The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-03-07
TEE Only QUESTION.

hAON1 SNCt Jt'tGho W DV@tCNS'
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THE ONLY QUESTION.
To supposethat Legislation in con
gress will flow through its regular and
safe channels while the slavery ques-
ton remains unsettled, is to suppose
what is not probable or even possible.
The wheels Of government are stopped
and nothing is talked otin Washington
but the slavery question---the north
insisting upon agitation and the south
bent on resistance. Mr.. Calhoun in
dulges in hope; and yet this question
must be dehnity settled----not patched
up. There must be no legislation on
the subject in Congress. No Wilmot
proviso must be passed----the very
name must not be whispered within
the walls of Congress. Aud why; Be-
cause tits interdicted by the comprom-
ises of the constitution, and Congress
has no right to NEEDLE with it at all.
@But," say the incendiary presses ofthe
north, "the south threatens to'separate
and to divide the Union. The south
are the agitators." Not so. What mo-
tive can the south have to desire a sep
lration, having always been the most
devoted section in all that pertained to
the honor, the safety. and the prosper
ay of the Union! But if we grossly
violate her rights, we drive her to any
md every extremity which may follow.
/ The question is not whether the south
shall b. permitted to separate, but Whe-
ther the north shall be allowed to goad,
lnnoy, distress, and distract the south
IN The questjonof slavery. Ifthe north
Will not protsct the south, but will
permit fanatics and political knaves to
assalI heE VIII is in fault if a southern
convention leads to this fearful result?
We---aDe of the north----are alone TO
blame Vera the incendiary torch
Is it TO be tolerated that amidst the
glorious national prosperity by which
we are surrounded, this accursed ques-
ton should be permitted to divide and
distract us? The opinions and feel
ings Of the south Oh this question have
always been what they now are. They
assume no new ground---,it has always
been the same, They have always
expressed themselves in the same Ian
guage as they do now in relation TO
this invasion oftheir rights, Twenty
four years ago, when John Quincy
Adams was anxious to send ministers
10 the congress at Panama, to settle,
among other measures, the position Of
Hayti, Gen Hayne, senator from
South Carolina, and as pure and pa
triotic a man as any in that body, used
the following language in reference to
the slavery question which might grow
out of that mission. After referring to.
4 the cordial cooperation of the south
in suppressing the African slave trade,
he continued
RI nOnthe slave question my opinion is this:
consider our rights in that species OF prop
erty as not being open to discussion either
here or elsewhere and in respect TO our
duties (ilnposfd by our sitUation) we are
not to be taught them by fanatics, religions
OF political To call into question our rights
is grossly to violate lham, to. attempt to
instruct US on this subject is to insult u.s.
To dare 10 oassail our institutions is wanton'
Ilyto invade orr peace, Let me solemnly
declare, once forall that the southern states
will ever permit, and never can permit a.
nv interference whatever in their domestic
concerns, and that the very day on which
the unhallowed attempt shah be made by
the authorities OF the federal governments
we will consider ourselves driven from the
Union.
This was said by senator devoted
to the Union ---not in anger notin pas
sion, not in aspirit of defiance, but in
a solemn decided, and impressive man
ner Equally eloquent, firm and deci-
sive. was the languageof another sena-
tor on that very question---one who,
alas has fallen fromhis high estate on
this very exciting topic. Col. Benton
said, in relation to that congress at Pa
mama aud the Hayti question
"Oar policy, Mr., President. towards Hay
ii has been Fixed fol lhree.and-lhirly years
We trade with her, butno diplomatic rela-
tions have been established between US.
Wereeeive no mulatto consels or black an-
bassadors from her, And why2 Because
the peace Of eleven states in the Union wilt
not permit the fruits Of successful negro in
surrection 10 be exhibited amongst them
II will not permit the fact to be seen and
told, that for The murder Of their masters
and mislressos they are 10 find friends a