mobile, of Pensacola,
States of the Valley, they would have to prove of Savannah  of Norfolk?-we do not name
themselves the strongest. But no fears are enter- Bal, 
tained of the matter ever being brought to such an    timore, as Baltimore the   North of water, the Potoarbitrament. The Middle and Northern States mac."  Ifthere were the  depth of water, the  bsresources, the' energy, the industry, the business
are, without any outlay of the West, furnishing habits to  e Charleston the centre of Southern
all sorts of facilities to the commerce of the latter, trade, wh  has it not been done   And how can
thus showing that they already understand the the facilities for such a purpose ever be as great
full benefits to themselves of the closest alliance as under the present Union?
with them.                                     as under the present Union?
In conclusion, we invoke the better feelings of
We set it down as probable, therefore, that not the SOUTH and of the NORTH to abide by the late
even the State of MississiPPI, upon which the measures of Compromise. We ask them to conDisunionists calculate with perhaps more confi- sider whether their objections to any part of these
dence than any other States, can be induced,to  measures should be put in competition with the
separate herself from the interest of the Valley of prosperity and glory of their country. We call
which she is an integral part; and that certainly  upon every patriot, every Christian, every friend
no other State will incur the hazard of incorpo- of morality and good order, every one who derating herself with South Carolina in a scheme sires the prosperity of his species, every one
so desperate and so full of hazard as the formation  who would avoid W'AR in its most awful and
of a Southern Confederacy.                     desolating form, to contribute his influence to
But, suppose the possibility of our calculations restore a feeling of brotherhood throughout the
in this respect being erroneous, and that SOUTH  country.
3




34
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, OF FEBRUARY 15, 1851.
THE FUTURE-No. 2.
The second act of the Drama of Revolution,  and the justice of the claim  it would be no easy
proposed to be played out within the State of matter to controvert. At an earlier period, moreSouth Carolina, has opened. The first act has  over, of the National history, thevoteof South Caended: the Members to compose the State Con-  rolina had. in another case, decided the election of
vention, which is to expel the Government of the  both President and Vice President, (JEFFERSON
United States from the confines of that State, are  and BURR.)
chosen. In what mood they have been chosen, I  The subject of the second chapter of complaints
and what is consequently expected of them by  has been the theme of copious descant on the part
those who have controlled the election, we have  of those discontented citizens of South Carolina,
heretofore endeavored to show  upon evidence  who have been willing to seize upon any pretext
impartially selected from  leading papers of the  for the escapade from the Union, which they had
State.                                            already determined  upon  attempting.  Yet it
SECESSION, and withdrawal of the State of would be a vain effort on the part ofthese gentleSouth Carolina alone from the Union, seems now  men to show, whatever grounds there may be for
to be the settled purpose of those who are able to  this complaint, or for any part of it, that any share
command a majority of votes in the Convention, of the responsibility for it is justly attributable to
as they had done of the votes in the Legislature  the General Government. It is to the legislation
which authorized it.                              of the State, the habits and prejudices of her inIn every light in which it can be viewed, the  habitants, that much of it is due; and something
actual state of opinion and feeling in South Ca-  of it, too, to her own political institutions.*  In
rollna is a moral phenomenon, which becomes  reference to the actual attempt to break up the
only the more surprising, the more closely it is  Union on such grounds as these, it is enough to
observed.                                         say that it will be impossible to show, by any proThe general volume of her complaints, through  cess of reasoning, that the errors of State policy
the medium of the press, the pulpit, and popular
demonstrations, may be divided into three parts:  the guests. besides Mr. CEVES, were Judges and Chanthe one founded upon the alleged loss of consider- cellors, and the President and Professors of the College.
ation and weight by South Carolina in the Gen- The first Regular Toast was as follows:
eral Government; the second, up:;n the waning    " The President and Vice President of the United
prosperity of her mercantile and her planting in- " States. SOUTH CAROLINA GAVE THEM TO THE UNION
terests, and the paucity of professional employ-,f"or the common benefit: She hopes every thing front
ments for her rising youth; and the third upon     their wisdom and patriotism."
alleged unbearable aggressions by the General Go-    * In an article from an able pen which we find in the
vernment on the political rights of the State.   Charleston Mercury of the 7th of this month, we have,
With regard to the first chapter of this volume, in the following passage, a glimpse of the defects in the
we have already demonstrated, by unanswerable  State policy, to which much of what is true of the comfacts drawn from the public records, that, of offices  plaints included under this head is attributeable. The
of trust and honor in the gift of the National Go- writer is considering the objects of State Conventions
vernment, the sons of South Carolina have en-  generally, and, among them, of Conventions for revising
er metuc the sons of Southeir  Caroportlin a hatively en- or reforming State Constitutions; and, in this connexjoyed much more than their proportion relatively  
ion, he asks:
to the other thirty States in the Union, or rela-,, Have we any thing for a Convention to do in the
tively even to the original thirteen States. As to  way of reforming the State Constitution? Are there
weight in the Government, no State has had more  any obsolete or aristocratic features in that instrument
(including its representation of slave property) in  which have been stumbling-blocks to the political simproportion to its population, than South Carolina. plicity of the country' districts, and such as are said to
It has been claimed for the State, indeed, not deform the proportions of the Legislative branch of the
many years ago, as proof of her power in the Go   State Government, and need to be amended! Is it
vernment. that at a then recent National Elec- true that parish representation is a plague-spot and
tion she had given to the country both a Presi- sore in the body politic, engendered at a time when a
dent and a Vice President of the United States;*  share in the government was well nigh an hereditament,
when a seat in the halls of legislation, with the family
# The incident to which we here refer was on the  pew in the parish church, descended to the heir of the
occasion of a dinner given to LANGDOxN CHEVES, at estate, and to dictate laws for the government of the
Columbia, on the 19th of December, 1829, when on a vulgar, with horses and hounds of a'foreign breed,'
visit to South Carolina, (from which he had been some  was a necessary part of the style and appointments of
time absent,) by the members of the Legislature and  the lordly primogenitus. Is it to reform these, or any
other persons. At this dinner the President of the Se- other of the less abused provisions of the State constinate presided, assisted by the Speaker of the House of tution, that a Convention of the people of this State is
Representatives and the Mayor of Columbia. Among  needed?"




to which all this is owing will be in any way cor- showing, for sixty years, steadily advanced in
rected, by withdrawing the State from the protec- prosperity, character, and power!
tion which the Constitution provides against other   In a more recent number of the paper from
vicious State legislation, such as would place the which the above quotation is made, and, under its
State in a much worse condition than that in  editorial head, we find, by the way, the following
which she now stands.                           other important admission:
The third chapter of the volume of complaints   " We often hear the remark in conversation that
by South Carolina is, however, the one most relied  c our ladies and our preachers are all right on the
upon by the malcontents. Yet with the excep- "great question of the day-we  would add,
tion of the omission of Congress to make adequate  " and our young men-and we refer to the followprovision by law for carrying into effect the pro- " in1g extract* from the address above mentioned,"
vision of the Constitution requiring fugitive slaves &c
to be restored to the States from which they have
eloped or been abducted-for which such provision    If any thing could have suggested to the writer
has now been made as to leave no ground for com-of this sentence a doubt whether he himself, in adplaint against the General Government even on  vocating secession and revolution, was not "off
that score-we have seen no effort to specify ag- the track" of right reasoning and sound conclugressions by the Federal Government on the people sion, it would be this very fact, in connexion with
or government of the State of South Carolina that another, viz: that the classes to which he alludes
will stand the test of a moment's examination  are precisely those upon whose judgment, in matters of political Government, practical men would
It is delusion all. In the language of the Georgia ters of political Government, practical men  ould
print which we have had occasion before to quote, least rely. We speak with deference, of course,
" Look at the condition of the people of South Car- when we include in this category the clergy; but
we confess a conviction, from the efforts made by
"olina! Free as the breeze that sweeps over her we c       conviction, from the efforts made by:plains: prosperous even to plethora: her schools preachers from the pulpit to encourage and stimulate opposition, in another quarter of the country, to
"flourishing: her works of internal improvement the execution of laws demanded by the public
"penetrating every quarter of her territory: manu-the execution of laws de man y the public
~ factures springing up along her beautiful streams: peace and welfare, that they are, in many cases, by
" her great staple commanding exorbitant prices. education, and by recluse habits, disqualified rahe ple commanding exorbitant prices. ther than fitted for the exercise of a sound judg"and her commerce expanding. Of what right has
" she been deprived by Congress?  What consti- ment in matters of purely political concern. We
"tutional privilege of hers has been invaded or have the assurance of the " Telegraph" that the
"abridged by the Federal Government?"            * To enable our readers to comprehend what is conNor need we, but for the tempting felicity of its sidered by the malcontents of South Carolina as eviexpression, to have resorted to the press of a dence of the young men being "all right upon the
neighboring State for this exposition of facts of questions of the day," we make this note for the purgreat consequence in this inquiry. The same facts pose of introducing to them a part of the " extract" from
are admitted by the Secessionists themselves: a the address here referred to as proving the proposition:
just pride in them would not allow of the suppres-  in Under the operation of causes beyond the scan of
sion, though fatal to their object, of an enumera- man, we are rapidly approaching a great and important
tion of the  advantages which South Carolina crisis in our history. The shadow of the sun has gone
back upon the dial of American liberty, and we are raan  articleoys intended to establish the necessityum of pidly hastening towards the troubled sea of revolution.
secession. te copy the passage, as we find it, in  A dissolution of the Union is our inevitable destiny, and
it is idle for man to raise his puny arm to stem the tide
the paper.                                      of events," &c.   *       *      *      *
"F EOR THE TELEGRAPH.              "4 Why talk of submission when dishonor is staring
-us in the face? The old revolutionary soldier, as he
"THE STATE CONVENTION. —If the Convention  totters over the grave, faintly pronounces the word
* means any thing, it is intended to do that which  resistance. Submission!  Fellow-soldier, there is no
"no existing authority of the State can perform. such word in Carolina politics! Her motto in regard
"For sixty years the Legislative, Executive, and  to such outrageous assumnption of power on the part
" official authorities have conducted the affairs of of the General Government has always been' resist"State safely and successfully. The State has ance.' Will any one tell us to fold our arms in calm"advanced in prosperity, character, and power-  ness and peace while the uplifted knife glares above our
"the people have been happy and contented under heads ready to deal the fatal blow, when we have the
"the rule their fathers prescribed.  For moral powerto defend ourselves? Have we any thing to fear
" weight South Carolina owns no superior in this in a contest with the General Government? Unroll the
"Confederation-in physical potwer and wealth  scroll of fame and read the brilliant achievements of the
"she has advanced steadily and rapidly.  An  Palmetto regiment on the ensanguined plains of Mex"exigency has now occurred which," &c.        ico. If we submit now we would be traitors to ourselves and posterity. But, if I know the spirit which
It is on the face of such confessions as these that burns in your hearts at this moment, you are ready to
the admission of California into the Union. upon  peril all that you hold near and dear in the contest, and
a principle laid down by South Carolina herself is not only for yourselves, but to assemble your children
proclaimed to be " an exigency" which requires around you, and swear them upon the altar of libertythat State to bend all her energies to the overthrow  "Never to live as traitor slaves,
of a Government under which she has, by her own     "While heaven has light or earth has graves!"




36
preachers are " all right on the great question of' operation by the other States should be exhaustthe day."  What! All?  Truly this, were it' ed; and that then South Carolina, faithful to
literally true, would be a melancholy tale of hu-   the great duty of protection which she owed to
man infirmity and clerical subserviency. Happily,  her own people, should take the decisive step.
we have before us the proof that, however general' In one year it is probable that all these prelimimay be the spirit of disaffection among the Rever-' nary conditions will be fulfilled. Our next Legisend Clergy of South Carolina, there is at least one' lature, in December, will fix the day for the asbrave exception, and we trust that there are many' sembling of the Convention, most probably in
others. We refer to the Letter of Bishop CAPERS,' the following' February; and then, whilst Conpublished in the Charleston Mercury three days'gress is in session, SOUTH CAROLINA WILL MAKE
before the late election.                     sTHE FINAL ISSUE WITH THE GENERAL GOVERNBut it is not to the reason of man, woman, or' MENT."
child, that the Disunionists appealed, when press-   We have not, in any remarks heretofore made
ing the Convention project with all their powers on this subject, addressed ourselves to the people
upon the Legislature of the State. They would  of South Carolina: nor shall we do so now. But,
not wait for co-operation by other States in their if their arguments have failed to convince us, we
projected revolution. In the language of their must not, whilst we lament their fatuity, suffer
own vehement addresses, through their public the tempest of their passion to deter us from plainly
journals, to the Legislature, ridiculing the "elo- pointing out, for the benefit of such of our readers
quent pleas," as they sneeringly termed them, for in other States (if there be any such) as may be
co-operation, they addressed any sense but reason, disposed to follow their example, the probable conin such terms as these: That "all ordinary rules sequences of their doing so.
( of conduct fail in great crises of national con-   In what we have to say on this head, we wish'vulsion, and that, to be successful, revolutions it to be explicitly understood that we speak for
c must never pause for preparation-since such ourselves only, drawing our conclusions from what' pauses are fatal to their progress: that the happy we understand to be the doctrine of the Constitu-'audacity of unflinching resolve and fixed pur- tion and the well-settled Law under it.' pose-of high and holy enthusiasm, not of calcu-   It is certain, that if the authority of the Consti-'lating prudence, must ride the whirlwind of tution is to be yet entitled to any respect on the'popular indignation, and direct the storm that part of those who are sworn to administer it, there'sweeps away all opposing barriers, and topples can be no acquiescence by the Federal Govern-'down institutions, venerable from  usage, and ment in the secession of any Statefrom the Union,'whose foundations are both deep and strong: or in resistance, in any other form, by any State'that it was beyond a question that the South, by within the Union, to the constitutional acts of the'cConventions or Congresses, could not be rallied Government. In the event of any attempt at'to the overthrow of the General Government: such secession or resistance, the laws of the Uni-'that some other mode must be adopted to move ted  States would be executed. The Judicial'them-some other stimulant must be given them  power would probably be extended, as it may be'to break the fetters of the strange torpor that had extended, to give effect to any law for the sup-'seized hold of their understandings and made pression of insurrection and forcible opposition to'senseless their feelings: that mode, that stimulant, the laws of the'Union. We believe that, in such'was the firm action of a sister State, who bravely case, the Judicial power of the Union would only'cuts the knot, and thus dissolves the integrity, the follow  the civil oficer, and that no more force
CHARM of the Union: that one State cut asunder would be used than might be necessary to carry'would be the signal of a general disruption," &c. into effect the process of the Court.
It was under the influence of a tnorbid sensi-   Should there be resistance to such process by
bility. stirred up by such appeals as these, that an armed force, there would be Treason within
the Convention Act was passed by the Legisla- the definition of the Constitution; and it would
ture of the State; and, under a pitiless storm of be suppressed.
similar addressesto theworstpassionsof the People,   The experiment is, to be sure, yet to be made;
that Delegates have been chosen to the Conven- but we presume that no single State would be altion. Without the intervention of some Provi- lowed by the remaining thirty States to withdraw
dential actby which the People may in the inter- itself from the Union, at least not without their
vening time be restored to their senses, the prose- approbation and express consent.
cution of the attempt at revolution by the Con-   But, waiving all consideration of that question,
vention thus chosen is as certain as the arrival of as one which ought hardly to be admitted to be a
the Ides of December next. A correspondent of question until it rear its horrid front in the midst
the Charleston Mercury unfolds the whole pro- of this great and prosperous Confederation, we
gramme for our information:                   proceed to the main object of this article, by in"I was in Columbia," says he, " when the Con- stituting a brief inquiry, upon the supposition-a'vention bill passed, and I know that Convention  supposition which would be, except for the sake
and Secession were generally considered synony- of argument, merely absurd-that the withdrawal'mous terms. It was agreed by the overwhelm- of any State from the Union should be effected,
ing majority who voted for the Convention that what would be the position of a State so seceding.
~ we should wait until the State was armed; that We will suppose, for the purpose of illustration,' we should wait until all reasonable hope of co- the case of South Carolina, arrived at the full




37
fruition of the long-cherished hope of entire isola- Carolina includes of territory 31,750 square miles,
tion from the Union. We select this State, be- equal to 20,320,000 acres. To raise the 3,500.000
cause the case is more immediately before us, and dollars for a peace expenditure would require a
not because its position would differ very essen- yearly tax of over seventeen cents per acre upon
tiallv from that of any other State seceding under all land, productive or unproductive. But foreign
similar circumstances from the Union.         war, civil commotion, or servile war. would easily
WHAT WOULD BE THE  POSITION  OF   increase the expenses to ten millions of dollars,
SOUTH CAROLINA, SECEDED?               which would require a land tax of half a dollar a
year per acre. Insurrection or servile war would
And, in the first place, What would South Ca- also lessen the value of land, destroy ability to
rolina GAIN by secessiont?                    cultivate and to pay a tax: fields must, in either
She would gain the privilege of having an  of these cases, be abandoned: self-preservation
Army, a Navy, and a Civil List of her own, with will require the congregation of inhabitants in
the privilege of paying for them. These will be towns camps, near forts, &c.
found indispensable. A nation that is not able
and ready to maintain by force its territorial as   SECESSIoN abrogates, of course, so far as conwell as maritime rights can only exist by suffer- cern the seceding State,all the provisions wisely
ance; a sort of existence which the pride of South implanted in the Federal Constitution for the proCarolina will never endure. The amount of mil- tection of individual interests, industry, life, proitary force which the State would require, for perty, &c., and among others the protection to the
protection of all sorts, may be stated, in round planting interest contained in the interdiction of
numbers, at five thousand men, at a cost of two  the laying of duties upon exports. To that mode
millions of dollars a year, not including forts and of raising money, South Carolina, out of the
their armaments, arsenals, &c.-all which the Union, might and must resort. This source of
present Government of the State fully compre-revenue Is even already boasted of by those who
hends, having already established a Board of Ord- are intent upon disunion. An article in the
nance. and placed at the head of its military  "Camden Journal" of the 31st ultimo, anticipapreparations an ex-officer of the army of the Unit- ting the objection that the State' is too poor fbr
ed States. Her navy will cost, for a frigate fully separate existence," says: "There could be no
equipped, about ten thousand dollars a gun, for a  greater mistake. She has eight or ten millions
steam-frigate about fifty thousand dollars a gun,  of exports; a duty of 30 per cent. would afor of
saying nothing about navy-yards. dock-yards, and
seamen. This, also, South Carolina already com-three  millions of dollars, enough to support a
prehends, having authorized contracts with build-' d Governent."
ers of steamships so to construct them that they    So here are these rabid revolutionists coolly
may easily be converted into war steamers.    proposing, as one of the natural incidents of secesThe whole revenue of the United States from  sion, to lay an export duty of thirty per cent. on
imports is (for the year 1850) $39,668,000. Sup- the cotton, rice, &c., produced in the State, and
posing, what is scarcely possible, that a seceding with the revenue thus extorted from the planting
State can by her imports secure an equal portion interest to defray the expenses of the new Governper capita of this amount of revenue, and that ment! Was ever such infatuation! With the
South Carolina has a tax-paying population of burden of such an export duty, how could the
300,000 souls, her annual revenue would be cotton of the seceded State of South Carolina
$510,000. For an armed force of five thousand compete in the foreign market with cotton from
men, we have already seen, she must expend at the UNITED States, having no duty to pay whatleast two millions of dollars a year. Add to this ever, or with cotton from other countries?  The
the naval and civil expenses of the new Govern- alternatives between which the State would have
ment. and the amount of revenue necessary to sus- to choose, in regard to duties upon imports, also,
tain it cannot be estimated at less than four mil- would be appalling, but yet inevitable: If she
lions of dollars annually. (One of her own writ- imposed higher duties upon them than adjacent
ers estimates the necessary cost of an army and  States, she would have no commerce; if lower,
navy, in case of secession, at " four or five millions no revenue.
of dollars" a year.)  The new State will be ex-   But will the State of South Carolina, by secesposed to foreign wars, to civil insurrections, and sion, attain any one of the objects for which she
to servile war; and, on the occurrence of either of will have broken the bands of the Union, except
these, its expenses would greatly increase and its the gratification of mere senseless hate?  Will
resources proportionably diminish.            she have compelled the Federal Government to
But, on the suppositions stated, the income of induce California to alter her boundary, and to
the new State will each year fall short of its ex- continue the line on the parallel of 36 deg. 30 min.?
penses by about three millions and a half of dol- And, indeed, should this happen, voluntarily or by
lars. How is this deficiency to be supplied? By compulsion, of what possible avail would it be to
loans?  Who would lend it?  Whence could her, out of the Union, and having no more rights
resources be derived for mere interest?  How is in it than the-citizens of any other foreign Power?
the deficiency to be supplied? By increased du- What " indemnity for the past" will she have obties on imports? These would destroy trade, and, tained, or what " security for the future?"  Will
although an indirect tax, would be a very serious she have rescued her slave property from the
burden upon the People. By direct taxes? South danger with which she professes to believe it now




to be menaced?  Quite the contrary. Possession  estimable value, will not be altogether lost by the
and mastery of her slaves are now guarantied to withdrawal of the State from the Union; for the
her by the Constitution; and it is that guaranty  State, become a foreign State, will re-enact the
alone which has hitherto afforded security to that most material of those guaranties of the laws, libproperty. The loss of a few fugitive slaves-and  erties, and property of the People.
very few have fled from that State —would be a   How does the objector know that?  What secumere song in comparison with the loss of this rity for all his personal rights and property hath he
guaranty. Without it her cotton and rice fields any hope of, under a new Government, comparable
would too probably become battle-fields. Should  to that which he dare not, if he be an honest man,
that be the consequence of the withdrawal of deny to have ever enjoyed under that Government
South Carolina from  the protection which the which he now accuses of unheard-of oppression
Union has afforded her in this respect, whence and outrage?  That FederalGovernment so bitwould she draw recruits for her army and navy? terly maligned, which has been the careful Nurse
How raise products, even to sustain her civil list of all the States and the Mother of more than half
and pay the interest on her borrowings?      of them! " Sixty years," happily and truly says
On the other hand, if the gain of the State, by the Natchez Courier, "has this Government been
secession, in any of her objects or aspirations,' in operatiun without a blot upon its escutcheon.
would be absolutely nothing, what would not be' Rebellion has raised its parricidal hand against it,
the amount and variety of the positive losses    and yet,after it had crushed, it had the magnaniwhich she will encounter the moment she sets a' mity to spare. Foreign war has tested its strength,
foot outside of the Union?                  s  and yet it triumphed gloriously. Every debt has
She will, in the very act of secession, plunge' been liquidated with scrupulous integrity. The
into anarchy.:poor soldier has been rewarded by substantial
She will have lost in that single false step all'tokens of gratitude, nor have the widow and
the guards with which the Constitution surrounds  orphan been forgotten.  Under its protecting
the rights of all who live under its protecting'egis, our country has been the refuge for the opcare.                                         c pressed of every land; the wilderness has been
Her People will have lost the security against' peopled. and two mighty oceans united by the
the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus except' electric chain of liberty. In all these it has exhiin casesof invasion or rebellion. They will have' bited the attributes of true greatness-justice,
lost the exemption from the operations of bills of  humanity, benevolence. gratitude, wisdom, and
attainder or ex post facto laws. They will have' power. What people ever enjoyed greater freelost, as we have already intimated, the interdic-:dom than ourselves?"
tion of duties on articles exported to foreign coun-   We do not doubt, indeed, that in the event of a
tries. They will have lost the protection against thing so improbable (but supposable) as a peaceathe establishment of orders of nobility-a loss ble secession. the Government of South Carolina
which we do not doubt that there are persons in will be disposed to enact of its own accord general
the State who would rejoice in. They will have provisions for the protection of the life, liberty,
lost the security of trial by jury which they now  and property of the citizens, such as Revolution
enjoy, and the definition of treason, for which re- will have deprived them  of. But when the auvolutionary and martial law would be substituted thority of the Government of the Union is thrown
in the very first emergency.                 off, what security is there for the stability of such
They will have lost the benefit of the existing provisions, or for the adherence of the new Govconstitutional prohibition of an established Reli- ernment to its own enactments?  Who will
gion; the right of the People to the freedom of "keep the keeper?"  What power will protect
speech and of the press, and to assemble and peti- the State against the consequences of its own voltion for the redress of grievances.          atility?
They will have lost, besides all these, the pro-   It is no secret that some (at least) of the Distection against quartering troops in any house in unionists, though they have not the common sense
time of peace; the protection against being held to know when they are well, have yet shrewdness
answerable for crime unless by indictment by a enough to comprehend the advantage of having
grand jury; the protection against seizure of the protecting aid of some foreign Power. One
person and papers, and against general search of the candidates for the Convention, in a letter
warrants; and the protection against excessive published last week under his own name in thebail and cruel and unusual punishments.      newspaper of his district, deprecating as every
They will have lost, in fine, all the guaranties way disastrous the project of separate secession,
under the Constitution, of Life, Liberty, and Pro- takes special exception to it. "because (says he)
perty, and all the obligations upon the Federal "South Carolina as a separate Government, cirGovernment under the Constitution to protect the "cumstanced as she must be, will be thrown inevStates against invasion, civil commotion, and " itably into the arms of some powerful EUROPEinsurrection.                                " AN GOVERNMENT, in colonial vassalage, or strugAGES would not repair the ruinous desolation of;gle on in miserable and degraded existence, too
five years of Secession.' weak to protect her citizens or her honor in the
But, perhaps it may be answered by some honest "contest always going on between the strong and
and yet credulous upholder of the project of Se- "the weak."  Nor has it. indeed, been attempted
cession, these rights, certainly of themselves of in- to be concealed, in the discussions of this subject,




that foreign alliance and support have been looked  the United States-would accept the State as free
to by those to whom  the restraints and the guar- gift, as a Colony, on condition of taking care of
anties of the Government of the Union are equal- it, and protecting its institutions, that of slavery
ly obnoxious: and in all cases, without a single ex- included, against all enemies, internal and exterception that we remember. Great Britain is the nal?  Great Britain, certainly, will commit no
Government whose assistance is calculated upon.* such mistake.  The delusion, dementation we
But what foreign Power-putting out of view the may say, of those who rely upon her countenance
certainty of the act's involving it in a war with  and her arms to protect them  against the consequences of Secession from their own Government,. Proofs of this calculation upon British sympathy, is not, however, the less lamentable, because it is
British protection, and British alliances, abound in the wholly unaccountable.
newspaper essays and popular addresses of the would-   SECESSION itself, as we have remarked, abrobe Revolutionists. We cite below a few of them which gates instantaneously all th  rights and guaranties
happen to be at hand: the reader will, by seeing these, which the Federal Government supplies for the
doubtless be reminded of others.                 protection of the life, liberty, and property of those
FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE JANUARY (1850) NUMBER who live under it. All those checks and guards
OF THE DEMOCRATIC REVIEW.              which the existing Government of South Caro"The formation of the cotton States, with Cuba, into lina supplies for the same purposes are, by her
a great cotton, tobacco, sugar-and-coffee-producing  recent legislation, placed in almost equal jeoUnion, calling forth the boundless fertility of Cuba, and pardy. The careful reader will not have failed
renovating the West India Islands with the labor of the to remember the terms in which all existing inteblacks of the Southern States, in those hands in which rests of the People of South Carolina have been
their labor and numbers have thriven so well, and THIS committed by their State Legislature to the absoEMPIRE ANNEXED TO BRITAIN, by treaties of perfect lute will and discretion of the State Convention
reciprocity, giving the latter the command of the East- that has just been chosen. Omrtipotent power is
ern commerce by way of Nicaragua, and all the benefits granted to it in the very terms in which of old
of possession, without the responsibility of slave owner- the Dictatorship was in great emergencies called
ship, would be a magnificent exchange for the useless into being.  The Convention is to be held for the
province of Canada. The separation of the North from  purpose, in the first place, of carrying out any act
the South, under the embittered feelings which must or acts of the " Southern Congress" —the meeting
necessarily exist before its possible consummation, of which seems now to be wholly out of the queswould cut off the former from its supply of raw mate- tion-" and for the further urpose of taking into
rials, deprive its ships of two-thirds of its business, consideration the general welfare of the State, in
close the whole Southern market to the sale of its wares, view of her relations to the Laws and Governshut up its factories, depopulate its wharves, and re- ment of he United States and thereupon TO
duce it speedily to the present condition of Canada. ment of the United States, and thereupon TO
The possession of the mouths of the Mississippi would TAKE CARE THAT THE  OMMONWEALTH OF  OUTH
give the South absolute control of the West."     CAROLINA SHALL SUFFER NO DETRIMENT."  The
character of this grant of unlimited and unreFROM AN ARTICLE IN THE "CHARLESTON COURIER."  strained authority seems to have been perfectly
"That it [secession, &c.] would be for the interest of understood by those who devised it, and has, in
the European States, and more especially of Great all the discussions on the subject, been represented
Britain, seems not to admit of a doubt. Commerce is (and not denied, that we have seen,) to be that of
the life-blood of the English people-the true source of an unrestrained Despotism.
their prosperity and power. To open new markets for   Who can say with whatform  of government
their trade, and to preserve the old, has everbeen a pro- South Carolina will come out of the Convention
minent object of their foreign policy," &c.      to which her Legislature has committed  her*
All the dictates of interest, every motive of self-protec- bound hand and foot?  The elections for Deletion, would impel her [Great Britain] in the first case
in which the question was made, to sustain the right of gates, thinly attended, and chiefly by those who
the States to secede at pleasure."               are prepared to go all lengths in Revolution, have
resulted, almost of course, in the choice of a maFROM THE CAMDEN JOURNAL OF JA.N. 31.        jority of Secessionists. Before the election, and
"We believe England would acknowledge us as an even before the Convention was called, they did
independent Republic, and come ia and trade with us, not hesitate to give token of what they would be
simply passing these blockading ships by coming in;    n and free Am
and if in their passing those ships should fire on them, an open and free American port. She would do it, in
why a broadside from  an En lish steamship would short, because interest would drive her to it."
settle it, we think, rather to the disadvantage of a From a Speech of B. F. PERRY, at the late session of
Yankee revenue blockade cutter. Recollect, our ships    I  the South Carolina Legislature.
that have done good service against English ships have   " I was very much surprised, Mr. Chairman, at the
had some Southerners aboard, and in their crews no honorable member's speech from Charleston,[Col. Memdisaffected persons. This would be different. England minger,] who said he had rather South Carolina was
has never shirked a war for fear of crippling her com- attached to the Government of Great Britain, as she
merce, for it seems to flourish by war. She would clear was previous to the revolutionary war, than to remain
the blockade, for the reason that she would be glad to a member of this Union. Such an expression neither
see this Confederacy broken up-because she would be becomes an American nor a Carolinian, and must have
fighting against the North, her natural rival of the been uttered in the heat of argument and declamation,
loom. She would do it, because then she would have without due consideration."




40
likely to do with unrestrained power in their UNION-are to be tolerated; and the people of
hands. The most revolting thing, to our mind, in  Carolina are invoked to " CRUSH thefirst symptom
the Nashville Convention Speech of Mr. CHEVES, of division among themselves!"  In another of the
was his hint of proscription and alienation of all Southern Disunion papers, calling upon its readpersons not disposed to take part in the work of ers to " prepare for the issue," which is said to be
disunion, civil war, desolation, and ruin. The  rapidly coming upon them, the People are advised
covert manner of the hinted proscription is not to " PUT A MARK upon every man who talks of
like any thing that we recollect ever to have met peace, and Union, and brotherly love," &c. Who
with in the course of political controversy among  can doubt that this devilish spirit, already careerour hitherto free and tolerant people:'; There is ing and exulting in its prospective triumph, would
another danger," said this venerable Disunionist, accompany the State in her secession, and engen"of which people ought to be aware. We have  der contention, hate, and violence, even beyond
"among us many busy, active, alien counsellors, the ordinary rage of civil conflicts?
"who are not our friends, and have no love for   What reader does not see, that, in the State, re"our institutions. I abhor proscription, as unjust leased from the restraints upon injustice and cruel"and dishonorable; and I so much honor the love ty imposed by the Federal Government, denuncia"of one's native land that I would ask no more  tion, proscription, vengeful death in its most un"of those who cannot think and feel WITH US than  ceremonious forms, confiscations of property, and
"neutrality: but that OUGHT TO BE EXACTED." even attainder of blood, might more than possibly
Does such language as this require any interpreta7 become the order of the day?
tion?  How is neutrality in civil contests to be     *      *       *'       *
exatted but by intimidation, proscription, and their   From all such horrors and excesses, and from
usual concomitants?  From Disunionists of less all the other lamentable consequences which
consequence we have indications of still more  would undoubtedly attend the secession of any
fearful import.' n the " South Carolinian," pub- State from the Union, may Heaven protect and
lished at the seat of government, within the last defend the People of South Carolina, and the
fortnight, an intimation is given in so many  People also of every other State!
words, that in case of any action, separate or joint,  *             *       *      *
on the part of the State, no "unconditional sub-   We have no more to say.
missionists"-that is to say, no friends to the!