The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-26

self for the adoption of the South. which brings up
one OF the most solemn questions which can occu-
py the heads and the hearts of the American peo-
PEG; and that measure is-Ihe dissolution II the
Union.
That man must be heady, unrefscting, nd
short-sighted indeed, who does not have his mind
inn ressed with profound thong htfulnes' and the
deepest soemnity, when he contemplates the mag
nitude OF the consequences which might flow from
such measure. Considered in its possible, If not
its probable consequences, il may involve us in
bloody wars, in great sacrifice Of property and
life, In prvatonc OF comforts, and in sufferings OF
positive evils, which in our past career we have
seen nothing the like of Ii is beyond coatro-
versy, then, the gravest question which has
occupied the American mind, before or since the
adoption OF our present constitution. Then, GER
tain sovereign States Invested themselves of GER
tain high attributes of sovereignty, in order to
grant TO common agent certain powers to be
used for the common and equal benefit of each and
every OF the united parties. Now, some of those
parties are about to take back the powers which
they had surrendered, and which have been used,
not for their benefit, but abused for purposes Of the
grossest insult, injustice, and oppression. Then,
they formed union for mutual benefit, and, as
they hoped, for all time now, that union hav-
ing been perverted from its original design, is to
be dissolved, in order tn II one OF the parIles may
not be destroyed Can any rejecting man sup
pose that this is light and easy thing to be accom-
plished, or that il should be done except for great
cause, or from some imperious necessity. Ii there
be any who thus think, confess am not one of
them; bat on the contrary, have approached this
whole subject with my mind soemnized by the
weighty responsibility which attaches to the ex-
preston Of my opinions. But, there are evils so
s,npendous, that to avoid them no pers or hard
ships should be considered too great to be encoun-
tered. After what | have before said, | need not
here add, that | consider the Southern States as
overshadOwed at this time by such evils and that
In their separation nom the free soil States is their
only visible hope against pecuniary ruin, and in the
end against political humiliation. 1t may be laid
down, too, as proposition ndisputably true, that
the man who faulters through fear of the conse-
quenees nom adopting any measure, be 1t disunion
itself, which his Judgment may approve to- be pro-
per, or who makes concessions on this question,
as from weaker TO the stronger power-that that
man has already made up his mind to give up his
slave property and berray the South when the day
of trial shall arrive.
But il may be asked, can nothing will nothing
be done, to avert from this great nation 80 momen
tous necessity as separation of the Southern
from the free soil States. We have seen that
whatever is done towards that end, must be effect
ed by the North, who, having the majority, has
alone the power to do it. Now, to Judge OF the pro-
liability OF this being done let inquire what the
South has light, in justice, to demand.
We have right TO demand, that the annoyances
and insults should cease, which are now so fire.
guently offered TO US through representatives in
Congress and that instead thereof We should re-
ceive that comfy which belongs to us as sovereign
States, and that respect for our Interests which the
constitution contemplates. And as a means to this
end, that no interference with slavery in any form,
and especially in the forms in which il has been
heretofore intraded upon Congress shall be per-
mitied, except by our consent.
We have a right 10 demand the faithful observ-
ance Of the CONSTITUTE on, in having our fugitive
slaves delivered up TO us, instead of the violence,
imprs comments, bloodshed, and even murders Of
our citizens, when attempting to bring them back.
We have a right TO demand perfect equality
under the constituton-an equal share in all the
properly, which belongs to as a nation a right
to an equal share of the public lands, II not in the
nrnn frnn n( and xxk. nh
bued TO conquer them, at least in proportion to
whole population, including whites and slaves.
We have a right to have the equilibrium restored
in the Senate between the two sections, which IS
lately been destroyed by the admission of Cali
fornia into the Union; or instead of this, some
other guarantee, by which the South may have
ample power TO protect herself against the anti
slavery aggressions OF Congress and the free soil
Is there any one of these demands which the
South should abate-any one which she give
up with safety, and without which she can expect
durable peace! To my mind there seems to be
not one,
But will the North concede to us these Just and
necessary requirements. hope that she will. But
become thoroughly persuaded that dsunion will be
the inevitable consequence. Then she will sacri-
hce something, TO gam more, and yield US, not only
what we demand, but even more, TO secure TO
themselves the present advantages of the U Mon.
But II she will not, any one suppose that two
parties can continue to live together, one OF whom
has so many thorns ranking in the flesh, and
so many grievances constantly chatting the spirit!
They may be bound together, as the conquered to
the coDqueror; as the enslaved to the memorable
superior. But never can they be united in a bro
thefhood OF friendship and contentmcnt. Such a
Union Is unnatural, aud cannot last and whilst IL
lasts can bear fruits except those of bitterness
and poverty.
But how is such Union to be severed; and upoa
what terms shall the partnership be terminated!
These are questions which open wide field for
careful reflections, and calculated TO tax the
sagacity of our wisest statesmen. IL Is not for
fraction of one of the parties, Gas siagle State,)
To decide for the rest what is TO be done, how is
10 be done, and when il ought to be done. But for
all the parties similarly interested, To decide for all
in oil, in united counsel Each neighborhood may
have its Southern rights association. Each State
may have her Southern rights organization. But
IL must be for the Southern States, in Southern
convention, to decide what the whole South ought
10 do Whatever they may do unitediy, or with
any thing like Hnanimty, we may rest assured,
will be done with safety To ourselves. aud without
much risk Of coercion from the North In the
meantime let South Carolina respectfully await
for her Southern sisters; since she is not likely
suiier wrong or dshonor, by binding up her des-
tiny with theirs.
September, 1850