The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-20

the defenders OF the Constitution III the nortnern
States in their efforts TO protect you from the
tions of slavery in Congress- have been politically
annihilated, or have turned your foes. You have
tamey acquiesced, until TO hate and persecute the
South has become a high passport TO honor and
power in the Union. You have unwisely stood sil,
whilst year after year the volume of anti slavery
policy and sympathy has swollen into unanimity
throughout all the non slavehodng States, and the
sections of the Union face each other in stern
collision. You have waited until the Constitution of
the United States has been virtually abolished,
what is worse only what the majority in Congress
think proper TO make il. That great principle on
which our system OF free government restsof 80 di
viding the powers OF government that, to common
government, only those powers should be granted
which must affect all the people composing it
equally in their operation, whilst all powers over all
interests local or sectional, should be reserved TO
local or sectional governments-is uprooted from
the Constitution. Local and sectional interests alb
sorb the time and business Of Congress, and thus
sectional despotism-totally irresponsible 10 the
people of the South-constitutcd of the representa-
tivcsin Congress from the non slaveholding States
ignorant of our feelings, condition, and institu
tions-reigns at Washington These are the fruits
Of your past forbearance and submission.
II we look into the nature Of things, such results
will not seem to be either new or strange. There
is but one condition in which one people can be safe
under the dominion of another people, and that Id
when their interests entirely Identical Then the
dominant cannot Cypress the subject people without
depressing themselves. The identity OF interest be-
tween them is the security OF right government
any two people, history bears but one testimony as
to the fate Of subject people. They have always
been compelled to minister to the prosperity and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF their masters. II this has al
ways been the under the ordinary difference Of
interests and feelings which exist between States,
how much more certainly must the experience OF
history be realized between the people OF the north
ern and southern States Here is difference Of CHI
ma and productions throughout territory stretch
ing along the whole belt of the temperate zone,
affecting the pursuits and characters OF the people
nhabitingit But the great differenccthe one great
dfference-the greatest which can exist among a
peoples the institution of slavery This alone sets
apart the southern States peculiar people, with
whom independence TO their internal policy is the
condition OF their existence They must rule them
selves or perish. Every colony in the world where
African slavery existed, with exception, has been
destroyed and if this has been the case under the
old and effete governments OF Europe, VIII II not
prevail under the dominion of the restless people OF
the northern States? They do not practically re-
cognise the nferiority of the African to the eau
cassian They do not realize because the cir
cums,ances of their condition do not compel them
to realise the impossbiity of an amalgamation be-
tween the Exempt from the Institution OF
slavery, it is not surprising that their sympathes
should be against US, whilst the dogma on which
they profess to build their system of free govern
mentrthe absolute rule of the majority--leaves no
barrier to their power in the affairs Of the General
Government, and leads them to its consolidation.
Religion, too, false real fires their enthusiasm
against institution which many OF its professors
believe to be inconsistent with its principles and
precepts. To expect forbearance from such peo-
Pile, under such circumstances, towards the lnstl-
tuition Of slavery, is manifestly yan IL they have
been false to the compact made with US III the Con-
sttution, and have allowed passion and prejudice
to master reason, they have only exemplitcd that
fraty and fallbility Of nature which has pro-
duced the necessity of all governments, and which,
| if unchecked, ever produces wrong. The insttu-
ton of slavery having once entered the popular
mind OF the eholding States, for action and
control, the rest Is inevitable. II unrcsrained by
r. .la, mill La.
swept from the broad and fertile South. The ma
ture of things, therefore, independent OF expert
| once, teaches that there can be no safety In
submission.
To submit to evils however great, while they arc
endurable, Is the disposition OF every people, espe-
| cially agricultural people, living apart, and
having association in their pursuits. But the re-
| sponsibity of preserving free government rests
with all its members, whatever may be their pur-
SUITS and not alone with those who have the power
or the will to DESTROY it, minority, by submission
may as much betray the Constitution a majority
| by aggression. The Constitution does not protect
a majority for they have all the powers OF the Gov
eminent in their hands and protect themselves
/ The limitations Of constitution are designed "a
protect a minorty-those who have no power,
| against those who have it. Hence, the great mo-
tive and duty of sef-protection Is peculiar To mi
nority, independent OF that faith To the Constitution
| which they owe in common with the majority
| They must protect themselves and protect the Con
stituon, and, if they fail in this double duty, they
are at least culpablc those who, in aggrcssne
| upon their rights, overthrow the Constitution And
the public opinion of the world is in conformity with
thesevews Theoppressor is hated, but the unresist
ingly oppressed is despised. More respect follows
the tyrant than the slave who submits his power
The southern States, therefore, although minority
are not exempt from the responsibility Of preserving
the Constitution, and in preserving IT, TO protect
| themselves.
In what way shall they preserve the Constitution
| and protect themselves?
AS general rule, it is undoubtedly true that
| when, in a government like ours, constitution II
violated by a majorty-who alone can violate Il IN
matters OF egisiaion-it cannot be restored to it,
integrity through the ordinary means of the govern
ment; for these means, being under the control OF
the majority, not available TO the minority IL
for this that frequent elections OF our rulers
take place in system Of tree government, in
order that the people, by their direct intervention
may change the majority. But this resource can
not avail US in the violations Of the Constitution
| which now press and harass the South. BY chang
ing their representatives, how can the people o
the South affect the majority in Congress and re
store the Constitution Their representatives arr
true; and have done all that do 10 preserv'
the Constitution from the aggressions Of the majority
| Removing them and putting other representative
in Congress could have effect in restoring thu
Constitution. IL has been broken by the represen
tatives Of the people of the northern States, whs
sustain them in their violations of the Constitution
IL is clear that the ballot box in the South is power
less for its protection. And the same causes which
induced the violations Of the Constitution by tn
tegrity. Throughout the northern States, there ha
been no indication Of any change in their policy
On the contrary, the majority against the South !
| greater in the present Congress than in the last
following the usual course Of every successive cleo
ton for years past. Nor have seen in the actor
of the States any proof Of returning of jus
ticc 10 US, or OF reverence for the Constitution
Several Of them, lest false differences might b
drawn TO their position, have taken care latcl.
10 retcrate in the most offensive forms their forme
declarations against our rights; and when grea
Senator, representing one Of them, anxious for th
perpetuation Of the Union has ventured TO advocat
something Of justice to the South he has been re
bukcd by the Legislature Of the State he represents
and virtually denounced for his fidelity 70 the Con
stitution This resource, then, under the ordinar.
operations of the Constitution, IL Of no avail An
how is it with the present Congress- the only othe
source of redress in the usual administration Of til
Constitution For six months IL has been in ses
sion, and during this whole period Of time SLAYER
has been the absorbing topic Of discussion and agi
tation. Yet nothing has been done TO heal the die
contents which justly exist in the South, or re
store a bleeding Constitution. All we have re
ccived has been bitter denunciations Of institu
tons by many members of Congress, and threat