The southern press., 1851-10-30
slavery in the United states, &c.

uiedD contains able, and, IN so ne respects, a
fair article on this delicate and yet sufficiently
simple question. II is always well to ind this
matter calmly discussed by those who are gener
ally regarded as opposed to slavery and it is
pleasing to find that there are men capable of
grasping the subject dispassionately and without
reference to mere prejudice.
Taken at the best, however, it contains views
with which cannot coincide; but for such
we are willing to make due allowance. We do
not expect men living under different social in
stitutions, to be able fully to comprehend that
which is peculiar to the South.
There can be no doubt that the attitude as
sumed by Southerners, and more particularly
those of the State of South Carolina, has had an
effect upon the North, and will check in some
degree, the progress of that fanaticism which
has threatened, and is still threatening, TO divide
the States.
In publishing the following extract from this
article, we are bound TO notice statement which
is altogether erroneous. The North American
ReuieD says " The general government may ad-
nit into, or exclude it (slavery) from the terri
tories which belong to it, but its authority
ceases when the territories become States"
Now, t" this simple fact" as it goes on to call
it. is no fact at ALL There is no law whatever
for preventing Americans emigrating into terri
tories from North or South. The supposiion
on the contrary, is mere invention Of the writer
and altogether unconfirmed by law or experience.
oh E,l
at the present moment, to settle with his slave
property in territory, who and what is to pre-
vent him Where is the power to come from,
that is to interfere with him If the land be
walton of Southern produce, he has but TO con-
suit his own instinct and interests in the matter
We never yet heard. nor do we believe in the
interference of the general government in right
common to all free born Americans
The writer admits that there is limitation to
interference with slavery, growing out of the
manner in which it is wrought into the general
framework Of our institutions" And again, adds:
at is obvious that to reconstruct the whole
fabric of society-which is what is implied in
any wise method of abolishing slavery--can
never be the work of day."
Here we have a CLEAN of common sense
bursting out of the ocean of extravagances,
which Northern fanatcism has put forth on this
subject. Let those who are little more candid
and honest than their fellows, but Impress such
views, imperfect as they are upon them, and the
North will come to feel the necessity and JUS
tice of leaving the South alone in the enjoyment
of its rights, and the government of its own Pc
cuar institutions. A change from the present
condition of things, would not be merely a revo-
luton, it would be an immense disaster, which
would affect the North scarcely less than the
South-would bring ruin upon England, and dis
tress the manufacturing interests of the Eu-
ropean continent, to an extent suficientro rem
der a social revolution there inevitable.
Every day adds to the importance and the
value of the Southern staples The first com
mercial and financial houses of the world are
bound up in them. Abolish slavery.-Chsnge
the whole social system of the South, and cal
culate the cost, in the sudden check given to
slave productions. There is not a man of the
multitudes interested in it, who would lend his
aid to measure so fraught with ruin to the
whites, ard misery and destruction to the black
race. Abolition would be as pestilence which
had passed over the land.
The reviewers remarks are interesting on the
"EFFEcTs OF LEGISLATION ON SLAvERY-I
would be very surprising if the institution o
-
cusson and agitation in the United States ]
is a matter of vital interest TO the South, and
indirectly, of scarcely less moment to the North
Its existence must of necessity be taken into ac
count a main element in determining the
policy of the general government political par
ties gravltate around it as If it were n fixed
magnetic centre il exerts controlling influence
over the industrial pursuits and relations of the
country and, what is of not less Importance
creates around itself peculiar social state and
classes Of interests which have been, and are
likely TO be- the occasion of perpetual irritation
between the North and South.
" II is a subject which, above all others de.
bated among US, ought to be treated with calm
ness and candor; and, happily, there seems to
be prevailing a fsirer and more concliatory
spirit, and growing disposition to transfer its
discussion from the tribunal of the passions to
that of the judgment. The temporary lull
of political excitement furnishes fitting op.
portunity for presenting some of those consid-
erations respecting the more general sspects of
slavery which are essential to the formation of
just conclusions, but which, in seasons Of party
strife, are apt to be neglected How far and
how fast is the institution Of slavery susceptible
Of change and amelioration-whata are the pros,
pects Of its being removed-and what can be
done to promote it's removal these the
great prsticd questions which present them
selves to most minds. We propose to consider
them, partly on account of their intrinsic in
terest, but with particular reference to their
bearing on the subject of African colonization
"There is, however, limitation Of our power
over slavery far more invincible than any i'm
posed by arbitrary laws treaties, growing out
of the manner in which it is wrought in TO the
general framework of our institutions Putting
aside all questions which relate TO the origin and
character of slavery, and viewing it simply under
its present aspects, the prominent fact which
strikes one is, that it implies a certain condition