The southern press., 1851-04-08
For the Southern Press.
CLAIBoRN PAHIsH. La, Feb. ls, 1851.
on. ]. w. Dowss, Washington, ID. G.


CLAIBoRN PASIsH. La, Feb. ls, 1851.
Hon. j. w. Downs, Washington, ID, c.
DEAR SIR: BY the last mail was favored,
under cover Of your frank, with copy of the
Washington Union of the 2lst December last,
containing an article under the head of " The
Souie meeting IN Neio Orleans" which was
distinguished by marks with pen intended to
invite my attention. ] make no pretensions to
be invulnerable to polite attentions from high
quarters, but feel proud to acknowledge this,
with others Of your tavors; but from the char
acter Of the article to which my attention has
been thus directed, ] infer that you misunder-
stand my opinions, and consider it privilege,
if not duty, to correct the error. find the
article alluded TO, to consist of an extract from
opinions given out by the New Orleans Cres-
cent and Picayune, respectively, relating to an
address of Mr.. SoULE before public meeting
in that city. And by remark Introductory to
the extracts, infer that those opinions are ad-
duced to counteract II previously published re-
port Of the same meeting put forth by the New
Orleans Della. Judging from this act Of atten
ton, you either suppose that ] approve your
course in the late congressional legislator upon
the slavery question, or by an array of formid
able authorities in our own State, you desire TO
influence such approval II the former, you are
mistaken if the latter, ] can only say that you
have been very unfortunate in the selection Of
your authorities TO one who has watched the
one sided and strictly partizan conduct of the
New Orleans Crescent aud Picayune, during the
slavery agitation of the past year, and who un-
derstands the ex ent to which those newspapers
are Influenced by Northern feeling and inter.
ests, the reference to them az neutral papers"
would seem more like irony than sober earnest
AS for YOURSELF sir, will say that, besides
the partiality which usually obtains between
politicians Of the same family, had formed
very high estimate Of your statesman-character
in which patriotism was even more prominent
than your other distinguished abilities But
your agency in the reputed +" settlement" of the
slavery question by Congress--while it has left
me no confidence in the wisdom of your states
manshp--has, at least, placed your patriotism
beyond question. 1t may be some relief to
you to know that yon have the companonship
of many great names in the fatal mistakes into
which Your senatorial action was beguiled: for
| IL must be admitted that such consolation has
been amply furnished you in the hecatombs Of
fered upon the altar of mistaken patriotism
by many Of the Southern statesman during the
past year. Your love of country, sir, ought
never again to be questioned, whatever may he
thought Of your tactics; for, surely, the exhi.
bitons you have made in offerings to the peace
and union of these States, entite you to all the
consideration ever conceded to the most patri-
otic views and feelings. But that your action,
in conjunction with other patriotic but mistaken
men, has been p-ejudical to the interests which
you and they intended to serve, | have never
for moment doubted. The crisis upon which
Southern institutions WAS precipitated by the
bold measures of the late session of Congress,
has, in my judgment, fore-doomcd the institu-
ton of negro slavery in the Southern States
This fred fact will be more and more apparent,
and few brief years will not only confirm it.,
but will bring to you your full share of mortf-
cation for the part you acted in the drama of
1850.
Regrets are always fruitless when the errors
which occasioned them are beyond the reach of
correction. 1t is, therefore, useless to discuss
the merits of measures so thoroughly consid-
cred by you, which have been carried out to
their issues, and the consequences of which are
already determined by relentless destiny
But may not be pardoned for simply alludng
to the grounds of my despairipg conclusions.
For more than quarter Of century past,
have been careful observer of American poll
tics, and have noted with no little anxiety the
|
question Upon the first movement remem
Der how the then Argus-eyed South discerned
danger in the distance, and snulfed treason
in every step taken by the few contemplate
fanatics to whose custody the question then
exclusively belonged. | have marked, too,
amidst the clamor and menaces of Southern
resentment, the insdious but steady progress of
the abolition cause, until the great body of the
free States had become leagened with its nflu-
ence, and the halls Of the national legislature
was infested with its open advocates. But dur
ing all this progress, and under the repeated
ebulition of Southern passion, as il emanated
in bullying threats, and furious but harmless
denuncation, | have observed that, with the
growing strength and insolent demands Of the
abolition power, so has been the constantly re.
ceding movement of Southern resentment No
sane mind can fail to see the final issue of a
controversy thus conducted for no truth in the
knowledge Of men is better established than
that, in all disputes the spirit Of aggression on
one side, will be measured by the tameness and
concession Of the other.
If we overlook the refinements of Christian
MORALS there is no conduct which can more cer-
tainly insure the contempt of mankind than that
Of bullying coward. 1t is well known that
such character is more exposed to the insults
of the world than one Of more quiet but reso-
lutte purpose. Now, sir do not mean TO say
that Southern people nre towards or that their
public fnnctionares are wanting in the chvalry
of this great age but do intend to say that,
on the slavery question, the Southern people -
not excepting their rulers--bave betrayed the
weakness Of as hopeless and ruinous a policy as
ia that Of the perveless individual who seeks TO
avoid collisions by uniform and notorious
submission to injuries. The sturdy and safe
policy in all controversies whether personal or
national, of asking nothing but right, and sub
milting to nothing wrong, has been disregarded
by the South in the entire progress Of all her
struggles with the North. lie who asks nothing
but what is obviously right, is seldom in auv
danger of suffering vrong, but when the demand
falls below welldeined riehts-which has al
ways marked the position of the South-that
moment the door is opened to encroachment
The spirit of aggression will ns naturally enter
at such M opening as water will escape through
break in the dixie And, as tho first break
may be mended with finger, but unrepaired ts
ever widening and deepening progress becomes