The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-12

/ ~ clam sntos.
Since the lamentable failure Of the CLAY plan
of adjustment through his exhortations and obju-
gatory displays, and his digni6ed withdrawal
from the scene of his discontinue, a new system
1 of tactics has been adopted.
| On the one side to, secure the settlement oil
the yexed question Of Texas, and terrify the
timid out Of their propriety, Mr.. FILLMORE
makes grand flourish Of trumpets, and threatens
to throw the sword into the scale, If the matter
be not speedily adjusted.
On the other side, the California question is
to be settled through similar mlneuvre, with
this difference, that the President is not to inter.
pose, but that sovereign State,r whois to stalk
off in high dudgeona and act up for herself if moi
admitted instanter. To produce panic in
this way has been attempted, not only through
the rhetorical fiouershes made on the floor
4 of Congress, but by innumerable letters, either
/ from Cor purporting to be from) that dis
tant region, so dear to the soul of SEWARD
g. Co., who always desire to make free soil Of
i all places where gold is to be had for the grab
bing.
Those members of Congress true to Southern
rights and honor, are to be badgered by their
ownrecusants betrayed by their own renegades
and subjected to fire in the front from the
heavy ordnance Of President FILLMORE and Sec
rotary WEBSTER, while fire in the rear is to be
poured in by California.
We donot here refer to the frequent loss of
those picked off by the sharp shooters, hidden be-
hind Texas bonds, but they also cripple astrag-
gler occasionally.
| Happy therefore, are we to find that in despite
of open and covert treachery, of Executive and
subordinate influence, of attempted intimidation
and cajolery, bullying and bribing cfor there are
other modes of bribery, save with money! that
the South is yet safe, as the action Of the
Southern members on Saturday night proves,
And if in this terrible and most unequal
struggle some should grow faint hearted or
treacherous, and fall off by the way--those who
remain faithful to the last and achieve the triumph
which right must always finally attain, like the
Sybil's books will be the more highly priced rs
sink into slough of scorn, whereas no kindly
hand can ever drag them forth save to the pillory
ofpublic opinion.
We have the best reasons for believing that
the people of Texas win never consent to be
bought off, nor to sell any portion of their terri
tory to the Free Soilers-and we greatly mis-
take the temper of that people, if they will
ratify such an act, passed while the threat of the
President was suspended over their heads like
a scourge.
The Presidents message presented plainly the
alternative either Of submission or coercion.
How painful is the position in which this ac-
ton Of the Senate has placed the people Of Texas
For seven long months the matter is deliberated.
President Taylor (with the true instinct of the
warrior,) threatens to sunder the knot with his
sword-a storm Of Indignation rises, and civil
war is anticipated. The fiat of Providence goes
forth--by the visitation of God, WILLARD FILL
MORE is made President Of the United States,
and one of his first acts is to assume the warlike
policy, for which in advance such an cutlery was
raised against his predecessor
The idea therefore Of aweing Texas by the
militia, or isolating her from her Southern sis
tiers by approaching her bonds, will prove as flu
tile as the various other adodges" in which par
lamentary tactics have been so signally displayed
this session.
So much for Mr.. FILLMoRE's adrum and trum-
pet thing" and its first effects. Aword or two
now on the California pronunciamentos. It is
bad enough to be bullied by the President of the
United States-like the fellow who was kicked
by Lord, but people Of loyal feelings may
find some comfort in the infection. But to be
hectored snubbed and scolded by set of sover-
eign squatters, who have cody monopoized the
mines, the money, the lands of Uncle Sam, with
out so much as saying aby your leave
who have set their feet on the established laws
of the land, and the common charter Of the
Constitution established government by the
same title which gave them their lands--and ex-
cluded from those lands the very men who
poured out their blood to acquire then,--for such
community to give itself airs, complaining of
injustice, and threatening to refuse entering this
Union at all, if immediate provision be not made
on their own terms--is the coolest piece of eff
frontery on record.
Why to whom does that Territory rightfully
belong, every acre of it! if not TO the United
States, to what authority is their allegiance due
and how dare they thus unreproved utter threats
Of doing that which the people of sovereign
States arc denounced as traitors, for advising
their fellow citizens to mediate upon.
Verify, between these pronunciamentos the
South is indeed exposed to fire in the front
and fire in the rear. The Engineers may. how
ever, be "hoist on their own petards' yet. We
hope and believe so.
LOCAL INTELLIaENCE
IA 49, Al