Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-06-02

Harrison an abolitionist--a Virginian, |
md that Virgnian Harrison--an aboli-
ionist! Does any one really believe it?
No man living, North or South, has
done and suffered as much in the cause of
defending this institution of the South as
General Harrison; aud no statesman of
this country has given as many votes
against that institution as Martin Van Blu
rem; and he never changed or wavered in
this course until, without such change, he
could not have hoped to be elected Presl-
dent.
Now it IS bad enough 10 challenge our
especial confidence for an old undertaking
enemy who never ceased to oppose US un-
til the necessities of his political position
made 1t expedient-but it is too bad at the
same time 10 ask us to denounce an old
long-tried friend, who has sacrificed him.
self to our interests. What friendship
can we hereafter expect-what friendship
do we deserve, if we thus act Allow me
TO submit the proofs in support of the
broad proposition which have asserted.
Mr.. Van Buren, voted in the New York
Convention TO confer the highest privilege
of freeman upon negroes. 1t was carrl-
ed manly by his influence; and it is to
him that we are indebted for the fact, that
the powerful representation of forty men,
bers from the State of New York are sent
here in part by negroes.
In 1919. Mr.. Van Buren, voted to in
strdct Rufus King, thea a Senator in Con-
gress from New York, 10 vote against the
admission of Missouri into the Union I'M
less slavery was abol shed. 1t is 10 me a
melancholy illustration Of the decadence
of public feeling, and Of want of proper
tone and spirit in the South, that one of
the prime movers-perhaps the very
prime mover Of that dangerous measure
should not only be urged upon the conf
dence Of the South, but is so pressed as the
only anonied saviour of Southern instilu-
tons. Mr.. Jefferson said that the news
of that movement came upon him like the
cry of fire in the night. No one crisis in
our public affairs has so excited the fears
of every patriot; and, most strange and
unaccountable, he who lighted the torch
is held up as our best friend, and he who
extinauished it as our worst enemy. Is this
grateful, fair, or just? No later than 1922,
Mr.. Van Buren, voted to restrict the in.
PRODUCTION of slaves into Florida. IfCon.
gress has the power to restrict, has it not
power to forbid the introduction of slaves
into Territory? Who denies this ? IF you
have power TO restrict it to settlers, why
may you not restrict it still further to set.
tiers over eighty years of age, or alto
gether Look on that picture, and now
look or this In 1902, General Harrison
presided over a Convention in Indiana.
whose object was to obtain modification
of the ordinance of 1889, so as to admit
slavery in lat Territory. In 1919, Gen.
eral Harrison was a member of Congress
from district in Ohio containing more
abolltionists than any other in the State.
The Missouri question, raised by Mr.. Van
Buren, and his associates, was brought be-
fore Congress. 1t was one of those trying
occasions which few men have the moral
courage to meet. General Harrison, had,
and acted worthily of his own fame, and
the patriotic name which he had inherited
from noble ancestor. He was told, il
you vote with the South you will DESTROY
yourself. "That is probable" he replied,
shut 1t is better that should destroy my.
self than 10 destroy the Constitution of my
country"-an expression and an act SUI.
hclent OF themselves 10 stamp HIM a pa.
triot. He voted, with two others, and on
y two, from the non-slave States, to sus.
tain the chartered rights of the South. -
Never did wilder, fercer, or more furi.
Gus storm burst upon the head of any
man. At the next election, he was, not.
withstanding his overwhelming popularity,
beaten for Congress; and never was more
vituperation and opprobium heaped upon
any man than he suffered. The town OF
Cheviot was in his district, and in that
neighborhood there were more abolition.
lists than any where else in the State; and
there the denunciation oc General Harrl.
son was most violent. In 1888, the PEG.
pie Of Chevoit, remembering his public
services, and willing to forgive, not to for
get, his great political crime-for abolition
had increased, not dIminished-inyited
him to public dinner. His friends urged
him TO make no alusion to abolition : that
decent respect TO those who had invited
him-a very large portion of whom were
Observation-Disclosures that he should
make no allusion TO the past. He at once
determined that he would not, but on his
way TO Chevoit, he found the dangerous
spirit of abolition more rife than ever.
He determined to rebuke it, and he did so.
] wish you to remember that this speech
was not made to shareholders, but that
there was not man in the assembly who
was not opposed to slavery, and large
number of them abolitlonists. To sucf
an assembly he held the following Ian.
guage:
There is, however, a subject now be.
ginning to agitate, 1.-THE Southern States,
in relation to which, if their alarm has any
| foundation, the relative situation in which
they may stand to some of the States vii
be the very reverse of what it now is.
allude to a supposed disposition IN some
individuals in the non-slayeholding State.
to interfere with the slave population Of tht
other States, for the purpose of forcins
their emancipation. do not call you
attention to this subject, fellow citizens
from the apprehension that there is maj
amongst you who will lend his aid to |
project SO pregnant with mischief; ant
still less that there is a State in the Uniol
which could be brought to give it counte
nance. But such are the feelings of on
Southern brethren upon this subject
such their views, and their Just views, Q