The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-09

u! pe!Cd, eOIni1elelll4 ABOUT or snorSty altsr
the tllas limited by the Constitution of the
United States for the Importation OF African
slaves. which traffic was almost exclusively con-
Quoted by Northern men, and carried OH by
Northern capital little or no complaint was
heard in that quarter against slavery, and il is
a fact Illustrative of Northern character in this
respect, worthy Of remembrance, that their abhor-
renee of the institution of slavery, their keen
insight and aptitude for comprehending its evils,
took its origin about the time, when this traffic
ceased to be profitable to them, aud slave la
Dor was no longer in demand at the North
When the North had sold and put of, upon the
Middle and Southern States, for valuable con-
sideration, its negro slaves, we first hear of any
sectional disresh for the institution; but since
then, to the present moment, there has existed,
and will continue to exist, unless arrested by
! the South, a fixed purpose on the part of the
North, to harrass the slayeholding portion OF the
| Union, until the Northern character-l mean the
unqualified, unaduHerated Northern character,
Qor there are grades in the North, very dissimi-
lar in all that IS manly,) shall be changed; an
event to be looked for, in my opinion, about as
soon as the Leopard. will be able to change his
! spots. ..N.. @
| IL is this principle of the Northern character
this indomitable, never ending, unrelenting
grasping, malicious, and destructive element that
| forms the Free-s0il party, and with which we
have to contend. 1t was exhibited in the Con-
vention that framed our Federal Constitution
again in the so-caled Missouri Compromise, and
in the late acts of Congress; and it has never
failed to be exhibited where it could be made to
sting the South, lacerate its feelings or deprive
| il of a right ..t".." ...
| This sentiment will 90 IN and increase daily.
becoming more arrogant and insupportabe. until
| the Southern States will have to meet il by
force, or unconditionally submit to its dctaton
! The MIN has studied the aggressive character
of this Northern sentiment to but little pur-
pose, who can doubt the truth of the conclu-
sons here stated. . ~ ...... .. .. .
Ii it had head or heart that yOu could APP
proach by reason, argument, or circumstances
the hope might be INDUCED Of returning sense
of Justice and change in this respect be looked
for but it rests upon no solid basis Of moral
justice; il it did, it never could have survived
one hour Of calm Investigation. and would, long
since, have been ban-hed as heresy. 1t rests
upon hatred for the South, feeling of jtal-
ousy at Southern prosperity, and n radical dis
similarity in the social condition of sections
and a universally aggressive disposition to tear
down ard demush whatever they cannot fully
monopoIze and exclusively enjoy and nothing,
in my opioion, has heretofore prevented an open
and undsguised outbreak by the nonslaveho!d-
ing upon the slave States. and II forcible attempt
to abolish slavery, but the great business rela-
| tons existing between the two sections, and the
influence that capital has exertcd upon the
! Northern mind. Not from any regard for us
have we been spared, but from tender sympa
thy and fostering care for their own prcserva-
ton--and the additional reason, that this serti-
| rnent or feeling, conscious of the baseless fd-
| brio upon which it rests, will ever seek TO ex-
haust all other means to accomplish its objects,
| before resort is had to open violence, where
the oppressed and the oppressor meet in bloody
conflict.
| Truth and candor compel me to admit, in view
of the past, from the best consideration have
| been able to bestow upon the motives and OBJ
jects of this great Northern mind in relation to
| slavery, that consider the concessions made by
| Congress to this sentiment, by the passage, at
the present session, of the series of measures,
called the Compromise bills, have etfectuully
secured its long sought object, the ultimate nc
complslment of the abolition Of slavery in every
slave State in this Union,-and that too, in less
than fourth Of n century from this day, unless
restrained by the united action Of the South.
This opinion may be scout by some, for
whom | cherish the kindest feelings by others
it may be regarded rank treason and an I'M
disguised blow mt the Union; for such, sell
respect leaves me no word OF reply.
For the accuracy Of my conclusions, claim
nothing over the humblest in the land.
For the purity Of my motives and the truth
funess of the warning am now attempting to
give, am content to abide the severe ordeal
to which all men are Fastening, and to coming
events.
Nor will withhold the declaration on this
occasion, admitting my pride Of opinion to be as
strong as others, momentous gloomy and
alarming do consider the situation Of the South
mt this time by the late extraordinary and unjust
legislation by Congress in reference to the ter
ritores, that do most ardenlly hope that my
fears may prove groundless, and my opinions
erroneous.
| Taught to love the Union, from my infancy ;
to look to the Government with pride and adj
miration, as the purest and wisest ever devised
by man, the thought that that Governmcnt--so
much revered in the purity in which il came from
our fathers, in less than in three tourths of a
century, should be converted into q mighty in
strument for expressing the minority by The ma
jority, is reflection that must fill the stoutest
heart with deep and abiding sorrow. ....
In what has been brought to your notice,
enough perhaps has been said, to satisfy you that
s:ecided majority of the people of the North
and Northwest are united in one common senti-
ment ana ultimate oD]ect, the aoolllon OF slavery
in the States. But if more is required, let Us
examine the act of Congress admitting California
into the Union, and the circumstances attending
it.
And first Is the admission of California n
fraud upon the Constitution or not! And il
fraud, is the South bound by this net of Con-
gress If not bound, what is the mode and
measure Of redress? These are important in
quiries and we should approach them with great
care and consideration; for, if Congress in the
admission Of California has done no wrong to
the slaveholding States--if there has been no
abuse of power in that act dangerous to our
equality and rights under the Contederacy, by
corrupt abandonment of duty, and a failure to
perform a solemn constitutional oblgation-we
are bound, as good citizens, to cease our oppo-
stion to IT, though other grounds may remain
open, claiming our auimadycrsions.
concede that Congress has the power to
admit new States into the Union; but is there
no limit, or restriction, on Congress, in the exer-
else of this power! Or in other words, can
Congress, by the admission of State, transcend