The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-13

=
sy- The Washington Union quotes the fol-
lowing sentence from our paper of Monday, and
comments on it as follows E
sT there had been no Union, the South rould
hare purchased her peace Of The North at half The
tribute and territory IL has cost her" .a Ia
What is to become of the patriotism and
chivalry of the fiery hotspurs of the "cotton
States I" Are they to purchase peace with so
much filthy 'lucre as could be grasped thus" in
stead of aconquering it, with banners flying,
swords flashing, war-stecds neighing, and cannon
laundering on some future Eutaw's or Cowpens,
sbloody field?' No, no Decaturs motto is
theirs: millions for defence-not cent for
tribute" ..m.. 80 ...,....... ,s.a. .,.-.. y,
The sentence quoted contained typographi-
cal error in one letter. 1t should have been
aIf there had been no Union, the South could
have purchased her peace of the North at half
the tribute and territory it has cost her." And
was so corrected before the impression was
worked off. ~
The Union says s... r ,..f ..,. So. 81"
aBut, soft Ia word Who would have now
possessed Louisiana, Texas, California, and the
other territorial cabbage gardens of Wilmot"
there had beenno Union at all! This seems to be
portion of the peace-ofering of the Press, the
present condition of which would have been at
this time predetermined" ... ...... en-
E# Well it is reasonable to suppose that the
South would have acquired her share, particu-
larly as she had the advantage of contiguity As
it ia, the North has obtained four-ffths.
The Union proceeds: .... .. 1o-...j ..~
Let us, however, be serious and in earnest
All these opinions and articles of the Press prove
most conclusiveIy to our mind that it lsves not
the Union that it never did love it and that
it seeks and prays for its speedy dissolution. We
are trying to save, and the Press and its brother
ultras, allied with the Abolitionists, to destroy it.
This is the beginning and the end Of the contest
between us. We inscribe upon our banners
both the Rights of the States and the Union of
the States the Southern Press fights under the
black flag of disunitm. Let the truth be told at
once Whether the friends of the Union and
the Rights of the States will be able to save both
is yet momentous problem for future decision.
A few weeks may decide it. 1t is now in the
hands of the North. If her people still permit
the fanatics and their bigoted representatives to
press upon the South, TO repeal the Compromise,
and to commit further aggressions upon her-if
either the Rights of the States or the Union of
the States is to be sacrifced-then every patriot
will take his stand under the banner of State
rights. II this should come to be the fatal issue
if the Constitution cannot be carried out in
the same conciliatory spirit in which it was form-
ed-let those look to it who have the power in
their own hands-those who claim consttutio-
nal majority only to PROSTATE the principles of
the Consultation but the Union can no longer
survive. The Southern Press is ready even now
to strike it down. But we cannot see the glor-
ious work of our fathers Frustrated at a blow ;
and we call upon the good and true men Of the
country to assist us in saving it.
As to our love of the Union, we must confess
to the inconsistency, if it be such, Of having once
loved it much more than now. Quite recently
we contended for the line of $3.50 to preserve
the Union-we contend for it still. If that line
or its equivalent is not obtained, the Union is
a despot and aggressor, and merits the love of
none who love liberty and justice
But as the issue approaches and becomes
specific, the Washington Union becomes vague,
uncertain and equivoca But the other day it
took the following position, as we find it quoted
in the New York Globe Of the lth inst.
The Washington Union, which is contending
with might and main against the secessionists of
the South, and in favor Of the adjustment of
Congress, a paper which probably yields more
influence in the South than any fifty statesmen,
and whose editor is essentially one of the mod
crates of the day upon sectional questions lays
down the following platform. That paper will
abandon the Union and strike for notification
in the occurrence of any one Of the following
cases: ..-.. 4
T. When the Fugitive slave bill is repealed or
rendered Intellectual. ..,-
2. When State is refused admittance be-
cause its constitution admits slavery;
8. When slavery is abolished in the District
of Columbia; ,.:b
q A. When Congress attempts to regulate the
slave trade between the States;
s. When Congress attempts to interfere wi
slavery in the States or,
6. When it imposes the Wilmot Proviso on
the territories. .. .,a s,. ..
Some ten days elapse-" the Fugitive slave
bill is rendered ineffectual"-the casus foederis
has occurred, when according to the Washington
Union, +" it was to abandon the Union" and be-
hold, instead of abandoning the Union, the pledge
is as usual abandoned, and new one is given
in terms 50 vague, that it amounts to nothing.
Thisis the last pledge. eff her (the North peo-
pie still permit the fanatics and their bigoted
representatives. TO press upon the South 10 repeal The
Compromise, AND to commit further aggressions
upon her-if either the rights of the States or
the Union Of the States, is to be sacrificed
then every patriot will take his stand under The
banner of State rights"
Now when the Washington Union announced
that if the Fugitive slave law were rendered in
effectual, it would abandon the Union, it was
much more ultra than we. We knew that law
would be rendered Intellectual, and said so on its
passage. Yet we proposed rather than to aban-
don the Union, that the Southern States should
convene in Congress of their own, and an-
nounce to the Northern, a real and an honest
adjustment of the controversy as an uAimatum,
as condition Of continuing in the Union-ani
if that were rejected, then 10 separate.