The southern press., 1850-09-03

DeBows Review and the Southern Ques-
We cheerfuly give place to the annexed COM
muncation from Mr.. DEBow
WASHINGTON, Sept. I'd, 1850.
Editors Of The Southern Press:
Will you do me the favor to extract the an
neXed letter from the Charleston Mercurv, in
which l have corrected some Impressions, an
article published in the July, number of my Re-
view appears to have created. | have only to
add in regard to your own enterprise, the South
ern Press, so far from ever having entertained
any unfavorable views or feelings, my whole
heart has ever been with it and in its success
If spoke dcspondingy, 1t was only that South
ern apathy had been previously 50 profound, and
no one more than myself rejoices that the light
of Il brighter day has dawned am in favor of
every movement which can tend to the political
or physical elevation of the South.
Your obt serv't,
J. ID. b. DEBOW
CHARLESTON, Aug. 81, 1850.
MEssRs. EDITORS: Having been absent for
some weeks from New Orleans, travelling almost
continually in pursuit of health, an earlier OPP
portunity has not been offered to reply to the
structures of several leading Southern papers,
made upon an article written by me, and pub.
lished in the July number of my Reriep, enti-
tied The Cause Of the South" Late rs it is
in the day am induced to notice these strc-
turcs, from the apprehension they will do mis-
chief to work which is designed almost eXclu-
sively for Southern circulation, and which has
for five years exercised sleepless vigilance in
detecting and exposing everything which could
tend to the advancement of the resources,
strength, influence, and power of our people
think if have otfcnccd in any thing, it has not
been in the zeal with which have urged this
cause through every trial and discontinue.
am now brought to judgment for having
characterized the Nashville Convention and the
Address of the Southern members of Congress
rs failures, and accused of an overweaning at
tachment to the Federal Union My friends
who know me personally and well, know with
what deep regret and bitter modification those
confessions were wru"g from me, and how
had battled in the cause Of the Convention from
almost the fist day it was proposed | spoke
publicly and privately and with scarcely the
sympathy of one in hundred persons with
whom | WAS intimately associated. may even
claim the credit of having prepared almost the
only papers that were published in Louisiana,
urging the appointment Of Delegates by the
Legislature.
When the "Cau"e of the South" was written,
the Convention had nol met, but who could mis-.
take the apathy Of the people? Two or thr.c
States only seemed really in earnest, and in
these the ballot box showed but meagrc vote.
Several large and important States would not
have a single Delegate! Was this to arouse and
inspire the South and provoke from our aggres-
sors respect and fear. Alas! the month which
preceded the Nashville meeting was one of the
darkest in the whole history of the South! No.
| l,,+
fractions, and we were formidable nowhere but
to ourselves.
Thank God the Convention did meet, and rs
far rs it fell short of what we had n right to ex
pect in numbers and constituency, it has proved
our divisions are not hopelcss-the voice of ma
ture is not hushed within us-we are at last
"touched with noble anger" and are learning
to forget every other wutchword of party but
"OUR RIGHTS In the harmony Of the Soutl,
only can there be found safety for the Union
In regard to this Union, and to the charge OF
loving it too much, let me say, in conclusion
that I acknowledge no sympathy with any man
who undcr-prizes its advantages. AS our fl.
theirs framed, so love and venerate it, for all
the associations Of the past, the sacred memo
ries of sages, heroes, and patriots, the tolls suf
| ferings, and trumphs we have endured or won.
| would stand by this Union in its hour of peril,
to preserve Mt every hazard, save the sacrifice of
honor or of principle. Further than this, the
English Revolution and that of '76 arc before u.s.
Men deserve to be doubly cnslaved who will
console themselves in the surrender Of aclunl
rights with the sicky sentiments Of feahy or al
hgiunce, or by whatever other name they de-
nominate the relation which connects them
with Government.
hope the papers which have criticized my
article will insert or notice. this rpDlv and am
sure that may appeal to the whole South and
particularly to my native State, for liberal and
generous support of tie Review, which is con-
Quoted at enormous expense, and which was the
first and is the only enterprise of the kind
among Is
JAS. d. b. DEBOW,
Editor Southern and Western Reric,c.
THrAT