The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-25
THE ADDRES SIS.

The committee TO phich ,cas referred th,
duty of preparing an address to The peo
pie of the slarckoHiag States upon thu
subject Of a Southern Organ, obe estab
Hshed in the CITY Of Washington, pu
- forth the .toYopiag:
FELLow-cITIzENs A number Of Sena-
tors and Representatives in Congress from
I Southern States Of the Confederacy deep
Iv impressed with sense of the dangers
which beset those States, have considered
carefully our means Of self-Gelence within
the Union and the Constitution, and have
come to the conclusion that it is highly impor-
tant to establish in this city paper, which,
without reference to political party, shall be
devoted to the rights and interests OF the
South, so far as they are involved in the ques-
tions growing out Of African slavery. To
establish and maintain such a paper, your
support is necessary, and accordingly we
address you on the subject. ... E-s
In the contest now going on, the consti-1
tutonal equality of fifteen States is put in
question. Some sixteen hundred millions
worth OF negro property is involved directly,
and Indirectly, though not less surely, an IN
caleulabe amount Of property in other forms
But to say this is to state less than half the
doom that hangs over you. Your social
forms and institutions-which separate the
European and the African races into distinct
classes, and assign to each different sphere
in socety-are threatened with overthrow
Whether the negro is to occupy the same
social rank with the white man, and enjoy
equally the rights, privileges, and immuni-
ties Of citizenship--in short, all the honors
and dignities of society--is a question OF
greater moment than any mere question OF
property can be.
Such Is the contest now going on--a con-
test IN which public opinion, if not the pre-
valing, is destined to be most prominent
force; and yet, no organ Of the united inter
ests of those assailed has as yet been es-
'ablished, nor does there exis: any paper
which can be the common medium for ar
interchange of opinions amongst the South
ern States. Public opinion, as it has been
formed and directed By the combined infu-
ence OF interest and prejudice, is the force
which has been most potent against us IN
the war now going on against the nstltu-
ton OF negro slavery; aud vet We have ia
ken no effectual means to make and main
tain that issue with it upon which our safety
and perhaps our social existence depends
Whoever will look to the Fhstory of this
question, and to the circumstances un-
der which we are now placed, must see
that our position is one Of imminent danger,
and one to be defended BY all the means,
moral and political, of which we can avail
ourselves in the present emergency. The
warfare against African slavery commenced
asi, known, with Great Britain, who, ait =
having contributed mainly otis establish
meat in the New World, devoted her mos
earnest efforts, Tor purposes not yet fully cx
planned, to itsiabolitiop in America. How
wisely this was done, so far as her own col
onles were concerned, time has determined
and all comment upon this subject on on
part would be entirely superfluous II
however, her purpose was TO reach and en-
bsrrass US on this subject, her efforts have
net been without success a common origin