In
questioning the actions of fanatic abolitionists the author below asks:
“What measures have they taken to persuade or win [planters] to their
views? They have trampled upon his rights . . . denounced him in
the vilest billingsgate the language can afford – excited his slaves to
discontent, and endangered his life [and his family]. Are not these
most winning persuasive to abolition!” The abolitionists offered no
practical and peaceful solutions to slavery, only fire, sword, and
desolation.
Bernhard Thuersam, Chairman
North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission
"Unsurpassed Valor, Courage and Devotion to Liberty"
"The Official Website of the North Carolina WBTS Sesquicentennial"
The Abolitionist Modus Operandi
“The
great engine by which the abolitionists expect to effect their designs,
is agitation – not reason – not argument – not candid appeals to the
patriotism and common sense of our people – but agitation of popular
prejudices and passions.
The
first effort is to raise a party in the North. They admit, for they
cannot deny, that the North can, under the present Constitution, have no
control over the institutions of the South. Why then agitate it? Why
seek to excite in the North feelings of aversion and hostility against
the South?
No
good motive can prompt a course so indirect and unnecessary. This
policy is pursued for the purpose of perverting the sentiments and
feelings of the North, souring its affection for the South, cooling its
attachment to the Union, and urging it into a course designed to force
the South into emancipation.
The
North also . . . does not apprehend the fiery indignation of a people
whose lives are endangered by their reckless agitation. [They] mix and
prepare their poisons; may arrange their magazine of incendiary weapons;
and send forth their publications through the South, on their errand of
[slave] insurrections and death.
They
are heroic men, -- but not sufficiently heroic to perpetrate their
offences in person. They are philanthropic, -- but dare not visit the
slaves and minister to their alleged wants upon the spot. They are
determined to “war until death with the tyrants of the South,” – but it
is not part of their philosophy to meet their foe in the face of day;
they war with poison or in the dark.
They
are vastly pious, they quote scripture with peculiar unction, and
repeat incessantly divine command – “go unto all nations.” But they take
the liberty of modifying the command, and read it, “SEND unto all
nations.”
In
attempting to operate on the South, they tell us that their object is
to [a]waken the conscience of the slave-holder. How they can expect, by
endangering the life of the slave-holder, and the security of his
family, by exciting his indignation and fears, and irritating him to
madness, to gain his confidence and sway his convictions, it is
impossible for us to imagine.
Their
operations are prosecuted through the medium of the post-office. They
thus avoid expense, and make the nation pay for the transportation of
their incendiary pamphlets. The arteries of the body politic are thus
made to disseminate those poisons which are designed to destroy it. The
propriety of such a course has never been doubted by the abolitionists –
honesty being a virtue altogether beneath the consideration of such
exalted philanthropists.
They,
conscientious men, do not violate the laws in person; but throw the
offence upon the unconscious carrier of the mail. This might disturb the
ethics of some people, but the violation of law is, with the fanatics, a
praiseworthy act, where the motives of the offender are so pure and
lofty.
The
abolitionists have disclaimed a desire to excite insurrection among the
slaves. If a man should thrust a lighted torch into a powder magazine,
he would find it difficult to convince the world that he did not design
to produce an explosion. We have presented sufficient [examples] to
satisfy the candid reader, that the abolitionists, so far from
entertaining a repugnance to insurrection, have directed their efforts
to that object, and pursued a course which has, and can have, no other
motive.”
(The
South Vindicated from the Treason and Fanaticism of the Northern
Abolitionists, William Drayton, H. Manly, 1836, pp. 172-174; 186;
188)
