The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-31
For the Southern Press.


.Messrs. Editors.
1t is said men give away nothing SO literally as
their advice, and beg to permitted as South
ern man, to say, that the advice given to the
South by the distinguished Senator from Kentucky
in his late speech, is gratuitous, and will not be
followed. 9f 5s
Mr.. Clay is gentleman Of a certain order of
talent, but he never was cut out fora great man.
He fears responsibility, and when brought to the
test nothingis discovered more than glittering
superfciality. In reference to the Compromise,
he calls it tremendous responsibility, and
hopes its magnitude, and the magnitude OF the
consequences which may arise from an adverse de-
csion, may not lead to a :" servile civil war; which
he says has its causes of origin on the lower Rio
Grande--which may result in consequences on the
upper Rio Grande, in the Santa Fe country. -
Where is the analogy where the connexion be-
tween causes originating on the lower Rio Grande,
and abolition' Jfany, they are too remote to be
converted into the question of slavery. l
He believes from the bottom Of his soul that the
Compromise Bill is a measure of re-union--the
dove Of peace to this distracted land--beieves it
will be attended with all these beneRcent effects,
alayng resentment, petty jealousies, personal de-
sres, longing after gilded crumbs falling from the
table of power" Let me ask where disunIon is
What is the meaning Of Union' Does it mean
confederacy of Sovereign States or a consolidated
Central Government 1t will be time to talk of
reunion when the Union is dssolv ed. Does
the Compromise remove the disability from an APP
plicant for Office when he is told that no appoint
ments will be made South of the Potomac--when
the late Post Master General, Mr. Collamer, said
to a member of Congress, he would appoint no
person from within Virginia or Florida Is not
this sectional jealousy and is there no cause for
resentment 7 But what has the Compromise TO do
with it Nothing in the world. @
Mr. Clay exhorts us to forget popular fears
How on earth are we to rid ourselves Of fears for
the CoEfederacy (not the ceptrality) when he,
since 1919, has never ceased to sound in our ears
the dreadful consequences of disunion, when no
body else ever thought of it. He speaks Of man
being an atom, and that his consequent insignif-
canoe should deter him from opposing the policy
indicated in the Compromise Bill. These were
atoms in the revolution Patrick Henry was an
atonl-John Hancock and Samuel Adams were
atoms and such atoms as / doubt can be found
now, north or south Of Mason and Dixon line.
Samuel Chase was distinguished ATOM, who first
in the voice Of Stentor, proclaimed on the floor
of Congress the independence ofthe thirteen Brit
ish Colonies, and their consequent dsunion with
the Central Government of Great Britain, of
which they formed an integral part.
(. Mr.. Clay appeals to Southern senator's sired by
revolutionary fathers-calls up the name OF
George Mason. Let any man read the debates in
the convention which framed the Constitution,
and say il George Mason would be found saying,
as Mr.. Clay has said: If kentucky tomorrow
unfurls the banner of resistance unjustly, twhois
to judge of the justice, Mr.. Clay or his State
never will fight under that banner--l owe para
mount allegiance to the whole Union, Central
ism,) "a subordinate one TO my own state,
(centralism y When my State is right T.
(who is to Judge y "wheni it has cause for resist
ancc-when tyranny, and wrong, and oppression
insufferable arises, win then share her misfor-
tunes; but if she summons me to the battle field,