The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-26

From the .dbingdon va.) Democrat
The aApJusTMEsr."-Th The late session Of Con-
gress was one of greater importance than any
that ever sat in this country, save the one which
sat in Philadelphia in l776. This latter body
aseceden from the mother country, on account
of many and grievous wrongs inflicted upon the
colonies by her, an enumeration of which is
contained in the Declaration of Independence
( These bold and patriotic men, pledged to each
other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor" to maintain that declaration Liberty
or death" was their motto, and gloriously did
they gain the former after hard struggle for
nearly eight long years, under the greatest pri.
yations and hardships. To US, their posterity,
did they bequeath the noble birthright OF
@liberty." From the formation of our present
Federal Constitution in 1857 until within a
comparatively recent period, we have lived a
happy and a united people, increasing from Is
original States to 3l,and greatly increasing our
territorial limits. AT peace with all the world,
with an extended commerce, with inexhaustible
resources, and enjoying the blessings of health
and prosperity throughout the land, we found
ourselves at the meeting of the late session Of
Congress on the verge OF dissolution.
The black demon Of discord had raised his
crest amongst us, and brother stood ready to
imbrue his hands in his brothers blood, for what
he conceived to be gross acts of wrong and in
jury A dominant majority, actuated by a reck-
less spirit of fanaticism, seemed determined to
persist in aggression, wrong, and injury, let the
consequences be what they might. Dark and
gloomy portents overhung the political horizon.
Disunion with all its horrors of death, devas-
tation and woe, seemed almost inevitable. In
the midst Of this great crisis, the good men and
n Dad tban fnn fbar
to avert the dreadful calamity. The peril was
great, the issue past calculation. On ono side
stood deeply injured, though weaker section
of the country, and on the other dominant and
increasing majority. Stay your aggressions
SAYS the one, and mete out to us our sequal
rights" or we will cut loose from you. "Se-
cede" at your peril, says the other. At this point
an expedient was resorted to, called a Com
promise" under which the "rights" of one Sec
ton of the country were invaded, ard by which
the stronger party gets in effect all iteyer asked
for, by conceding what it never had any right
to refuse. The object of the good and patriotic
men of the country was frustrated, and an sad
justment" made that is anything but equal.
4" A corrupt administration by corrupt means,
having forced Free-sol" State to the doors
of Congress, loud clamors We're raised for her
admission" The "great paci6cator' having de-
in the Senate, @that slavery, according to the law
of nations does not exist in the territory acquired
from Mexico by the United States" the remain
der of that territory, portion Of which had al
ready excluded slavery, was organized into two
separate territorial governments and now, with
a people in them hostile to us and to our insti-
tutions, with a preponderating "Free-soiP State
admitted into the Union, and with the cry Of
''repeal" sounding in our ears from the North,
we are asked to shout paans over this "gl orlous
adjustment" Under this state Of things, and
with knowledge of all these facts, the South
isdivided. A majority of her people arc opposed
to making up an issue now Acquiesce in what
has been DONE say they, now that the tide of
aggression has been stopped. Happy indeed
would we feel, could we be satisfied that this
was so. Could we see nothing in the numerous
meetings in the North for the purpose Of de-
nouncing the fugitive slave bill and its enacters
in the late triumph of abotionism" in the
recent Wing State Convention Of New York
and in the cry for "repea" raised thu oughout the
North, we could heartily join in the rejoicings
attempted, but we are constrained, however
much against our will, to look upon the great
body of the Northern Wing party, coupled with
the Abolitionists and portionof the Democratic
party as uncompromisingly hostile to the insti-
tuition of slavery and determined to abolish it in
the whole country or sever the Union in twain.
What means these denunciaton meetings?
what means this clamor of the press? what means
this cry of repeal repeal! if it is not to con-
tinue agitation? What sort of an adjustment is
it what sort of settlement is it, that is thus
hastily denounced! Who confidcs in the mag
nanimity, the generosity or even the justice of a
large portion of the people of the North! Nor
is the South satisfied. The Governor of Georgia
has called a Convention Of her people, and the
Governor of Mississippi has issued proclama-
ton converting the Legislature of that State
What they will do, remains to be SEEM All
these threatening evils beset us, we firmly be-
leve, in consequence Of the criminal pandering
Of one of the great political parties OF the
country to the reckless spirit of Northern fanati-
cism, and the want of frmness of determined re-
sistance on the part of a portion Of our own
people. But the mischief is done-the drama
has closed TO the events Of the future we
must now look for the effects Of what has been
done. Happy will it be for this people if all
shall be well, and henceforward every man shall
be entitled to " sit under his own vine and fig
tree, and there be none to make him afraid"
Let it be the effort of all, as it is the duty of ALL
to put down every thing that has tendency to
infct wrong upon others, and in future let us
be found if needs be, united as one man, in re-
sisting every attempt at wrong or aggression
upon our und;mbted rights. In union there is
strength, and never in the history Of the world
has a united people been conquered or enslaved