The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-20

vet, Is hopeless attempt. Many are In favor
of the plans of the AboiGionists who do not
openly or actively espouse them but, neverthe-
less, stand ready TO enter the breach made by
more desperate assailants. Thus, although the
Abolition vote Is not, in any State, as large as
the representative number, we find such men
as Slade and Glddings returned to Congress,
and returning trumphantly, after the most dar
ing assaults upon the rights, feelings and secu
rty of the Southern People.
As yet Abolition is too unpopular with the
mass of the People, even in the free States for
any wary politician TO wish TO be conspicuous
ly identified with it. The intelligence of the
People shows them that the tendency of Adolf
ton is to disunion, and that the men hitherto
engaged in il are not their friends. But The
question is, how long this popular feeling
in the free States, which is now almost the sole
security of the South, stand against the
perseverance organized, jealous and unopposed
efforts of the Abolilonists? Operating by means
| ofnumerous connected societies, constantly at
work, and affiliated even with foreign societies,
with ample means at their command, having
agents in every direction 10 disseminate their
inlammalory publications, converting even
school books into infamous lbels upon the Peo-
pie of the South, and invoking the name of re-
ligion, as well of liberty, to animate their ad
herenis, their efforts certainly not TO be re-
| garded as mere chds play, or as harmless lu
acy. They must, al last, succeed, II unresIst-
ed in rendering the character Of Southern
Shareholder by-word in the mouths Of man
kind in Europe and America, and in prostrating
he bulwarks by which the Constitution has
deavored TO protect the interests Of the People
of the South.
And how can they be resisted Certainly
not by the formation Of associations which, in
the slang of Abolitonsm, would be termed pro
slavery societies." There is a natural reluctance
IN shareholders the most firmly convinced Of
their rights, and Of the gross injustice Of
The assaults upon them, TO expose themselves
10 the danger Of being misunderstood as advo-
Gates of slavery in the abstract Many, indeed,
in the heat of argument and of excusable in
dignation, have gone further than their sincere
friends in the free States felt justified in approx
| ing. Hence the advantage possessed by their
| opponents. The assaans OF the South may
be constantly engaged, with impunity, in per
Getting their plans of attack, while the defenders
can act only at times. The charge made is
! very simple one; the justification, however
| complete and satisfactory 70 every impartial and
! intelligent mind, is nevertheless complex, and
pre-supposes patient and candid hearing,
which is not always to be obtained
We have said that the Aboitionists invoke
the name of religion in aid of their incendiarv
projects. 1t is indeed their principal plea, and
one in which the foreign and domestic Adolf
tionists unite. Upon this subject we have been
struck with the following remarks n speech
Of Mr.. w ebster, delivered in New York in Nav
1887:
con the general question of slavery, great por-
ton of the community is already strongly excited
The subject has not only attracted attention as
question of politics, but it has struck far deeper
| toned chord. Ii has arrested the religious feeling
Of the country il has taken strong hold the con-
sciences Of men. He is a rash man, indeed and liz
tie conversant with human nature and especially has
he very erroneous estimate OF the character Of the
People of this country, who supposes that feeling
of this kind is to be trAed with, despised 1t will
assuredly cause itself to be respected"
We fear from this that Mr. Webster takes
il for granted that slavery, under any circum-
stances, is incompatible with religion, which
the Southern People must consider begging of
the question. The assumption is an attack up
on the religious feeling of the South, which is
as much entitled TO respect as that of any
other part of the country. We assert that
there are, among the slave holders Of the South,
men of as sound religious feelings, as truly
Christian in their doctrines and practice, and as
rigid in their conscences, as can be found in
any section Of the country. We contend that
there may be as much both Of religion and mo-
rality in Southern city as in Northern. We
will go farther, aid express a doubt whether
there is not less vice and crime in New Odeans,
in proportion to its size, than in New Y ork
Nay,w will 90 still further, and declare our belief
upon the authority of a friend, that even in the
city of Galveston, no favorable specimen Of the
much illuminated Republic of Texas, the Sab
bath will present congregations, black and
white, as orderly and attentive, and ministers
as intelligent and fevent in their piety, as might
be found 10 some towns of New England
1t is not our purpose, however, to discuss or
provoke discussion of the religious bearings
Of the question Of slavery We wished merely
to refer TO that ground Of attack upon the People
of the South, which AboliIonsts and their
! friends seem TO consider the most form liable.
1t is one upon which the Southern people must
make stand in defence of their characters, as
well as their security; and we repeat that we
know Of no other mode Of defence, than by con-
tending for their constitutional rights TO the Ut
most, even at the risk of startling " the civilized
world by the annexation of Texas.
CONGRESS.
u. LII 90 ror,o;vo Cxo., -