The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-12

ourselves in the present emergency. The
warfare against African slavery commenced,
as is known, with Great Britain, who, after
having contributed mainly to its establish
ment in the New World, devoted her most
earnest Efforts, for purposes not yet fully ex-
planned, to its abolition in America. How
wisely this was done, SO far as her own coll
onies were concerned, time has determined;
and all comment upon this subject on our
part would be entirely superhuous. Ii,
however, her purpose was to reach and en-
barrass US on this subject, her efforts have
not been without success. A common origin
a common language, have made the English
| literature ours to great extent, and the
efforts of the British Government and people
to mould the public opinion of all who
speak the English language, have not beer
vain or ruthless. On the contrary, they
have been deeply felt wherever the Eng
lish language is spoken; and thu more
efficient and dangerous, because, as yet
the South has taken no steps to appear and
plead at the bar of the world, before which
she has been summoned, and by which she
has been tried already without hearing.
| Secured by constitutional guaran les, and
independent Of all the world, so far as its
domestic institutions were concerned, the
South has reposed under the consciousness
of right and independence, and foreborne to
plead at bar which she knew had no juris-
diction over this particular subject In this
we have been theoretically right, but prac-
tcally we have made great mistake. All
means, political, diplomatic, and literary,
have been used to concentrate the public
opinion, not only Of the world at large, but
OF our own country, against US; and resting
upon the undoubted truth that our domestic
institutions were the subjects of no Govern
ment but our own local Governments, and
concerned no one but ourselves, we nave
been passive under these assaults, until
danger menaces us from every quarter. A
great party has grown up, and is increasing
in the United States, which seems to think
| it duty they owe to earth and heaven to
make war on a domestic institution upon
which are staked our property, our social
organization, and our peace and safety.
Sectional feelings have been invoked, and
those who WELD the power of this Govern
ment have been tempted almost, if not quite,
beyond their power of resistance, to wage a
war against our property, our rights, and
our social system, which, if successfully
prosecuted, must end in our destruction.
Every inducement- love Of power, the
desire to accomplish what are, with less
truth than plausibiity, called "reforms"-
| all are offered to tempt them to press upon
those who are represented, and, in tact,
seem to be an easy prey to the spoiler Our
eqalty under the Constitution is, in effect
denied; our social Institutions are derdSt
and contemnel, and ourselves treated witt
contumely and scorn through all the avenues
which have as yet been opened to the pub.
lie opinion OF the world That these
assaults should have had their effect is no
surprising, when we remember that, as yet
we have offered no organized resistance t
them, and opposed bu; little, except the $50
lated efforts Of members of Congress, wh'
have occasionally raised their voices agains
what they believe to be wrongs and injustice
It is time that we should meet and main
| tain an issue, in which We find ourselves in
volved by those who make war upon US il
regard to every interest that is peculiar t.
us, and which is not enjoyed in common witt
them, however guaranteed by solemn com
pact, and no matter how vitality involving ou
prosperity, happiness, and safety. 1t is time
that we should take measures to defend our,
| selves against assaults which can end ir
nothing short of our destruction, if we oppose
no resistance to them. Owing to academia
circumstances, and want of knowledge o
the true condition of things in the Southern
States, the larger portion Of the press and o
the political literature OF the wotld has beer
directed against US. The moral powe O
public opinion carries political strength along
with it, and if against us, we must wreste
with it or fall. If, as we firmly believe, truth
is with us, there is nothing to discourage us
in such an effort
The eventual strength of an opinion is to
be measured, not by the number who may
chance to entertain 1T, but by the truth which
sustains it We believe-nay, we know, that
truth is with us, and therefore we should not
shrink from the contest We have too much
| staked upon it to shrink or to tremble-a
property interest, in all its forms, ofincalcu-
liable amount and value; the social organiza-
ton, the equality, the liberty, nay, the exis-
tence of fourteen or fifteen States Of the Con-
federacy--all rest upon the result of the
struggle in which we are engaged. We
| must maintain the equality of our political
position in the Union we must maintain the
digaity and respectabilty of our social posi-
ton before the world; and must maintain
and secure our liberty and rights, so far as
our united efforts can protect them; and, il
possible, we must effect all this within the
pale ofthe Union, and 10y means known to
the Constitution The union of the South
upon these vital interests is necessary, not
only for the sake of the South, but perhaps
for the sake of the Union. We have great
interests exposed to the assaults, not only Of
the world at large, but OF those who, consti-
tuting majority, WELD the power Of our
own confederated States. We must defend
those interests by all legitimate means, or