The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-25

Republic had ceased TO exist According to
these acute reasoners, the Constitution of free
Rome was not violated when Caligula made his
horse Roman consul.
A Constitution means, &c u terHltHi, a guar
antee of the rights liberty and security OF free
people, and can never survive in the shape OF dead
formalities. II is thing Of life, and Just and
fair proportions; not the cdpuh mortuum which
the so called Constitution of the United States
has now become. Is there Southern man who
bears soul within his ribs, who will consent
to be governed by this vulgar tyranny by the
Hales the Giddings aud the Stewards! Will
the heightened Virginian submit to it No one
who is genuine son of the Old Dominion will
submit to be governed by it.
| shall enumerate no more Of the wrongs that
We have suffered, or the dangers with which we
are threatened. If these, so enormous and afro
cious, are not sufficient TO arouse the Southern
mind, our case is desperate. Bat supposing
that we shall be reused, and that we shall act
like freemen, and knowing our rights and our
wrongs, shall be prepared to sustain the one and
redress the other-what is the remedy! | an
swer: secession-united secession of the slave
holding States, or large number of them
Nothing else will be wise-nothing else will be
practicable. The Rubicon is passed-the Union
A Government wisely and practically balanced
balanced by n distribution of power which
protected all interests and all sections of the
country. All power is now vested in the peo-
pie of one section. Property, in one section, is
no longer protected OH the contrary, the most
violent war is made upon it, That Union Sc
cured the peace OF the community; now it puts
that peace in the utmost danger, and threatens
one section of the country with the direst caaln-
tiles that humanity can suffer. That Union was
bond of fraternity, of mutual good feeling ;
now it is one of bitter hostility. Would not n
free people be absolutely besotted, who should
contract an alliance, or cherish q union, with
hostile people, ard give all power to that people
to govern them, to tyrannize over them, to bind
them hand and foot! Is not that the relation
in which the people of the South stand to the
people Of the non-slayeholding States Can
any one deny it? Can any change for the bet
ter be hoped for Can you expect to live in
harmony with people who, in every form that
can be conceived, on the floor Of the National
Legislative Halls in their own Legislatures ;
in their Clerical Synods, declare slavery to be a
crime and the oIders Of the property to be
criminals? Who declare their utter detestation
of you; who refuse to DIN with you in works
Of humanity, mercy and piety! TO those pco-
! pie you are in the strctest bonds and yet de-
liberate whether You will break asunder the
manacles whioh bind you. Brute nature will
not bear 4 CALLING chain without an effort to
rend it; but man, being of wise discretion.
looking before and after, hugs it to his bosom,
ard lets it sink into and corrode his flesh, when
single manly effort would crush it like cob
web. Have you any selErespect? Can any
people be great, Or happy, or virtuous without
it? Can you live with this people, and continue
in this Union, and retain this virtue! Is not
the face Of every Southern man already suffused
with the blush of shame?
have asked if there be any hope Of favor
able change. All change will be n mockery
which shall not give you an equality of power F;
aud will that be granted you The great sacri-
fees which they have made of truth, honor, fra
ternity, and the Constitution, to accomplish their
usurpation, were not made for IL fruitess result.
Far from it, they are anxious to wade deeper in.
Nor need this disposition be proved by argu-
ment. They boldly avow it, zealously proclaim
| it, glory in their past triumph, and urge on the
| dogs Of war to future havoc No change what
ever, except to enlarge their power and increase
our shame, danger and disgrace, can the future
! bring forth--yet we deliberate The pusillani-
nous inquiry is daily made, what can we do
What cannot millions Of freemen, not indifferent
to their rights, not unconscious of their wrongs,
and not insensible to .ame do in asserting their
rights and repeling the injuries which they suffer
They can do any thing they dare to- will. What
| are the causes Of this ignominious inquiry, of
the apathy we exhibit of the torpor to suffer.
The principal causes are, first, the overgrown
unconstitutional power, patronage and influence
of the government of the Union and secondly,
mistaken conceptions Of the character and value
of the Union.
The direct constitutional power granted to the
Union, except in the regulation of commerce
and the management Of our foreign relations we
have seen, was very small, but it is now over
whenng. 1t has Frustrated what was intended
as the great safeguard of the people--the power
of the independent States. 1t has corrupted the
public sentiment, it has withdrawn the fidelity
of the immediate agents Of the people and the
States. 1t has offered its Establishments of
office, its pecuniary rewards. Ambitious men,
looking to the chief magistracy, are seen array
ing around them personal factions others as
pire to the bench ofjustice; others to be ambas-
sailors or consuls. Others are looking to the
Legislative halls as the most distinguished scene
in which to exhibit their talents and prostitute
their votes to procure advancement.
Others are seeking to be collectors of the
customs. Who has been recently appointed
collector Of the customs at San Francisco !! No
otuot paul Sllc
of the ights and interests and honor and char
actcr of the State of Georgia. No office, even
down to the humble one of tide-waiter, is with
ont its temptations. The simple governments
of the States offer no competition. It's deemed
proof of low ambition to aspire to the highest
Of their offices. There is no limit to these
temptations. There is the vast expenditure Of
the Government Of the Union seventy millions
appropriated in one session. claims on the Gov
ment TO immense amounts, long forgotten or
declared to be unfounded, paid with half CEN
fury of interest and compound interest. The
virtue must be very stern that can resist these
temptations. The patronage ofall governments
is known to be an instrument of corruption, to
sustain the men who administer them ard their
measures, right or wrong. The unclcan pickings
of Uncle Sans treasure box are more profitable
than the mines of California. The mileage of
member of Congress is in some instances not
less than $4,000 for single session Can any
virtue resist this beneticence! 1t is true this
comes out Of the peoples pockets, but it is re-
ceived from the hands of the Government.
The nature and influence Of the esprit de corps.
which is as much thing Of life as the animal
spirits of the human BODY is very we'll known