The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume II

262

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

l\ir. Clay at one period, stood deservedly high at the south his able and warm support of the administration during the last war won for him the favorable estimation of the southern republicans - But apart from this - all his political career is antagonist to our interests, and wholly irreconcilablie with state rights - analogies. In fact, I should consider the success of Mr. Clay, with the principles he ad- vocates-going even to the extent of abolitionism or so near it as to leave the distinction without a difference - with a Bank at his com- mand as a party machine, to be one of the greatest calamities that could befal the country. The Southern States will scarcely tolerate · his Presidency. The Union will fall, under the weight! The slavery question continues to agitate the people of this country. The politics of the north and East become every year more mingled up with this exciting and delicate subject - and when fanaticism and false philanthropy are busily at woi:k to sap the very foundation of the social system of the south what terrible results may we not reasonably apprehend; this spirit of mischief too, is not confined to our own hemisphere - all Europe is at war with us on the point, and the rnoral world unite in our condemnation, [and denounce?] our In- stitutions, as being at war with the rights of man, and our own declar- ation of Independence. Even the arch demagogue O Connel has recently entered the lists against us, and calls upon Europe to refuse social communion with a slave holder! - what will come of all this - we cannot war against the world in arms - does it become us to be divided, when all our moral and physical power concentrated is barely a match for the powers against us. All the rubbish of centuries is brought up against us like the ghost of Banquo to frighten and alarm us - and even the bloody horrors of S't Domingo we are daily reminded of - and say they - Mr. Jefferson too, in his "notes on Virginia" says - "nothing is more certainly written in the Book of fate, than that this people are to be free" - what fatuity then, that with the foreign world, an_d a por-tion of our own family against us, we should be splitting hairs with each other, and like children dis- puting about trifles, when we are standing on a volcano, and not knowing the Moment when we may be blown to atoms! But the aboli- tionists of the north are least excusable - they are of our family - came into the union with us under all the guaratitees [guarantees] of that compact among which in the fore ground conspicuously stood our Institutions, and notwithstanding, this - they are allowed by their states to stand at a dist~nce and brandish the bloody knife, and hold the midnight torch suspended over our dwellings! Depend upon it my dear sir, we cannot long endure this state of things - The Bond must be kept more faithfully, or, terrible as may be the alter- native, it will be scattered to the winds of Heaven, never to be re- united! l\fay a good providence avert such a consummation! but in the name of our common origin, of fraternal feeling - and the very Religion of Nature do these people expect us to bear much longer the truce they are preparing for us, without rising in our midst and defying them to the issue at once 1 The controversy now pending between the state ' of Maine & Georgia, will put our patience to a severe test - If Maine be per- mitted to maintain her stand as asserted by her Governor, then will

Powered by