The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-10

u mere is no paper at the foedt OF uoVern-
ment through which we can hear or be heard
fairly and truly by the country. There is a
paper here which makes the abolition of sla-
very its main and paramount end. There
are other papers here which make the main
tenance Of political parties their supreme and
controlling object, but none which consider
the preservation of sixteen hundred millions
Of property, the equality and liberty OF four
teen or fifteen States, the protection of the
white man against African equality, as para
mount over, or even equal to, the mainten-
nance of some political Reorganization which is
to secure President, who is an object OF
interest not because he will certainly rule, or
perhaps ruin the South, but chiefly for the
reason that he will possess and bestow office
and spoils The South has peculiar posi-
ton, and her important rights and interests
are objects of continual assault from the ma
jority; and the party press, dependent as it
is upon that majority for its means of living,
will always be found laboring to excuse the
assailants, and to paralyze all efforts at resist
ance. How is it now The abolition party
can always be heard through its press at
the Seat of Government, but through what
organ or press at Washington can Southern
men communicate with the world, or with
each other, upon their own peculiar inter-
ests' So far from writing, or permittinS
anything to be written, which is calculated
to defend the rights of the South, or state its
case, the papers here are engaged in lulling
the South into false security, and in man
ufacturing there an artificial public sentiment,
suitable for some Presidential platform,
though at the expense of any and every in
terest you may possess, no matter how dear
or how vital and momentous
This state of things results from party OBJ
legations and regard TO party success. And
they but subserve the ends of their estab-
lishment in consulting their own interests,
and the advancement of the party to which
they are pledged. You cannot look to them
as sentinels over interests that are repugnant
to the feelings of the majority of the self
sustaining party.
In the Federal Legislature the South has
some voice and some votes; but over the pub
lie press, as it now stands at the Seat Of
Government, the North has a controlling in
fuence. The press of this city takes its
tone from that Of the North. Even our
Southern press is subjected, more or less, to
the same influence. Our public men, yes,
our southern men, owe their public standing
and reputation too often to the commentator
and praise of the Northern press: Southern
newspapers republish from their respective
party organs in this city, and in so do
ing, eproduce-unconscou doubtless, in
most instances, of the wrong they do-the
northern opinion in regard to public men
and measures. How dangerous such state
of things must be to the fidelity of your re-
representatives. it is needless to say! They
are but men, and it would be unwise to sup
pose that they are beyond the reach of temp
tations which influence the rest of mankind.
Fellow-citzens, it rests with ourselves to
alter this state OF things, so far as the South
is concerned. We have vast interests, which
we are bound, by many considerations, to
defend with all the moral and political means
in our power. One of the first steps to this
great end is to establish Southern Organ
here, paper through which we may COM
mune with one another and the world at
large. We do not propose to NEEDLE with
political parties as they now exist; we wish
to enlist every southern man in southern
cause, and in defence of southern rights, be
he Wing or be he Democrat. We do not
propose to disturb him, or to shake him in
his party relations All that we ask is, that
he shall consider the constitutional rights of
the South, which are involved in the great
abolition movement, as paramount to all
party and all other political considerations.
And surely the time has come when all
southern men should unite for the purpose of
self-defence. Our relative power in the
Legislature of the Union is diminishing with
every census; the dangers which menace US
are daily becoming greater; and, the chief in
strument in the assaults upon US is the public
press, over which, owing to oursupneness, the
North exercises controlling influence. So
far as the South is concerned, we can change
and reverse this state of things. 1t is not
to be borne, that public sentiment at the South
should be stiAed or controlled by the party
press.
Let US have press of our own, as the
North has, both here and at home-a press
which shall be devoted to Southern lights,
and animated by Southern feeling; which
shall look not to the North but the South for
the tone which is to pervade it. Claiming
our share of rover in Federal Legislation, let
us also claim our share of influence in the
press of the country. Let US organize in
every Southern town and county, so as to
send this paper into every house in the land.
Let US take, too, all the means necessary to
maintain the paper BY subscription, so as to
Al