The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-02-26
Correspondence Of the Boston Courier.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1850

w AohlNN iO's Atb. ~ iS"o
1t will not have escaped attention even amid
all the studied clamor about Northern aggres-
sions and Southern rights, that the movements
Of the South in regard to the territorial ques.
lion are neither more nor less than REVOLT
TioSAHY. They propose TO accomplish their
purposes by legislation, if they can; but failing
10 do this, they threaten to suDvERI THE EXIs-
TING GOVERNMENT, or, what amounts 10 the
same thing. substantially, to declare their indie
pendence of this government
We thus have. in the first place, a proposed
revolution in the mode of doing business in
Cangrcs;. Acts are no longer to he urged by
argument and passed by votes, hut measures
are t. be dictated and carried by intimidation
Hitherto the course of proceedings in Congress
has been TO consider and to judge Of public
measures in reference t. the national gond, and
the determination Of a majority, after il had IA.
ken the torm of tar, was ieckoncd 10 be judy
mcnt which ought to stand and be acquiesccd
in by all.
But southern gentlemen have suddenly come
TO the conclusion that this is a most unsati>fac-
tory aud oppressive mode Of legislation, and
have thence determined that they will not sub.
nit any longer to the aggressive process OF
being rofed doirn They modestly allegc that
they know very well what sort of laws Congress
ought TO pass, and declare, most potentially
thar such laws must be J'dSsed. or, if their dicta
ton be disregardcd, that they will BREAK II
THE GOVERNMENT.
Now, we beg leave, very humbly, 10 suggest
10 all those who culver with apprehension nj
this chivalrc demonstration made by the South
and who are preliptaly rushing TO get up pub
lie meetings in our principal cities, 10 instruct
Northern Representatives 10 quail before it and
10 make haste TO surrender TO the demands Of
the slave power that to submit 10 such revo
luton in legislation would be ultimately pPo
duclive Of infinitely more evil than could posi-
bly, flow from the threatened revolution if The
government itself When American leEisla
tors become so far lost TO every sentiment o.
personal and public honor, so craven ia spirit
so despicable in character, and so shameless IN
poltroonry, that they can be brought 10 yield to
open intimidation in the discharge OF their duty
1t government Of which they form a part is
not worth preserving another hour. No! il
would be thousand times better 10 indignant
ly repel such insuiierable arrogance, such match
less audacity of attempted domination. al the
peril of thousand dissolutions, than TO ignoby
submit, even in thought, to the demanded con.
cession.
We conceive, therefore, that the only mode Of
proceeding in the existing state of things is 10
discard at once and forever every idea which
sayors Of submission 10 dictatioT and look tho
threatened revolution in the government boldly
in the face.
In the hrst place, lei II be remarked, that th'
proposed revolution Is 10 lie wholly Iithou
reasonable excuse. II the late speeches in Con
gress made by Mr.. Jefferson Davis, Mr. Inge,
OF Alabama, Mr. Stanton Of Tennessee, ant
other gentlemen, as well as the whole tone o
private conveIsa tion among the Toomhses, The
Clingmans the Venables. and others. too nj
merous TO mention, among the Southern chiv
airy, are to he considered indicative Of South
crn sentiment and Southern determination, th
revolution is not to be contingent upon the pas
sage Of any Wilmot Proviso, or any other un
constitutional law. not upon any act of ALLEGED
interference with State Rights but is TO take
place peremptorily whenever certain acts are
done by Congress which everybody, on al
sides, Acknowledges II has the perfect right and
indisputable power to perform,-such, for ex
annie rs the admission Of California and New