The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-23
profound Ignorance, as to the REASONS which linz

profound ignorance, as to the reasons which Ill
duced you, to urge upon Congress the passage OF
measures, which you regarded as dangerous III
precedent, and Inconsistent with the nature of
our institutions, and the relations which the Fed
eral Government bears to the territories" You
have continually asserted that peace and union
was your object. But we ask, how can peace
and harmony be established by the passage, by
Congress, of bills which you have declared
were dangerous inconsistent and destructive
of the relations which these very bills were in
tended to heal! And how could you expect the
people of the South to follow Mr.. Clay, after
you had denounced "his scheme no compromise
at all of the great question of slavery in the
territories" And where is the consistency or
Justice, in asking Congress to give force and va
lldlty TO measures, and the people to receive
them as boon, which you declared were desti-
tute OF "conclliation, compromise or mutual con-
cession ?"
The passage Of these measures has clearly
demonstrated that the position which you occu-
pied in January and February last was the true
ground. Peace and harmony could not be pro-
duced by fraudulent and discordant legislation.
The California, District Of Columbia and Texas
boundary bills, were all n compromise between
the constitutional rights and equality of the
Southern Sc ties, and the abolition higher law
sentimeH' % the Northern States, in which the
latter "a all. The Territorial bill for Utah
and New MeXicO is a shallow deception-the
Mexican law inhibitiSg slavery in their territories,
being covertly substituted for the Wilmot Pro-
viso. Here the South looses again. The only
bill, then, IN the whole catalogue, in which the
South obtained simple justice, was the recogni-
ton Of a plain provision of the Constitution, by
the passage of law to enforce it; and this has
met with more opposition, and has created more
disturbance in the Naiionai North, than all the
other measures combined, have produced in the
South. When, therefore, the Northern States
resist with greater violence the execution of one
of the painest provisions OF the federal com
pact, than the people of the Southern States, do
those measures which you characterised as "dall-
Gcrous and inconsistent with tie nature of our
federal relations" and, therefore, aggression
with what sort Of Justice can you class those in
the South, who oppose these unjust measures
with AbolitiOnsts and Frec-soilers? The peo-
pie of the South only ask strict adherence to
the Constitution-becving it the only safe and
certain mode of maintaining and propetuating
the Union-and are ready to resist aggression
upon any of their rights, under that sacred in
strument. The South has made no assault upon
the Constitution, and, therefore, no effort ut dis
union being satisfied that faithful adherence
to the one will prevent the disruption Of the
other. With what show Of truth and justice,
then, can you, day after day, assert, that those
in the South whom you call Ultras," arc equal
guilty in al attempt to dissolve the Union, with
the people Of the North, who have violated the
Constitution, and asked for dissolution of the
federal compact! And with what show of hon
esty can you denouncc men for resisting mea-
sures, which you taught them to regard as mi
quitous! What is your argument to prove, that
ithaca WhO rasiSt pnlpahla yi,I,tinp nf tha |
Constitution, and laws which arc inconsistent
with the federal relations" of the States, and,
therefor, of their equality, are equally guilty with
those who commit these aggressions! Let US
have something more on this subject besides
bare assertion, and malignant abuse. Without
this proof, all your efforts to heal present dssen-
sons will be neutralized, by the abuse YOU heap
upon the only men in the South, who are resist
ing aggressions upon the bond Of unon-the
Constitution.
Another ground of complaint is, that you fill
your paper with extracts from other papers,
North and South, Of a deceptive character; there
by leading each section into false understand
ing of the true position and opinions of the ma
jorty of the other.
How do you expect to make the people OF
the South believe, that ma ority Of the people
of the North, respect their constitutional rights,
VIII So-oPflutc IO>7nallI-
tain them, when every body knows that the gov
ernment is administered by an abolition Presi-
dent and Cabinet and, that all the elections in
the North, in which this question is made the
issue, abolition higher-law is triumphant? ON
the other hand, why do you attempt to deceive
the Northern people, by inducing them to believe
that majority Of the people of the South will
tamely submit to any aggressons that they may
practice upon their rights; and rejoice that they
were not despoiled Of all at once? Is this the
proper way to serve honesty and truth, and to
beget mutual confidence and forbcarance?
There is another dogma, which you are con-
tinually asscrting-that dissolution of the
Union wou d be the downfall of liberty on this
continent. Give us the proof, that there would
be less freedom in two republics than in one.
The people of the South have no hatred to
the Union; but seek its pcrpctuity, by demand
ing their rights, and refusing to submit to wrong
If you and others, who had great control over
public sentiment, had given, and maintained this
as the true position of the South, the condition
of the country would present more promising
aspect than it now does.
Not being school-men but plain farmers, you
will please overlook any defect in the compost
ton of this common sense view of the political
affairs of the country and believe us the staunch
friends Of a Constitutional Uni,n. And your
obi servts,
ii. WILLIAMS.
VINCENT PARKS