The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-12

WASHINGTON CITY
MONDAY. AUoUsT AZ. 1880.
California BIZ.

California Bill.
This bill comes before the Senate to-day,
and we are informed that its passage will be
urged by the majority, without any amendment
for the division Of that territory.
The Senate has acquired the character of a
conservative body. If it sanctions this bill il
will take the lead as destructive one.
We have presented, from time to time, argu-
ments against this measure--and the argument
has also been made with overwhelming force by
Southern Senators. Perhaps the time for argu-
ment has passed.
We consider it our duty now to refer to the
consequences
If this bill passes both houses, it is made the
duty of the Governor of Georgia, by resolution
Of the Legislature of that State at its last SEES
sion, to convene that body by proclamation
forthwith. That duty niH be promptly per-
formed. The Legislature will meet promptly
Ii that body retains the sentiments Of last SEES
sion, or above all, if the members respect the
sentiments Of the people as pronounced at the
recent extraordinary demonstrations of public
opinion, at multitude of public meetings in
that State, 1t may be expected that the most
decisive and effective measures will be taken.
When Georgia shall have thus decided, South
Carolina will follow in ten days with an unani-
NIT never surpassed, in any community on any
measure. These two States will offer ample
aid to Texas. Mississippi Alabama, and Flo
rida, will immediately follow. And when this
is done the fate of the Union will probably be
decided. When winter comes, the other South
ern Legislatures meet, and Virginia must decide.
She is State whose fame since the Revolution
has been sustained by.her resistance. to Federal
usurpation and encroachment. She will hardly
become its ally, or a neutral Of her it will
never be said,
"To die State or live slave
Thy choice is most ignobly brave"
But whatever may be thought of the course
Of Virginia or other Southern States, it is GER
tain that not all the Federal army and navy
combined can coerce the States of Georgia,
South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas,
and Florida. And if militia from other States
are called for, not solitary platoon can be
found in any slayeholding State. and very few
in the Southern half of the Northwestern
States--or in the cities or seaboard Of the North
Atlantic. We think very few can be found any
where, and certainly not enough to make any
impression on the six States we have named.
We are as much opposed to war as any
other people. We have vivid sense Of
its evils, immediate and remote-of the vices
it engenders, the wrongs it perpetrates, the
misery it inficts, the ruin that results. But
in such conflict the South would not only
have the right on her side; she could not decline
it without dishonor and disaster. The scheme
Of wrestling from seven millions of free people
by the mere formula of majority vote, their
rightful share of the richest territory under the
sun, and this with the avowed design of fixing
eternal barriers against their future progress, is
not surpassed in turpitude, and will not be sur
passed in the consequences it will bring on its
authors, by any act of spoliation recorded in
history.
These remarks may be regarded as threats or
menaces. Suppose they are. We care threatened
with great outrage; shall we not return threat
for threat and repcl menace with defiance9
But we have presented these views from
sense Of duty, and with feelings of sorrow
rather than resentment. We believe, nay, we
are morally certain that majority of the North
ern people would, if this subject were fully be-
fore them, decide against the contemplated out
rage. Those Svho now represent them know
full well that If they vote for this measure they
do so to preserve party ascendancy at home,
rather than to support the opinions of a majority
of the oholc Northern people. We know that
a majority Of the Northern people are opposed
to slavery and its territorial extension. But
that is not now the question. It is whether
they will employ the power Of the Federal Gov
eminent to propagate that opinion by fraud and
by the sword, against half the States Of the
Union.
If we were in favor Of dissolution Of the
Union, we would delight in nothing so much as
in the passage Of the proposed bill. That would
effect II sooner or later. 1t inficts wound on
Southern feeling that never can be healed. Il
viii Of itself create Disunion party there that
nothing can overthrow.
We trust, however that the California bill, if
unchanged, win be contested inch by inch in the
Senate, and IL PASSED there in the House also.
Time is with us. The Southern people are
becoming more md NOR united and decided.
When time is thus given--when the argument
exhausted, and the consequences are obvious,
the South will have done her duty--the North
may take the responsibility.
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