The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-01

making Presidents. As to the first, the Will
mot" it is plain, direct proposition to exclude
the Southern people, by law, from carrying
their property and enjoying its use upon terri
tory to which they have an equal right with the
people Of the North. The Southern States
have considered this so insulting, that they have
many of them resolved ITO resist it, ! believe
to rear another platform on this plan, without
giving it another name rs tfE 3
The Wilmot, therefore, by name, has been for
the present abandoned. One, however, for sDe-
mocracy," has been much talked of, to be called
@non-intervention," the broadcast plank of which
is to be taken from the norh side of the "Nichol-
son letter." and fitted up with q few Southern
materials, which can easily be obtained. But
this, also, believe, has been abandoned. Ano-
ther platform for Whiggery, to be called @nOn-
action was also spoken Of This was 40 much
like "non-intervention," TINT 1t has been laid
aside, and a third plan proposed likely to unite
as much Of each Of the others as will accomplish
the same object as the sproyiso," and yet get us
clear Of the name. E(AF1I ltFlE
| Thirteen skilful workmen, taken promiscuous-
| ly from both Of the great parties, have been
months engaged upon this last platform, but the
name first selected, (4.compromise, y as we'll rs
most of the materials to be used, having been
previously condemned by Southern people, it was
thought rather hard upon them not to take a
name they fancied, as they were to get nothing
else. An old popular political priest of the
South was therefore called upon to select new
name, and he christened the bantling "adjust-
ment" but whether it will answer the purpose
OF making coalition President, or even pay the
fees of the christening, remains yet to be seen
We are all certain, however, that it will do the
same injustice to the South as the "Wilmot,"
besides the ten millions we are to be taxed for
the payment of Texan bonds, which my constit-
uents may think is paying rather dear for only
getting clear of an ugly name. ~.
| In these States the citizen is not "a subject
or owned by the General Government, as men
are under most other countries but on the con-
trary, each citizen is a partner with all Others
| for whose use the Government was formed. He
| owes obedience to the laws made in pursuance
of the compact of partnership; and so do all
other citizens through Congress and the other
public offices, owe like obedience-the officers
themselves, for the time they hold their Offices
| being trustees to execute this compact between
the people of the several States, as sovereign
communities or States; this Congress and the
other departments Of the General Government
constituting the Government not being sover
eign, there is no allegiance due it rs to sover
eigns in other Governments; but obedience ii
i due its lawful enactments. Congress can a
much commit treason against this compact, ant
the liberty il was intended to secure by violating
the Constitution in making laws, as the either
in breaking laws constitutionally made. There
is no difference in principle The obligations O.
good faith are mutual-as binding upon Govern
ment as upon people. a~ @
i If, therefore Congress pass law to deprive
citizen of his right to property; or any Othe
right secured to him by the Constitution, it is n,
offence to break such law, and may become on
, Of the highest duties which citizen owes 4
himself or country not to submit tossuch an en-
croachment upon his rights. },s, "a. ..,...
know that the worshippers OF tyrants an
, despots in every age and country, never like t
hear the duties of kings, governments, and pub
} lie officers even so much as named. Such Inc
are always ready, and have their mouths file
with words and threats to scare people with, an
prevent the utterance of unpleasant truths.
In monarchies and despotisms these word
are I" treason," "disloyalty' to the king, an
such like expressions. In our country, whel
any great outrage is intended, "Disunion" is tn
word used for the purpose Of alarming weak ant
timid men into submission, and frightening int
silence such rs may be disposed to make publ
complaint against Government for its crimes.
!, must, therefore, offer few remarks upo
7 the subject of Union" and Secession" =
Good men, who understand what is going OF
are adisunionists" under bad governments-ba
men under good ones i1 III ase. fs ,.s
4 Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, an
all that tribe Of patriots were disunionists, whe
I George the Third dsregarded the rights of thi
/ teen American colonies; and they broke up sue
Union and formed new one The Tories VIII
| profited by that bad government, We're all "unio
men" and cried out g treason, treason" as loud
rs some at the present day, when the people O
the Southern States talk of not submitting t
your wrongs. ags s gE.. .
| The reason for such conduct is as easily under
| stood now as then. That class in the Unite,
| States, North as well as South, who want advan
| tages over their felow-men secured to them, de
sire now, and have always desired, strong, pow
4 erful, and arbitrary government-one too stron
for the people--''a bad government, to secure t
them such advantages as they seek. This cannt
be had through any one of the States alone, an
J hence they desire constantly to enlarge the pow
ers of the General Government, that through il
vast powers money may be collected from tn
{ many, and divided out to the favored few, b
means Of "enactmepts,' constitutional or uncor
stitutonal. For Government enactments are tn
only robberies that public opinion yet, in thi
country, Will allow one ClIZeH 10 pTdcLCe upol
another with impunity, slave stealing by North
ern from Southern man only excepted.
When, therefore, these robberies become exten
sive, and the citizens who suffer try to shake OF
the plunderers, by denouncing the act under which
they claim the right to Cypress, who so ready u
cry out "disunion! disunion! and treason!'' a
these very legalized robbers and plunderers' TIL
very men, or class Of men, therefore, who de
spised and maligned the Government when it wa
just between man and man, and between section
and section, whether they lived North or South
are all at once converted into lovers Of 'union,
and only respect the Government when it is con
verted into machine for plumber.
Thus it is seen why good men are dsunionist
under bad governments, and bad men under goot
ones. ..s -.'.....- o.. '.... ~ u.a
Our constitution was formed, therefore, to pro
tect the citizen against crimes committed by govern
ment for the benefit Of bad men--seeking spoils
through the aid Of corrupt men, who might be
called together to administer public nffairs.
4 Tyrants and despots in both Europe and Anne
RIGA, who have become alarmed at the danger to
which g their craft has been exposed by consti-
tutonal government, have sought to break down
i our Constitution, by attacking slavery IN the