Democratic banner., 1849-12-10
Southern Wings defining their Positions.

Thos. L. Clingnan, Of North Corolina, one of
the candegs of their party, in the House of Rep
ressatatives, upon the Slavery question? How
do they relish those of the Hon. Willie P. Man.
gum, wing Senator from the same State? We
nave patiently awaited an expression of senti-
ment upon The views Of those Hon. gentlemen
from their political friends in this State, but so
far the letter Of enquiry addressed by Mr.. FoOtc
and the reply Of Mr.. Clingman, have been pub
Lished without one word of comment. Our whig
friends have at times, during the last summer,
taken occasion to deneunce the resolutions of our
last Legislature, as disorganiging and treasona-
BILE in their tendency. They have opened their
ears to fattery and been tickled to receive the
compliment conferred Il in the smooth and sedGc-
tive words of Col. Benton, that they are a Union
IOuing and patriotic party. They and the Col.
having forgotten past differences of opinion on
this subject, and determined, perhaps, to revive
no sreminisceEcies" of the old "organized trea-
son and deep damnation of the Hartford Conven-
tiOn," may possibly shalt PERSUADE themselves
that this is true. But now before any wing ora
Tor or editor shall hereafter villify and denounce
our OWE Legislature, for a plain and simple ex-
preston Of opinion upon an important topic, in
which the most captious and ingenious can find
no harm, without base and ungenerous distortion,
and before he suffers himself TO be too far deceive
ed in the faucied devotion of his own party to
the Union, at all hazards and Under all circutn-
stances, we would recommend to him the careful
Perusal Of Mr.. Clingman's letter. In holiness
Of expression and decision of course, he goes
further than Mr.. Calhoun has ever gone upon
the question of the "Proviso." AndMr. Man.
gum concurs with him. If Calhoun is an arch
t'nullifer," what are Clingman and Mangum ?
Mr.. Cingman says:
t.1f the government should adopt the policy of
excluding shareholders, as such, from all the ter
ritory Of the United States, it would in substance
and effect cease to be the government of the Uni
TED States. While the form of the constitution
might remain the same, its character would be
essentially changed.
Ought the southern States to acquiesce in this
great organic change in our political systemS--
Ought they to remain members of an association
which had, in utter disregard of plain ~ronstilu-
tionaI guarantees, degraded them fromtheir posi-
tion of equality? As history furnishes no record
Of any people who have prospered after they
had forfeited their self-respect, by submitting to
De degraded to a state of political vassalage, I
hold It to be the duty Of the southern States to
resist this change. That resistance, to be efec.
tual, should be commensurate with the violence
Of the attack. This they the cause of con.
.titutional liberty, to justice, and to their own
honor"
Again, he says. 'should such a contingency
occurs, / have no doubt but that ovefthe entire
South there would be a vastly greater unanimi-
~ than existed in the old thirteen slare States when
they decided to resist British aggression"
This is strong language, but instead of pro-
&nOting d%isunion, it may bring reflection to the
fsnatic and avert the blow that might sunder for
everthe tie of our confederacy. The South loves
the Union, and would stand by it in every peril
and guard with vigilance lis honor. But the
blood in tie veins of her sons is warm, and
prompts them to be proud Of their rights and
ready to maintain them. The Southerner is a
generous friend, a forgiving foe, and ardent in
his attachment to the institutions of his country.
He interferes with the domestic regulations Of
none, but happy in the enjoyment Of chose rights
which are guaranteed to him by the blood Of his
forefathers and the charter of his liberties, he re-
joices to see others possessing equal privileges
with himself Naturally proud of his country,
and jealous Of bis rights, he speaks the bold
language of defiance to every invader.
Though he may at times be too rash and hasty
in his course, yet "his Ieanings are all to virtues
side;'' and when the zeal of the moment has a
little snbsided, he listens to the voice of reason,
and proves not an enemy to reflection. Free
from the curse Of Discrimination and hypocrisy,
be speaks with . franknsss the "Geelings of his
heart" leo ragnanimous 70 deceive, and Toe
sensitive to harm a friend, he seeks no self-ag.
grandissnent at the expense of principle or the
sacrifice Of his honest convictions. He speaks
his sentiments, regardless of the favor or the
browns Of the world.
Call not such men as these "nuIlikers," "dis-
unionists," and enemies of their c%ountry's glory,
bssauss.they beg you not to force upon them a
MEASURE which YOU admit to be useless and a