The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-20

out expressing themselves. The identity OF
interest between them is the security of right
government. But, as this identity Of inter-
est can scarcely ever exist between any two
people, history bears but one testimony as to
the fate of subject people. They have
always been compelled to minister to the
prosperity and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of their mas
tiers. II this has always been the case under
the ordinary difference Of interests and feel
ings which exit between States, how much
more certainly must the experience of his
tory be realized between the people of the
Northern and Southern States. Here is a
difference OF climate and productions through
out territory stretching along the whole
belt OF the temperate zone, affecting the pur-
suits and characters Of the people inhabiting
IT, But the great dilIerence--the one great
difference--the greatest which can exist
among peoples the institution of slavery.
This alone sets apart the Southern States
as a peculiar people, with whom indepen-
dence as to their internal policy is the con-
dition Of their existence. They must rule
themselves or perish. Every colony in the
world where African slavery existed, with
one exception, has been destroyed and il
this has been the case under the cd and
eHete governments of Europe, will it not
prevail under the dominion of the restless
people Of the Northern States' They do
not practically recognise the inferiority of
the African to the Caucasian race, They do
not realize, because the circumstances Of their
condition do not compel them to realize, the
impossibility OF an amalgamation between
the races Exempt from the Institution of
slavery, it is not surprising that their sympa-
thics should be against US, whilst the dogma
on which they profess to build their system
of free government-ihe absolute rule of the
maioriiy-leaves no barrier to their power
in the affairs of the General Government,
and leads then. TO it's consolidation. Reli-
gion, too, false or real, fires their enthusiasm
against an institution which many of its pro-
iessors believe to be inconsistent with its
principles and precepts. To expect forbeaf-
ance from such people, under such circum-
stances, towards the institution o. slavery, is
manifestly vain.
II they have been false to the compact
made with us in the Constitution, and have
allowed passion and prejudice TO master
their reason, they have only exempified
that irailty and ialliblity of our nature,
which has produced the necessity of all gov
ernments, and which, if unchecked, ever
produces wrong. The institution of slavery
having once entered the popular mind OF the
non-slaveholdng States, Tor action and con-
troll, the rest is inevitable. If unrestrained
by us, they will go on, until African slavery
will be swept from the broad and ferti e
South. The nature of things, therefore, in
dependent of experience, teaches US that
there can be no safety in submission.
To submit to evils, however great, whilst
they are endurable, is the disposition Of
every people-especially of an agricultural
people, living apart, and having no associa-
ton in their pursuits. Bat the responsibility
of preserving free government rests with
all It's members, whatever may be their pur-
suits, and not alone with those who have the
power or will to destroy it. A minority, by
submission, may as much betray the Consti-
tuition as majority by aggression. The
Constitution does not protect majority, for
their hands and can protect themselves.
The limitations Of constitution are de-
signed to protect the mnority-those who
have no power, against those who have it.
Hence, the great motive and duty of self
protection is peculiar to minority, mdepen-
dent of that faith to the Constitution which
thew owe in common with the majority.
They must protect themselves and protect
the Consultation, and if they fail in this dou-
bic duty, they are at least as culpable as
those who, in aggressing upon their rights,
overthrow the Constitution. And the pub
lie opinion of the worlds in conformity with
these views. The oppressor is hated, but
the INTERESTINGLY oppressed is desplsed.
More respect follows the tyrant than the
slave who submits to his power The Sout..-
ern States, therefore, although a minority,
are,not exempt from the responsibility Of
preserving the Constitution, anu, in preser-
wing it, to protect themselves.
In what way shall they preserve the Con-
stitution and protect themselves'
AS general rule, it is undoubtedly true
that, wacn, in Government like ours, a
Constitution is violated by majority--who
alone can violate it in matters Of legislation,
it cannot be restored to its integrity through
the ordinary means Of the Government,
for those means being under the control
Of the majority are not available to the
minority 1t is for this reason that frequent
elections of our rulers take place in our sys-
TEN Of free government, in order that the
people, by their direct intervention, may
change the majority. But this resource can
not avail US in the violations of the Constr
tuition, which now press and harass the
South By changing their representatives,
how can the people Of the South affect the
majority in Congress and restore the Con-
stitutioni Their representatives are true,
and have done all that men can do to pre-
serve The Constitution from the aggressons
Of the majority. Removing them and put
ting other representatives in Congress could
have no effect in restoring the Constitution.
1t has been broken by the representatives