The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-11


Jealous in excluding the South from all partcipa-
ton in present future acquisition Of territory
both assert the right Of Congress to prohibit the
extension Of slavery; and both are prepared to
sustain the General Government in acting on
these principles. The only difference between
them is this one section of the party representing,
It IS presumed, nearly twO-thrds Of il, is for fol-
lowing up the blow, striking the South while it is
down, and continuing the system OF aggression
without intermlsslon, or without allowing it time
| to lake breath, believing it will bear few more
CUTS and kicks, under the new regimen Of passive
obedience ard nonresIstance; the other that il has
got sufficient dose for the present, and that it is
better to wait till it is worked off before they ad
minister another. This is the true secret Of the
difference. II is only question OF time. AT this
moment there is no more food for Free-soilism,
which you perceive is emphatcally the Wing
protege; but whenever any new States TO be
admitted, you will find perfect unanimlty in
these two sections of the party in the North in
the pious fraud of Southern exclusion. You have
nothing to hope from them, either now at any
future period.
The Democratic Convention separated in grea,
apparent harmony, after little preliminary fra
ternal grumbling. Barnburners and Old Hunk
ers, who few weeks before had denounced each
other without measure, shook hands the lion
and the lamb lay down together the loaves and
fishes We're apportioned among them with most
scrupulous impartiality and the chickens equally
divided before the eggs were laid. The son of
the traitor Van Buren, las that gentleman had
been courteously denominated by the Old Hunk
ers in their public speeches and declarations, was
admitted into communion without abjuring his
heresies the entire batch Of Abolition measures
was approved in lump and it is impossible for
any one not gifted with the instinct of trading
politician, to conceive on what grounds they differ
from the Seward wing party, except it be in the
division of the loaves and fishes.
hnq he's A,tth -h,t Il L..t
either from Seward wings or Fillmore whigs or
any other variety of Northern whigsery or from
Barnburners, Old Hunkers, or any other variety
of democracy in the North. They are all alike tug
ging at the skirts OF aboion their sole object is to
sacrifice as much as possible to anaficisn, Without dis
gushing and alternating the more rational and patri
olic portion Of both parties, and ADORE a proceeding
10 such ertrsites towards the South as ,ciu force
10 merge all party distinctions in great commit
aion for sefpreserraton. II is this they fear, and
this is ,chat they iaboring, il possible, to apod
The great difficulty is to stop the Of tanaiicsa,
wRhout choking the more moderate aud rational men
Of all parties and all secons and forcing the South to
unaninlty.
The last presidential election depended on rhe
Abolition vote in this State, and the next will
probably turn on the same hinge. The Abolition
lists must, therefore, be bought at any price, ex-
cept the sacrifice OF a greater number of votes in
some other quarter Both parties, in the North,
clustering, will ut length quietly acquiesce in what
is passed and when they many leading
men in that quarter shivering and shaking in the
Wind backing and filling towards all points Of
the compass, looking one way and rowing an
other, with total absence of all concert of action
when they see senators and members Of Congress
from that section, at first violently opposing the
Wilmot Proviso, and then quietly acquiescing in,
If not zealously advocating compromise EN-
bodying all its principles, and vouchng for the sub
mission of their constltuents--when they see all
this, who shall say their antlcpations not well
groundeds What man, not totally Invested Of ex-
perience and reflection but will believe that those
who could NOT, or would not unite in opposition
to measures of aggression, will unite in measures
of redress!
tell you, plainly, the South was never before
in such imminent danger. 1t is now placed in
helpless, hopeless minority, which will be for
ever perpetuated by the principle of exclusion
lately fosted into the Constitution by the despot-
ism OF the majority. Besides this, the peculiar
political portion of the country has never before
been adverse to the preservation and mainte-
nance of Southern rights. Both the party in
power and that out of power, equally arrayed
against them, and whichever remains in the as
tendency, their fate will be the same. Both must
equally sacrifice on the altar of fanatcisnl, where
alone they can conca,e the gods who preside
over their desiines; and their most grateful Of
fering the rights, the property, the existence OF
the South, which is thus placed betwxt pair of
shears, and will be cut by both blades.
In addition to this, the Constitution, the only
defence against the despotism of numbers has re-
ceived mortal blow under which it is staggering
The rights Of the States, have also been stabbed
to the heart, not once, but twice, and received
two wounds either Of which is MORTAL: one in the
complete overthrow ofthe great principle Of State
equality; the other in tie declaration Of Mr.. Fill
more, that he is determined to exercise power
fhoC h.
act OF Congress and that only protect the States
against the States themselves. And here can
not forbear avowing, that methnks it would better
have become man who at best only represents
the people of the United States at secondhand,
and who, had he been placed before them as a
candidate for the high office which he holds only
by chance, would have been signay deeated--it
would better have become him to follow the ex-
ample of Washington in the Kentucky case, than
10 make his first appearance IN his new character,
like player-king, with flourish Of trumpets,
armed cap-a-pe, sword in hand and vizor down,
followed by "a train Of mercenary guards. Thus
formidably equipped, he comes before US, mount
ed on stills, backed by his trusty squire, who
stakes no step backwards" and manfully threat
ems 10 kill and all dsunlonists, traitors and Sc
ceders. He is the very Quixote of II ''strong gov
ernmert," and fears neither lions NOR windmills.
Still further than this: bribery by wholesale, in
the shape Of donations of the public lands all
ment of the public debt, the policy Of every
candidate for the Presidency, and the only ques-
ton is, who shall bid highest, and pay most to
bride the people with their own property. The
general fund is to be vested for purposes of indi-
vidual ambition; and all those who have heretofore
paid for their lands, to be cheated Of what re-
mains to buy the votes of those who have no
lands themselves. Why, gentlemen, what would
we call man who, after having borrowed money
on pledge Of his estate, were to sell it, or give
it away TO Tom, Dick and Harry do not deal
in harsh names, but know one that would suit
him exactly. Congress, however, like corpo-
ration, has no SOUL and no individual responsible
ity This political land speculation will be anoth-
er blow to the South, which cannot share in these
liberal beneactions, since, without doubt, when
the occasion presents itself, the Wilmol Pro-
viso will be sprung upon her, and we shall have
another compromise in which one party will waive
or pretend to waive, its unconstitutional preten-
sons, the other surrender its most important con-
stitutlonal rights. " Fair play is jewel" as
General Drummond said, when he exchanged
General Browns dead aide de-camp for his own
living one.
Another danger menacipg the South is the ex-
probability Of large accession to the duties
H. - IL