Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-11-28
From the St. Louis IDtelligencer.
WHAT Is THE DUTY OF THE
WEST?

WEST?
Some months ago we published an
article setting forth our views in refer.
ence to the position Of the Western
States towards the other States of the
Confederacy, and suggesting the ex-
pediency of forming great western
party, to hold in check the ultraisms of
both the North and the South. We
then expressed the opinion, that the
Western States were not only more
conservative than either the North or
the South, but that from their geogra.
phical position, hemmed in as they are
by other States, with no outlet for their
products except through the territory
of those States, they are impelled by
every principle of selfpTeservation, to
support and defend the Union to the
last extremity. We also suggested that
the West had never exercised its Just
influence upon the legislation of Con.
gress and upon the public sentiment of
the nation.
Since that article was written, we
have seen and heard much to strength
en- and confirm these views. At that
time, it was only the South which
spoke slightingly of the Union. There
were no clouds in the political horizon,
except those which loomed up portent-
ously from the South. Since then,
however, important, events have occur.
ed. The North, which before denoun.
ced the disunion tendencies of the
South, has itself become rebellious and
now threatens TO resist by force of arms
a constitutional act of Congress. For
getting the lessons it has so often read
to the South, on the duty of obedience
to the laws, and wholly oblivious of
its veneration for the Union, il is now
ready TO sacrifice all the blessings which
the Union confers, sooner than surren.
der TO their rightful owners, few fu-
gitive slaves in their midst.
They do not deny the fact that these
persons are fagi,ive slaves, nor do they,
nor will they, for moment, doubt, that
the constitution plainly enjoins upon
the northern people the duty of surren.
dering them. But caviling about the
particular mode which Congress has
seen fit TO adopt for the enforcement OF
this constitutional duty, they, or a. leas,
a large portion of them. have discover
ed that they owe obedience TO a law
higher than the constitution. and there.
fore, they have resolved, practically TO
abrogate that part of the constitution
which relates TO the surrender of fugi-
tive slaves. This, we regard as virtual
nulli6ca,ion-as open rebellion against
the authority of the constitution and
laws--as an unqualified announcement
that they will no longer acknowledge
themselves amenable TO the organic
law on which the union Of the States
is based. and that they will recognise
the binding obligation Of the constitu.
tion only so long as il suits their caprice
or their interest 10 do so.
If these Incorporate ebulilions had
been confined 10 few localities, or TO
few individuals they would have ex
cited no surprise. We had become too
familiar with the "extravaganazas" OF
the abolitionists proper, to be astonish.
ed a, anything they might do or say
: But when we hear such sentiments
avowed by large bodies of intelligen,
, persons, not in a few obscure places
but in populous cities, the seats OF
learning and refinement, il is eviden,
that the public mind in those regions
has become thoroughly imbued with the
most erroneous, dangerous and PERM,
cious doctrines. These incorporate
outbreaks at the North, have tended
greatly to increase the evaporation Of
. the South, and thus the nullifers at the
North and the nullihers at the South
reac. upon each other; every disloya,
act in the one. being seized upon as the
pretext for a more disloyal act in the
other.
Thus, while the people Of Boston are
holding meetings, listening TO inhamma
tory harangues, urging resistance to the
law. and encouraging the negroes te
. rebellion, the people of the South are
talking openly Of Southern Confed