Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-12-22
THE VOICE OF VIRGINIA.

No State has spoken more promptly. or will
act more decidedly upon the subject of Northern
argressions. than the Old Dominion Governor
Floyd in his annual message last week to the
Legislature. after detailing wrongs and injuries
sustadAl by the South, and impending over her
thus speaks
The loyalty and devotion TO Virginia to the
Union are known TO the world. They are writ.
ten upon the enduring pages of our conntry's his
tory. She was among the first to strike Tor con-
stuional liberty; she will he the last 10 abandon
it. The great compromises upon which 1t SIS
she offered; aud she herself suffered the chlel
sacrifices to secure lis permanency--she has
given with hberality, which at this day can
scarcely be reconciIed with the dictates OF wis
dom. 10 all thing, touching the honor aud glory
of our confederacy her hand has never closed,
except on the sword.
She cannot submit to this usurpaton OF au-
thory this violation OF her rights this wanton
degradation. Let us insist that the question be
settled now 4 forever. Letus have no palatves
no deceptive truces, no delays which only give
strength to the spirit OF aggression; no compro'
misses which leave the question open for Iuure
adjustment Let ii be settled as to every foot Of
territory belonging to the United States, or which
may hereafter be hers, by compact as solemn
and inyiolahle as the constitution itself. Anything
short of this is certain ruin to the South; it is
humiliation. II conflict must come, let II come
now. We are strong in reality stronger still
in comparison with those whose HANDS are al
ready raised against us. A lew more years OF
acquiescence and supneness will bring about a
necessity of an absolute Submission to every
wrong which oppression or contempt might heap
upon our country.
Submission to the proposed action OF Con,
gress Is a virtual surrender Of the entire South
to Inc African race. II slavery is to be contn
ed to its present limits, with girde Of free
States surrounding US, from the Atlantic TO the
Gulf Of Mexico, a very few years, in a nations
history, will be sufficient to drive the white man
beyond It's limits. The sturdy Iaborer the stay
and support of every community, would soon
leave the country swarming with negroes, for a
residence in another land. The master, too,
would presently follow, finding it impossible o
rem in. This view is no matter Of conjecture
merely; simple rule Of arithmetic will ix the
Fact and time of is contamination, taking As a
/ basis of the calculation the census OF the last
thirty years. Such are the fruits which the
\ Northern tanalicism, viewed in It's most tayora-
/ Die aspect, must produce to the South. The con
( sequences to the North will be little less disas,
trous The great American staples must be Gu
! short--the foreign commerce sustained by then
will disappear from the seaports OF our cnerPrls
! ing neiahbors--their manufactures, should the,
be continued, must find market abroad, IN un
protected competition with the labor ol Eutope
The thrift and prosperity which now so pre- EN-
inently characterize the working classes Of New
England and the North would vanish away
and the mechanic and laborer would find whei
too late, that, willis, striking the manacIes Of i
gal slavery from the hands Of the African, b.
had riveted upon the necks of his own children
the bondage Of necessity, which no earthly pow
er could ever again remove.
EugIand's experiment with her West Ind
colonies has proved failure; this is admitted b,
ALL Il has moi elevated the character OF the ne
gro man, nor has il contributed to his happiness
But the fatal consequences which are certain
to result 10 England from that stupendous foil,
will, in the round Of years, take from that colossa
power the supremacy of the seas. 1t has slruc
deadly blow at her colonial trade; ard hi
was one OF the chief elements Of her mart m
superiority. Shall examples Of This sort teach Il
nothingl Is d blind ianaticism TO overwhelm a
things in its course.
This, solemnly believe, is the most favorabl
view which can be taken Of the subject, if Con
gress persists in the present course Of aggfesso
towards US.
. But the widest visionary would hardly e.
, pect to see these results brought peaceably abou
, Humanity itself must shudder at the bare cor
temptation Of the slaughter most certainly TO TO
, low prosecution otthese iniquitous schemes
We cannot leave our homes; the ashes Of Wasl
/ ngton, Henry and Jefferson may not be desecr
ted by the tread oil the Africah's foot. The me
Of the South will not remain passive; the swoI
will not rest in the scabbard, whilst tanaticIs
is erecting at our hearth-sto an altar, upo
which The victims of sacrifice are to be our daug
Y tiers and our wives.
The almost unanimous sentiment OF sIav'
J. holding country upon this subec, is not the r
n suit Of political agitation seeking TOR party asce
Ie dency. It's the spontaneous outburst OF a who
5. people, upon the conviction thai their deare
)" rights are menaced. Party Prejudlces and an
is mosilies are turied; every tenet Ofia'h and sha
ID ofpoIilical opinion, agree perfectly; and the no
u Ell spectacle is presented ofeight millions OF pc
2 Pile actuated by and obedient to single detf
Il mination. arising as one man TO stay the hand
g usuFpation and wrong.
ne Let US trust that our brethren At the North
e. understand before It is forever too late that
Sc feeling Of self preservation, and not 81 silly b.
lie vado actuates our course. Let Us hope still Il
our common suffering and common trinmphs,
en- memories Of the past and the bright hopes d
nd future which we offer to all mankind, may 8
ne the madness which is precipilating Us into r
to. from which no human power can ever grant
not even the hope Of rescue"