The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-17


The New Era
3, We have arrived ut a New Era. The main
object of the Union under the present Con-
stitution, was to secure the harmony of the
States. That has at length failed. About
one-half Of the States, have engaged in course
of policy destructive to the rights, the interests.
and honor of the other half, and have already
succeeded in securing majority vote in Con-
gress for their spoliation. 1t was the intention
and belief Of the trainers Of the Constitution,
that the power of the States should be equal to
their own protection, aud that danger was to be
apprehended from their encroachments on the
Federal Government, rather than from Federal
encroachment on them. This has been COM
pletely falsified by experience 1t was distinctly
held by Mr.. MADISON in the Federalist, that
State patronage and honor would preponderate
over Federal, and that men would be elected to
Federal office, on questions OF State policy
rather than Federal and that the danger OF the
new Government would be from conflicts and
anarchy among the States, rather than consoli-
dation Instead of that, men are elected gcner-
ally, even to the most trivial Offices of State,
according to their Federal politics, and that IS
consolidation.
Thus the progress of consolidation has been
so great, as at length to result in coalition OF
half the States having majority Of the popnla-
ton, to Cypress the other half-and through
the influence of parties in Federal politics, to OBJ
tain in such an attempt, the support ola portion
of the Representatives, and people of the vic
tim States at
What then is to be done ? When our fathers
found the Articles of Confederation inadequate
for their welfare, they proceeded to amend, and
they ended by changing them. Let us DO so
likewise. The Nashville Convention meets
again in about seven weeks. Let delegates be
sent from every State and district where the
people are not lost to sense Of their rights, or
to ia spirit for asserting them. Let that Conven-
ton when it assemblies, deliberate ON the evils
we have suffered, the dangers that are impend-
ing, and the mode and measure Of redress and
safety Let them not listen to the language OF
submission-let them not think fora moment OF
abandoning the South to future of shame, OF
injury, of ruin Nothing has been done, which
people worthy Of being free cannot undo
Let South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida
and Mississippi, take their stand, and the rights
of the South and the integrity of the Union can
be preserved. Let Virginia, N. Carolina, Louisi-
ana, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Ken
lucky and Maryland send delegates. But let no
man expect unanimity. Never yet was great
movement made for the assertion of right OF
the resistance Of wrong, with any thing like
ter forbid it. The glory and even the existence
of every people always depend on the sagacity,
patriotism and energy Of a part, and there are
now in the South as large part of her people
endowed with the high qualities of their race, as
ever led country in defence Of her lights.
Nor let any man suppose there is danger of
civil war from an honest, enlightened and. manly
assertion of Southern rights The North is
more dependent on the Union than the South
and will always derive more benefit from il,
even when its powers are honestly exercised
Manufactures and Commerce may fourishin the
South, but neither the genial sun of the latter
nor its fertile soil, can ever shine or fructify in
the North. The Northwest can abound in
grain, but the South can produce moro than an
abundance Of her own bread, and the cotton
that clothes the world can never grow in the
valley of the Ohio.
The North will prefer union and equality
of the States, to Disunion. The South, we
trust will never acquiesce in the attempt made
by Congress to divest her Of all share of the
territories recently acquired. California can yet
be divided-and if millions can be paid to Texas
for territorial claims for the sake of Northern
encroachment, let millions be paid to California
for Southern right. ,oll
The South will demand security for the fu-
ture also. And this will require a modification
of our Federal system
We have had much discussion, for the last few
years, on natural and political rights. We shall
have more These questions will be examined
thoroughly. The operation Of our system will
be subjected to a thorough scrutiny, and our pa
per will abound with dispositions from the
ablest pens in the land. We expect to lay be-
fore our readers body of fact and argument
concerning the nature and results Of our insti-
tutions, never equalled since the debates on
the Federal Constitution. M
The States of Virginia, Maryland, Georgia,
and Texas, are all to hold Conventions soon, to
discuss the fundamental principles of human So
ciety, political rights and Constitutional powers.
1t was, perhaps, time for the public mind to
awaken and rise above the low pursuits of party
and of pelf And shock has been given by
Congress, which all but the dead must feel. Let
therefore, the patriots and wise men-of the land
come forth. Let the spirit of our ancestors be
invoked--let the institutions they transmitted
be preserved and improved.
The South has All ample amount of ability,
of power, of resources, to secure the rc-cstab-
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