The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-18
W ava Va ~
LLOYD SELBy, Secretary.
From the Fredericksburg (Ya) Dem. Recorder.

The UNioN.-All the wrongs the South has yet
endured, have been perpetrated in the name of the
Union. There is mag ic about the word that
can reconcile some men, and indeed not few to
insult, injury, and deep degradation. The Mis-
souri, Compromise, which a compromise of
our constitutional rights, and the foundation of
all subsequent difficulties upon the slavery qves-
ton, was made IN the name of the Union; was
extorted from the fears of the timid at II period
" hen the South was even better prepared than
now to maintain her rights. Petition after petit
ton has been sent to Congress upon the sub OF
slavery, by Northern fanatics, and insulrupon in
suit hea2ed upon Southern representatives in Con-
gress, and this has been endured in the name OF
the Union The South has been impoverished by
protection to Northern manufactures, which not
only has increased the price of the clothing she has
had TO purchase, but depressed the value of her
| agricultural products: and this, too, was endured
for years, in the name of the Union The South
has been cheated odt of territory vast and valua-
bic, won for the most part by her wealth and her
vaor. Not only has this been done by appeals
| to the same magic name, but when done, many of
her have united with those who have de-
fraudcd her, in rejoicing in her degradation, in
! glorying in her shame. We confess, 1t fills us
with modification to see those who were
once renowned for chivary, changed to tnwning
spanlcls, and licking the hands by which they
have just been dashed. Even the magic name Of
the Union can rever reconcile US To his. II we
must be reduced to vassaIage, at least
fuse tn lawn upOn our lords. Let rather hold
them II terror. Let any candid man review the
history Of the past, and libel our fathers if he
dare, Ivy saying this is the Union they formed.
Let ham look at The constant lrss we have
'aine by legislation partial to the North, horh in
territory and other sources Of wealth, and close
his eyes, # he can, tn the unqneStonai''e truth,
that the South must ultimately he reduced to vas
lage. A blind devotion tn the Union should not
shut our eyes against the light of truh.
I,a Snnth has . az "a n
devotion 10 the Union with what Ironrlety, lei
The sacrifices which she has made for its preServa-
ton, answer. This, in onr judgment, is NOT the
ground of her repronch she has loved It TOO well,
better even than her honor and her rights She
has loved il with foolish devotion that has
ciSed her sacrifice substantial good, tn its very
name. With this she deserves to be reproached
For the Union as our fathers formed II, we too
feel devotion, but we cannot I've deluded into the
belief that it now exists, save IN name. IL now
becomes the Southern States to assemble IN their
sovereignty and calmly to determine whether or
not the history Of the past does not teach them
that their future safety requires their withdrawal
from the UniOn. Aud above all it bee omes them
say whether they willing to remain in it, MS
interiors Of the Northern States. These the
questions 10 lie settled. We trust, Southern men
will meet rhefn us those "who know their rights
and knowing, dare maintain them."' No fear
of being called disunionst shall deter us from
avowIng that the magic name of Union cannot re-
concie us to injustice and oppression. We pity
the creature W no can thus he deluded. We know
we shall be called dismniomist, IN reproach We
take the name, and with il can stand in proud con-
trast with any cringing SubmSsionst who may dare
us. The South has been trampled under
foot, and are one of her sons, though an hum
ble one, and in calling upon her to arise, TO vind
cate her honor and assert her rights, con-
srious of maintaining far more elevated position,
than those recrea sons of hers, who are uniting
their voices with her enemies in rejoicing in her
overthrow, her degradation