Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/638

 arise, justifying her, in her judgment, in taking that step; and, in the resolution adopted by her convention, declared that she forbore the immediate exercise of that right from considerations of expediency only: And whereas, more than seven years have elapsed since that convention adjourned, and in the intervening time the assaults upon the institution of slavery, and upon the rights and equality of the Southern States, have unceasingly continued with increasing violence and in new and more alarming forms: Be it therefore

"1. Resolved, unanimously. That the State of South Carolina, still deferring to her southern sisters, nevertheless announces to them that it is the deliberate judgment of this general assembly, that the slaveholding States should immediately meet together to concert measures for united action.

"2. Resolved, unanimously. That the foregoing preamble and resolution be communicated by the Governor to all the slaveholding States, with the earnest request of this State that they will appoint deputies, and adopt such measures as will, in their judgment, promote the said meeting.

"3. Resolved, unanimously. That a special commissioner be appointed by his Excellency the Governor, to communicate the foregoing preamble and resolutions to the State of Virginia, and to express to the authorities of that State the cordial sym.pathies of the people of South Carolina with the people of Virginia, and their earnest desire to unite with them in measures of common defense.

"4. Resolved, unanimously, That the State of South Carolina owes it to her citizens to protect them and their property from every enemy, and that for the purpose of military preparation, for an emergency, the sum of one hundred thousand ($100,000) dollars be appropriated for military emergencies."



Dear Sir:—I have the honor to enclose certain resolutions which passed unanimously both branches of the Legislature of South Carolina, in one of which is an earnest request that your State will appoint deputies, and adopt such other measures as will promote a meeting of slaveholding States in convention. You will see by the preamble to the resolution that South Carolina, as a sovereign State, claims the right to secede whenever she may think it expedient to do so, but she much prefers concerted action, and is willing to follow any lead. Be pleased to submit the resolutions to your Legislature at the earliest moment. With great respect and consideration,

I am, yours truly,

This is done in accordance with the spirit of courtesy which should actuate the Executive of one State in his intercourse with that of another. At the same time, I deem it due to myself, as well as to your honorable body, to enter my unqualified protest against, and dissent from, the principles enunciated in the resolutions.

The reasons assigned seem too insufficient to justify the measures recommended, unsupported as they are by facts to establish their soundness. They appear to be the affirmation of the ordinance adopted by South Carolina in 1852, well known to be based upon the adoption by Congress of the compromise