The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-25
what IL was, and what il is--aAd its value to the

BIEAl III was, anu VIM IL lS--tAdQ lis WING TO u
Southern States. E
The establishment of the Union on the part
Of the Southern States, was a fraternal act. The
States had just established, by glorious effort
coupled with much suffering, their independence
An enthusiasm of JOY was the common senti-
ment of the nation at large. 1t was the first
outbreak of the liberty of large portion of the
human race. We took to our bosoms with
brotherly affection all those with whom we had
struggled il the attainment of this great achieve
melt. Their interests, however variant, the
South considered as her own. The country
was poor; but the Northern States were the
poorest. Their commerce was struggling dis
adyantageously with that of foreign nations. 1t
needed to be cherished aud protected by the
Union. The Northwestern ports were still in
possession of their late enemy, and were with
held contrary to the stipulations of the treaty of
peace they were not likely to be surrendered to
sectional claims. The Union made the claim
imposing, and it was successful. 1t protected
their navigation on the ocean. II cherished
their fisheries by bounties. 1t gave them, by
eountervailing duties, almost the whole of our
carrying trade. II gave them all that made them
speedily prosperous and wealthy. What did it
give to the South! am aware Of nothing, ex-
cept, perhaps, harmony among ourselves, which
was, admit, of some value; but while we gained
but little, we did not begrudge all these advan-
tages to our brethren, which, though they made
them rich, did not impoverish us. We were all
prosperous. The prosperity of the North sprung
from the institutions of the Union; ours from
our soil, from our agriculture, from our slave
labor and our cotton fields. We needed no pro-
lection, and got none from the Union. But too
many of us have supposed that the mamma which
thus fell from heaven, was the fruit of the Union,
and have given it credit for the blessing.
The political fabric of the Union gave US fair
participation Of power, to protect us in our re-
spective rights and independence, which it would
have continued to do had the compact been fairly
executed. 1t was well balanced government
Reflect on what it was and on what it is. Look
on this picture, and on that" and say whether it
be not Hyperion to Satyr." We had then
equal power, we have now none at all. We
asked nothing, and we gained nothing, but that
power of protecting ourselves which is inherent
in all free governments for, without it a govern
ment cannot be free, and will inevitably soon be-
come tyranny. There was, indeed, one subject
on which we had little jealousy, and for which
prudence required some special guarantees All
we desired was readily granted enough then,
and enough now, if faithfully executed refer
to our slave property. The Constitution con-
tains the most solemn pledges for its security !;
but they have been repudiated by those who
gave them. There was, then, but ono opinion in
the world on the subject of slavery. 1t was not
till a few years since, and then only in Great
Britain, according to Lord Stowell, that "a few
private moralists, little heard and less attended
to-" raised their voices against it; not indeed
against slavery, but the slave trade. The present
crusade against slavery softhe most recent, date
,,,J e, 81 Aol he
ton permitted, those who are now waging so
furious war of abolition were engaged actively,
profitable and largely in that abominable traffic,
and are now employing the wages of it for the
destruction of that property for which we paid
them. They are very subtle moralists, but can
not keep their skirts clear Of the most odious
part of the sin. We cannot enter here into n
defence of slavery as it exists in the Southern
States at this time. African slavery, as well as
the impassve barbarism of Africa, are altogether
mystery, which our reason, the guide that Pro-
violence has given lis for our actions, does not
perhaps explain. Even that guide has not been
consulted. Its assailants deny all past results
of human experience. They simply assert that
property cannot exist In man. In this they are
contradicted by all history, by the old and new
Testament, by the Constitutions of our GLORIOUS
Union" by the charter under which they exer-
else the power by which they Cypress us. You
cannot reason with such men. And who are
those men? The weakest men in the country
men who never vera and never will be trusted
by the good sense humankind In the government
of other national affairs. they are not philan-
thropists, for in no instance do they consult the
happiness of the African: they will not allow
him admission into their borders, unless he comes
to them in violation of their pledges under the
4 L., n 81.
subject which they have undertaken TO govern.
Most certainly, if their plans succeed, they
will doom to the most AFFECT misery those whose
friends they profess to be for them it will be
the drest calamity. At present their condition
makes them happy people, employed more
beneficialy for themselves and very large por-
ton of the human race, than any equal number
of laborers in the world. Could tho schemes
Of the Abolitionists prevail, millions of other
people, who now enjoy happiness and prosperity,
from the fruits of their labor in manufactures,
navigation, and all tho attendant employments,
would be reduced to a state of restitution, The
proposed object of the Aboltionists, if attained,
will be attained by Providential means, much
more fit and adequate than anything they can
devise; but they think they can do the work
better, and are anxious to take the business out
of the hands of Providence. 1t is Il pity that
they could not discover the truth that, they are
exactly such Instruments us Providence uses
for its infections, but never FORTS mercies. The
political situation Of Europe, and of this ooun-
try, presents philosophical study, think, of
the highest Importance, which has been little
considered What we call the rights of man.,
or the admission Of great masses to the power
of selfgoVernment, has brought into action the
minds Of persons utterly unqualified to Judge
Of the subject practically, who have generated
the widest theories. The extravaganoes of
communism, and of the injustice of the appro-
pration and enjoyment of property, are au ong
them. These men are often the more danger
Gus because they are probably sincere and hon
est but they are shaking the very foundations
of society. They aim at a perfectability Of
which human nature is probably incapable, nm
equality among men Of all ranks and attain
ments, which weak minds and heated magma
tons only can tolerate. This agitation has re-
Gently reached the United States. 1t has been
introduced by European agents, and has brought
under its delusions.the subject Of African slavery
in the Southern States. 1t is Of the family Of
communism, it is the doctrine of Proudhon, that
pPODertv il n rrime II ia the Same doct rine