The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-22
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
po,. N, So,,ths,7. Press.

The -South in truly in Perilous condition, not
- r,ucb fon, he assaults of Abolitioniss, from
its own incapacity unite in measures of redress
ret,I;,tion. or resistance. II is waiting for the
crisis. though the crisis has already come, when,
if i, does not adopt united and decisive measures
in reference to what is past it will only hold out
encouragement to new aggressions, by showing
that there is strong party in that section not only
willing to submit, but ready to rejoice in submis-
sion-a party which is waiting, as appears, to see
how far the aggressor will venture to 60 when
thus encouraged, before it adopts any effectual
measures of redress. IL aus;.ias.r.ia.a..'
Surely the lessons Of the past are sufficient indi-
cations Of what may be expected in future. Some
fifteen or twenty years ago, when the Abolition
lists announced those principles which now
adopted by all parties in the North, with mere
ideal shades of variation, they received with
indignant scorn even in Boston, which is now the
very hot-bed of abolition. Their meetings were
broken up and dispersed, not by mobs of rowdies,
trained to violations Of the law by habitual impu
nifty, but by respectable bodies Of citizens. whose
Indignation was reused by their insolent demon
STATIONS against the peace of society and the SUI
premacy Of the laws. Their organs among the
newspapers were silenced, by their Offices being de-
moshed, and their types scattered to the winds
and throughout every portion Of the North and
West, universal burst Of Indignation was felt
and expressed, ut the annuncaton of the doctrines
Of immediate emancipation, to be followed by
amlgamation. The British emissary, Thompson,
found even New England too hot for him, and
snesked out of the country, under pretence of pro-
actin 10 IN w
fallen under grievous suspicion. The Abolition
lists sunk into perfect contempt and insgnifcance
under the overwhelming pressure of popular opin-
ion, and even Mr.. William Jay resigned his high
station Of president of the National Abolition So
ciety, it is presumed, in order to escape the hor-
rors Of martyrdom. H.
But what do we see now? In all the great capi-
tails of the North in country towns, and rural dis
tricts, meetings Of Abolitonists are held in open
day, attracting brawling crowds of negroes, white
men, women and children, and belching forth de-
nuncations against the Constitution, the Union,
the people of the South, and all those who dare to
write, or utter word in behalf Of either. Instead
Of indignation, they receive the sympathy of the
entire public: and while uttering not only treason,
but blasphemy, are aided by ministers of the Cos
pei, who desert their pulpits for the purpose of
circulating 10th.
We see newspapers almost unanimous, if not
IN disseminating those doctrines, at least in giving
them countenance by their silence, and counting
public support or official patronage by administer
ing fuel to the fires Of anatcism. We see the
Two great political parties Of the North licking the
dust at the feet of the Aboltonists, by adopting
their principles, and striving which shall most eff
fectually their sufrages by the greatest
rifces. We see Thompson, the British govern
ment agent, and late M. P. for the Tower Ham
let's, making his second advent in Boston, not as
criminal returning to vindcate his character, but
hallowed missionary, welcomed by all, and
received with public demonstrations, in the capital
of New England.
Lastly, we see the late president of the Nation%l
Abolition Society, Jay, emerging once more from,
oblivion, and salying out, like valiant pug,
against every man who thinks the Constitution
and Union of more consequence to the welfare OF
twenty millions of people, than the emancipation
Of three millions Of negroes. lie appears, during
his temporary retirement, to have made good use
of his time, and has come forth foaming at the
mouth with anathemas He denounces the pro-
slavery men Of the North, who may possibly mus
ter a corporal s guard he denounces the South ;
he denounces Messrs. Clay, Cass, Webster, and
Foote, and every body but Garrison, Thompson,
Abby Folsom, Mr.. Seward, &c. &c, and finally,
he afiliates with all those who denounce the Con-
sttution as gross violation Of the law of God and
the rights Of nature. In short, he is "higher
law" man from top to toe.
This gentleman merits brief biography. He
is son of John Jay, Secretary of State under the
old confederation, chief justice Of the United States
under the Constitution, and a man second to none
Of his illustrous contemporaries, in piety, patriot
ism, talents, and learning. All know that Mr.
John Jay was associated with Madison and Ham,
ilton in writing the Federast the great object of
several States that very Constitution which his
son denounces gross violation Of the law Of
God and the rights of nature " Honor thy father, p"
&c. But what cares a higher law devotee for such
triAes as flal duty and affection2 What cares he
for one or all the commandments, when opposed
to his petdogmal His organ of veneraton is mo-
nopolized by William Lloyd Garrison, George
Thompson, M. p, Cufee Douglas, Abby Folsom,
Lucretia Mott, spinster, and Professor Seward, of
the higher law school, This unfortunate gentle
man nearly lost his wits some years ago, not like
the pedant in lie Diable Bciteur, in searching for
the pa,.io post Gt,rrm of Greek verb-but in
solving the great problem Of human happiness,
which he at last found consisted in the immediate
emancipation of the slaves Of the South Many
persons consider him mad but he is not altogether
He has only lost the balance of his mind
which is not actually capsized. but at present lies
i III.
evitably turn him bottom upwards, and leave him
high and dry, wreck on the shore.
Nothing will save him but repeal of the Fugi-
tive slave law. He is, or lately was Judge OF
the County court of Westchester, and, according
10 his own showing, considers it his highest duty
not to enforce, but to nulfy the Constitution and
laws Of the land, which like Mr.. Seward, he has
taken a solemn oath to support. This, indeed,
seems the case with not few of our Judges, who
are gradually becoming converts to the "higher
law. and SOarlnp nhove al