Democratic banner., 1849-06-18

advocate of the liberty OF man. whist II
would in no respect interfere with the rights
of the several States, it can and should ban
ish slavery from our rational legislation.
But whatever others may do, your duty
seems to us most simple. You hays main.
tanned your principles and your organisa-
ton under every past encouragement. You
will continue to do 30.
The Tone OF the Democratic Press
&c: abroad.
We copy the following structures upon
Senator Bention's course from the Rich
mond Enquirer, we'll known for many years
as the organ of the successful Democracy
of Virginia.
Mr.. BENTON'S POSITION.
As a matter Of general interest, We give
below from the st. Louis Union q charac-
t~eristic letter of Mr.. Benton, appealing from
the Legislature Of Missouri. Mr.. Benton
veiy improperly, in our view,i impugns the
motives Of the Legislature Of a Sovereign
State, and, by his sole fiat, seeks to nullify
her solemn and deliberate voice, snd place
her in the ranks Of the enemies Of the South.
The resolutions of the Missouri Legislature
the binding force of the Mis-
seuri Compromise, and take q view Of the
Proviso, and other kindred subjects,
analogous to that Of Virginia.
With our recent experience Of the effect
in Virginia, We cannot believe that Mr.. Ben
ton, with all his talents, can make the sover-
eign State of Missouri swerve from her
solemn and deliberate avowsls of her con.
~victions of duty. It was tried here last win.
ter-the cry Of 'disunion' was raised, and
every means introduced to make Old Vir-
ginia humble herself and back out from her
position in lS47-but the scheme failed
her Legislature stood up to their faith and
their duty, and those who counselled her to
abandon the South and break her word,
were swept down by the popular current.
Thus it will be, we cannot doubt, with
the young Democratic giant, Missouri. Mr..
Benton may have with him the aid Of the
Wings, as we see it stated (indeed, the ST.
Louis Republican, a Wing organ, avows
itself prepared to stand by the doctrine Of
Mr.. B.)-we cannot believe that the I'M
terrified Democracy Of that State will re-.
treat from their position and give aid and
comfort 10 the 'free-sop party.
How much more conducive to the rights
of the South, and, indeed, the promotion Of
the Union is the manly language Of General
the Democratic candidate for
Governor in Tennessee, in his speech at
sThe North, said General TIousdale, are
pursuing a system of measures which must
terminate, il persisted in, in the entire aboli-
ton of slavery in the United States. The
step in the system was thelabolition of
in the District Of Columbia. The
was to prevent its extension into the
new territories; then the traffic in slaves
between the States would follow !; and after
that the object of these agitators would
be accomplished, by the necessary
abolition of slavery in the States. This
their object, and these were measures
by which they hoped to effect it. For him
self, he was for fighting this ground inch by
And whilst he was for the Union, he
was for the constitution which formed the
Union. To preserve the one, we must sus-
tain the other. Upon this question the
South should stand as n man against the
Of the North, and meet them at
every point. No man in the country could
be so wanting in duty to himself, to his
to posterity, and to the country, as
to desire to break up the Union. And il
the South would stand firm and united on
her constitutional rights, the North would
from taking upon itself the RESPONSE
bility of dissolving the Union
The Washington Union Of the 3lst ultimo
received q synopsis Of the speech Of
Col. Benton delivered at Jefferson City BY
comments upon the positions Of
the Hon. Senator as follows:
The speech will not reach us yet for two
or three days. But in the meantime, we
do not hesitate to say that the positions
taken by the Senator from Missouri are di.
rectly contrary to that great principle Of
on-intervention, on which Gen. Cass and
the majority Of his friends fought the last
campaign. His course is directly in the
teeth, too, Of that spirit Of compromise on
which the constitution 10 formed, and on
the Missouri question was adjusted.
We know not how far California is ahnnt tol