The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-28

dominion of another peope-and above AL,
that all slave holding States are doomed, which
cannot, or will not protect themselves. The
progress of despotism is always gradual. The
last tops are never contemplated, perhaps alb
hored when the first are taken but when i'm
pllcated with the passions and prejudices OF
men, however fatal, they are inevitable heard
Mr. John Quincy Adams say, when contcndng
for the right Of presenting abolition petitions to
Congress, PRAYING for the abolition OF slavery
in the District of Columbia, that he did not be-
licve there was il man in Congress who contem-
plated, or would support any legislation for this
purpose They were only eontending for the
right Of petition Yet some five or six years
after, / saw a majority of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, vote to abolish slavery in the District
Of Columbia. And so it will be with slavery in
the States. Men may disclaim as much as they
please; but when Congress virtually assumes
and carries out measures designed for its over
throw, the end is not doubtful Stripped OF all
ragged subterfuges, the real matter OF aggitation
and controversy is slavery in the Stetes. Wheth-
or we shall COLOMBO any pertain Ofour Territory
or preserve the institution of slavery in the. Dis
tricJ Of Columbia, or carry our slaves from one
Southern State to another, are questions OF no
moment whatever but for slavery in the States.
j his is the evil, the curse, aimed at to be over
thrown by these measures and they raise the
one great issue between the North and the
South, emancipation, or no emancipation ny The
General Government Of the slares Of The South
II you are prepared to emanclpate your slaves
yield to NIL the various measures proposed IN
Congress to accomplish this policy. But you
are not prepared for such u result, what can you
gain, by yielding to any one of them! Whilst
every concession makes you weaker, must it not
n
Will they be deferred by the wretched bullying,
which whilst giving way, cries out--"wait until
they come to the next point, ifthey dare" They
dare,-and the same craven cry is heard,-
swat"
Why should we wait! The Constitution is
buried beneath the feet of this fierce contro-
versy Who are those most strenuous for the
admission Of California as n State into the
Union! The very men who splemnly denied
that Texas could constitutionaly be admitted
into the Union! Who are those that denounced
President Polk, for the very limited civil gov
ernnent proposed by General Kearncy,--as
an outrage on the Constitution The very men,
who now uphold the conduct of President Tny-
lor and General Riley, in not onlyorganizing a
civil government in California, but in surrender
inr up to that government all the authority and
control Of the General Government over this
Territory Whilst we are daily living under
the unconstitutional agitation and aggressions
of Congress on the institution Of slavery, it is
a farce to talk OF the Constitution. The ready
instrument # construction, by which the feder-
al majoritv in Congress have always made the
Constitut mean what they please, is always
at hand Mr.. Adams said in Congress, that he
could deduce the power OF the Geaeral Coy
ernment to abolish slavery in the South, from a
L. Il, - Il
stanced the power to suppress Instructions
The General Government called in by State
to accomplish this object, could by treaty with
our slaves emancpate them. But without re-
sorting to construction, if we submit to be en-
Guided from our Territories, we directly arm
our ASSISTANTS with the power, by the mauufac-
ture of free States in the Union to accomplish
this end. Nor have the two great parties in the
Union survived this contest, any more than
the Constitution. Build upon the Constitution,
they of course have persisted with it. That
party, which standing with the South on the
sovereignty Of the States. and the limitations
of the Con titution, has won so mauy Veto
ries,--that great party, which with the aid OF
the South, has ruled the councils of the Union,
with but short intermissions, throughout its
whole career has fallen into the arms of its great
antagonist and is now one with the party ofant-
slavery consolidation. A consolidationist,--an
emancipationist,--the great head OF the Wing
party in the Union, becomes the leader of the
Democratic party from the free States, in the
Senate of the United States, in their common
war upon the South Wings and Democrats,
from the free States, have unanimously voted to-
gethcr to deny the South any participation in
our Territories. And when their new leader
danounces the very foundation of their organi-
cation as a party with us,-the sovereignty of
the States--no Democrat from the North or West
rises for its vndication. When he threatens a
State,-the great States of Georgia, with the
sword of coercion, should she dare to eXeecise
right, which Jefferson and Madison vindicated,-
and Washington conceded the right of Seces-
son,-they are dumb. President Fillmore in
the White House responds to the despotic prin-
ciples asserted in the Senate, and sends mes
sage to Congress with respect to Texas, which
would have struck aghast the old Federalists of
'9S and '99,-the democracy of the North covers
or assents The fires Of abolition have consum-
ed the Constitution, and with it all parties but
two-the party of the North, and the party of
the Sonth.
Having thus endeavored to show you that the
struggle in which you are engaged, is no new
struggle,--that the measures proposed in Con-
gress can give you no quietude or redress,-that
no party III Iic Tree OIilcS IL 10 DC TcIlcu on
the South for cooperation and support and that
the Constitution and the Union it established is
virtually at an end; the question arises,--how
shall the rights of the South be indicated, and
the Constitution be restored
NV friends! No government was ever reformed
by those who corrupted it. No Constitution
was ever restored by those who have perverted
its powers to minister to their fanaticism or ag-
orandisaruet They are content with the govern
ment as it is. A majority who have the power
never yet sought to restrict themselves in its ex
ercise. 1t is the ruled minority who are dssatls
fed, and require the limitations of constitution
for their protection. They alone, when these
limitations are set aside, desire their restoration
But what can they do, with fixed sectional
majority aginst them, within the limits of the
Consultation, to effect this end If they have
the power to restore, the same power would have
enabled them to prevent the overthrow of the
Constitution. They have the power neither for
prevention nor restoration Uithm the Constitu-
tion,--and if they cannot evoke power withom