The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-07
Policy Of the North.


The events which have occurred since the last
session, have indicated the disposition of ma
jority of the Southern States to submit to the
outrages Of the last session; but some Of them,
seek to cover it by making more threats and
pledges Us to the future. And having protested
they would resist, if Congress did what it has
done, propose now to make a new ultimatum, and
threaten to resist further aggressions.
AS Virginia is large Southern State, and not
quite so far gone in the doctrine of passive ODE
dience and non-resistance as Maryland and Ken
lucky, she is the thermometer OF Southern
spirit, and the guage by which Northern en-
croachnent is measured-not because Virginia
is thought to be so strong herself, but because
it is known that she would be supported in re-
sstance generally, by the Satisfying South of
her.
The compromise mongers of last session hav-
ing obtained the passage of a batch of measures,
one of which has offended the fanaticism of the
North as much AS the others have outraged the
reason of the South find themselves plunged
itto an agitation more violent than before, and
having taxed the timidity of the South to its
utmost to carry the Compromise, now call OH
that spirit they have striven to crush, to defend
the miserable and nominal rect of Southern
right, that was engrafted on the Compromise,
solely because it was nominal and unimportant.
The result has fully indicated the position as
sumed by the Southern ultras-ultra because
hey persistedin maintaining any territorial right
Of the South-that the abject surrender of one
right, instead of being the defence of the resi-
due, only left the road open to an attack upon
them.
But the aggressors are going to be polite and
not precIptate. The territorial spoliation en-
listed the avarice and ambition, as we'll as fanati-
cism of the North. BY the monopoly of the ter
ritores, the North obtained the gold of California
the trade of the East, a majority in the Senate,
and the control Of Government, as we'll as the
prescription of slavery. The repeal of the Fug-
tive slave law, is mere fanaticism-a fanaticism
indeed, suddenly developed, of more numbers
nd power, than the most sagacious Southern
utraist even dreamed of before. But there are
immense business interests and political interests
at tho North, that are endangered by this fanat-
cism Commercial restriction and non-inter
course would certainly result in the South from
a repeal of the Fugitive slave law, and this
would be sacrifice of Northern avarice to
fanaticism. Besides the Union itself might be
dissolved, and Mr.. SEWARD himself is a devoted
friend of that Union, of which he aims to be
President and whose preservation he declares
to be favorable to the progress Of anti-slavery
policy. Besides the Fugitive slave law exists
only on the statute book as a dead letter. 1t
has not been, cannot be, and never will be ell
forced. Ithas been so completely and universally
dcfied, that it no 'onger produces enough ex-
element at the North for the purposes of the
Abolitonists. The submissionsts of the South
wanted few cases of its successful execution
for capital at the South. Their failure is total.
At first they declared in their temerity, that not
only its continuance in the statute book I'M
submission. Now it is utterly void in fact, it
is formally nulliied by the legislature of Yer
mont: and Southern owners, instead of invoking
its power to reclaim their runaways, enter into
negotiations with them, and offer to compro-
mise, as is the fate of the South, by giving up
more or less of their rights.
The law being then practically repealed, there
is no use for going precipitately into the for
mality of its repeal by Congress. This would
at present interfere with Northern ambition and
avarice.
Mr.. SEWARD having totally overthrown the
compromisers in the North, and being recognized
MS the head of the victor party, is compelled to
wait n little. The large body of his supporters,
who are business men, must not be alarmed or
alienated by any movement here that would be
fatal to their business at home. Southern non
intervention must not be uselessly provoked.
Besides it is intended to extract from the present
session of Congress, large appropriations for
rivers and harbors, and protective tariff These
are demanded alike by the constituents of Mr..
SEWARD, HORACE MANN, JOSHUA r. GIDDINGs
and THADDEUs STEVENS And it would be bad
poley " e'i"a''SSi VI PoosPohe 'ueSo ooJee'' ~ !
agitating in Congress the forms of repeating a
law already repealed in effect. The Albany
Erening Journal, therefore, the organ of Mr..
SEWARD, heretofore clamorous for the repeal of
the Fugitive slave law, has all at once become
slcnt-and the New York Tribune, equally its
enemy, has proposed to postpone its repeal until
The close Of The session.
From all these considerations it is probable
that the leading Free-soers Of Congress have
agreed to postpone the movement of repeal until
they have distributed the contents of the Trea-
sury. But as fanaticism is dangerous and I'M
comfortable element for politicians to deal with,
the occurrence of single attempt at the North
to capture fugitive, may produce an excitement
that will break up the combination.
The failure of the political objects Of the
Compromise is most signal The popularity of
General CAss is shattered in Michigan-and his |