The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1850-10-17
Extract from M. B.Lamans' Letter,

ne course, tnen, gentlemen winch
would advise the South to pursue in the
present crisis is plainly this-she should
say 20 the Northern brethren-'your con-
tlnued aggresslons upon our rights, peace
and safety, can no longer be borne-the in |
stitution of slavery which you seek to de-
stroy is identified with our existance; it is |
to US matter of life and death; and if you |
do not Immediately and for ever abandon |
your purpose Of wrestling it from us, and re-
ducing us to utter ruin, and despair, we
shall consider the Confedracy as dissolved
by our act, and will protect ourselves ac-
cordingly.' This appears to me the only
alternative left the South. We see that
the Northern States are bent upon our de-
struction; that all their movements tend
that way; that they are determined to force
US into the abolition CT slavery and in con-
sequence to plunge us into greater horrors
than ever befel civilized people. The
sentiment is now publicly avoWed by the
most prominent of their leaders, and acted
upon by ALL that the emanci patton Of
Southern slavery is an obligation higher
than all Others, and above any oath to sup
port the Constitution; and the Government
of the United States controlled and admin
| istered by those acting upon this fanatical
sentiment has become in their sentiment
has become, in our hands, an instrument for
the furtherance and final achievement Of
their unhallowed end. Certainly this
leaves the South no possible escape from
ruin that menaces her, except through the
door ofsecession. This is her only hope.
II "In native swords and native ranks,
Her only hope ofsafety dwells."
J No true friend of the South can any Ion
sr doubt the fact, that the extirpation o:
avery is not only resolved upon by the
aorthern States, but shat they regard its
accomplishment as a matter Of certainty
/, ithe only question with them is the best
manner of effecting it. One portion of the
anti-slavery party. impatient of delay, are
disposed to attempt it at once, without any
regard to consequences; while the more
temperate ard calculating portion, equally
bent upon the purpose, and laboring t
achieve it by less preeipitate and perilou'
action. The one, is not unwilling TO resor
to force; the other; however, DESTROYS t
avoid conflict which might endanger sue
cess, and in which they could not hope t
escape from their fRll share of heavy blow
prefer to work by slow degrees, AMI t.
o throw their coils around US 50 artfulIy a
not to excite alarm until they have us full
bound for the sacrifice; and then Il fear no
r. until then) when the fatal blow is about t
z descend upon US, we shall see the folly an
madness of our present suicidal conduct
7 and shall perish as all other supine an
F. foolish communities have persisted, VIII
) lie down to sleep, whilst the enemy is bal
;. tering at the gates,
= Foreseeing the catastrophe, it is crime NJ
to provide against it. The designs of the enc
: my are no longer masked-we now fully CON
Il Prehend them, and seeing that all things al
tending to their accomplishment, | would pl
e the question to the born Southern man, whetf
o err he does not think it high time that some
e thing should be done to avert the approachin
n calamity, and to place his country and her il
situations in a state of great security2 He car
4 not hesitate to answer yes. Then what is hi
>, remedy! fhe can devise better one thu
that of secession, let him name it. Inmy OF
g inion, this is the measure adequate to the Occ'
II sion; and so fully satisfied that our enemies
sr of this truth-sO confident are they III
,e separation is the only means ofsalva ion to u
10 and defeat to them-that they have not scruple
to indicate their intention of defeating us
" the Confederacy by military force-an int;m
ton which fully confirms the danger of our 81
uation, and increases the necessity of our will
- drawal.
Al am not wanting in due respect to Il
American Union, nor just appreciation Of /
, value; but no one will pretend to to say tn
the present is the Union the Constitution
n the Union established by the sages fthe rev
lution-the Uuion that was to ''ensure dome
in tic peace and tranquility" but another dyna
a ty erected upon it's ruins-a Russian empi
;, | which makes Hungary of the South. Such
Union cannot be desired; it is a curse inste;
q of blessing; we never entered into it; n
should we any longer endure it; it should
r. dissolved Immediately, if the North don't pau
IN at once in their aggression and give us bat
in the old charter with all its guarantees and g
curities unimpared ard unrestricted. IF Il
e. present Congress, then, in defiance of our Ov
d. circumstances, should adopt any of the abol
av ion measures new pending before it, won
a recommend the Southern States, as soon
possible, to hold convention; duly empowe
ed to organize Southern confederacy, al
ny to make all necessary arrangements for t
ne public defence.
nix advise this course, not from choice, b
re- from necessity. We are forced by cur en-
mics into the alternative of retiring from t
nv Union or remaining in it upon terms altogetE
"l incompatible with honor, peace or safet
They do not hesitate to avow their hatred a
g adherence Of US, and publicly to proclaim tt
- their connection with us is degradation
them. Thisitself is no very reasonable grou
ng for separation: but how doubly keen and afii
tive does the insult become when
is, know that the sCOrn and contempt Of our fo
lid is founded upon that very submission which '
as so wOfully mistake for virtue. How C.
TO- they respect US when we do not respect OF
selves!- irresolution is the basis Of their pI
:. sumption. That we should desire to rema
in the Union under ell these circumstances
~ outrage, defamation and oontumely, and wi
'er the certainty too Of ultimate ruin, is speci