The southern press., 1850-09-02

yocates of an honorable peace, were active and un
tirng, as the world has seen, and honest and zeal
Gus, as well do know, in their exertons TO amend
the bill so as TO remove the objections which
have urged against it, and which the friends of thu
| South found insuperable. At the time left, sue
cess TO a very partial and limited extent had re
warded their tolls. Since then, l have seen httl.
to warrant better hopes. To amend the first, OF
California provision, repeated and most liberal Of
fers have been made by Southern men. In thu
spirit of the g Missouri Compromise, - they have
proposed to divide by the line of $50 30', which
would give the North tlco-thirds Of the territory
leaving the lower one-fhird open equally for the
| time. to both North and South, and its condition
To be determined by the voice ofits own people,
This was at once rejected. Another proposition
has since been made, TO fall still lower, and divide
by the line Of $50 $3.50 to give to the North
H'ree5fon,ths, leaving the remainder fourth open,
equally to both parties, and the same mode of de-
termining its ultimate condition MS to slavery
This, too, has been rejected. The voice of the
Mort: is for aH-aH! With nothing will they
be satisfied. Any amendment OF that portion of
the bill, then, is regarded as hopeless.
The third, or Texas, provision has but single
feature of Importance, which makes its essential
character, and gives its only strength. Like the
hair Of Sampson, let that be shorn, and the giant
is left weaker than other men. To amend,
would be to destroy that-and TO destroy such a
monster, the foul offspring Of Illicit commerce be-
tween avarce and ambition, would be a deed too
righteous, fear, for success. We ediscern no ray
OF hope in that dark quarter From the second, or
territorial provision, which, in the original BILL
we found so bad, we are not so utterly cut off,
Even before left Washington, by dint of united,
arduous, and jealous exertlon, two appointments
had been effected there. Since then, we learn,
still another has been made in the same provision.
To that provision, now, dmanded as learn it is,
as a single measure, giving Territorial Govern
| mo IN ITtol, md I che
| fully give my vote; and doubt not every South
ern man would do the same. Would to God, we
could have succeeded, or could succeed now, one
half well, in regard to the other provisions. as
we have in this say this, without hesitation,
| for myself; and doubt not could safely say the
| same for every Southern man. 1t would secure
to the whole, an united, if not cheerful vote.
Now, what ground of hope is there for this?
confess to you, candidly, though sadly, that find
| none.
But, have been told that, if this bill shall not
pass, the Union will be dissolved! have heard
this often, and from various quarters. IT has been
thrown before the country, as an issne--the pas
sage of this bill, even with all its denominations,
or dissolution OF the Union! And by whom
has this position been taken-who has made this
issue' will tell you :--those whose personal
interest ambition (foregn and fur different
things from the honor and welfare of the country
ay, those ,phose personal interest or ambition
| dependent upon the bill, going up, along with
Texas bonds, with its passage, but going, as re-
naming, down, with its defeat nj a value of about
Ten cents on the dollar. repeat that such persons
have assumed disposition, and sought to startle
and alarm, and confuse the public mind, with
it, as alternative; knowing how deep, and abiding,
and sensitive, is the peoples love of the Union;
| and hoping, by means Of that, to compel support
for measure which, upon its own merits; would
neither deserve nor receive single Southern vote.
Base use to make of so holy a sentiment, as the
"a lr,/,,.
low or base, unless it be the trade have, some
| times, seen in relics OF the honored dead.
The passage Of this bill, or q dissolution Of the
Union! What an issue! Ii you can have so
| much patience with such thing, think Of it for n
moment! Who will tell me how such an issue
| could be made up--how such an alternative could
be presented? Since | first heard it, the sugges-
ton, fascinating, 1 verify believe, on account of
! its amazing absurdity, has hoated through my
/ fancy, to be reproduced, whenever any other abb
surdity occurs, and find myself involuntarily
excIamng-pass this bill or dissolve the Union! !
! Now, in all seriousness, would ask, how can
the failure to pass this bill dissolve the Unionor
even endanger it? have thought of it in every
point of view am capable ofapprecatng (for alb
surd as it IS, its very terms call up serious
thoughls,) and | am utterly unable even. to con-
lecture how, why, or by whom, such a thing
process be--what the pretext--who would begin
the work II it fail to pass, our government and
institutions will remain as they now are. Would
the South desire attempt dissolution on that
account? Surely not; for, so far, our rights would
1 be untouched by the aggressons now threatened.
The evils we now fear, would not have come up
on U.S. For the time, at least, the danger would
be warded off. Why should we compain--why
| should we dissolve the Union! 1t is safe, then,
| on this account, from the South Who else would
| be dissatisfied! (! The North? Perhaps so; but to
what extent? What would be their grevance' J
4 n. II al, H.,
| often attempted, and often failed to accomplish
| to usurp Southern rights, and establish their sec
| tional domination over us. Would they dissolve
| the Union for such n cause' Go ask them--and
be laughed at for your pains. Truly, feel
ashamed to waste time and words to talk about
| thing of such sheer absurdity. There isno such
1 ssue-no such alternative before the country
| there cannot be!
| But, on the other hand Il am asked, what, if the
bill shall pass' That, my friends, is Sc
rious question. 1t is one for you, and the whole
South to think of-seriousy, deeply, to reflect
upon. Ii is certainly true, as we have seen, that
the passage Of this bin would be violation of the
| Constitution, usurpation Of yonr rights, and a
lasting injury to your interests. This, repeat,
addresses most serious question to you and to
the people Of the whole South. Even in contem-
plaon Of it, as thing likely to happen, it is not
difficult to understand and appreciate your feel
ings, and those of every Southern man. Nor are
| tie duties that Southern men owe themselves and
their country, TO be forgotten or disregarded. AS
a Southern man, and the representative Of South
i ern men and Southern interests, trust know
my duties, and have courage to perform them.
What are they, in this ontemplation-that is,
while the bill is pending' To oppose its passage
with my might, by act, and word, and rote
Fight against it, Sc at all hazards and to the last
extremity while a chance remains to strike a
blow, as against the arch enemy OF the South,
come to rob US OF our rights, and make spoil
even Of our honor' So far, have done this,
/ and while the bill is pending, | shall fight on,
4 fight ever.
But if the bill shall pass! Then, my duties,
| in this regard, will have ceased, and yours be-
gun What those duties shall be, or how you
shail discharge them, is not for me to pro-
nounce or decide To yon-to whom they be-
long, leave, alike, the mode and measure of
redress"
i But, | have mentioned something Of 50 disso-
luton Of the Union" Believe nae, l never pro-
nounce that phrase without reluctance, and never