Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1850-12-04
mos. perfec. freedom of intercourse prevails among

Onuer the CONSTITUTION OF the Unteo Ctdtes, dnos Oy
the consent of ALL greater extent than the world
has ever witnessed. Our domestic tonnage and cap
ital employed in this trade exceed. beyond all COM
parison. that employed in tade with all the rest
of the world. The mariner of Maine, after braving
the dangers of the passage around Cape Horn, finds
himself at home in his own country, when entering
the distant port of San Francisco, on the other side
of the world.
Heaven seems to have bound these States together
by adaman,ine bonds of powerful interest. They are
mutually dependent on each other-mutually neces-
sary to each others welfare. The numerous and
powerful Commonwealths which spread over the
valley Of the Mississippi must seek the markets of
the world for their productions, through the mouth
of that father of rivers. strong naval power is
cessary keep this channel always free in time of
war, and an immense commercial marine is required
to carry their productions to the markets of the world
and bring back their returns. The same remark ap-
plies with almost equal force to the cotton-growing
and planting States the Gulf of Mexico and on
the Atlantic. Who is to supply this naval power
and this commercial marine The hardy and enter
prising sons of the North, whose home has always
been on the mountain wave. Neither the pursuits
the habits of the people of the western and the
southern States fit them for such an employment.
people are the carriers. This establishes mutual
and profitable dependence upon each other, which is
one Of the strongest bonds Of our Union.
The common sufferings and common glories OF the
past the prosperity of the present, and the brilliant
hopes Of the future. must impress every patriotic heart
with deep love and devotion for the Union. Who
that is now citizen of this vast republic extending
from the St. Lawrence to the Rio Grande, and from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. does not shudder at the
idea of being transformed into citizen of one of its
broken, jealous, and hostile fragments! What pat
riot would not rather shed the last drop of his blood
than see the thrty-one brilliant stars which float
proudly upon countrys flag, amid the battle and
dol torn frount tha banner.
scattered in confusion the face OF the earth
Rest assured that all the patriotic emotions of eve
ry nue-hearted Pennsylvanian in favor of the Union
and the constitution, shared by the southern peo.
pie. What battlefield has not been illustrated by
their gallant deeds! And when, in our history, have
they ever shrunk from sacrifices and sotferngs In the
cause Of their country! What, then, means the NUT.
tering thunder which we hear from the South The
signs ofthe times truly portsntous. Whilst many
in the South openly advocate the cause OF secession
and disunion. large majority. as firmly believe
still fondly cling to the Union, awaiting with deep
anxiety the action Of the North on the Compromise
lately effected in Congress. Should this be disre.
garded and nullied by the citizens of the North, the
southern people may become united; and then fare
we'll, long farewell, to our blessed Union. am
no alarmist; but brave and wise man looks danger
steadily in the face This is the best means of avoid
ing it. am deeply impressed with the conviction
that the North neither sufficiently understands mol
appreciates the danger. For my own part. have
been steadily watching its approach for the last IF
teen years. During that period have often sounded
the alarm; but my feeble warnings have been disre
garded. l now solemnly declare, as the deliberate
cessary to preserve this Union from the must inmi'
nent danger:
!. Agitation in the North on the subject Of south
ern slavery must be rebuked and put by strong
energetic, and enlightened public opinion.
2. The fagitive-slave law must be executed in III
letter and in its spirit.
On each of these points shall offer few obser
vatons.
Those are greatly mistaken who suppose that the
tempest which is now raging in the South has beer
raised solely by the acts omissions Of the presen
Congress. The minds of the southern people have
been gradually prepared for this explosion by the
events of the last fifteen years. Much and devoted
ly as they love the Union. many OF them are now
taught believe that the peace of their reside
and the security Of their families cannot be preserved
without separation from US. The crusade OF the ab
olitionsts against their domestic peace and security
commenced 10 1885. General Jackson, in his annua
message Congress in December of that year, speak,
Of it in the following emphatic language: mus
also invite your attention to the painful excitemen
produced in the South by attempts to circulate throug
the mails in6ammatory appeals, addressed to the pas
sons of the slaves, in prints and various sorts OF pub
lcaons calculated to stimulate them to nsurrection
and produce all the horrors of servile war;" Frou
that period the agitation in the North against southern
slavery has been ncessant, by means of the press
of State legislatures State and county conventions
abolition lectures, and every other method which ia
natics and demagogues could devise. The time o
Congress has been wasted in violent harangues Of
the subject of slavery. InHammatory appsals hav
been sent forth from this central point throughout tn
country, the inevitable effect Of which has been
create geographical parties, much dreaded by tn
Father Of his Country. and to esrange the northern
and southern divisions of the Union from each other
Before the Wilmot Proviso was interposed, the ab
oltion of slavery in the District of Columbia ha
been the chief theme Of agitation. Petitions for thi
purpose, by thousands, from men. women. and chi
dren, poured into Congress session after session. fh
rights and the wishes of the owners of slaves With
the District were boldly dsregarded. Slavery wa
denounced as national sin and national disgrace
which the laws OF God and the laws OF man ough
to abolish, cost what it might. 1t mattered not
the fanatics that the abolition Of slavery in the Dis
trict would convert j: into a ctidel in the midst
two slavehoding States, from which the abolition
lists could securely scatter arrows. hrebrands, an
death all around. 1t mattered not to them that tn
abolition of slavery in the District would be vols
ton of the spirit Of the constitution and Of the in
piled faith pledged to Maryland and Virginia, becaus
the whole world knows that those States would ne'
er have ceded it to the Union. had they imagined
could ever be converted by Congress into p!ae
from which their domestic peace and security migi
be assailed BY fanatics and abotlon'sts. Nay, II
abolionists went even still further. They agitate
for the purpose of abolishing slavery in the fort
arsenals, and navy yards which the southern State
had eeded to the non under the constitution, for tt
protection and defence of the country.
Thus stood the question when the Wilmot Prov
80 was n.erposed to add fuel the fame, and to e,
cite the southern people TO madness.
President Polk was anxious to bring the var wit
Mexico to an honorable conclusion with the lea
possible delay. He deemed it highly probable th
an appropriation by Congress of $2,O0o.0O to
paid to the Mexican government immediately att
the conclusion of peace, might essentially aid him
accomplishing this desirable object. He sent a me