The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-16
THE SOUTH ERN PRESS
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
TUESDAY. JULY I6. 1850
The Plan Of Illustration.

/ Il u /, 5 ID A Y +, J U l. 10, 1891
The Plan Of Illustration.
We have published from time to time in our
columns, as we had space to spare, speeches of
early in the present session. Our reason for so
doing was to present as fully as practicable, the
argument on which the South relies to sustain
her rights, and the views suggested by various
minds. In pursuance of that object we present
to day the speech Of Mr.. CLINGMAN, one of the
earliest delivered in the course of that long and
able debate which has contributed materially to
modify and change opinions in all sections of the
country. This speech has been generally read,
has been the subject of much comment, animad-
version and denunciaton, yet we shall be borne
out by the testimony of every candid man in
saying that its leading positions have not been
answered by the North and cannot be success
! fully.
1 In connection with the republication Of this
speech, and to show how such things strike dis
tant and impartial observers we present few
short extracts from a couple of articles in the
London Chronicle In the number Of February
2lst, as part of an elaborate speculation on the
condition of things in this country, we find the
following comments:
B.. 'But since the meeting of Congress, the rela-
tons of the ltigant interests seem to have under
gone singular change. The Southern represen-
tatives, instead of simply presenting compact
front TO the expected attack assumed the offensive
| he first dav of thn n
impetuosity not perhaps uninspired by the saga
cious councils of their leading men, they flung
themselves at once into the conflict They have
heaped every variety of contumelious abuse on
t their Free-soil adversaries. They have declared
that they contemplate without terror--nay, that
they are ready to welcome--,he dissolution of the
i Union They have spoken of civil war as a con-
tingency for which they perfectly prepared.
They are asserting, in every form OF phrase, that
neither threat nor promise shall induce them to
abate an iota of their rights"
"This surprising turn Of the controversy APP
pears, for time, to have parayzed the Northern
majority. The members from the free States feel ,
probably, that theyare still divided into Wings and
Democrats at the same time thatthey see such dis
tinctions fading daily away from the ranks ola pha-
lanx united IN common fear and common hate
Each section seems afraid to move, lest its domestic
rivals should take the opportunity of deserving to
the enemy, and so gaining political advantage
which half century might not perhaps disturb.
The South has managed to surround its cause, for
the time, with the indicia of popularity and
strength and this, no doubt, is the secret of the
| favor shown to Southern interests in Mr.. Clay IS
| resolutions.
:" But although the comparative quescence OF
the Northern representatives is certainly attributa
BILE in part to considerations OF party and political
alliance it is allowable to suppose that calcula-
ton more patriotic, in certain sense, have aided
in cooling down their Free-soil fervour Of last
autumn. There seems to be some of them who
now, for the first time, appreciate the magnitude
of the sacrifice which is required of the South.
One of many reasons for inferring that the pres
ent tactics Of the slave interest have been dcta-
ted by prudence rather than prompted by passion,
| is the eminent cearness with which its organs ex-
! plain the inevitable consequences of adopting the
Abolitionist policy. Such demonstrations are in
themselves the strongest appeals to the good feel
| ing and public spirit Of the North; and indeed,
speech of one OF the members for North Caro-
lima, which sets forth, in plain and simple Ian
guage, the fate of the slave States in case the
| Wilmot Proviso should be adopted is universally
deemed in America to have materially altered the
chances of the controversy. The speaker is a
! MIR. Cngman, and we cite a few of his senten-
ces for the purpose of showing how exactly the
| view of the clear-headed Southern politicians CO.
! incides with the conclusions at which we our
| selves, with all the advantages of GOODNESS and
| freedom from bias, arrived in our discussion of
the subject last summer.
In subsequent number--that of April 18th,
accompanied with some further comments ON
this speech, we have the following in support of
the view that the course above described is that
of sound policy. #". IT,.
| THE PoiITIcs OF AMERICA--SLAvERY AND CALI
t roRNIA.-Some considerable time has elapsed
: since we commenced an attempt to keep our read
| l. n
| in the United States in so far as they have tended
to produce the very serious crisis through which
c the Federal Union is now passing. So long ago
G as last autumn, we described the progressive
1 changes by which the anmuS of the Northern
}, States--from being sentiment of merely passive
I antipathy to the servitude of labor, and TO the
o phases Of society based upon it---has become o
spirit of active hostility to the form of slavery
which obtains among their felow-countrymen OF
n the South. We pointed out how an ignobe nc
e cident gave an exponent to Northern jealousy,
and to the desire of aggression in that party which
, emphacally styles itself the party of Free-soil.
n We traced the extraordinary movements and UNI
ceasing proseytism of the politicians whom the
d powerful operation of the new feeling had banded
e together until the meeting Of Congress, when we
h saw them arrested and even repulsed by the de-
! termined attitude which the counsels Of saga
cous leader had indicated to the representatives OF
the South, as atfordng them their only chance OF
D present safety and ultimate success. We have
thus reached period, when, after fux and reluN
have spent themselves, the great controversy
seems to be riding in slack water. Congress
since its assembling, has not advanced the cues
, ton one step. . -
With reference to that portion of the speeci
b which has been the subject of greatest com
a plant on the part of the North--but which has
J within few days past, been resoted TO by North
- erp REPRESENTATIVES Nth success viz the plan O.