The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-26
From the Ns,os.
cts BUT THE LIVING WHO ARE Dunn. I"

ITS BUT THE LIVING WHO ARE DUNN"
Messrs. EDIToRs: propose to submit to you
the remarks of Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia,
in the convention which adopted the Declaration
Of Independence. As he was one of the principal
actors in our first revoluton his recorded opinions
may be of service, inaenabling to decide where
he and the men of his day would have stood,
were they alive at the present. Mr.. Lee spoke as
follows: --..-- -'-.-,.sr... ..e-.
"The question is not whether we shall wicked
ly wrest from Others their just possessions, but
whether we shall preserve or lose forever that
liberty which we acquired from our ancestors.
Why then do we longer procrastnate, and where
fore these delays. Let us complete the enterprise
already so well commenced, and since Or union
with Britain Che North) can no longer consist
with that liberty and peace which are our chle
delight, let us dissolve these fatal ties and conquer
forever an entire and absolute independence.
What have we not done to restore peace and Sc
cure harmony; Who has not heard our prayers
and who is ignorant of our supplicatons,-and as
at first our forbearance and then our resistance
have proved equally insufficient, we must 90 turth'
er and proclaim Independence. Nor let any
one believe that we have any option left the Tune
| must certainly come when the fatal separation
must take place, whether you will or no, for so II
is decreed by the very nature OF tLings-the pro
gressiye increase of population, the fertility oil
our soil, the extent of our territory, and the lnuus
try of our countrymen. Who does not theh see
|
it would not only be mprudent, but the height OF
folly, not to seize the present moment when BRIT
ish (Northern) injustice has filled our hearts with
| Indignation and Inspired all minds with courage
| How long must we go, and which OF arrogant and
insolent men either counsels or commands to regu-
late our domestic affairs Does it not become a
great and rich and powerful nation as we are, to
| look at home and not abroad, for the government
OF its own concerns, and how long can ministry
of strangers judge with any discernment OF our III
terests, when they know not and when it little I'M
ports them to know what is good for US and what
| is not. The two nations already separated II
| interests and affections
There some who seem to dread the eileCl'
OF this revolution but will Britain (he North) Of
can she exhibit against greater rigour and rage
than she has already displayed. LyShe deems
resistance against oppression no less re6el'0" AaH
| independence ITSELF
But who doubts that declaration of ndepen
dence will procure us allies All nations are deslr'
Gus of obtaining, by commerce, the productions OF
our eXuberant soil. They visit our ports, hitherto
closed by the monopoly Of The Unsuitable British
| (.Norih.)"
| Now, Messrs Editors, is this remarkable Ian
guage Of the patriot of l776 that Of the Southern
submissionist Of 1850? These brave men, it vii
be remembered, made an issue of arms upon tn
principle involved in a two penny tax upon tea
The South has not only principle but interest q
stake. A golden continent, won chiefly by he
own strong arm, has been wantonly wrested from
her,-her Institutions have been outIawed he
-ctizens hunted and mobbed in the prosecution o
claims guaranteed by the Constitution and we
there are still found among us men who persist II
whining about the "glorious Union" as though
the blood of our sres-aye, and of our sons ant
brothers too, was not "crylng from the ground
for indemnify and redemption. g.