The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-31
For the Southern Press.


|, A certain wise king of Spain, OH being tol,
that his son was dead, replied very cooly, swell
since nothing can be done, suppose we mus
make the best oft" This seems to be the phi
loscphy of the people of the South-at least .
7 very large portion of them-and would be ex
cellent philosophy, were they really in stua
ton where nothing can be done. Much ha.
lately been done, and much more may be accom-
plished, if not by appealing to the reason and
justice Of tine North, at least to its interests
and by unity of action in measures of retalia
ton, not of resistance, bring the consequences
Of this unnatural warfare against the rights and
feelings of their /" Southern brethren" as thew
call them-home to their own DOORS When
ever see this phrase applied to the people OF
the South, am reminded of Joseph and his
brethren, and expect to see them sold to the
highest bidder. All that is required to bring us
to our senses here, is for the authorities of the
Southern States to unite in demonstrating, not
BY resolutions, but by actions, that their capacity
for submission is exhausted, and that though
/" Isachar is a strong ass" the last feather will
make him kick.
There are some few honest people within the
circle of my acquaintance, who actually begin to
think it possible the Union may be in some little
danger, and that it will be prudent to pause
swhile before the South is pushed any farther
They are of opinion it is polite to wait and see
whether the legislatures of the Southern States
will blow another blast of resolutions, from which
they may not back out as usual; or whether,
ike the Georgia Convention, they will submit
''honorably and gracefully" after the exampl
| that chivalrous State, which has outdone the
mountain in labor. The manifesto, or declara-
ton of rights, or wrongs, or whatever it may be
called, Of that stalworth body, is very popular
here, and coupled with that of the Maryland
Convention, has pretty well satisfied the Abolition
leaders that they may do almost what they please,
provided they do it genteely-by compromise
and it will be aequiesced in "honorably and
gracefully" after the manner of the Empire State
of the South.
Should Virginia and North Carolina adopt the
policy Of the wise King of Spain, and finally de-
eide to submit "honorably and gracefully" to the
past, the Abolitionists will have clear field in
future, and the "higher law" be enforced without
opposition. The Union will be preserved and
the Constitution Destroyed
The late proceedings in the legislatures of
South Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, and North
Carolina, have however, apparently brought the
Northern tempest to lull, at least for moment,
and it is quite evident that strong effort will
be made to hold in the Abolitionists at least till
towards the close of the present session of Con-
gress But abolition is hard mouthed donkey,
and | question whether any of the doughty pol
iticians, who believe they are holding him tight
by the bit, when in fact they have only brded him
by the tail, will be able to keep him quiet. The
probability is they will be tos ed over his head
or kicked into the dirt if they hold him too
tight. There are several reasons that occur to
ME, for this sudden moderation and forbcarance
on the part of Northern politicians, who, u ought
to apprize the people Of the South, are far be-
yond them in the trade Of politics. They have
to deal with men who were born in intrigue,
brought up on intrigue, and whose parents We're
engaged in an intrigue when they were begotten
They have grown grey in political bargaining,
and become so sharp by perpetual coalition that
it is almost impossible to see their edges. They
have gained all they expect by steering on one
tack, and are now about trying the other. They
have made the most of disunion in the South,
and are now drumming up recruits in that quar-
ter to sustain the Union.
Perceiving the Fugitive slave law, is now the
great rallying point of the States which are will
ing to acquiesce in the Compromise measures,
on condition of its being carried out in the
North, their object is to persuade them that it
will not only be suffered to remain intact, but
that our warlike President is determined to see
Temps are made to carry it into execution. Any
further encroachments will therefore probably
be postponed to the latter end of the present
session, when the distribution Of brides for the
next Presidency will be completed, or perhaps
until the next meeting Of the new Congress,
almost all, if not ALL the members of which are
pledged to Abolition, or its alias--Free-s osm,
There is still another reason for a pause
The advocates of submission, headed by the
Washington Union, have sworn that if the North
commits any more offences against the South,
and especially against the Fugitive slave law,
they will positively and for the last tme--as
they say in announcing play--defend them
selves Eat all hazards and to the last extremity
Ihave strong suspicion, almost amounting to Il
conviction that this is but Seward oath still il
is possible that they may redeem their pledges to
escape indelible disgrace. 1t is easy to perceive
they are in great tribulation, lest they should lie
placed in this dsagreeable predicament
f earnestly hope the people of the South will
, not, like raw Sailors be luled to sleep by this
delnsive calm, and fancy the storm is ovet, wher
IL has only paused to gather new force and VIC