The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-01
THE ADDRESS.

Attest VIM J. ASTON, Secretary.
THE ADDRESS.
The committee TO tohich referred the duty Of pre-
pairing an address to the people Of the slapeholdng
States upon the subject Of a southern organ, to be
established IN the city Of Washington, put forth
the foitooing:
FELLOW CITIZENS: number of Senators and rep
resentatives in Congress from the southern States
Of the Confederaey, deeply impressed with sense
of the dangers which beset those States, have con-
sidered carefully our means of sef-defence within
the Union and the Constitution, and have come to
the conclusion that it 10 highly important to estab
lish in this city paper which, without reference to
political party, shall be devoted TO the rights and
interests of the South, for they involved in
the questions growing out of African slavery. To
establish and maintain such paper, your support
is necessary, and accordingly We address you ON
the subject.
In the contest going on, the Constitutional
equality of fifteen States is put in question. Some
81 600 900 worth of negro property ia involved
directly, and indirectly, though not less surely,
incalculabc amount of property in other forms. But
to say this is to state ess than half the doom that
hangs over you. Your social forms and institu-
tons, which separate the European and the Afri-
into distinct classes, and assign to each
different sphere in society are threatened with
overthrow. whether the negro Is to occupy the
same social rank with the white man, and en-
joy equally with him the rights, privileges, and i'm
munitiss of ctizenship-in short, all the honors and
dignities Of society-s question of greater mo-
msnt than any mere question of property can be.
which public opinion if not the prevailing, is des
tined TO be a most prominent force; and yet no or
gan of the united interests of those assaled has
yet been established, does there exist any paper
which can be the common medium Tor an inter-
change of opinions amongst the southern States.
Public opinion, IL has been formed and di-
rected by the combined influence of interest and
prejudice, ia the force which has been most po-
tent against US in the war now going on against
the institution of negro slavery; and yet we have
taken no efcctual means TO make and maintain that
issue with it upon which our safety and perhaps
social existence depends. Whoever viii look to the
history of this question and to the circumstances
der which arc now placed, must see that posi-
ton is one ofmmnent danger, and one TO be defend
ed by all the means, moral and POLITICAL ofwhch we
can avail ourselves in the present emergency The
warfare against African slavery commenced as is
known, with Great Britain, who, after having con-
tributed mainly TO it's establishment In the New
World, devoted her most earnest efforts, for pur-
poses not yet fully explained to its abolition in
America. How wisely this was done, so far as her
own colonies were concerned, time has determined,
and all comment upon this subject ON our part
would now be entirely superfuous II, however,
her purpose 10 reach and embarrass this
subject, her efforts have not been without success.
common origin, common language, have made
the English literature TO a great extent and
the efforts of the British government and people to
mould the public opinion Of all who speak the Eng
lish language have not been vain or fruitless On
the contrary, they have been deeply felt wherever
the English language is spoken; and the more
efficient and dangerous, because, as yet the
South has taken no steps to appear and plead
at the bar Of the world, before which she
has been summoned, and by which she has
been tried already without hearing Secured
by constitutional guarantees, and Independent
OF all the world, far its domestic insti-
tutions were concerned, the South has reposed un-
der the consciousness Of right and independence,
and forborne TO plead at a bar which she knew had
jurisdiction this particular subject. In this
we have been theoretically right, but practically
we have made great mistake. All means, po-
litica, diplomatic, and literary, have been used to
concentrate the public opinion, not only of the
world at large, but Of our country against us;
and resting upon the undoubed truth that our do
mestic institutions the subjects Of no govern
ment but own local governments, and con-
cerned no one but ourselves, we have been passive
under these assaults, until danger menaces va from
every quarter. great party has grown up and
ia increasing in the United States, which 10
think IL duty they 10 earth and heaven TO
make war ON a domestic institution upon which
are staked our property, our social organization,
and our peace and safety. Sectional feelings have
been invoked, and those who WELD the power of
this Government have been tempted almost, If not
quite beyond their power OF resistance, to wage
against our property, our rights, and our
cia system, which, IL successfully prosecuted,
must end in our destruction. Every inducement-
the love Of power, the desire TO accomplish what
with less truth than plausibility called ore
forms''-all offered TO tempt them TO press upon
those who represented and, in fact seem TO be
easy prey 10 the spoiler. Our equality under
the Constitution is in effect denied, social insti-
tutons deridcd and condemned, and ourselves
treated with contumely and scorn through all the
avenues which have yet been opened 10 the pub
lie opinion fthe world That these assaults should
have had their effect is not surprising, when we
remember that as yet we have offered no organized
resistance To- them, and opposed but little, except
the isolated efforts Of members of Congress who
have occasionally raised their voices against what
they believed TO be wrongs and injustice.
II is time that we should meet and maintain
issue in which we find ourselves involved by those
who make war upon us in regard to every interest
that is peculiar TO us, and which is enjoyed in
common with them, however guaranteed by sol
emn compact, and no matter how vitality involving
our prosperity, happiness, and safety II Is time
that VIC should take measures 10 defend ourselves
against assaults which end in nothing short of
our destruction IL oppose no resistance to them.
Owing to accidental circumstances, and a want of
knowledge Of the true condition of things in the
southern States the larger portion of the press and
of the political literature Of the world has been d.
rected against The moral power OF public
opinion carries political strength along with IT, and
il against US, must wreste with IL or fall. III,
as we firmly believe, Truth is with there is no
thing TO discourage in such an effort.
The eventual strength Of an opinion Is TO be mca-
sured, not by the number who may chance TO en-.
terrain il, but by the truth which sustalns IT. we
believc--nay, We know--that truth is with us, and
therefore we should not shrink from the contest.
We have too much staked upon II to shrink or TO
trembc-a property interest, in all it's forms, oil
incsculabe amount and value; the social organi-