The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-06

apology Tor NOT hckhow'~oe'"S ooo"c' yoo' WV
letters.
am obliged to you for securing so prompt
an admission of my address into the columns OF
the Intelligencer. Col. Benton has continued
to get 80 many Jobs for that paper, that had
my appre hension, in their wish to keep fair with
him, that they would either not publish at all, or
delay it 80 long AZ to make the publication OF
no value.
am glad that you intend to be present at
the meeting Of your convention in October. 1t
is an important occasion, and your presence will
be of great service You ask me for my views
touching the ultimate action of the South in eer-
tain events 1t is the gravVst of all subjects,
and must soon demand the attention of the
whole Union, 10 tones 80 deep to rouse the
attention Of all.
There is one point on which there can be no
diversity of opinion in the South among those
who are true to her, or have made up their mind
not to be slaves that, if we should be forced
to choose between resistance and submission,
we should take resistance ut all hazards. II we
are not prepared for that, We are prepared to
sink to the most dcbased aud miserable condi-
ton ever allotted to people, and to become
the sc0rn and by-word Of the world. That We
will be forced to the alternative hold to be GER
tain, unless prompt and the most efficient mea-
sures should be taken by the South to arrest
the present course OF events. They were never
moving worse or more rapidly. 1t ia not mere
opinion with me, that we should be forced in
the end to choose between submission and re-
sistance, unless the South should take the sub
iect into it's own hands, and by united and de-
cisive movement, stay the course OF events. BE
assured there is no other rcmedy---none--not
the least, through the action of the general gov
eminent Things have gone too far to hope for
relief from that quarter.
/ have not ventured the assertion that events
were never moving worse or more rapidly with
out due reflection and much observation
have looked on the movements at the North
since the adjournment with close attention.
They are, in my opinion, as bad as they can be.
At no time have both parties courted the Free
sellers and the Abolitonists with more ardor.
| make no distinction between Freesoilers and
Abolitionsts. They are both equally hostile to
us and our institutions. Of the two, the former
are the worst and most dangerous. regard the
new platform, called free Eemocracy, attempted
to be erected at the North, to rally and re-unite
the Frcesoi!ers and the old Democrats who OPP
posed them at the last election, as but another
name for Freesoilers, more dangerous than their
original, because calculated to deceive and be-
tray the South. There, as yet, has been not a
rally on it, that have seen, in which the free
doctrines, as to the Wilmot Proviso and the ter
rtories and denuncation of slavery, did not con
stitute the platform. The aim of the whole
movement is political and is intended to catch
the support Of the Abolitionists without losing
that of the South If they succeed in that, our
doom is fixed. do not doubt but we have many
and sincere friends among the old Democracy OF
the North. and even among those who are in
clined to favor this unnatural coalition. They
do it from what they regard to be necessity,
and as the only way by which the Wings can re
put down, and with reluctance. But that can
not alter its fatal tendency.
The Wings at the North are at present doing
their best to prevent it; but as soon AS they see
that il is like to succeed, and that the Democracy
of the South are prepared to acquiesce in it.
they will wheel right round, and take higher and
holder abolition grounds, and thus control the
movement, while the Southern Wings will plead
our example as an excuse for their acquiescing
in the holder movements of their Northern
friends. The effects of the whole will be, that
the North will become more universally nboli-
ton than ever, and the South more derided, dis
tracted, and debased than ever; and, Of course
less capable of resisting Even as a political
movement on the part of the Northern De-
mocracy, it will fail It's game in which their
opponents can ever outplay them, and which
must end in the destruction and absorption
of the Democracy there by the other parties
There is but one way they can save themselves
and the party, by boldly planting themselves on
the ground which TIE Southern wing ofthe party
occupy on this great question. ltwoud proba-
bly, place them in a small minority for the time,
but it would unite the South, and our united
strength would speedily put them in majority
| again. Nothing else can save them. Bot taking
the course which they appear at present Cat least
a considerable portion Of them) disposed to do
will separate the South from them. We cannot
countenance or support the new platform, or
recognize any man or any party that may stand
on it as of u.s. Thus thinking, nothing future
is to my mind more certain than that as events
are now going or, the alternative of submission
or resistance will be speedily forced on us, I'M
less we should unite and adopt speedy measures
to prevent it; and that presents the question,
what can we do In considering it, assume
that the first desire of every true-hearted South
ern man is to save, if possible, the Union, as
well as ourselves but, if both cannot be, then
to save ourselves at all events Such is my de-
termination, as far as it lies in my power.
Fortunately for US, the road which leads to
both yet lies in the same direction. We have
not reached the fork yet, If we are ever to do it
Without concert of action on the part Of the
South, neither can he saved by it, If it be not
too longdelayed, it is possible both yet may be.
Without il, we cannot satisfy the North that the
South is in earnest, and will. if forced, choose
resistance and until she is satisfied the causes
which have brought the question between the
two sections to its present dangerous stage from
a small beginning, will continue to operate until
il will be too late to save the Union, and nothing
will be left us but to dissolve the connection.
To do that, concert Of action would be neces-
sary, not to save the Union, for it would be too
late, but to save ourselves. Thus, in any view,
concert is the one thing needfnl. But concert
cannot be bad without convention of the South,
either formal or informal and to that point
every friend Of the Union and well-wsber of the
South ought to direct his effort 1t cannot be
called too soon. The next session Of Congress
may make it too late. If nothing is done TO
bear on its action, the alienation between the
sections which may be caused by its proceed
ings may become too great to save the Union.
n a. l. i