The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-25

and subvert the Union in this war upon justice,
equality and right.
we are told that our difficulties are at an end
thai unjust as we all know the late action or Con-
gress TO have been it is better to submit, ana es
pecially is better, since this Is to be the END oil
the slavery agitation II this were the end, fellow
citizens, Imight debate the question as TO whether
submission would not be the better Poliey. slch
is my love Of peace, such my almost supe,stitious
reverence for the Union, that might be willing 10
submit, if this To be the end or our troubles
But know it is not to be the end. know u mas
not been the end thus far. What have we seen
On the passage of all these bills through Congress,
the North stood shocked and oyerawed al the
enormity ofthe wrong done the South ;5but wash
ington city rejoced, Baltimore rejoiced, Richmond
rejoiced. Instead OF the thunder notes or resist
ance coming back upon the capitol, we were greet
ed with songs and shouts, and the merry peals or
hearts filed with joy. Seward, the abolition sen
ator from New York, encouraged by these indica-
tons, introduced bill to abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia. II got only FIVE votes. The
North had not yet recovered from the shock which
a glance at her own bold work had inflicted on her.
After few more days, the news of rejoicing at
Louisville, at Augusta and Nashville came rolling
back upon the wings of the Lightning, and Seward
asked another VOTE and the result was nine IN the
affirmative The cautious Dayton, and the still
more cunning Winthrop, and men ofthat class, all
urge that measure. They saw and knew full well
that the firing of cannon and beating of drums were
empty signs. They judged, rightly, that no peo-
pie rejoice in heart at their own degraded action.
But this rejoicing still went on they fired the
cannon and beat the drums, and flung out their
banners all over the South---at NatcheZ and New
Orleans-at Mobile, and at Jackson, at Memphis
and Montgomery. Not only were the Giddings,
and the Stewards 5, the Chases, Hales and Kings,
and all the enemies Of the South, thus assured that
there would be no resistance, but, in the echo OF
the booming cannon and in the shrill notes of the
merry fife, they were assured that the South was
filed with rejoiengs and merry songs. What was
the effect Of all this! Why, fellow citizens, the
vote was taken in the House the bill to abolish
slavery out-and-out in the District of Columbia,
and it got ffty-two votes, and there were twenty
nine of its friends absent--the largest vote ever
given in Congress on the direct proposition. Look
at these things. Look to the Fugitive slave law in
New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and elsewhere
Look to the late extraordinary triumph ofSeward
in New, York. Look to the success of the Free
sellers in the late elections. Listen to the notes
of preparation everywhere in the Northern States,
and tell me if men do not wilPully deceive you when
they say that the slavery agitation is over. tell
you, feow-citizens, it is not over. 1t never will
be over so long as you continue TO recede before
the pressure of Northern power. YOU cannot Sc
ouse your rights you cannot save the Union or
the Constitution, by following the timid counsels
Of the submissionists. Pursue these counsels,
and they will lead to sacrifice Of all that we hold
dear--of life, liberty, property, and the Union It"
self. BY submission you may secure, not a Union,
but coeaspioa with the North 1t will be such
land, Poland and Russia, Hungary and Austria.
1t will not, it cannot be the union Of our fathers
it cannot be a union opequals,
You can save the Union, fellow citizens, and
you do It by stern resistance to wrong.
have seen the Free-sol elephant Of the North.
He is governed by the instincts of his species.
He never crosses bridge without first pressing
it with his foot to if it will sustain his
ponderous frame. Make the bridge strong, and
he will cross, but let it be weak, and he will
stay on his own side. If you want this Free
soil elephant among you, make the bridge strong,
gpe him assurance OF Submission convince him that
he may pass the gulf that divides you in safety,
and he will come among you and destroy you. If
you would keep him out, show him the yawning
chasm, and convince him that if he attempts to
cross he will be precipitated to the bottom, and,
my life upon it., he will he content to remain at
home.
The North will inhict all that the South will
bear, even to final emancipation of the negro
race. She will infict nothing that you will not
bear
am OBTAINING you, fellow citizens, beyond the
| time which | allotted to myself; allow me to
bring these remarks to a close.
am for resistance. | am for that sort Of resist
ance which shall be effective and final Speaking
to you as private citizens, shall not hesitate to
express my individual opinions freely and fearless
ly as to the best mode Of resistance. do not ask
| II do not expect any one to adopt my opinions
| They are the result Of my own best ehections
and they will not be abandoned, except to embrace
others more likely to prove effective in practice.
| approve Of the Governors convocation of the
| legislature. The measure was called for by the
emergencies Of the hour, aud was, in my judg
| ment, emnently wise and proper.
L - n
| the State. Give the people chance to speak. Let
the voice of the sovereign State be heard speaking
| through a regularly organized convention, and it
| will command respect. Our bane has been our
divisions. We never can unite as one nan-our
! people are too much imbued with the early preju-
dices of their native homes. Congregated from
all the States OF the Union and from many foreign
countries, they never unite on one common
| platform But the majority can speak, and if that
| majority speaks through a convention legally
elected, its voice will silence discussion. 1t will be
| the voice of sovereignty-twillc command respect.
| What if three-fourth of the people Of Missis-
sippi for resistance, the other fourth makes as
loud noise, and their voice sounds as large in
| New York or Massachusetts,. What if fve-siXths
Of your delegation in Congress have spoken the
sentiment of the State, the other sixth has pro-
tested that he speaks the voice of the State. Let
ballot box. Let convention be called, and,
through that convention, let us speak the senti-
ments OF the sovereign State.
| should hope that such movement in Missis-
sippi would beHesponded to in most If not all the
Southern States. I should have great confidence
that South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Flo
rda, would meet us on common platform, and
resolve with us to stand or fall together.
| speak with great Difference, but with the ut
most freedom as to what course Mississippi and
the other States should pursue. speak for my
self alone, and no or party is in any way
sponsible for what | say.
We should demand a restoration Of the laws Of
Texas in hac perba over the country which has
been taken from her and added to New Mexico.
In other words, we should demand the clear and
undisputed right to carry our slave property to
that country and have it protected and secured to
us after we get it there and we should demand
a continuation Of this right and Of this security
and protection.
We should demand the same right to go into