Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-08-24
The Free Soil Movement.

upon which rests the eye of the adventurous mari
ner, watching if its growth portends the storm, that
he may prepare to battle with the elements, is the
evil and sedltious movement of those WhD conSti-
tute the Free Soil Party-commencing their dark
plot with no foreihought of future consequences,
it has increased in magnitude through the influence
and madness of disappointed politicians, anil the
fre-brand has spread through various sections ofthe
Union-and the Southern freeman, like the sailor
upon the wild waters, must brace himself for the
fearful contest, which unbIdden, rises with hydra>
headed power, to deprive him of his inherited rights;
and makes him not only s'bservientt to the whims of
Northern fanatics, but places him at the mercy of
his own slaves.
Already have abolitionists become bold and dar
ing in their actions from the apparent popularity of
the anti-slavery question. Upon the borders Of
the Ohio they have commenced their n%efarious
armed men were securing Brackea and Harrison
counties, Kentucky, in pursuit of abolitionlsts with
large gangs Of slaves, who they are determined to
arrest if they are to be followed to the confines of
Canada. This being evidently the result of the
Free Soil Movement, how do we know but at this
very moment emisar!es may be at W ork, and under
the guise of being merely the supporters of the
nominees of the Buffalo Convention, are sowing
the seeds of discold and destruction amongst us. It
behooves those who have been appointed the guar
dams of our local rights to keep themselves alert
during these exciting times, that no interlopers with
such reasonable principles are progressing in Lou
isiana.
But apart from the immediate evil attendant upon
the actions of those who proclaim themselves Free
Soil men, weenust endeavor to crush this move
ment with energy and promptitude, for if it is not
crushed, who can tell what constituted right may
not be wrested from us? To effect this pur-
pose Southerners should assist to place in the Pre-.
sidential chair a man who understands their feelings
and their interests.
Three candidates for the Presidency are now
before the people for their s~uffiages. 1t is difficult
to say which of the two is most Objectionable to the
South, Mr.. Van Buren, or Gen. Cass. The char
acter and opinions of the former are now well un-
stood: there seems to be no doubt now as to the
texture of MIR. Van Buren's coat: the lion has dis
rbed himself Of the fox's skin. His strength in the
South Is too insignificant to speak Of; vet. if by the
chicanery and artifce of himself and friends, the.
election for President is thrown into the House of
Representatives, which is evidently their object, he
will certainly be elected over the heads of both Cass
and Taylor. Q
What better can you expect by giving your vote
~ co,,o-,I T,,oI d. L., o~,,. ,-.,ol l.. =, ..,,,J
ly as bitter enemy to the South as Mr.. Van Buren,.
1t isbut a few months since ahat he was the strenu-
ous advocate of the WiImot Proviso in the u. S.
Senate, where lie was sent by an anti-slavety legis-
lature. But finding that he had committed himself
on that question. and beng warned by his friends
of his ugly situation, he sets himself down and
writes a long and artful letter to an ex-editor in
Tennessee. for the purpose of erasing the impress
sion that he was an antLsaverY man. And how,
think you, fellow citizens of this district, did Gen.
Cass clear himself, in his Nicholson letter, of the
imputation that he was tainted with abolltionismf
Why, the whole sum and substance Of that letter is
thus tru,hfully rendered. am not in favor Of the
Wilmot Pfoyiso, which declares all territories free
which now belong or may hereafter belong to the u.
States, but am in favor of the question Of sla>
very being left with the inhabitants of the terrific
ries, nine-tenths of whom being themselves colored,
it is not possible to suppose that they would permit
the colored race TO come among then, as slaves."-
This is precisely what Cass assumes in this famous
letter, and ii places him III an attitude equally for
bidding as the position of Van Buren,.
Van Buren and Cass being then by their own
professions equally dangerous and obnoxious to the
people of the South, will they not look to the third
candidate-to their own citizen-,heir own Taylor?
All that he has said respecting the snbjuct of slave
ry, is, this: ~ hare.no party. projects to build APP
no enemies to ~punish-nothing to seros but ing coun-
try'' This is all thathe has said respecting the in~
sttution of slavery. Can not General Taylor be
trusted by southerners2 Will they desert his stand-
ard at home after he has led them SO often 10 victory
in a foreign landi Will citizens, because they have
hitherto supported what is termed the democratic
ticket, throw themselves into the arms Of Van Barren
or Cas-, and become prosolytes to the cry of Free
Soil and Rebellion7 Is not the character of Gen.
Taylor, over which a stainless mantle of purity, in-
tegrity and patriotism, has been spread throughout
his whole life, sufficient guarantee, without any su-