The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-24


SOIL would open the food gates of Abolition upon
the institutions Of every Southern State within the
confederacy. am quite certain trat, but for this
sectional question, her title would have been
the subject of contest
For the !" Southern Press
FIGURES AND FACTS"
In late number Of the Republic, let
ter is published from distinguished citizen
Of the North, giving some Of the reasons for
the rapid growth Of Aboltionism--among
which the most prominent is the repeal of
the Tariff Act of 1912, and in its stead the
substitution of the act of 1916. am not
surprised that any Northern man may en-
deavor to excuse his people for the position
they now occupy upon this question of sla-
very. But am surprised that any I" dis
tnguished" man, North or South, should
give such reason for this mighty change
that has come over the public mind, in that
section of the confederacy, on this vital
question. ] am not surprised that partizan
editor should endorse any and every thing to
bolster up, epcn false position, into which
he has been thrown by circumstances. But
| am astonished that am intelligent Southern
gentleman should be 50 little convcrsant with
the past history Of the recorded legislation Of
his country, as to be gulled by aduplicity SO
shallow and conclusion SO inconsistent with
facts. do not pretend to insist upon any
particular cause for this change in Northern
sentiment--but do assert, without fear OF
su. cessful contradiction, that if the Northern
people have changed their opinions upon
what are the rights of the South on this
question Of slavery, because they, the South,
have repealed the Tariff of 1912, they ex-
hibit degree Of credulity that could have
been imposed Only by some such distinguished
Northern man as wrote the letter to which
have referred.
But admitting that the fact existed, that
the Congress OF the United States in their
constitutional prerogative altered, amended
or repealed the revenue act and substituted
another imposing less duties-and that in
the vote doing this, the South (though in
minority voted down the North and inn
posed this scheme upon them--can it be
possible that any intelligent, constitution
loving patriot can be found, who will assert
that this is sufficient reason for interfering
with the rights Of property guaranteed by
the sacred instrument that binds us as one
confederated republic? The absurdity oil
the proposition that minority should SO far
impose upon the majority as to break down
system under which they assert they have
prospered, and institute another under which
they say they are suffering, by the the utter
stagnation of business, to such degree in
some Of the manufacturing districts as to
cause suspension of their shops and furna-
ces, is so ridiculous that the bare statement
is successful refutation. But is it, if true,
a good cause for the Northern people to act
in as bad faith as they have been doing on
this question of slavery To reduce the
tariff is certainly not inconsistent with the
spirit Of the Constitution, and If it provokes
our Northern brethren to "breathe out
threatnings" against the institution Of sla-
very on that account and that alone, they
exhibit want of principle equalled only BY
the want Of wisdom in Southern editor in
becoming the apologist for such reason.
If the South is to be met with such argu-
ments for the conduct Of the North, and
they are paraded in our public journals, and
endorsed as coming from distinguished men,
| confess that | see little hope of efIecting
our constitutional rights through the under
standing. But enough-it is useless un-
dertaking to try to convince men by any
powers of reasoning upon such an absurdity,
and | will apply myself to the power Of
Figures and Facts"
In the House of Representatives, an Act
reducing the duty on imports and for other
generally known as the Tariff act
of 1916, was passed by the following vote
yeas IA nays 95-out of the Ia yeas, Ga
were from the slaveholding and so from the
non-slaveholding States--within seven votes
OF an equal division, and yet men are found
who can assert that the change in Northern
sentiment upon the slavery question has been
produced bv this act Of sirty.fuw Southern
men voting to reduce the duties on imports.
In the Senate, the vote stood yeas %,
nays 27--among the yeas, 10 were from the
and Is from the slavehold-
ing States, within four votes of an equal d.
vision. Thus it will be seen that if " dis
Northern men wish to give
good reason for the degeneracy of the times
and their apostacy from the Constitution,
they must seek one more in consonance with
Figures and Facts. They must plant them
selves on higher ground, and il they persist
In violating all the principles Of Justice, and
dong violence to the Constitution of their
country, they should shield themselves unde.
premises and pretexts justified by
TRUTH,