He held that all Federal laws prohibiting such trade ought to be repealed so that each State might decide the question for itself.

Still more, Mr.Yancey was not only an agitator and fire-eater, but for years an insidious, persevering conspirator to promote secession.

Occupying such a position, he was naturally the champion of the Cotton States at Charleston.

The defense of the ultra demands of the South was by common consent devolved upon him,[5] and it was understood long beforehand that he was prepared with the principal speech from that side.
In full consciousness of the fact that he and his colleagues were then at Charleston with a predetermination to force a programme of disruption expressly designed as a prelude to intended disunion, Mr.
Yancey stood up and with smiling face and silvery tones assured his hearers that he and his colleagues from Alabama were not disunionists _per se_.

Then he proceeded with his speech.