mockerv* of a cruel jest, when ve proclaimed
to the world the imminence of their danger,
and the deliberateness of our purpose to defend
" them "at all hazard and to every extremity ?"
Out of the blood, the toil, and the treasure of
the States has our independence hew achieved,
and our Government been erected. We took
it. a nuliurr and new-born babe?it lias grown
* * r?o t
lip into a vigorous manhood. Wo cherished it
a rickety child?it has become a champion, a
monarch, a master, and a tyrant. Wo protected
its infancy through ::li the storms of warits
cradle was rocked by the dying struggles of
patriots?its infancy sustained by the generous
blood of sovereign States, until, spurning the
lap that nurtured it, it rose like a young Her- i
cules from his swaddling clothes, to strangle its
nurse and to perpetrate patricide. We took it
a cold and senseless asp to our bosom, until,
animated by its warmth, it h.-s stung?nay, it
has poisoned and corrupted the generous heart
that nestled it. "We planted it a mustard (the
least of all) seed, and watered it with cur blood
and our aifections. until it has grown to a great
Vrtcii on/I tbrt iiiu-lo.'iii birds rd the air have lodtr
ed and brooded and nestled therein." We es- I
tnblished it i'->r our general and political wel- 1
fare, but it has usurped a domestic and spirit- !
ual dominion, and claims to possess the right, j
as wel!as feel the obligation, of expurgating us ,
of the sin of slavery. It came a stranger?
poor, and hungry, and naked, seeking our aid
and hospitality; but when warmed i?v our liresides,
clothed bv our bounty, and strengthened
By our good cheer, it derided the host, monopolized
the* hearthstone, dismissed our servants,
and appropriated our property. L approached
us with the mock humility of the hatchet in the
fable, which besought of the wood a little stick,
(hut a little stick it asked.) to make for itself a
helve, as its sharp edge would otherwise he use- j
less. So modest a request# and so small a fa- '
>vor, the forest thought it would be uurensona- 1
ble not to comoly with. I'ut no sooner was
tire hatchet armed with its handle, than the trees
"began to fall, the forest disappeared, the shadewas
succeeded by the sunshine, tiie ploughshare
uprooted the bosom of the earth, and the fruits
of. the soil took the place of nature's primeval
planting.
. And thus it ;s, fellow-citizens, that we now
stand related to this foundling of .State charity
tis ?this being of our creation?this unnatural
of our own care and nursing. We j
have it in three perilous wars witii
our Wood and with our treasure?we have
made it rich and strong by endowments of hotli
land and money ; we have given it territories
vaster (hy half; than its original limits; and it
has not only lavishly distributed them to others,
to our .utter and special exclusion, but converted
them into dens and places of refuge IV our i
plundered property. We have paid more than !
two-thirds of its enormous debts, incurred not j
only against our remonstrance and our conn- ;
sels, but by a system of profligacy, corruption ;
and extravagance, that might v.vl! justity tbo 1
most scrupulous honor in repudiating ; we have
contributed more than two-thirds to its forty ^
millions of revenue; we have defrayed till its
lavish expenditures, even while condemning ami
reprobating them; we have submitted to taxation,
while her vrrv proceeds ere even now as
once before, appropriated to arm myrmidons
and prepare fortresses for our enslavement and
destruction ; we have borne this onerous ami
unequal burden from the prolits of our slave |
labor, and, satiated with taxing, they now j
threaten to take away, ami, like Pharaoh of old, I
deprive us of the straw, while they still demand
the same tale of brick; ami yti we still cling
to a union with them. Stiil we ciasp, we feed,
we pamper, and nostie in the warm bo.-msns,
and nurture with the generous Mood of these j
sovereign States, the ingratc, the monster, and |
the parricide. Yes, still wo hug the chain : still
we kiss the rod; still we sutler, enduiv; and j
3-et we cherish, and fonuie, and contide in it. j
Yes:
>4Tiiougli a monster c.t hideous mien.
.As u> Le hated, needs hat to ho seen;
JJut seen too olt, f.a.jlur with j;? fr.ee.
We first endure, then pity, than embrace."
Is it not well to pause in this proclivity to
the consummation of our ruin is it no: wei! j
to consider the peiil of submission, or acijuies- j
cence in the wrongs and exactions like these J
Is it not well to ruled (oven in its worse a?pcct) ,
whether we should hear the intolerable iils we <
have, or resolutely rudi to end them
How stands tho matter between ns and this !
confederacy! b lial are our relations, what '
are our rights: what are our duties and what is j
our redress!
For the purposes of common defence am! !
general welfare ou!\ wo eousenteu toinstifule 1
this government by a written compact with the j
other sovereigns of this I. uiou, and by which J
"?' t!". iiir'i.io -..snrvfal I,. i'?Ui't!ie HeSlt I
tratu ui viiv |'??? *?v j . ^ . v ... .. - - rof
Recession hereafter, I y virtue nf fhe same !
authority by which liiey acceded to it thou. |
To guard against constructive power, it speei- !
ficallv sUtU*<i that all.powers not granted i:i the |
Constitution were reserved to the A$late?.
The government, therefore. ran possess or !
exercise no power which it has not derived
from that compact; mid is. by the "reservation
of all other powers to the Staff-*," us expressly
prohibited, :;s it w ould seem, from substituting i
its own construction o! tin? constitution itself, j
But how comports its practice with j
these clear and obvious restrictions on its j
authority? Why, when we claim the interposition
of the constitution against the operation
of bounty and protective laws, we are con.
struct ively pointed to the caption of an act
under the acknowledged gJ-c of a revenue system.
When we appeal from this self-constituted
decision, the army and the navv of the tinion
aro invoked to he the stern arbiters ami interpreters
of constitutional law ? when tu every
eve and to every understanding the govern
nient has abandoned itself, and ail its great p<?.
litical behests, to the direction of a fanatical and
freesoil jmrtv when that party has avowed its
obligation and its purpose to extirpate the national
sin of slavery win n slavery has been excluded,
and the slave trade has been abolished, in (ho
common domain of the .North and South?when
We have been divested of our territories?
when our institutions are threatened to inswept
away by the irresistahle torrent of a universal
spirit ut emancipation?and when, in
view of these wrongs and pei ils. ami after hnvJnc;
exhausted every other expedient, we ask
to retire from the confederacy, (leaving all
these acquisitions which we had contributed,
as much as any other, to obtain, to enure to the
benefit of tlio Union,) simply to puisne our
weal and happiness in the way in which we
suppose it may best be promoted?we are told
that it cannot be. We are informed that secession
is revolution?we are assured the Union
must be preserved, even by blood?we are made
to feel that we ate too precious a gem in the
federal tiara (not ibr ornament, bat lor j?luu
tic-ring uses) to be lightly parted with. Say,
it is said that a prosperous independence would
enure to the injury of the confederacy, and
that the peaceable secession of a sovereign
State is as impracticable and as unreasonable
as a voluntary separation of a slave from his
master!
if these tilings, fellow-citizens, be so, can
you give a stronger definition of a despotic
government, than :r sectional majority to tax,
to plunder, ami oppress?and a free soil conlhd-.
eracv to enforce litem.' Most evils have some
mitigation, and it is seldom that a rule can be
established (however stem or exacting) that
does not work some corresponding advantages.
In submitting to endure the oppression of the
government, we might at least reasonably hope
to enjoy its protection, lint while ilse!I aggressing,
it tolerates, nay it protects, our eastern
confederates, not only in their legal and legisl.-oivo
rnbherv nf our iiroixu!v. but. in iuipuni
ty against our reprisals. les; let a Southern
Sate enact a law of retaliation against Vermont
and Ohio, and we would readily expori- |
tnee how soon the arm of this government
would be extended to avert it.
We have all wondered, perhaps, how a spirited
people in the 1 Stb century, in tne midst of arts,
science, and letters, could have endured tiie
tyranny of an miadjudicated doom in the hastile,
or the uuansweinhle despotism of a "Ictlre
lie caeiul." lint are our political relations to
this I'nion ameliorated, either in feature or
complexion!! It was the frank and extorted
acknowledgement of the celebrated >lr. tturke,
n? the Ibiiish lhuliameut, "that he knew not
how to draw no a bill of indictment against a
State or a whole people"?that "there were no
tonus in law, with which ho was acquainted,
for such a process." Hut American ingenuity,
it seems, has discovered a more summary mode
of enforcing, if not a more subtle manner to
evade the forms of criminal jurisprudence. j
The camion's mouth it seems, is to expouud the
constitution?the sword is to arraign?the fortress
is to be the tribunal?and a mercenary
soldiery the jury to render in the verdict, fur
resistance to federal aggressions.
In this grave and truthful aspect of our
wrongs and our humiliation, what are our duties,
our obligations, and our resources! Shall
wo succumb?inglorious crouch and succumb
" ' '. I . 1 ./
? a i.upe aim wiiuuui a s-.ruggivs oh.ui
we tliiuk to app.-ase tlie apnetiie ol a wolt' for
gore be tendering it a -sop ??l" our blood? W'liy,
ii will but "grow on the tilings it feeds on."
Do we tliiuk to satisfy tlie miser's avarice, or
tlie fanatics lust, by compounding rights and
principles lor forbearance! Our history furuislies
the most conclusive reply. W e nave
borne the exactions of their protective duties
on our income in ail humility, ami in llie hope
of e'.ijinii;g our domestic institutions in peace;
and ne".' they arrogantly deuiatni that we shall
render up tlie very capital itself, by the profits
of which we have aiuue been enabled to pay
the duly.
Happily lor u-;. the great event which iiu-:
given :i world-wide iuleied and renown to the
day which we !iav.; tim? assembled to celebrate
is before us to imitate, as well as to eomuieniorate.
The past points to the future; and tlie vc
ry emotions of pat. ioliaiu which wo feel in contemplating
the one herald the spirit ami tlie
energy with which we are prepared to participate
in tiic other. .No man can exult iti the
memories of an epoch like this?no man can
indulge in the fervor of its all glorious recollections?no
man can jubilate hi its festivities
? no man can lie proud of his uuc.e&tcrs or of
their tiiimipiia over oppression ? v.itnout recurring,
like K-au. with sliame and indignation, to
his lost iuiietitance. i.ost, did 1 sa\' I trust
not lost, but too long and too forbeariiigly
neglected, and destined soon to bo regained
under brighter and more permanent uu-pices.
Haply then. 1 repeat, the example of our ancestors
is before us to imitate. They stopped
not to calculate the cost of liberty?they yielded
to no threats ?thev submitted to no coercion?
they were seduced by no blandishments
? they listened to no eoinpromise.s-lhey thought
not of their weakness-? they a-ked not if the
enemy was strong, 'i he tight of ivpresenta
tion?(am! not the pretext oi it | ? fuii, ample,
and ailoijiiate representation, and nothing less,
would lliey have.
And now fellow-citizens, could they burst
the cerement* of the grave, and their venerated
o'ast If again re-auimated in tlu; same patriotic,
embodiment?could they now join in solictnit
conclave t?.* deliberate on the sad omens which
overshadow Southern tights and institutions,
what would be then' counsel' Hcitoldiug in
.1 i.i !... t
aUI.V.i'miMll, as llliv WOI.JO, up: vuii.-mmpiu
violated, tli-.- .South plundered oi its rights, deprived
i?t its guaranjies and despoind til its
territory, tin: fedetai equality id the 'Slates de- !
stroyed, representation reduced to a mere prete.\t
lor sectional oppression, taxation ? endless,"
exliaiistless and uuetjnal la.xatio i?ten times
more enormous than the three penec per pound
u(ion tea, our domestic inslitntion cnuuhliiig, i
and the eery slaves they had purchased libera- I
ted hv those who received the compensation
and guarantied the title deed?beholding these
tilings, 1 say, would they asit it' Virginia, like
Achilles, was arming in her tent? Would they
sunnlicate reluctant allies? Would liicv aban
11 ... ^ I
don their rights ami institutions because others
would hot defend theirs. \\ otild they wait,
for a vain and hopeless co-operation? Would
they ask it' Fort .Moultrie and fort Sumter
wore well garrisoned vvilli trcops and munitions
ofw.r.' Would thev not rat iter proudly
tell you that, with ten times the means to cap.
ture with which they once defended it, it in
spires their counsels with neither tear nor hope,
nor interposes a feather's consideration to the
great behest of duty ? Would tliey refer you
to a floating t'ustom House, a federal blockade,
or the fortunes of (Jinnieston paling under
the blushing prosperity of Savannah? Why,
they would tell you that these things were tried
in their day, and were the most important of
all the measures of British retaliation; that in
the very initiative of the revolution, Boston
was blockaded^ and Salem made a "port of entry"
for the very purpose of destroying her
commerce. How do they stand now? On,
th*must elegant and magnificent of American
cities; and the other still in considerable and
unexpaiiding village seaport. Would they lisI
ten with patience while vou recounted the cost
i or suggested the inquiry whether a State could
maintain theexpenseofasoparate Independence?
Would they not interrupt you with the reply,
| that South Carolina was once free, separate and
independent, and lar more prosperous, and perI
haps more patriotic than now? That even after
j the adoption of the Constitution, two of the so1
vereigns of this Union refused to concur in it,
! and continued in their state of voluntary exelu!
sion to enjoy the same peace, l ights and tran!
quility as no.v. That even Texas, young and
j infantile as she was, lived for more that ten years
I without this Union, free, happy and independent
(and perhaps less corrupted than she has been;)
associating on terms of equality with foreign
nations; negotiating treaties with England; die*
; tating terms to Mexico, and instead of being
| coerced by blockades and the collection ofdui
ties in the oort of Galveston, this Federal Un
ion was supplicating her with a bribe of fifteen
millions in one hand, and (a since violated)
pledge to guarantee her territory to the foil ex
tent of her alleged limits in the other.
They would tell you, fellow-* itizens, that
there was no blockade that could he instituted
j that would not in every aspect of it he an act
' of belligerency, to which the "constitutional
' sanction" of Congress had to be obtained,
I whether as applied 10 a poll ol this Union or
j of any other country; that no such measure to
j crush the institutions of a Southern State could
1 be introduced in the United States, without
| awakening the very instincts of sovereignty, in
j every Southern State at least, to repel and re!
buko it; that if a blockade is incident to separj
ate secession, it is no lcs so to co-operate?
with this difference only, that the whole Southi
eru coast would then be besieged and beleagured,
I without one fiiendly port like thai of Savannah
for the escape of our produce or the introduction
of our supplies; and that if State independence
would indeed circumscribe slavery
and the slave trade for a single State- that a
Southern Confederacy would do no less for
those united under its government and its insti!
tutions.
j Would you teii them of your weakness, ofthe
! limited extent of your territoml limits, d'.your
I trade to be blighted, your produce depressed,
and your citizens overburdened with taxation to
} support a separate State govern incut? They
I would answer yon. that South Carolina oecnI
nioil ?? tvil c.1 HI,... niwni tliii nniitiiiikl.t lVi:,n tlni
: conjoined territories of three of the most fanut'
ical of her eastern oppressors?that these were
, the arguments exclusively of fear ami not of
priuci.ile?that they would he as conclusive
! against resistance, if abolition were knocking at
' our doors, or arming our households for our
; destruction ? that they were re.ist.us, not against
secession, hut for submission; and would be just
as true and as potent when the slave trade was
ahoii.dicd between the Slates, v.i now, when it
has lven abolished in the District of Columbia.
N o, fellow.citizens, from the virtuous and uncalculating
enthusiasm of that age, from the
higherloned patriotism of the men of that generation
you would, bear no suggestion, of fear,
! of danger, of diilioulti-.-s, of expense, or of sub!
mission. They would point you to Lexington,
! and bid you g>? and Hjc'tit its battle, if needs lie;
' nor ask il yon have any trembling or federal;
brought allies by your side. Tliev would point
1 you to l ort Moultrie, and ti ll you that, against
: odds innumerable, a few crippled guns, and a
1 handful! ofhrave Carolinians, they were enable
! to jvnui.-e Kmrland's choicest veterans. Tliev
\vi!i bid yon (as they did) to do your duty, and
' trust your canst* to llimwho rules the destinies
i of nations, as well as t!ie hearts of men. And
1 if i!?i> should fail, they will teilvou to learn then
' wisdom and experience from your adversaries,
i That while you are tamely and tremblingly
! talking of submission, Jlte N orthern fanatic has
scorned the compromise, abrogated the fin. itive
si ive law, and hurled hack defiance and denunciation
on the government, and spurned the
flatteries and the sycophancy of those who have
invoked them to sacrifice great and sacred principles
to expediency.
ft or should nil these shame-recurring consid
orations not avail, the invoking shades of our
ancestors have one resource, at least, that lias
I failed to respond to the tfypeals of oppressed and
J persecuted humanity. They will commit Ca
| rolinim.'s ilotiuv into tlio hands and to the
> courage oflior daughters. What man fears to
1 do. women shall achieve, liven her meek and
j gentle spirit cannol and will not hear our acI
cumulating wrongs. It shall wail them in the
1 cottage, it shall bemoan them in the place, it
1 shall <ri.-lio them in the saloons, until all that
! them is in Carolina manhood shall be roused to
shame, indignation and resistance. Nay, so
easy the triumph, and so hloodness the victory,
that we fear not that even a bodkin in her soul|
determined grasp might achieve it against a
! world in arms, in a cause so panoplied in truth
and justice.
A Sad Accident.
As a Mr. Phnrr from North 'arolina was leaving
town yesterday morning, returning home with
his loaded wagon, his horses took fright at some
one meeting tnen), and run off. Tho_\ turned
short round, breaking loose the two front wheels
j from the wagon, and throwing off the son of Mr.
! 1'., who was driving. They started from Broad
I Street, run ii|> Boundary, and took down Lytlie
ton Street. They mad'.1 for tho upper Public
j Square, running thiough i!. missing all the trees
j and slumps until they reached Broad Street
| again, and there struck an oak, one of t|u> horses
was thrown, and wagon broke loose ami left,
three of the horses continued down Broad Street,
but after running a fm\ hundred yards were easily
caught. We are sort} to learn the young man
was seriously injured?receiving a cut on the
head, and a severe hurt on the left hip. lie was
immediately placed under medical treatment,
which, wc hope, will toon eflect his cure.
THE, CAMDEN JOURNAL.
THO. J. WARREN, Editor.
FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 18, 1851,
Still at Large.
Satililel J< Love, who escaped from our Jai!
on the 14th inst., has not yet been recaptured,
neither has he been heard from, though our
Sheriff has done, and is still doing ail in his power
to recover him.
New Mail Route.
We are pleased to learn, that the citizens of
this and Lancaster District, are getting up a Pej
tition to Congress, to establish a new Mail Route
from this place to Monroe, N. C., bv the way of
j Lynches Creek, and Hade's Gold Mine. Such a
Petition can get any number of signatures, for the
| iine is grpatiy needed.
; It is a ina.ter of great astonishment, that the
j people on that route have borne their inronveniI
encesso long, without an effort to secure greater
| mail facilities. We hope the thing will be undertaken
in earnest; many persons in that directing
live at the distance of ten, fifteen, and twenty
miles from a Post Office. There is.scarcely such
a thing as getting a letter to many of them, under
I two or three full moons, and as to newspapers,
J none are seen or heard otj unless indeed they
| come around goods and packages as wrapping
j paper.
! We have heard o! one individual, a Local
| Preacher, who takes a religious paper, sent to a
I Post Office about 25 or 30 rniies from him. He
| gets it by the hands of the Circuit Preacher, in
j iiis regular rounds, once in three weeks,
j We believe we are safe in saying, that from
j fifty to one hundred, if not five hundred persons
! are prevented from taking newspapers, by the
i difficulty of getting thern. Lynches Creek is
lined with a thriving, industrious, energetic population,
hitherto cut off entirely from the world,
but now waking up with a desire to read and
learn what te "stirring around them. They are
j determined to have increased mail facilities to
i bring them into closer connexion with their neigh*
j hors,and we say, with all our heart?go aheap.
It is contemplated to petition tor a Weekly
| Horse vaii?the route going up from Camden,
j will leave the Lancaster Stage Road near Gum
Swamp, and pass by Col. James Haile's, whve
j there is to be a new Post Office?then direct to
j Thos. Clyburne's Store near Hade's Gold Mine?
j then to Tryon & Biackmon's Store near Fork Hill
j Church in Lancaster District, where a Post Office
j is greatly needed?then on to Uriah Blaekmon's
; Gold Mine, or somo conspicuous point in that
neighborhood?then on through tho thickest settlements
by Wolf Pond to Monroe C. H., in North
Carolina?the whole distance being about 7 ' or
I 80 miles?of courso there may be various Post
. Offices on the route, but we only mention the
j chief point.?. We assure the friends of the enferj
pr se, that our columns shall be always opvii to
! ai?l ami forward tiieir citorts, and ?:i?y have our
; very best wisher- for success.
New Postage Law.
! Previous to the 1st inst., when postage o;i ieti
,
; tors wasana 10 cents. ;i a t.orresponuent wish|
i :i to prepay his ietter, and paid for a smelt! halt
i ounce at the office where ho mailed it, if it was
j found at the office whore it was received to bo
j undercharged, the receiver had oniv to pay the
: huIuHCt of the double rate, 'tis not so now, and
why We should think that when the 3 cents is
i prepaid atone office and the letter is found at the
I other to be uiiderciiareec!, that double postage
would be enough, instead of which the receiver
( has to pay a cents, the same as if his correspon:
dent had mailed i: without paying any postage at
i ail. Wo hope Mr. llali will give some reasons
for such a strange law, tor n ally we cant understand
it. * * *
Union Column.
j Wc clip tiie following precious com from the
1 Baltimore Huh of the -1th inst., Ironi which it will
j be seen that New Orleans numbers too many dear
| lovers of 1 he 4,(ilorious Union'' for the cause of
South orn Rights to make much progress at ieast
| in that portion of Louisiana :
j Union Cohmn.?A project for the erection
' of ii splendid column to the defenders and
i champions of the Union has been devised by
Wm. Freret, Esq., of Now Orleans. The plan
represents a beautiful tinted Corinthian column,
rising from n massive pedestal, and surmounted
by a statue of -Mr. Clay. Immediately be'
noalh the apex will bo an illuminated clock,
j and below that, on the four faces of the column,
' aro to bo carved the names of the Senators
who supported the Compromise measures of
the last Congress. It is designed to place this
monument on the "Neutral Ground," at tiie
i corner of St. Cha<los and Royal streets. New
i Orleans. The cost is estimated at ?20,000,
j and an effort will lie made to raise the amount
| hv subscription.
j Now we do not wish to he understood as nndI
ing any fault with such a movement: hut we think
i we can make a sixrirptoimi ?? ? -
_ V..VH v/i Hkvm UIUOC W 111' SMI
I T
i dearly love this Union and the supporters of tiie
1 Compromise (?) that would more fuiiy complete
the picture; instead of devoting the whole structure
to the .Statue of Mr. (.'lay, let there be a statue
on each of the four corners or sides, representJ
ing Henry Clay, 11. S. F.iote, .Sam Houston and
! Gen. James Hamilton ; the "Union Column" will
' then be complete, at least we think so.
* * *
" ~
l South Carolina Teacher's Association.
The regular Semi-annual Meeting of the South
Carolina Teachers'Association will be held in Columbia
on the first Wednesday in August next.
For ilse CaindtMi Journal.
Tho Path of Infamy!!
Mu. Eoitok: Will you permit an humble
" backwoodsman," who loves his State, and
j who desires her success and prosperity in all
inings, to express through the Journal, in a
plain and candid manner, .1 feu1 of his thoughts |
*
i i mi -j Y I'fl
5 ? ?r
J and feelings in relation to the crisis, which at
: last is upon us, with all its momentous issues.
11 say, momentous issues ?aye! momentous in*
' every aspect of the case?momentous to me j
i and to all whom I hold dear!?for I believe; I
j feel, that South Carolina holds in her hand tlg|
: fate and destiny, the liberty or slavery of air- I
| self, wife and children, and that in a few short fl
| months, she will be compelled to decide that s
! destiny?either for "weal or woe !" Thus be- *
j lieving, and thus feeling, I cannot, I will not,
I dure not remain silent upon a matter in which
I as a citizen, I havesomuch involved. Although
j I have not the vanity to suppose that any thing
I may or can say will weigh "as a straw Jtt
the balance," yet am I determined to record
my "voice," that should she inflict upon me and
! mine a state of degraded servitude, those of the
, latter who survive me may appeal to your col1
umns, and know that their projenitor not only
' had no hand in forging for them their chains,
! but that he did what he could to avert their '
doom. It may he, that, owing to many circumstances,
I take an enormous view of, aitd
therefore attach too much consequence to tha
| present posture of affairs. However this may
be, the opinions I have formed, and the con-'
-I?:? i i.~.. i * t--__ __.-i.i
uiuotuii JI vuiur IU, nave uui uctrii ru&uij
i adopted or hastily reached; but are the result
i of the calmest reflection and most thorough in?
vestigation, my limited capacities would per* ^
! mit my bestowing upon a matter ofMueb* ini
trinsic importance. Then,.?p, 4<fbcplaih. I
have come to the solern (indeliberate conclusion.
I that, if after all that has passed, the year (1853)
j eighteen hundred and fifty three finds South Carolina
in this Union, our institutions, our rights,
; our liberties, and "though ta3t not least," our
honor are gone?forever gone '-..and naught
will remain for us and ours, but the most abject
state of vassalage, with which a righteous God
has ever permitted any people, to be inflicted.?
' For aught I know, could we look into the dark
; arcana of the future, we might behold our doom
; written in flaming capitals of living fire?"South
j Carolina??once the residence oj freemen, now
' the abode of slaves /"
: I hesitate not, to afiirm, if, in despite of our
past history, and the faithful teachings and
! warnings of our dead Calhoun, we fail now to
, strike, t.. o advantages will render our deI
gradation not only just and merited, but
deep and damning in its very nature. In
a hlition to which, our oft repeated vows
] will rise in judgement against us, sinking us, if
: possible, lower and yet still lower, into the very
j depths or a voluntary self-abasement; while a
gaping world, pointing at us the finger of scorn
j and derision, shall salute our ears with the
fi'tiri-sickcning, soul-Killing taunt, "ienase
descendants of a worthy ancestry! Ye knew ^
: \ our duty, hut ye were too coieanJJy to perform
it!! . . Woe! ten thousand woes! unto
; that man, be ho who he tuny?small or grea:,
' high or low, rich or poor, who, by word or deed,
; shall aid to the smallest ntrnt in bringing upon
j his State a entjistmphy <o loathsomemand hiti
mil:nftugBetter for him! aye! far better,
. that lie had never been born! The warmest,
J sinctrest protestations of patriotic devotion
? will not shield his name from the wPherinf
! blasting curses of an enslaved and inditraaut
, posterity!
Those (being?as I honestly believe?some of
i the eo.isequences necessarily attendant upon our
[ failure to carry out our purpose, openly avow|
cd before "men and angels," no longer to snb;
mit to the onerous and tyrannical exactions of
our hi artless and soulless task-masters. I am
astounded at hearing so much said about taxes,
blockades, Charleston ruined, dec., dec., in the
i event of the secession of South Carolina.
; Great God! And has it come to this ? . . . "
That in a matter in which is involved the question
of Liberty or Slavery, Carolinians, South .
; Carolinians will coaly enter upon an arithmetic
I cal calculation of "loss and gain" in dollars and
I cents 1 Deny, it who may, disguise it who can,
' this at last is tho question?Liberty or Slavery
j {() You doubtless perceive, that I consider
something more at issue than simply our peculiar
institution, important as that is. The real
question 1 believe to be, is South Carolina a
sovereign State, or is she the "fag-end" (excuse
the expression) of a vast consolidated governriw.til
/ 77.,., Jt
j For the sake of ourselves, our children, and all
postciity, let us decide this question, and decide
it at once. We should be thankful that we
I have the power still left us. to force upon our
; oppressors it's final decision. But mark it,
j That )>oicrr itili not ions to ours. Let us then
| not delay! Talk about waiting? . . We
have already "waited" t.venty years too long.
For our part, we hope our ears may never
J again be pained with the whinning cry of
"Watch and Wait"?for we look upon its
! sound as the funeral knell of Carolina honor
.
I and Southern iiberty.
' Let us then strike, and strike before it bo
i forever too late! Let us not hand down to
our children. a name which shall be a by-word
' and reproach ! Whatever rise posterity may
say of us, let it not bo said that wo tamely,
j cowardly, basely consented to be slaves!!
Give us poverty?famine?pestilence?civil war
1 ?extermination?anything !?everything .'?but
save us, Merciful God.' save us from Submission!!!
LANCASTER.