The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-11-26

omit % eiil your attention % another ACT OF
he last SESSION Of Congress. passed since The
adjournment Of the Legislature, which.
though not 10 vitality important as that las'
commented on. has been properly regarded
bY the Legislature, as one Of the evidences
Of a design by Congress further 70 Interfere
with the institution of slavery. and theFeione
dangerous TO the nights OF the s%layeholdine
states. I refer 20 the act ab0lishmg the
slave trade in the District Of Columbian
act which not only forbids the introduction
OF slaves in.o the Federal Distinct for sale,
and their being placed in depot 10 be con-
veyed and sold in other States. thereby N
reality preventing the transit OF this discrp-
ton Of property through the District As mer-
chandize; but, by declaring slaves free un-
der such circumstances, the act has estab-
lished a precedent for the abolition OF slavery
in the District.
The limits Of a Message do not permit me
10 detail other measures which have justly
caused alarm and excitement in the South
for however some Of onr people may,
from an anxiety TO allay excitement, seek to
excuse these measures, there are few whose
breasts are not filed with a dread OF the
dangers which from these quarters lower in
the horizon Of the future. In my opinion 1t
would be weak, timid and disastrous policy
10 shut our eyes to these dangers--it is The
part OF wisdom to meet them.-Let us then
survey our position and that Of our oppo-
nents.
There is nothing to encourage the hope
that there will be any respite from aggres-
sion. Never has hostility to slavery been
more distinctly marked or more asserted.
Shades of difference in opinion may distln-
guish Northern statesmen. but all unite in
stern opposition TO the extension OF slavery,
and in the declarations Of their fixed deter
mlnation to confne it to its present limits,
and forever TO close the public territory
against us.
The North has but tr;apphed in every
claim she has asserted, and yet at this mo.
ment Of our humiliation, their people, less
patient than we, are in a blaze ofexcitement
at every attempt to execute the bill to Sc
cure the return OF fugitive slaves. This
plain compliance with one of the ~clearest in
functions of the Constitution is not only dis
regarded, but conventions Of both political
parties, formal meetings OF the people, and
deliberate addresses of distinguished men,
openly take ground, that being against the
public sentiment Of the people of the North,
it should not be executed and persons of all
classes, with a pIiancy of conscience which
aha ranfort1au oLpbtinn nhtloenphu aAant
their moral code and their constitutional du-
ties, to their prejudices and their interests.
Such then, is the triumphant attitude of
anti-slavory. 1t now controls the entire
Government. No questions arise in which
it does not intermingle.--And wherever it
exhibits itself, it controls all other subjects.
Every great interest in this Government is
now directed and managed by it. 1t has
broken and sundered the strong ties which
bound together the religious denominations
North and South. 1t has even now sever
ed the bonds which for sixty years have uni.
seeds OF hostility and hatred. 1t now stands
the stern, unyielding despot, consigning to
the bed Of Procrustes every subject whose
fitness Is questioned.
What is to be the fate of the institution of
domestic slavery under such Government?
this great interest, with which the c~iviliza.
ton and refinement of man on earth is con.
nected--upon which so much of the trade
and m between Europe and Ameri-
ca dcpends-which employs the labor of
millions and distributes the comforts of civil
~lization to SO many families--this great So
oial interest upon which are founded the
prosperity, the happiness, and the very exis-
tence of the people Of fourteen States of this
Union What is to be the fate OF this in
stitution! II left to the tender mercies of
the Federal Government, its fate is doomed.
With the prejudices Of the age against it, it
requires for its kind development a fostering
Government over it. 1t could scarcely sub
slst without such protection. How then
can it exist, much less flourish and prosper,
under a Government hostile to it? AGov-
eminent organized upon principles Of hostil-
ity and opposition to the institution? Is it
proper! is it philosophic Is it not absurd,
to entrust the prosperity, the protection, and
even the existence Of a great and delicate
interest to a political power having its orr
gin in and drawing its vigor from the very
element of hostility to this interest?
To state the proposition clearly; The
Government of the United States is now
hostile to slavery. 1t will hereafter be Sc.
lected with reference to its hostility to this
interest, and its activity in the use of the
means Of doing it injury, If this great and
vital interest then, remains subject to the
government and control Gifts enemy, il must
perish Sooner or later, | repeat, it must
perish. To save it, to preserve it from de-
struction, or at least from a sickly, lingering,
distempered aud precarious existence, il
must be protected by guarantees more avail.
able than the present Constitution fur.
nishes, or 1t must be wrested from the con.
troll Of a power which is hostile to it, and
which seeks its destruction. II must, like
every otherg great interest be placed in charge
Of its friends.