Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-10-17
From the Baltimore American
1.-THE SOUTH DANGER.


We alluded in Yesterdays .4mericon to the
singular circumstances connected with the
publication of the pamphlet headed 1.-The
South in Danger"-tlie design of il being to
circulate among Southern people garbled quota
tions aud disconnected extracts from Mr. Clay's
speeches TO show that he lavouted abolition
ism. The position of Henry Clay on this
subject has been long known to the whole
country; there has never been any conceal
mcnt about it. No man i'm this Union has
taken wider, more comprehensive or more
just views of slavery, as it exists in this coun-
try, than he no man understands better the
true nature and working Of that institution,
with clearer appreciation of the favourable
features belonging TO il. or a more sincere de-
precaiion OF the evils resulting therefrom. II
fairly understood and considered, his views
on this matter would be regarded both at the
South and at the North, and by all parties, as
eminenlly stalesmanike and just
But II is TO another point that we wish to
say word. The whole movement going on
at the South, of which this pamphlet includ-
ing the remarkable disavcwal of il when thr
Wings sent it TO the North, is part and parcel
the whole movement. we saw, at the South
in connection with this Presidential canvass,
is worthy of special attention. The manner
In which the question of the annexation of
Texas was thrown into the political arena
cannot be forgotten; nor can the influence of
that question be overlooked when il is re-
memhered that upon The very point presented
by II The nomination for the Presidency was
made TO turn among our political opponents,
10 the exclusion o the most prominent man
in their party. 1t became from the first a
Southern question:; and so imperiousy did
lie politicians oi The South carry their sway
over their Northern allies, that a Texas man
or nobody was The decree under which the
Baltimore Convention Of May 9Th went into
Il nomination for the Presidency. In the Sc
lection of Mr.. Polk, i: must be granted. the
Convention came near as possible TO the
combination of both alternatives vet the
South, caring nothing for his being 'nodody,''
lrinmphs in the fact that he was "Ieras
man"
ltNlr. Polk should be elected, bv any chance.
the influences under which he will act in the
administration of the government are more 20
be regarded perhaps than any of the personal
or political qualities of The man. His cleo
uon would not be the victory of Mr. Polk
over Henry Clay; it would be the ascendant
cy OF the faction of party, first over the par
~ itself, and secondly over the best interests
Of the country and the cause of true conslitu-
lional republicanism.
But with Mr.. Polk for President what could
the discontinued leaders of The South door
rather what could they NOT do? What would
the termination of this Texas movement :
A war with Mexico mi ght MOI he the begin
ning OF lie end. Suppose all Texas annexed
according 10 the wishes of the South-would
the States 10 be formed out of the annexed
territory be admitted into the Union as slave
States How can any one believe such a
thing when there is III The House of Repre-
seDtailves of The United States majorIt; OF
lorly IN The representation OF the non-slave-
holding States Yet unless admitted as slave
States the South would moi have any portion
oil The annexed terri DRY admitted at all.
Every one mny see The difficulties which
must arse out OF This crisis--yet who can see
the means of exlrcaton. How is it possible
that the Union can be preserved? So plain
and paipabe Is the result OF disunion, as the
consequence OF this Texas annexation as con-
nected with the nomination of Mr.. Polk, that
Col Benton III the Senate Gd not hesitate To
charge II upon the leaders Of The intrigue as
their specific and definite purpose. Hear
him
Polk and Texas, (said Mr.. Benton, in. re-
ply to MIR. McDufie,) are strong, and can car
ry good deal but not every thing. The
oriental story informs us that il was the last
ounce which broke the camel's back.-Wha,
if a mountain had been pu, first on The poor
animals back Modification is mouuIain
DlSunlon is mountain and what could
Polk aud Texas do with two mountains or
their backs And here, Mr.. President,
must speak out. The time has come for
those to- speak it who neither fear nor count
consequences when their country is III dan
ger. NULLIFlCATlON AND DISUNION
ARE EVIVED, and revived under circum-
stances which menace more danger than ever
since coupled with popular question which
give TO the plouers the honest sympathies On
the patriotic millions. have often minated
IL before, but now proclaim il. DlSUN1ON
Is AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS LONG
CONCEALED TEXAS MACilN ALTON.
| INTRIGUE AND SPECULATION COOP
ERATE: BUT DISUNION IS AT TIE
BOTTOM, AND DENOUNCE IT TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE; UNDER THE
PRETEXT OF GETTING TEXAS INTO
THE UNION THE SCHEME Is TO GIT
THE SOUTll on l. OF IT. a separate con.
federacy, stretching from the Atlantic to Cali
lornia, (and hence the secret Of the Rio
Grande del Norle froutier,) is the cherisbed