Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/232

 226 Southern Historical Society Papers.

But it is glorious in the dust,

Sacred till time shall be no more. Spare it, fierce editors, your scorn!

The dread " Rebellion's " o'er!

Furl the great flag, hide cross and star.

Thrust into darkness star and bar.

But, look ! across the ages far It flames forevermore 1

Calhoun — Nullification Explained.

BY COLONEL BENJAMIN E. GREEN, OF DALTON, GA.

During Mr. Buchanan's administration, before the slave-holding States proposed to withdraw peaceably, rather than wait to be " ex- pelled " from the confederation, a State Disunion Convention met at Worcester, Massachusetts. It was composed of men who subse- quently became the controlling element of the party which elected Mr. Lincoln President and abolished slavery by force of arms. They adopted the following platform :

Resolved, That the meeting of a State Disunion Convention, at- tended by men of various parties and affinities, gives occasion for a new statement of principles and a new platform of action.

Resolved, That the cardinal American principle is now, as always, Hberty, while the prominent fact is now, as always, slavery.

Resolved, That the conflict between this principle of liberty and this fact of slavery has been the whole history of the nation for fifty years, while the only result of this conflict has thus far been to strengthen both parties, and prepare the way for a yet more desperate struggle

Resolved, That the fundamental difference between mere political agitation and the action we propose, is this, that the one requires the acquiescence of the slave power, and the other only its opposition.

Resolved, That the necessity for disunion is written in the whole existing character and condition of the two sections of the country, in their social organization, education, habits and laws ; in the dangers of our while citizens in Kansas, and of our colored ones in Boston, in the wounds of Charles Sumner and the laurels of his assailants, and no government on earth was ever strong enough to hold together such opposing forces.