The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-09-24
POINT FIRsT-TnE SOUTH IN
VASSALAGE

The last Wilkinson Wing, in an article head
ed "R. B. Rhett," sets about to show how Mr..
Rhett has disgraced himself. In tho first
place, the Wing says that the Republican
performs the double work of defending
lihe Repnblican's) doctrines and their author
Rheti. We consider Rhett's speech 1.-THE text
book OF the disunson SCHOOL, disgracelnl for lis
false statements ann sophistical argument"
Mr.. Rhettt has put forth no new doctrine,
but simply the doctrines Of the States Rights;
doctrines which were known and discussed in
allthcir length and breadth in the United States
before Mr.. Rhett was born doctrines which
have become the settled faith OF. large MAORI.
" Of the Southern people; which are the only
final safety Of n minority, and which have three
lines been proposed to be acted on by the
North; Mr. Rhett's doctrines are the simple die.
tates of common sense, and are the necessary
foundation Of a permanent free, republican
government. But if they indeed be nep and of
late authorship as is ihtimated by the Why,
then the Republican is the author Of Mr.,
Rhott's doctrines, and not MIR. Rhett the author
Of the Republicans doctrines: for the Republi-
can, for the last ten months at least, has adyo-
Gated to the full ertcnt, and ruth all its might
every doctrine contained in Mr.. Rhetfs recent
speech. The Wing gives MIR Rhett's speech
undue Importance. II is merely the exhibition
of the doctrines in which we have always be.
lieved, and we therefore incidentally support
and recommend il. 1t is no text book.
But the Wing particularizes "the disgracefup
points in Mr., Rhett's speech, and says first:
"He (hlr Rhett) attempts to prove to the peo-
pie Of South Carolina that they are not free, but
in the same vassalage as were the colonies to
Great Britain, Y " y Y II is a new doc
trine in a representative government, that a por-
ton of the people are "aot FREE unless they,
the fraction, have a majority in making the
laws
II is no new doctrine, but a selfevidon, fact,
that no portion Of people is free, unless ii
hare majority Of those eho frame The lars or
is protected from The power Of those who do
frame the laps, who may hare conflicting inter
ests.
The object of CONSTITUTION is to "%restrain
the government as that of laws is to restrain in
dividuals.p This is n well settled fact in all
kinds of government. If il be a Republican
Government, the constitution is of use to pro-
iect the minority from the Needless Legislation
Of the majority is absolutely necessary to re-
strain the majority. Now, If the Southern
States are in the minority, they need the pro-
lection Of the constitution and il they do not
have il, but are left TO the mercy of n majority,
is il not evident 'that they are not free, but
in the same vassalage as We're the colonies of
Great Britain ~
Mr., Rhett says, speaking of the men of the
Revolution, ethey could not see any differ
ence in the principle between no represen-
alton aud representation inadequate to protect
them in the paying of the taxes;n for they were
in the power of a majority, whose sense ofjuS-
tiee q (and other suchlincentives put forth by
MIR. Clay as arguments that the South had
nothing to fear, even though ruled by the
Mortal could alone restrain them From
whom and from whom alone, do a. look for
any injury to ourselves in life, property or hon
orr From a Northern majority unrestrained
by the constitution They have us in their
power, and, under this state of fact, our having
any representation at all, is not only useless
because il being a minority can effect nothing
against the viii of the majority--but it does a
very great injury because il gives a shield
to tyranny, offers it the power to say, when re-
monstrated with, "you did yourselves the harm,
you had representatives, and why did they not
check it.n II it be the settled policy of any
man or setofmen among US, that we must SUBJ
nit TO the domination Of q Northern majority,
to BE- proper and prudent s%lares; Us must With-
draso our representation, and become to~tailysub-
rsissiys passals. We hold 1t then as i~neontro-
vsr;iblo land it in reality only needs state.
ment, to be immediately asserted sol that, the
soufhera States, bsing in TIE minority both in
population and in number Of State, can look 10
ihs CONSTITUTION clone for protection IF their