The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-28

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For the Southern Press.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:--As words often become
things in the progress Of discussions and the array
Of parties arising therefrom, it is matter Of some
interest to discover the meaning Of certain terms
which have been Of late much employed. In the
investigation Of the slavery question, and the nte
rest involved in the relations which connect that
great issue with the welfare Of the country, we
have been rendered familiar with certain words
which have performed most important function,
and the true meaning Of which it Unnecessary for us
to understand. twas some time before the peculiar
proprety ofrenaming the result Of the labor Of the
Committee Of Thirteen occurred to the advocate Of
that scheme. It was discovered that it had been
improperly called compromise, and ought TO be
,,alled an adjustment. This important element in
the business was argued with 1.-THE acuteness dis
played in the great Of Stradling u.s. Stiles,
ported by Swift, as well as / remember. We
were instructed that it was no compromise, but a
mere settlement, the character Of which all men
were left to Judge of for themselves. We suppose
that the distinction between the meaning of the
two names, to wit Compromise and Adjustment !:
has been made so clear by the venerable editor
Of the Union, that no doubt can ever invade the
public mind in relation thereto in future. He had
spoken Of the necessity Of Cancellation and con-
cession, which would make the ingredients Of
compromise, all Of which were promised the pub
lie as the result of the investigation of the Senates
committee. When that report was made, either
there was too much concession and too little con-
citation, or so much Of both, that compromise
conveyed no adequate idea of the merits Of the
scheme, and adjustment was the word which should
be used to recommend it to public favor. An old
maxim was found to be untrue. 1t was ascertained
that rose would not smell as sweet by some other
name, and this same rose now throws its fragrance
around us, and none but the initiated dream that
is a rose at all.
We read much of ultra men North and South.
Fanatics North and South; agitators and disturbers
and sectional and national politicians. Now it is
profitable to know what they mean. An ultra
Northern man is supposed to refer to an out and
out Abolitionist, the enemy of the institution of
slavery; who, whilst he may not be inclined to
interfere directly with the institution in the States
yet the purposeof whose politics is indirectly to
assa it, and render it ntoerable to the white race
and break down African Slavery He is ul-
ira, whilst those who vote for the exclusion OF
slavery from the territories, who, like Mr.. Clay,
declare that they willvote for no measure which
looks to the extension of the institution Of slavery
into the territories, are called moderate and pract
Of the Abolitonists only decline to do so be-.
cause they believe the measure necessary to secure
the desired object, who uniformly pursue policy
which excludes Southern shareholders from the
occupation Of the territories, are called patriotic,
moderate, and enlightened friends Of the South.
They rebuke fanaticism but vote for its designs
they say kind words to the South but give them
none Of the land" they tread no steps back
wards" in their progress in the anti-slavery cru
SADIE. From this itwould seem that kind words
and patriotic illusions, soothing discourses, which
quiet men restless under a sense Of plunder--
Chloroform, administered to the patient who is
to wake up, after WHILE minus some of his limbs,
or at least, the greater portion Of his rights, are
the elements Of moderation, and entitle those who
have them to the character of patriotic men who
1--we the Union and the Constitution, and are upon
the whole national in their character.
A Southern ultra is supposed to be one who de-
mands all that the Constitution secures to him or
his people. One who is so green as to believe
that political equality was intended to be secured
by his ancestors in the Constitution. believe no
Southern man, whether editor or statesman, has
ever said that the Southern shareholders have
asked too much, or more than they were entitled
to by the compact This is admitted, but it is
Ultra and disoganizing to demand il. Others are
in possession Of their inheritance, and it produces
agitation make claim for their own. They
have a bond for an ascertained amount, and are
called ultra because they are unwilling TO take one
half Of the claim. They have n right to the land
equally TO others, all the territorial domain; and
because they willing, by the line Of 36 degrees
80 minutes to give up more than half, they are
called ultra and disorganizing. Whilst Southern
men who are contcnicd to give up TO the rnpacity
If the North, either hoping for peace, or satis-
led that they whipped, and that il is the best
that can be done, or aspiring to national reputa-
tion, and national popularity, and national nomi-
nations are moderate, patriotic, enlightened friends
u the Union and Of liberty.
These are the meaning of the terms ultra men
North and South, and the meaning Of the terms
agtators and dsturbers, and moderate and patriotic
men. In order to understand the full import of ma
tonai politeness and national character, something
more is necessary. To acquire national repu-
tation, man from the non-slaveholding States has
only 70 speak kindly TO the South admit that they
have some rights under the Constitution; be very
sorry thas their Northern constituents will not allow
the full recognition Of their rights in their laws;
'bsndop the name Of the WiInao, Proviso when it