The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-11
To the Editors of the Southern Press:

~ pf IluV"S " Wc pOuWt'H TTtSS'
"You should take the Compromise, because it
Is the best you can get" ...
The very language used by those who advocate
al adjustment" of pending difficulties, under
the provisions Of the 1850 Compromise, be these
provisions what they may, is that of submission
Of the tamest and most abject description, at the
same time that it is insulting to the South in the
highest degree. Look at it!
I" We should take the Compromise, because it
is the best we can get
Here is no appeal to our fanaticism no argu-
ment addressed to our reason no special plea
even but the unvarnished, dogmatic language of
threatening, addressed to our craven fears or sor
did cupidity: "Take thus much or you shall
have less"
When we get obtain anything, in the COM
mon acceptation Of those terms, apart from pur-
chase, we get it from donor--from some giver,
and the measure of its justice, or the excellence
of its quality, must depend upon the generosity
and liberaity of the person who presents the gift
In this Illuminating condition are we placed. The
North is to be the Encouragement we to be placed
in the humble character of recipients Of her boun-
ty, and are to be content with any thing she may
choose to mete out, through the peon-ish fear
that we may fare worse. Does it not mean that
we must go for the Wilmot Proviso inits disguise,
or else take it in its naked deformy and hideous-
ness'
Were ever such insulting terms offered to free
people' 1t is just as though a tory orator had
told us before the revolution, sYou should sub
nit to the present tyrany of England, because it
it is the best you may get"
That kind Of language would not have been
needed by the men at Lexington, who would have
sent by Pitcairn and Lord Percy reply to tory
ism distasteful to the crown. Nor would it have
suited those men who, on the Goth May, TITS
gave to Mecklenburg a name and fame co-exten,
sve with liberty.
sit is the best yot, can GET" is the language
Of despots to towards 1t is not the language that
men who know their right, will listen to with any
degree Of patience. We do not acknowledge the
existence of any body or set of men as having the
right to propose terms to us, rs if we were their
interiors and suppliants. All parties may pro-
pose ways and means, but none can take upon
themselves, with IMMUNITY, the assumed right to
say to us in the language Of dictators, 'take
this, it is the best can may get'-" take the
most indifferent bread we may offer, or else you
may get stone.'' The only kind of language
we should allow, to be expressive of our position,
should be that Of equals. We will have those
terms which our rights entitle us to expect, none
others. These are guaranteed to us by natural
justice, and the not less high and comprising
guarantees of States-rights and the Constitution.
If we cannot get these, let us scorn to take any
thing which is offered to us in the insulting lam
guage of the caption, eft is the best you may
get"
The South has still some chivalry left, ard will
put mark upon all who use such langua ge as
this, to win her over to shameless submits sion
a base and cowardy REIMBURSEMENT of her rights.
We trust the whole of the Southern press, will
refer to such pitiful pretences to lure us into a
trap, and deal by them and their authors as tn ey
deserve.
A TRUE SOUTHRON.
CHARLOTTE, N. c., June o. 1850