Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-01-09
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The IJniOn.

ton Of independence was first proclaimed on
this continent, and the Union Of thirteen free
States was cemcnted, by the most holy and So
lemn compact, for mutual protection, wealth and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. By a concord OF sentiments
and interests, that knew no sectional feelings,
those thirteen separate Powers, acting as one
body and one soul, commenced their existence
in the list of nations under the name of the
sUnited States'-and now, at a period OF its
existence less than that allotted to man, we
look at the growth, prosperity airi magnlt1cence
of this Union, with a pride and a delight known
only to those who have been reared under Its
sublime institutions. The union that embrac-
ed thirteen governments, have grown to more
than double that number, and with a vast ter
ritory comprised between two oceans yet un'n-
b,bited. greater than that already populated,
what = vast empire is before us three bloody
and UNEQUAL wars, through which our arms have
gone victorious, is an evidence OF the mlght
and policy of such a union-and the lnteil'-
oence and enterprise that pervade all classes
are proofs of the wisdom of a government
formed by links of separate dependencies, to
maintain by united strength and intelligence
the Declaration of those rights which We're
made on the 4th of July, l776. This union
and those rights emanated through the repre-
sentatives of the people in Congress assem-
bled, great and good men, who have gone down
to their graves with the blessings of mankind.
The people of the colonies then began to in
hale the air of a new existence under their In
dependent State and National Governments,
and began, too. feel, as they had a natural
right to feel, that the Government now belong
| ed to them, not they to the Government.
These reflections, which are not expressed as
clearly as we would wish, are produced by rea-
son Of the assertion that has lately been made
bv several Washington letter-writers, that in
the event of the passage of the Wilmot Provi.
so, certain Senators had declared their inten'
ton of retiring from their seats in Congress
and moreover, that the States which they rep
resented would likewise secede from the Union
The passage Of this Proviso, heinous as it is t.
the South, or the passage of any other act, viii
not warrant this language. If the South il
overpowered by traitors and pretended philan
thropists, it is the duty Of the South to have
nobler aim than to prove the greater traitor BY
withdrawing its connection from the Union
Senators may disgrace themselves if they see
proper, by vacating their seats, and leaving the
interests of the South entirely in the hands Of
fanatics, but that the people Of any Southern
State will join with them in this move, is more
than we believe. Representatives in Congress
are expected to enact laws for the mutual inter
ests of the whole Union. When they fail ir
uniting or agreeing upon any great question
touching the vital interests Of this Union, OF
any great section of the Union, their services
or their Legislative capacities, are at an end, and
the people in convention must then determine
what is proper to be done. Representatives
must r~ecollect that they are going beyond then
sphere when they talk of a dissolution Of this
Union-a Representative body formed it, but
1t is not in the poacer af a Representative boaytd
dissolre 1t. No, this Union is in the hands Of
the People, and we may add, the Press; and in
times like these it is necessary that both should
speak out boldly and fearlessly, and show to
ambitious and aspiring demagogues, that our
glorious Union does not rest in their hands.