The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-19
From The Huntsville (.aiu.) Democrat.

VA alabama acquiesce resist THE Richmond
Enquirer Of the Goth ult., in an editorial headed
"THINGs AT THE SOUTH, gives extracts from 'the
Mobile Register and Huntsville Democrat, lead
ing journals in South and North Alabama respec-
lively, and most decided opponents of the Com
promise Of the Committee of Thirteen" ostensl-
bly, to show that "the disunionists count without
their host upon the cooperation of Alabama, "
but the article is calculated to mislead its readers
into the belief, that both Of those "leading journ
ais are in favor of acquescing in the miscalied
Compromise. The Rec lister, we are sorry to say,
thinks the South ought to acquiesce. The En-
quirer had no right to draw any such inference
from our article from which it quotes and we
must beg it to correct the erroneous impression Of
public opinion in this quarter, it has probably pro-
duced. We think, for the South to acquesce in
the late action of Congress, would be to acquesce
in her degradation, to acknowledge the superiority
of The North and her own weakness and imbecility.
The North has already seized upon more than one
Of the outposts, established by the Constitution
for the defence of our liberty and the maintenance
of our equality If the South acquiesces the
North, fortified in her new positions, will avail
herself Of them to carry on a still more aggressive
warfare. Acquiescence in wrong perpetrated by
inscriptions usurper, while it not only fails to
check usurpaton, but rather stimulates it, at the
same time begets in his victims a sense Of degra-
'daton, habit Of submission, that will learn to
endure any outrage however grievous and bow
the neck to any yoke however calling.
The acquiescence of Virginia in the desire of
the North for her to cede to the General Govern
ment all the territory north west of the river Ohio,
under the ordinance of 1857 prohibiting slavery,
was made precedent for the North to demand its
prohibition in all the territory north of So deg 80
min. in the Missouri Compromise in 1920. The
acquiesence fthe South in the Missouri Compro-
mise, though reluctantly given, furnished pre-
cedent for renewed and uninterrupted efforts for
III obs ua hau 10
been excluded, absolutely and forever, SO far as
Congress is concerned, from the immense terri
tory embraced within the limits Of California, and
are boldly told, that shall not set foot upon
one inch of the rest Of our Mexican conquess. In
addition to this, Congress has abolished the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia and assumed the
power of emancipating slaves therein. To ac-
quiesce further would be to invite still more inso-
lent and tyrannous demands, and further acquies-
ence and submission on the part of the South.
In view of these things we ask, what benefit
can the South expect to derive from acquiescence?
None whatever. We are told, the country is
weary Of agitation and needs rest. The cry is,
"Peace peace!" but there is no peace. All idea
Of peace is delusive. For the South to harbor
such an idea and seek repose in imagined security
would be fatal to her. Fanaticism has proclaimed
it in the halls Of Federal legislation, and heralded
it in her newspapers, that she will never her
efforts, until the sin and reproach of slavery shall
De removed from the nutIOndl eSCutCHeOn, ny us
total abolition in every place under exclusively
Federal jurisdiction. To acquiesce, under such
auspices, would be to invite our ruin, to repose on
the crumbng brink of precipice, TO stand, in
stupid unconcern, near the crater of a volcano,
" when commissions cleave the laboring earth, "
and the ground tfembles and heaves, " in token
that it is about to vomit forth its suphurous
flames, and engulph US in its yawnipg abyss.
" "REsIsrANcE !" is our NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
If practicable, within the limitations of the Con-
stitution, by the most rigid non-ntercourse, COM
mercialIy and socially; and il this fail effect our
redemption from Federal tyranny and injustice and
to stay Northern fanatcism in its rapid strides of
aggression upon Southern rights-then we shall
adv caese $ ION, spo'c ally, if we can, forcibIy,
if We must" The cause Of the South is the
cause of right and justice.
'.'Tis cause
To arm the hand of childhood, and rebrace
The slackened sinews of time-wearied age"
IT'S the cause of freedom, Of constitutional lib
erty-the same cause which called forth the elo-
quence OF Henry, and for which Washington led
forth our armies to death or glorious victory