The secession movement at the South.
Our exchanges contain some further items of interest about the secession movement at the
South, which we give:
Hon. Caleb Cushing, of
Boston, has accepted an invitation to address the people of
Newburyport, Mass., this evening, on the national crisis.
In a letter accepting the invitation he says:
God forbid that, at such a moment, anything should be done or said by me to add to the intensity of solicitude which already exists in this relation.
On the other hand, there is but one thing to allay it, which can be done or said by or in the
State of Massachusetts.
It avails nothing for us in
Massachusetts to discuss the question of the expediency or inexpediency of secession, and to endeavor to impress on the
Southern States the sacredness of the
Union So long as the
State of Massachusetts maintains a system of legislation plainly contrary to the
Constitution in the very matter of the special rights of the
Southern States, all ears are closed to appeals in behalf of the
Union from us. To such appeals the answer is ready, that when we duly regard the
Constitution ourselves, and not until then, it will be competent to us to exhort other States to respect and observe it; that otherwise we are but meanly enjoying the benefits of the compact without discharging its obligations; and that our laudation of the
Union is alike odious and ridiculous while we cling to it only as the means of exerting the power of the
Federal Government to the spoliation, oppression and wrong of fifteen States of the
Union.
How deeply soever, therefore, any citizen of the
State of Massachusetts may deplore the possibility of the dissolution of the
Union, she is utterly powerless to dissuade any other State from seeking or promoting its dissolution.
The nullification laws of
Massachusetts were not only most deliberately enacted in the first instance, but the question of their repeal has been earnestly moved in the Legislature of the State, first by
Mr. Charles Hale and afterwards by myself; and although some provisions of mere exacerbation in those laws have been repealed on the recommendation of
Gov. Banks, yet the vicious substance still subsists, and has but just been carefully re-enacted in the general revision of the statutes.
Furthermore, so long as the
State of Massachusetts perseveres in this nullification of the
Constitution, she affords, not a pretext only, but a justificatory cause to the
State of South Carolina, to that of
Georgia,
Alabama,
Mississippi, or any other State otherwise disposed to secede; for the violation of the fundamental compact of association by one of the contracting party
serves, in morality as well as law, to release the others — and the unconstitutional and dishonorable attitude of the
State in this matter is not less mischievous in another respect, to wit, its obvious tendency to paralyze the conservative efforts of our Southern States not yet prepared to secede, such as
Maryland,
Virginia,
North Carolina,
Kentucky and
Tennessee.
I think there is a duty in this behalf which it is incumbent on
Massachusetts and every loyal citizen of the
State to perform--one which it is never too early to enter upon, and never too late to persist in, and which it is peculiarly fitting for us to undertake now — namely, to repeal unconditionally these laws, which are scandalously false in their profession of purpose — which are tyrannical in their domestic and treasonable in their Federal relation, and which misrepresent the spirit and disgrace the legislation of our Commonwealth.
As this is the duty of all, it is the duty of every one; and, therefore.
it will give me pleasure to speak on the subject; to expose the gravity of the situation; to demonstrate our obligation regarding it, and to participate with you in the initiation of measures for the wiping out of this foul blot from the escutcheon of the
State of Massachusetts.
Having done that, we shall then have the right, happen what may, to stand erect, to hold up our head in the
Union, to look our sister States in the face, and if need be, to address fraternal exhortation to the
State of South Carolina.
The
South Carolina cadets at
West Point, numbering seven, have held a meeting and resolved, when she withdraws, to ‘"be found fighting under her banner."’ They add:
‘
"Though the reception of a diploma here at the National Academy is certainly to be desired by all of us, yet we cannot so stifle our convictions of duty as to serve the remainder of our time here under such a man as
Mr. Lincoln as commander-in-chief, and to be subjected at all times to the orders of a government the administration of which must be necessarily unfriendly to the
Commonwealth which has, so far, preserved a spotless record, and of which we are justly proud.
We hereby swear to be true to her lone star in the present path of rectitude, and if, by chance, she goes astray, we will be with her still.
All we desire is a field for making ourselves useful."
’
New Fashion for Ladies.
We observed, while on a visit to a lady friend, a bonnet and dress of
Georgia Linsey and cotton, designed for the daughter of one of our leading secessionists.
The dress is made in fashionable style,
a la Gabrielle, and the bonnet is composed of
white and
black Georgia cotton, covered with a net-work of black cotton, the streamers ornamented with
Palmetto trees and lone stars, embroidered in gold thread, while the feathers are formed of
white and
black worsted.
The entire work is domestic, as well as the material, and exhibits considerable ingenuity.
The idea illustrates the patriotism of the ladies, and their earnest sympathy with the great Southern movement, while its execution affords convincing proof of how independent we can be of our Northern aggressors, when we have the will to undertake and the energy to achieve.--
News Letter.
Retaliating on them.
The
New Haven (Ct.) News, of the 22d, says a company of young men left there a few days since to fish in
Georgia waters, a business they have followed for several years, and adds:
‘
On reaching that
Savannah, they were astonished to learn that they could not be allowed to fish there, as they were from the
North.--Assurance that their intentions were honorable, and urgent requests to be allowed to remain, were of no use, and they were compelled to come home poorer than they went by a good many dollars.
They arrived here on Monday night, and report affairs in a state of great excitement, not only in
Georgia and
South Carolina, but indeed all through the
South.
What are we coming to?
These men are all Democrats, and so expressed themselves while at the
South.
They say that they blame the blind followers of the Republican party of the
North much more than they can possibly blame the hot-headed people of the
South, and they think it about time that ‘"Personal Liberty Bills"’ were repealed.
The question now is, what will
Virginia do with the oyster trade?
How would
Fair Haven like a stoppage in that direction?
’
A dispatch from
Winnsboro', S. C., dated the 21st, gives an idea of the excited state of feeling there.
It says:
‘
There was considerable excitement occasioned in our town last evening by the alarm of fire being given, about 11 o'clock, which was found to pr from the burning of a fence.
The people were making for it in all some with guns, with pistol and swords.
The fire was in the
North and of the town, and was burning the week of an
’
