The Texas Almanac for 1862 Page: 11
64 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
HISTORY AND CAUSES OF SECESSION IN THE SOUTH. 1I
THE SECESSION OF THE SLAVE STATES-HISTORY OF
ITS CAUSES, PROGRESS AND CONSUMMATION.
TnE discussion of Secession as a remedy of dernier resort to escape Federal
aggressions, had been going on ior several years throughout the South, before it
was finally adopted; and it was at last resorted to, only from a full conviction in
the minds of at least nine-tentbsof the people, that they could no longer remain-
in the Union on terms of equality, or without endangering their civil liberties.
The people of the South were strongly attached to the Union, and had testified
that attachment by the free sacrifice of their blood and treasure ia every contest
with foreign powers during our entire existence as a nation. That sentiment of
attachment was the result of education and early associations, and would have
induced cheerful submission to any real or supposed evils that could grow out of
the operation of government short of unconstitutional aggressions long persevered
in, and without the hope of relief.
For many years it has been the.almost universal conviction of the people of the
South that even the constitutional legislation of Congress has been made to ope-
rate unequally, and often oppressively, upon the Southern States. This has been
believed to be especially the case with our tariff', with all measures for the dis-
bursement of the public treasure, and with measures of internal and harbor im-
provements, coast defences, the establishment of custom-houses, navy-yards, ar-
senals, &c., &c.
But though Tederal legislation was known to operate unequally, in aU these
respects, as between the North and the South, from which the South suffered to
the amount of many millions annually. yet as this legislation was not considered
in violation (literally at least,) of any constitutional provisions, it was patiently,
if not cheerfully, submitted to. And had the people of the North been satisfied
with the great advantages they enjoyed in consequence of being able through
their preponderating and steadily increasing majority in Congress, to control the
legislation of the country, throwing the burthens of the Government mainly on
the South, and disbursing the public treasure chiefly among themselves, by which
their comparatively sterile and unfavored region was made to enjoy a-degree of
prosperity altogether unexampled, and unattainable by any other means-had
they been satisfied with these advantages, they might have enjoyed them for a
century to come.
But acting on the old Federal assumption that a majority in Congress possessed
unlimited powers, or powers only limited by their own discretion, and which it would
be treason for the Southern minority to resist, they deliberately undertook to in-
terfere with the domestic institution of slavery in the South with the avowed pur-
pose of accomplishing its ultimate overthrow. This purpose was first proclaimed
some forty years ago by a few abolitionists then insignificant in numbers, but it
has been steadily persevered in from- that day to this, until finally the two great
political parties of the country, abandoning all other issues regarding the ordinary
islation of the country, became merged with the abolitionists in a general cru-
sade against the institution of slavery, and the sectional party thus formed as-
sumed the name of Republicans.
This party accomplished its first triumph in the late election of Lincoln to the
presidency, when, for the first time in our history, the government of the Union
ceased to be national fnd became strictly sectional, with a Chief Magistrate
pledged to make his administration one of direct hostility to the slave States of
the South, declaring it to be their purpose, first to cut them off' from all further
enjoyment of the common territory, and finally, in the language of the party, "to
place slavery in the States themselves, in the way of ultimate extinction."
That the success of this party effected a radical revolution in the country, none
can doubt. Washington had warned his countrymen to beware of sectional-par-
ties, and now, for the first time since thatsolemn warning was given, a sectional
party had grown into power and achieved a triumph over the Constitution itself.
That Constitution made no distinction between slavery and other pr perty, but
provided especially for the protection of slave property, requiring that laws
should be expressly enacted for that purpose. Without this constitutinal.guar-
antee it is known to be a historical fact that the slave states never would have
entered the Union. Lincoln's election has deprived the South of that guarantee,
for he is pledged to defeat it. Instead of protecting the slaveholder in his prop-
erty, the avowed purpose of this newly inaugurated government is to destroy that
property altogether. Could a more complete revolution have been effected? Has
not the Constitution of our fathers been abrogated and new terms of union substi-
tuted utterly subversive of the Union which we were pledged to support and
which gave security and equality to the South? 2
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
The Texas Almanac for 1862, book, 1862; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123768/m1/13/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.