Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-07-28
WHO HAS BETRAYED THE soUrH

both OF the great parties into which they are di.
vided. The fact cannot be denied, that il is but
lew years since when abotoniSm was a inca.
gre faction even in the New England States,
and lis advocates were even there treated with
contempt, ridicue, and sometimes with violence,
when they attempted 10 hold meetings for the
purpose Of discussing the doctrines which they
proiessed. Nor had it made any Roadway in
Congress. The South presented. at that time,
an undivided front upon a question which affect.
ed So vitality her great interest and she was sus.
tanned by a baud Of firm and intrepid friends
among the Democrats of the free States, which
enabled her IN great measure to suppress even
the agitation of the dangerous question Of slavery
II cannot be denied, that no, more than six years
ago the South was triumphant in the halls of
Congress on this question; which so intimately
involves her peace and security and was enabled
through the fidelity OF the Democratic Represen.
tatives from the free States, eiitclually TO sup.
press all agitation upon the subject. Such was
the state of things no farther back than six years
Now what is the state OF the q'teson both in
| Congress and the States in which slavery does
I not exist! In Congress the South have been dc.
/ itated and Frustrated on the great question. She
{
ties otthe Constitution, which should be her pro.
lection, have been grossly violated and tramped
/ upon in the House of Representatives. The
rules adopted 10 prevent the agitation Of the sub.
lect have been repealed, and even on the great
question relating to the territories, she has failed
IN obtaining the rights and securities which she
claims under the Constitution. And what is the
state Of the question in the free States A
change equally as radical and profound has there
taken place among both people and politicians.
Six years ago the South could rely implicitly
upon the support Of one Of the greatest parties at
the North. She had friends in Congress from
the North belonging 10 the Democratic party,
who nobIy defended and maintained her rights.
But now, what is the state OF things Nearly
all those friends have been stricken down and
have disappeared, and she is l,f 10 battle for her
rights almost alone and single handed. These
are facts, stubborn flc,s and they cannot be dc.
MED. And now il remains t. inquire into the
| causes which have produced this change in the
sentiments and conduct Of the people Of the free
States, and ~ Congress, upon the subject OF sIa.
very, and to dsgerAin, il possible who have been
/ its authors.
! In our judgement, there is but one cause, and
and the authors TO that cause are as apparent to
our view as the cause itself Il is the alliance
ofthe Southern Wings with Northern Wings
tor which tho leado's Of tho Wig party In the
South are alone responsible. Let US look back
| into The history Of the slavery question in Con,
gress, and see il we have not abundant evidence
10 support the position which we have assumed.
Every Southern man will remember, that the
agitation otthe slave qucs ion in Congress is
comparatively Ofrecent date. 1t commenced I'M
der the auspices of the late John @. Adams who
owed debt Of hatred and revenge to the South
for the political hostility which both he and his
father encountered from the Democracy of that
portion of the Union. He became the great az.
ltator, and the patron of the pretended right of
petition, underline abolitonists which claimed the
right OF inundaling both Congress and the counrt
with their ntammabe matter upon the subject of
s'c."ery. In 1893, the nuisance had become so
inlolerabe in the House of representatives, that
that body found in necessary TO take some steps
to suppress and put an end to it. And hence the
resolutions known as the "Athcrlon resolutions"
were adopted. Those resolutions were present
ed by Mr. Atherton, Democratic member
from New Hampshire, and were adopted by
unanimous vote on the part OF the Southern mem.
bers, and large share of the Democratic mem-
bers from the free States voting for them. They
/ provided that Abolition petitions should be re-
cciycd and referred to a committee without read.
ng,
! Still the agitation was not aayed. Under
the lead Of Mr.. Adams, aided and assisted by Mr..
Slade, Wing from Vermont, and Mr.. Giddings
another Wing from Ohio, petitions Of III, most
/ Objectionable character, and insulting 10 the South
continued TO be presented in greater numbers
than ever and so great was the excitement pro.
duccd by them, and the consequent interruption,
OF business, that the House was compelled, at
the session OF le39-40, to adopt the celebrated
2lsI rule; which excluded the reception OF pc
tItions upon the subject Of slavery. This resoiu-
ton was adopted by the unanimous vote Of the
Southern members, and twenty eight Northern
Democrats; alllbe Wing members from the free
States voting against them except one. Thus,
at that time, the whole Wing party ofihe North
had abandoned the interests Of the South and
cine out on the side of the Abolitionsts leav.
ing the South and devoted band of Northern
Democrats to fight the battles ofthe South against
the incendiares, who were endeayoring to light
up the torch Of Instruction and servile war in
her very bosom.
After this clear demonstration that the South
had nothing to hope from the Wings of the North,
and everything to hope from the Democrats who
had proved to be her true and steadiast friends
what course ought she to have pursued The
, voice of reason and Of common sense answers,
that she should have stood by her true friends in
the free States, the Democrats. But what course
did she take The Democrats ofthe South con.
tinued to support the Northern friends of the
South, but the Wings of the South deserted them.
After this demonstration of division among thu
politicians and people Of the South and the ALI
ance of the Southern Wings with the Northern
!, Wings, wha, was the course ofthe latter! The.
:, became open and avowed abolitionists The
n passed resolutions against slavery. not only il
their popular conventions, but in their State Leg
mr. slatures, and permitted no opportunity to pass,t
!, inflame the popular mind against slavery. An
.;r in Congress, Wing Representatives from tn
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