Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-03-04
THE POSITION OF THE SOUTH.

THE POSITION OF THE SOUTH.
The South is not chargrable with treason -
Those, who have placed such a construction up-
on her acts, have much, very much, mistaken her
designs. The South is resisting the North. and
not the operations of the Constitution. All of her
efforts are directed TO coun;cracting the proposed
aggressions ofthe North, upon the rights, guaran-
tied TO her, by the provisions of the Constitution
II the North will respect the Constitution, she
Will mud IN the South a vigorous co-operator.-
The people OF the South have always been re-
malkable for Their devotion 10 law and their rea-
dy acqulescence in It's lnjunctions. They have
ever been the devoted friends of the Union ofthe
States. In fact, the efforts of the South TO secure
the Union, and her sacrifices of interests, as well
as principles, to preserve it, are testimonials of
The high and exalted means which she EMPLOYS
to keep in Union this great confederacy ofStates
In no patriotic undertaking, no scheme for the
benefit Of the Union, has .he South permitted the
North 10 eclipse the Splendor Of her deeds. No.
She has been the first in the great movements of
our country. She was the first 10 frown upon the
oppressive legislation of the mother county. She
was the first 10 suStlin that frown with an appeal
to aims, and the brightest of that brilliant phalanx
OF statesmen who sustained the shocks of the
revolutionary period, and the bravcst of the war.
ring host. who drove the Soldierv of Britain from
the soil of America, were the children of the sun
ny South. And since the assertion of IndcDen-
dence the South has been loyaI in her attachment
10, and dutinl N her Observance of the rcqui>i-
tons OF the Government. She, as a whole, has
tllnehed from The discharge of no duty, sought TO
lmpaIr the force of no law, and reSpecte the
rights wisely secured by the Constitution to each
component part of this great Republic.
The South has not degenefatcd. The same
loyalty that has marked her past course, will
be exhibited III her future career. For this rea.
son the North should pause. Let her recollect
that the attachment ofthe South Is 10 the Nonsti-
tuition, and Southern struggles have always been
directed 10 the securing Of a full operation Of its
sacred provisions. And it is to preserve from in
trlngement the rights OF the Con titution, that the
voice otthe South is now mingled with the fierce
cries OF Northern fanaticism. The Constitution
the Constitution is all that the South asks
Not the Constitution embodving provisions, which
'anattHISm or injustice may leave neglected. or
winch, by independent legislation, NAV be CON
vcrted into utilities. But a Constitution operative
IN IFS provisions and restricting the legislative DO.
dies which it creates. The South relies upon A
Constitution like thiS-shp adheres 10 its provis-
ions. Such a course is loyal-any other is trea-
Sonablc.
A review of the history of the agitation, which
now shakes the American Republic, will show the
ppNill'l bl llP oOulH 10 De me OnIV one, " hICn can
be assumed by the friends ofthe Constitution and
the lovers of the Union. The Union is based up
on the Constitution, and the Constitution being a
compromise instrument, the preservation of the
Union demands a toll operation of each of its pro-
visions. a mere inactivity would defeat the OBJ
lects tor which il was formed; and n violation OF
ITS principles, which could not be reached by the
process of law, would eTectuallv overthrow The
Government and dissolve The Union. Hence, all
true friends of the Union are devoted in their at
fachmentto the Constitution, and will evince il
by the Observance OF its injunc,ions. Has such
an observance been mnnifc Stcd by the South -
The Constitution of the United States plainly and
clearly prohibits, upon the part of Congress, aHle-
gislation on the question of slavery. The South
asks that this provision be respected. The fanat-
iciSm of Northern AbolitioniSts seeks practically to
annihilate this provision, without erasing it from
that chart, which has been drawn to direct the
operations of the Government. They seek TO en-
graft upon the bills of Congress, provisions pro-
EibItlng the introduction of slavery, and provi-
dung Tor ITS abolition, thus positively legi>lating
upon n question, the power 10 touch which, has
been expressly withheld by the Constitution
Therefore, when the South opposes the schemes
of the North, she is not chargeable with treason,
but is seeking 10 secure the operation of the re-
QUESTIONS Of the Constitution.
To effect this result what does the South pro-
pose to do? To dissolve the Union /? If neces-
Sty, stern in her dictates, will demand disunion,
then the South proposes to dissolve the Union
This, however, is a step which the people will
not take until constitutional and lawful means
have proved abortive. The South deprica,es the
efforts of those who advise a dissolution immcai-
dfefg upon the passage ofan act of Congress.
winch transcendS its constitutional limits. and re-
pud'ates those engaged in the undertaking.. She
proposes no such remedy, but she is finn. Her
request is reaSonable-her demands are Just
and let the North remember. that analogy, as we'll
rs reason, %IuStlties the conclusion. that the South
Will know no adherence but that to the Constitu.
ton. The South will exhaust all lawful provi-
SONS TOR the protection of the rights of the minor
Ity. But should these fail, diSunion must and
will come. She will then remain no longer " it'll
a majority, who refuse to observe the restrictions
OF law. And while her action may Immediately
preccde diSunion, upon her the crime of the re-
suit will not be charged. In that case, the fanat-
icism of Northern abolitionism will have forced
upon tie South its action, and they, they alone,
will be chalseable with the consequences.