Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-23
THE SOUTH AND THE UNION.


!. ed to dissolve the Union.
The Intelligencer is mistaken-the OBJECT IS
.enot to dissoloe, bM to maintain the Union, and
every advance of the South to promote union on
this subject is step to,cards the preservation OF
:. the Union Of the STATES and Of the Constitutions.
"The effect Of this movement has been already
beneficial throughout the country, by awaking the
attention of the patriotic every where 10 the enor-
nifty and injustice of those outrages perpetrated
on the South, and to the immediate necessity of
their abatement. "-.4iabama Journal.
We are truly happy to have, from source SO
respectable the journal from which the above is
taken assurance that the objec. of the proposed
Southern Convention is 10 sdue the Union, and not
10 break it up. We have in former articles (which
our Alabama contemporary had not seen when
the above extract penned) expressed our cenfi-
dent belief, that in the minds Of many Of the gen.
temen who are disposed to embark in the scheme of
Southern Convention, there does not exsteven a
suspicion Of such Convention embracing objects
beyond that Of Consolation among those who have
common interest, which it is sufficient for us to
allude to, without specifying. This we do firmly
believe, although no one, who does not wilfuly
shut his ewes to the fact fail to see that gloom
and darkness hang over the abyss which lies be-
yond the project
For the information of our Alabama friend, how
ever and out Of respect for the honesty of his re-
buke of our credulousness, we think il proper to-
produce, in addition to the evidence heretofore
furnished in our columns, some of the leading
circumstances which have caused the impression,
sustained by the declarations OF gentlemen on the
floor Of both Houses of Congress, that the integrity
<,f he JIr;n 80. .p 1orJ III
not in danger SO great as is intimated by some
whose means of knowing the purposes Of the Con-
venton party are much better than ours.
And, first, we now place before our readers
Letter, to which we alluded in our paper OF last
Saturday, the contents of which, though not ent-
tied to entire confidence, (beng anonymous,) ought
not perhaps to be wholly disregarded. 1t was
thrown into our Letter-box more than two weeks
ago. 1t is obviously not only from Southerner,
but from friend of the Union, alarmed at the ex-
tent Of his own knowledge. We present it to the
public for what it is worth, and no more con-
Tossing, only, that the contents of it made very
painful impression on our minds:
FxBnuAR1 l.-FRoa OUR LETTER-Box.
" Is it worth while to remind our friends in the
North that the French Revolution was the work
prepared with constitution, an administration,
complete programme of organization throughout
France.
g Our friends in the North seem to have no
z ton that they press upon the South to the
ultimate point Of experiment, and safely retreat
- when their fear cometh.
Mr.. Webster has told them that revolutions
do not 60 back If it be the wish of the North
to bring about Disunion, it is always in their pow
"a IN eff huf boir cobnr 80
that, it may still be the effect of their tardiness to
retrace their steps.
g The Southern press should endeavor to pene-
: trate the North, and announce to them what the
Northern press is careful to conceal from their
readers, viz: That REVOLUTION is AT HAND, WITH
PERFECT SYSTEM OF ORGANIZATION PREPARED
FOR THE SOUTH.
g Would the People Of the North, if cognzant of
what is passing here and in the South persevere
in their errors until the fatal moment when the
: Nashville Convention shall meet? That moment,
no sudden explosion shall occatr in the mean
lime, will be the commencement of Revolution
which will not 60 back.
Pray exhort them, with your own language,
not to strike, but listen. a UNION.
The perusal Of this letter recalled to our mind
certain traits of deliberately wrought article Of the
Richmond Enquirer, upon the historical and con-
stitutional argumen, of which we had made some
remarks in our first number (then going through
the press) on the g Evil Of the Day." From that
article of the Enquirer, now before us, extract
two or three brief sentences emphasizing the parti-
cular phrases, the tout ensemble of which is too
markable to be the result of accident
I've have made these remarks because we sometimes
think people do appehend the full of
present dangers. There is fase alarm, fictitious
excitement, great wrong is threat
ened and great wrongs demand REMEDIES. The
decision of the great questions presented the country
will influence forever FUTURE DESTINY.
"The historian Of the American Union will find
here point Of departure in his Investigations if haply,
he does not find the LABoRs. In the
principles of The equality inequality, the sovereignty
vassaaee Of fifteen States Of the American Union If these
States wish to become dependencies-or in the express
sive language Of the cenirazng constitution of Mexico de-
partment, appendages Of combination (So
USIos) Of States hostile to their insu,ions-a relation
degrading than colonial bondage, though borne against
the yrannzng majesty of Great Britsnif fifteen slave
holding States would escape this doom. which Northern
fanatcism would consgn them they their
giospreys consult combine, unite for prompt and dec
sive action"
In this for the present, and preparation for the u
fure becomes VIRGINIA to act among the foremost Not
because she the largest slavehoer among the States but
because constitutional questions involved in the issue
Heretofore has been her province lead, and she will
L. H. Il