Southern shield., 1850-10-12
Saturday, Oct. I2. 1850.

23rd inst. s
 Such devoted attachment and venera- tion for the Constitution and Laws of our beloved country, as was exhibited on that occasion, is well calculated to inspire the heart of every true American with grati- tude towards those who, in these times of sectional discord, came forward so nobly and vindicated their section of country from the reasonable stigma of Disunon.
 From the Concordia (La lntelli gencer The Great Rally for the Union in Matchez. On Monday one of the largest public meetings ever assembled in Natchez, met at the Court House, and was organised amidst enthusiastic cheers, as the President and the two Vice Presidents took theiI seats.
 The youthful appearance of the former who was Representative from Natcheg in the. Stats4 ses4,,,crrs .e1-es4 -soesse years sgo, strongly contrasted with the aged ferns and snowy locks of the two Utter.
 We need not enter into Ihe particulars of either the organization oPthe meeting or the character of the resolpions which were unanimously adopted bydccamation. The official proceedings witch appear in our paper at length rende: il unnecessary for us to be minute.
 We only design giving brief abstracts from the remarks gf the speakers.
 B. PENDLrrow EsQ., the President, on opening the meeting, read the call which had been signsd by 573 citizens of Natchez and of the county of Adams. He followed the reading with eloquent and torcible re- marks.
 He congratulated the meeting that in the call, and in the patriotic intent of the great assem blaze then before him and which he had the honor 10 address no party lines were drawn; it was emphatically rally for the Union and the Constitution; not on the Nashville or any other platform; but a meeting of Southerners, either native born or adopted, to consult on measures of such an important and vital character as had ab- sorbed the minor sentiments of party, and made the great interests of our common country the focus of attractions and the object of the liveliest concern. There had, in past times, dangerous attempts been made to deprive the Southern portion ot our Union of their unalienable rights; and, in consequence, great alarm, jealousy and excitement had prevailed throughout the South; the strenuous efforts 10 annex the Wilmot Proviso upon all our territorial do- main had called forth corresponding efforts at compromise and conciation. By the united, calm, wise efforts q moderate and natGiotiee @ etf5tf q b0t Ii parties and from the opposite extremes of the country the doc trines of mutual adjustment had trumphed and salutaIy measures in Congress had been the result. The object of the meeting was to congratulate the South on the hono- rable settlement of these alarming difficul- ties and do honor to those, and especially tc our own representatives in the Senate, who had been instrumental in bringing about SC favorable a settlement of the most dange- rous state of affairs our country had ever encountered.
 The President sat down amidst great cheering; when the call, swelling up 10 8 stormy roar, was for "Shields! SHIELDS SHIELDS!!p This was responded to by young gentleman, JOSEPH D. SHIELDS Esq, a planter of Jefferson county, Miss Of small stature, but graceful and elegant proportions, the speaker arose, and every eye was ixedupon him. His dark curling locks, his black eyes and his complexion al bespoke him a Southron, and a thrill o delight seemed to pervade the vast crowc when the slow, measured, mellow but deer intonaton of his voice broke upon the ear
 He commenced by a beautiful apology for speaking. IL was, said he, proper fol the young to be hearers instead of speak CTS; to listen when age and wisdom were present; but if silence was becoming in the young, so was obedience an imperious vir- tue in youth, and the especial entreaty anC request of those older than himself and ol very many of his fellow citizens had over come his reluctance.
 After passage as soothing and concilia tory as oil poured upon the seething pillows in storm at sea, Mir. SHIELDS made use ---c --e- -y---a and striking astronomical 6ep~A 10 represent tf1o aoialIuu or the States to the Union.
 Our government, said he, is a daguerreo- type of the solar system. The States, like the planets which revolve round their cen trai sun, revclve round the central govern meht Whlch constitutes the Union, having ,i not only thls great annual movement, but like the planets, revolution also of their own, spinning around their own axles.- Like the two great celestial forces that oov- ern the movements of the planetary orbes, the centripetal and ths centrifuoaI. there are two forces or opposing principles in the structure oi our government, one tendino| 10 onlon or centraIization, and the other 10 dls- U nlon and individuality. As citizens of our broad Republic lean to either extreme just in accordance will be their disacrs,a-