The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-17

OF slavery fast enough to create new States with
much rapidity; and, moreover, If Texas manifests
any disposition to consent TO reduction of her
State limits, she must greatly change from the
grasping propensity which she now manifests.
Well, sir. thus did we see Texas brought in, and
| thus did we see new guarantees for more slave
States. And in the state of feeling which this mon
strous proceeding kindled, we startled by the
war of conquest that followed close upon its heels
or that war and its results have already spoken.
Peace came and shortly afterwards the Presidential
election, which resulted in the Of the Wings.
The slavery question mingled more or less at both
ends OF the Union in the contest; and the determi
nation Of the united North 10 resist the extension of
slavery into the newly acquired Territories
| well understood.
| But we heard no talk of dsunion until General
l TAYLOR was elected; and then the HOWL began!
Then it was that the Union declared to be sud
| denly in danger because southern rights had been
trodden down! Then the cup Of southern endurance
was said to have been drained to the dregs and the
| South was invoked TO rally man against the
measures Of treacherous President; and then be-
the formation Of southern combinations, to en-
barrass and break down his Administration; and q
southern address put forth to in1ame the people
| of the South with long catalogue of northern
crmes And the organ OF southern democracy in
| Wellington mean the Union newspaper-made
| southern wrongs the burden Of its daily song, and
plped all hands to the Of southern rights and
| southern honor The election Of General Taylor
had done all this! for ii was openly and repeatedly
declared that ifthe election had resulted differently
and General Cass had succeeded, southern rights
would have been secure, and the skies would have
been bright in the southern latitudes! The columns
of that paper have constantly teemed with similar
sentiments have one or two extracts from its
editorial articles which may be read as samples
the whole. On the first of March the editor says:
| "Thc Democratic press in both sections OF the
Union are unanimous in ascrbing the present diff
culties and dangers which impend over the Union
to the unprinciped frauds committed by the Fede-
raj leaders upon the people in the late Presidential
election"
! Which is, being interpreted, that if the honest
practices of the Democratic leaders had been
cessful in securing the election Of eneral Cass all
4" The present difficulties and dangers phich inpend
OUer the Union" would have been averted. He
would have been true TO southern rights
| Again, on March Sd, alluding TO the passing of
some anti-savery resolves in the Wing convention
of Connecticut, the editor says:
" This is another irresistible fact, going to show
the purpose Of the administration excite and To-
ment the anti-slavery sentiment of the North, to
acts tending 70 irritate and offend the people of the
"Lct the people of the South contemplate seri.
ously, the enormity of wickedness and atrocity
which it involves, and let them wake up to the sad
and astounding reality, that this administration has
no sympathy for their cause their rights
And not only the editor Of that organ but all the
aft lated presses, like the Richmond Enquirer Sc,
join in the same ciamor. Nor sit confined to lead
| ing Democratic newspapers; for honorable and
leading southern Democrats upon this floor vic with
each other in their open denunciation of President
Taylor for his want of fidelity towhat they are
pleased to call-southern rights. Time will not
permit me TO point TO all but give few extracts
from speeches recently made, in order to show the
character Of the opposition to the present Admins
tration. quote first from Mr.. BRowN, of Missis-
sippi, on January 80
4 90 But care not who prompted the anomalou
state of things existing in California AT what
ever time, and by whomsoevcr done, ii has been
without precedent against the voice Of the peoples
representatives, in derogaton of the Constitution Of
the United States and intended to rob the southern
States Of their just and rghtful possessions View
ing the trarsacton in this light, and without stop
ping to inquire whose it was, / denounce il as
unwise, unpatriotic, sectional in its tendencies in
suting to the South, and in the last degree despi
cable"
Next, from Mr.. INcE, of Alabama, on Feb. ID:
\ "But there is only one basis Of union for southern
men; opposition TO the declared policy of the pres
ent Administration, which seeks to build up an i'm
perishable power upon the ruins ofthe Constitution
| and the SOUTH
Next, from Mr.. MILsos, of Virginia, ON Feb 26:
"Sir whatever surprise and regret the course
and opinions of the Administration may have occa-
stoned TO its southern supporters, cannot say they
! were unexpected 10 me. ] could have wished how
ever, that my apprehensons had not been realized
and that the President, elected he was with the
concurrence of many of the southern States
would have deemed their that Of the Cousti-
tuition. But fear il is too late; and il is with
real modification that find myself constrained to
class President TAYLOR in the number Of our oppo
nents."
February 81;
"He would call attention To the emergency in
which Congress was called 20 legislate The Pres.
dent, thus elected by tho North and by the South
who had by his own action, excited the hopes both
Of the North and the South-was understood and
known TO be committed 10 policy now entirely ac-
| ceptable 10 northern Wings.
4 'He was now the President of the North He
was committed 10 policy 10 which distinguished
statesmen-ndeed, the great mass of the statesmen
of the North-were willing to subscribe. And
without any great distinction Of party-with only
few exceptions, (guerrillas, as they were called)
with few exceptions Of note northern statesmen
were willing 10 accept the policy of the Admins
tration. But southern Wings, who discovered that
the issue had gone almost beyond their reach found
themselves allied with southern Democrats"
Who now can doubt-after seeing what il passing
daily before our eyes, and hearing what these gen
( tlemen and these presses avow-who can doubt
why this storm is now raised, and TO what end il s
/ intended 10 use IL Sir, believe and aege, that
II - iOr political partisan purposes, and designed,
If possible, 10 unite the South against the Admins
tration, relying, heretofore. upon sufficient ac-
cessions OF northern Democracy Tor ecctual aid in
breaking 1t down; Ind for this the Nashpilie
peiion Is convokedl And 20 this purpose ifit meet
at all, will IL be applied Sir, do not believe that
] this convention will take any steps towards dis
solution Of the Union. There men, unques-
tionably, who may desire 10 take such steps and
who viii make efforts 10 that end for, that there
are disunionists at the South, as well as at the
North, is undeniable But the leading mas
ter spirits Of that convention will control il for
Democratic purposes. There may, and probably
will, be in il some who have been Wings, and who
| have been compelled TO yield 10 the excitement.
We have seen Whigs at the North whose lack Of
u hmncss has allowed them TO be overwhelmed by
\ Free Soil agitation in the same manner.
| But the Nashville gathering will, after all, be
/ partisan affair We know that the first open move.
Inont for the call Of that convention came from
Mississippi; and we heard here, yesterday, rep
resentatiye from that State (Mr. THoMPsoS) de-.
clare, If by authority, that IL would meet, not
for any purpose of disunion whatever, but for the
purpose of uniting the South, and laying down
platform upon which they could all stand. And
this must mean nothing more less than polit.
ical platform, from which operations arc to be car
ried on TO influence public sentiment, and through
that the elections-the elections 10 this House, and
more especially, the election Of President who in
the phrase Of the day, will be "true to Southern
rights" lift meets for any other earthly purpose
II must be for armed resistance TO the laws i'm short
for TREAsoN. But no. sir; this last is not lie ob.
ject u is 10 erect political platform. Par.
FORM, Commend me 10 that word. have heard
II often before II has perfume, historic ocor.
and signifcancy. Many Of us remember the in.