The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-07-25

tree labor elsewhere. In this respect.
also, the judgment Of the southern
/ people has undergone a decided change
1t is not important, in its relations to
this subject, to determine whether this
Judgment oe sound or otherwise. 1t
IS, however, Of very grave importance
! that we should understand what thai
judgment is. believethat It Is the set
tied opinion Of BY far the largest por-
ton Of the southern people that this
Institution Of slavery whilst it places
them in condition Of personal com.
fort fully equal to that Of other portions
Of the Confederacy, in a high degree
also promotes the accumulation of natl.
onal wealth. There is still another
change which has taken place in the
opinions of southern men, a change
which is still making rapid and sure
progress among them-the more i'm
portant because il controls the views CT
those who deeply influence the politi,
tai destinles of country, its states
men. Our own revolmlon had termin-
ated ~gloriously; the people were exer>
cising their power with extraordinary
moderation and wisdom. The French
revolution succeeded, the great states.
man Of our country, especially in the
South, regarded with the deepest in
terest ,this movementin the European
mind 10 favor Of freedom. Their feel.
ings and their judgment coinclded in
producing the conviction that it would
be eminentIy successful and productive
Of the highest prosperity. Very gene.
rally the opinion was entertained that
man was qualified to govern himself,
that all that was to be done was to re-
move the superintendent weight of
despotic authority, and leave them 10
the impulses of their own will, the ex>
ercise Of their rightful power, and they
would secure happiness, wealth, and
greatness. Such was not the result Of
that great experiment, Such opinions
are not entertained by those who re-
! fleet most uponthis subject of politics.
Experience has taught them that very
few nations are equal to this Office of
self-goyernment; that much depends
upon the circumstances in which they
I stand--upon past institutions-uoon
institutions fixed as habits of living;
that, in fact, much less depended upon
the will Of the existing generation than
upon the capacity winch they derived
from their connection with the past to
bear them safely and successfully
through this great and hazardous duty
Of selfgovernmenh 1t can hardly be
denied that subsequent events have
tended to strengthen those opinions
And In relation to any change in our
Institution of slavery, 1t must be res
membered that the statesmen Of that
day weGewilhout the pregnant exam
pie Of So. Domingo, jamaica, and all
other places where the fatal experi>
ment has been made. Time with Its
incidents have saddened perhaps, but
sobered also, the judgments Of our
southern statesmen, They no longer
desire these sudden revolutions;no long
eranticipate greathappineSs from great
changes; but eminently conservative,
desire to abide by institutions which
hitherto have brought. them security
aud reasonable happiness, and under
which civilization has grown up inits
past not inglori0usly, in It's present with
much to love, and in its nature with
much to hope for. In the condition of
the non-slavehclding States, while they
see much present prosperity aud vigor-
GUS progress, yet allow me, with great
gespect, to say that tho indications for
the future do not seem to them just
cause for apprehension. K social con-
dition, with too little balance totsecure
stability, exposed to sudden and VIC
lent impulses, swaying to and fro with
dangerous rapIdlty -they do not find in
these such encouragement to change
their institutions as will induce them
70 encounter much present loss and
danger for prospect Of future, to their
perceptions, neither bright nor calm.
These are among the causes which have
produced the change alluded TO by the
Senator from Massachusetts; and at
no time within my recollection, | may
safely. sayat no time since the introduce
ton Of slaves into this country, has the
institution Of slavery rested upona ba~
SIS more firm in our attachment, from
long use aud an approval from expert
ence, than it-does at present within the
southern section Of this country. And
It Is for this reason that their represent
tatives, and with even deeper earnest
ness the people at home, resist what
eyerjealous pertinency any attempt tol
place them, on accountlof slavery, lna
position Of permanent inequality and
inferioTitys We in vain seek IN the
hGtory Of the past reasons % justify
this treatment. We find none u our
present condition. Experience must