Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-10-21

s;on from its context used in circular
&c General Harrison's published in 1882,
parade this garbled extract, perverted as
Ear from its meaning as their charge IS
from ,ruth. 10 sustaine the base falsehood
their malignty has raised.
NEGRO TESTIMONY.
But in the midst Of their canting hy-
pocracv on the subject of abolition, IN the
midst of their affected zeal TO guard the
institutions Of the south against the
schemes of the abolitionists, whilst the
advocates of Mr.. Van Buren, were urg-
inc with unremiting ferocitv this calumny
agasnst General HorIison, their nothern
man with southern principles sanctioned
in his o(ficia capacity, admission OF negro
testimony againt the character and stand
inc. Of a high minded officer of the U. S.
Nav. and Immediately this plant party
ever ready 10 accommodate themselves to
every attitude in which their leader may
present himself in the part which he IS
acting before the American people, be-
came the apologists Of this dangerous
and UNPRECEDENTED measure. by estab-
fishing this principle hitherto unknow IN
in our country, gallant and merltorlons
| officer may at any time be made the VIC
tim of oppression and be dismissed from
his station or be discharged flom the SER
wee of his country with ignominy and
disgrace, upon the evidence of degraded
and unprncipled negro. In country
like this where the moral degradation of
the negro race is necessarily incident to
their condition of slarery, measure more
destructive Of the chivalry and character
of the officers of the Navy than the ad-
mission of negro testimony in court mar
tials, could not have been devised; yet
this, instead of being at once arrested by
a general burst of Indignation, is defend
ed by the very individuals, who with SO
little truth and Justice are urging the
charge of abolition against Gen. HARRISON.
CLAY AND PRENTISS.
Whenever this party is DESTROYS of
making desperate assault against any
prominent individual, who stands opposed
to the execution of their selfish purposes,
they mount this hobby Of abolition and
with reckless fury they charge upon the
object of their vindictive hatred. When
Mr.. Clay stood prominent as candidate
for the presidency he was assalled with
every foul epithet, with every disgraceful
accusation which party rancor could
manufacture and among other ridiculous
and grourdless charges with which he
was attacked, he was accused of being an
abolitionist, but he is no sooner withdraw
from tho presidential canvass than instead
of the cry of abolition we hear nothing
but affected Indignation and hypocrltical
regret that the claims of this brilliant
orator, this distinguished statesman and
neglected patriot should be postponed by
the wings for that fanatieal abolitionst,
that superanuated driveller Gen. Harrison.
But the soul of Henry Clay is too lofty
and pure, his patriotism too ardent and
sincere 10 be operated upon by any con-
siderations of himself when his country's
interests are nvolved.-When that son
Of genius the Hon. S. S. Pren.iss, whose
fame has already reflected more honor on
the State Of his adoption than she has
bestowed OIL his, was a candidate for
congress to vindicate Mississippi from the
degradation into which an unprincipled
patty had placed her by assuming the right
10 appoint he. representatives 10 congress
in violation Of the constitution and in op.
position to the voice of her people, the
Van Buren, party fearing the effects of
that eloquence' which like the lightnings
of Heaven, blasted with its power the
ministers and agents of corruption, and
with its dazzling splendor exposed IN the
strongest light their acts OF usnrpatlon
and despotsm resorted to every measure
in his absence to defeat his election and
among other disgraceful means which
they adopted to attack him from places
of concealment they made use of the
charge of abolition against him. He met
the charge with that spirit which always
characterized him, and in his address TO
the people of Columbus, where the foul
calumny, if it did not originate, had been
industriously circulated on the streets and
through the columns OF the loco foco organ
holding up the paper which contained the
groundless libel, he proclaimed that he was
ignorant of the paternity of this base and
contemplate offspring of falsehood and
malice, but if any person would become
foster father to the disgraceful production
he would cram the malignant and SIAN
derous charge down his Icing throat; little
was heard after this of Mr.. Prentiss' being
an abolitionist, the people elected him TO
congress by triumphant majority; and
and the people, Mr.. Chairman, in Justice
to the patriot whose whole life has been
one continued sacrafce of his individual
interest, TO his country's service and whom
they have exposed to all the SANDERS
which malice and corruption can COM
pound by calling him in the present crisis
of their affairs from the quiet enjoyment
of his domestic life to mingle in the ex-
element and commotion of politics, will
set their seal of condemnation upon this
false accusation against Gen. Harrison
and by their verdict in November, will
brand its authors and its propagators as
libellers and calumniators.
With one other charge Mr.. Chairman,
| shall close this catalogue of ISLANDERS by
which the loco foco party have attempted
to PROSTATE the character of Gen. Harri-
son, that they may enjoy for second term
'the spoils of victory"
FEDERALISM.
Unable TO sustain their candidate by
successful defence, of the measures ofhls
administration, they endeavor to produce
diver~.;on in Mr., Van Buren's favor, by