The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-12
From the Mississippian.

ARE THE PEOPLE AFRAID OF THEIR GOVERNMENT
Time has been when the whole American peo-
pie lay down at night and rose up in the morning
with grateful hearts to Providence, that so great
good had been vouched safe to them the Gov
eminent of these States Has tLat time passed
too, and gone with the trainers of the Federal
Constitution to that bourne whence no traveller
returns True, lamentnbly true Look around
you and answer, if the people are content with
their Government d.. they look to it as the ark
Of safety which shall protect them from the Storm
stern, sulen No, is the response Of majority
of the whole American Union at this time, to this
inquiry. Our Government has become one which
is suffered, not enjoyed. The great body of the
people now look to Washington with repressed
apprehensions Of evil, and not with pleasing fore
bodings of good. The people have become afraid
Of their Government. The terror OF government
al authority, and the fact cannot be denied, at
this time, absolutely constrains individuals and
communities from the bare assertion of their rights
and their honor. Such in very truth is the terror
Of the Government, that even those, who, under
ordinary circumstances might remain passive in
their submission to abuse and outrage, have now
become active in the work of condemning those
who would struggle to defend the common rights
Of ALL
He that would deny these facts, is perversely
blind. No one can do it whose intercourse with
the people affords the slightest opportunity for the
entertainment Of their sentiments. Meet whom
you will and where you viii, and put this one
question: 'Do you not think the South was justly
entitled to part Of the rich domain acquired by the
war with Mexico r. and the answer will be
promptly in the affirmative. Relate, then, the
startling fact that the North has usurped the |
whole, and although the person Intercepted may 4
say with yawn, 'ttceA, ,oiH haze 10 ssbmu,"
yet in his heart he is deeply dissatisfied, and stiles
his rage from prudential considerations. Relate 1
the same TO the South) degrading fact to another
less submissive in his temperament, and he will
pause to inquire remedy to redress this foul
wrong. Yoa may tell him that the majority in \
Congress are dead against us, but that will not
rule him down nor cool the burning sense of his
degradation. He will presently ask you, as we
now ask: SCAN THE STATE NOT DO SOMETHING TO
SECURE RlGHrsY'
The hrst impulse of the people is not for resist
ance to the Federal authority; and few there are,
who at the first blush of usurpalon are ready To-
fall into the dIscreditabe category of meek sub
missions,n. Nothing could be more foreign tot
the character Of the American freeman, than tame
obedience to oppression. strong devotion TO the
institutions under which he lives, and Of which he
has been wont to boast, would naturally induce
him to bear with much--tO hesitate long-and to
ponder anxiously upon the causes which may
have contributed to the Commission Of wrong, be-
fore he will admit that an outrage has been perpe1
trated by the Government. But once satisfied of
the fact, he arouses from his ethargy and se,s
about securing his lost rights.
This is emphaticay the state of public mind in
the Southern States at the presentimportant period
in the history Of the country Our people-every
one of .them-for all agree that fragrant outrag.
has been perpretrated by the Federal Government
ARE anxioosly inquirIng what ought to be dons
to secure to the South those rights which ars
about being wrested from III Some have said, wd
must perforce, and will submit. A very large ma
joriiy, nevertheless, say they WILL NOT submit be
fore first exhausting. every remedy which belongs
TO them as frssmen and equals under solemn
compact. E~ YwHwTR8E 4fM&rs
II is this great majority of all political parties