The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-03

WdEl oi SuCn oh organ, heretofore, mas Deel
perhaps one of the leading causes of our pre-
+ sent condition. via
: There is no paper at the Seat of Govern
ment through which we can hear or be hear,
: fairly and truly by the country. There is
paper here which makes the abolition of sla
very its main and paramount end. Their,
(; are other papers here which make the main
tenance OF political parties their supreme an,
!, controlling object, but none which conside
the preservation of sixteen hundred million
Of property, the equality and liberty OF tour
teen or fifteen States, the protection of tn
white man against African equality, as para
mount over, OF even equal to, the mainten
nance Of some political organization which
} to secure a President, who is an object @
interest not because he will certainly rule, o
4 perhaps ruin the South, but chiefly for tn
reason that he will possess and bestow offic,
and spoils. The South has peculiar posi-
ton, and her important rights and interest
are objects Of continual assault from the ma
4 jority; and the party press, dependent as j
is upon that majority for its means of living
will[always be found laboring to excuse thu
assailants, and to paralyze all efforts at resist
ance. How is it now? The abolition party
( can always be heard through its press a
the Seat of Government, but through wha
horgan or press at Washington can Southern
\ men communicate with the world, or with
each other, upon their own peculiar inter
ests' So far from writing, or PERMITTING
anything to be written, which is calculated
to defend the rights of the South, or state its
case, the papers here are engaged in lulling
the South into false security, and in man
ufacturing there an artificial public sentiment,
suitable for some Presidential platform,
though at the expense of any and every in
terest you may possess, no matter how dear
or how vital and momentous.
This state of things results from party OBJ
legations and regard to party success. And
they but subserve the ends of their estab-
lishment in consulting their own interests,
and the advancement of the party to which
they are pledged. You cannot look to them
as sentnels over interests that are repugnant
to the feelings of the majority of the self
sustaining party.
In the Federal Legislature the South has
some voice and some votes; but over the pub
lie press, as it now stands at the Seat OF
Government, the North has controlling in
| fuence. The press of this city takes its
tone from that OF the North Even our
Southern press is subjected, more or less, to
the same influence. Our public men, yes,
our southern men, owe their public standing
and reputation too often to the commentator
and praise of the Northern press. Southern
newspapers repubhsh from their respective
party organs in this city, and in so do
ing, eproduce-unconsciou doubtless, in
most instances, of the wrong they do-the
northern opinion in regard to public men
and measures. How dangerous such astate
of things must be to the fidelity of your re-
representatives. it is needless to say! They
are but men, and it would be unwise to sup
pose that they are beyond the reach of temp.
tations which influence the rest of mankind
Fellow-citizens, it rests with ourselves tc
alter this state Of things, so far as the South
is concerned. We have vast interests, which
we are bound, by many considerations, tc
defend with all the moral and political means
in our power. One of the first steps to this
great end is to establish Southern Organ
here, paper through which we may com
mune with one another and the world at
large. We do not propose to NEEDLE with
political parties as they now exist; we wish
to enlist every southern man in southern
cause, and in defence of southern rights, be
he Wing or be he Democrat. We do not
propose to disturb him, or to shake him in
his party relations. All that we ask is, that
he shall consider the constitutional rights OF
the South, which are involved in the great
! abolition movement, as paramount to all
party and all other political considerations
And surely the time has come when all
| southern men should unite for the purpose of
| self-defence. Our relative power in the
Legislature of the Union is diminishing with
every census; the dangers which menace US
are daily becoming greater; and, the chief in
strument in the assaults upon US is the public
press, over which, owing to our supineness, the
North exercises controlling influence. So
far as the South is concerned, we can change
and reverse this state of things 1t is not
to be borne, that public sentiment at the South
should be stifed or controlled by the party
press.
Let US have a press of our own, as the
North has, both here and at home-a press
which shall be devoted to Southern rig hts,
and animated by Southern feeling; which
shall look not to the North but the South for
the tone which is to pervade it. Claiming
our share of rover in Federal Legislation, let
US also claim our share of influence in the
press of the country. Let US organize in
every Southern town and county, so as to
send this paper into every house in the land
Let us take, too, all the means necessary to
maintain the paper by subscription, so as to
increase its circulation, and promte the
spread of knowledge and truth. Let every
portion of the South furnish its full quota Of
talent and money TO sustain paper which
ought to be supported by all, because it will
be devoted to the interest of every Southern
man. 1t will be the earnest effort Of the
committee who are charged with these ar
engagements, to procure editors of high talent
and standing; and they will also see that the
paper is conducted without ODDositi2n, and