The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-09

Il N ~ "a N " " " - o co.
Northern Chivalry.
We take the following from the Albany (N.Y)
Evening Atlas, the organ of the Barnburners
The SOUTHERN CoNFEpERATIoN-The South
ern Press has been daily occupied with the con-
sideration how great and happy and powerful
q Southern Confederation would be 1t has
argued with a wonderful refinement of logic,
that all the States have the right of secession !;
indeed it seems so thoroughly convinced of the
right of secession that it seems to doubt that
State has the right of adherence to the Union
Now we have no taste for discussion of the
value of the Union, and no disposition to chop
logic as to the right of secession. We are will
ling to doubt that Southern States have full
and perfect right to secede from the Confe-
deracy, at their opinion. But if the existence of
a Southern Conf.deracy was a source of weak
ness and danger to us, from its foreign alliance
or otherwise, it would be put down by us. 1t
might have right to secede, according to the
mere terms Of the Federal compact, but would
have no right to exist afterwards II was a
Southern statesman, Monroe, who proclaimed
it n settled rule of our policy that no European
power should be suffered to establish dependen-
cies on this continent. Whatever necessity
justified that rule, would, with double force
control the action of the Federal Government in
regard to a Southern Confederacy.
But the Southern Press, having established
its right of secession, and, in Imagination, ex-
ercsed it, thus picture to itself its noble career
of resistance to the Federal Government. In
doing this, it invokes our recollection of the
Florida war!
"Does the Atlas forget that some three hundred
Seminale warriors defed the power of the States
united, for seven years Does he forget that those
Indians foed the genius of GAINES, ScoTr, TAY-
LoR, and JEssUP, ut the head of as many troops
could be employed against them that these were
the Generals who have astonshed the world by
their victories? that General JACKSON was Presi-
dent--and that the war cost us forty millions .
Does he suppose that the people of any State in
the Union have less genius, courage and resources
than the Seminoles"
The "genius, courage and resources" of the
Seminoles were developed principally in lying,
stealing and running away. We should think
that this Florida war was the last thing the
Chivalry would bring to mind. Unable to cope
with the 1000 Seminoles, the South invoked the
aid of the Federal government. When it got
the armies Of the Union to defend it, it turned
war into speculation. 1t is believed that the
Indians were furnished with the munitions of
their cowardly and murderous warfare, by the
white traders of the South, who speculated upon
the necessities of the regular army, and Of their
savage foe, and desired only to prolong the war
But the Chivalry of the Future Southern Con
federation will be worse off than the Seminoles.
In the first place, we do not believe that Quat-
tlebum is half the General that Tigertai was,
and we do not believe that Tustinnugge had
more extraordinary power of keeping out of the
way than Barnwel Rhett; and that the COM
parison between Talgrass and Foote, as ambush
fighters, would result greatly to the credit of the
former. We believe the chivalry would shine
superbly at the pow-vows and palavers, but cut
most miserable figure on the trail, in the swamp,
and (what is more to their credit) in the assas-
sir-style of fighting of their professed models,
the Seminoles. The traitors talk of foreign al
lances, to aid them! Abolitionizing England and
France would not do it. Spain could not Even
Faustin the First would reject their association.
Where then would they look for aid and con-
fort to sustain them We know how cynically
such language as we use, must sound in the ears
of all patriotic men, but these Southern prints
are so shameless and unwearied in presenting
the inducements to a separation, that we are
forced to initiate their tone, while suggesting
that there are shades to the brilliant picture of
Southern Confederation which these designing
artists leave out of sight.
Now the Southern Press, instead of being
"daily occupied with the consideration how great
and happy and powerful a Southern Confed-
eracy would be-" as the Alias asserts, has never
been occupied for one day or for a single line,
with the subject at all But these modern phi
lanthropists, in their zeal for universal emanci-
patton, are very apt to cmancpate themselves
from the obligations of veracity as we'll as of
the Constitution. ..
They go further still-and east off the letters
of common sense likewise--thus
"But if the existence of Southern Confed-
eracy, was a source of weakness and danger TO
as from its foreign alliance or otherwise, it
would be PIT do,cn by u.s."
Well aus" must have great notions of them
selves, and really nib their pens with flippant
ferocity that nothing but modern philanthropy
could inspire-nothing but JOHN VAN buren,
could utter ....
We are afraid that such announcements will
tend to dissolve the Union, by exciting not the
Indignation, but the mirth and curiosity of the
South aa.
The women and children of South Carolina
will be so anxious to see JOHN VAN buren, COM
ing down there with plumes and epaulets, and
the bigh-heeled boots he ordered JESSE HoYT
to buy for him, that they would be tempted to
go for Southern Confederacy just to get a
sight Of him. Nothing could exceed the excite
mcnt of such an exbibition--not even the per-
sonation Of NAPOLEON by Tom THUMB, or the
,coolly horse which Col BsSros says Col. FRE-
MONT did not capture after chase of four days,