The southern press., 1851-07-30

ica could never have achieved its wonderful sue
cess.---While II was acknowledged to be true
our slave institutions were safe. The fedora
government was regarded an agency, to b,
administered for the common and equal benefi
OF all the parties to the compact, and withou
Partially, discrimination for or against the IN
terests and social institute ls Of fny. Ever,
State rested securely In the Uuion, conscious
that she had reserved all the rights, and there
fore certain, that whenever she considered her
self wronged beyond the hope of redress, sh.
had the right peacefully to secede, subject only
to such obligations aud penalties arise under
the law of nations between independent and
foreign States This right was the cornerstone
| OF the constitutional Union.
The recent legislation of Congress has vio-
lated the Fundamental principles Of our Union
and violently deprived us OF most valuable privi
leges, which were ours by the clearest constitu.
tional right 1t has proved that a growing sec
tional majority, in the hireling- Labor States OF
the North, is determined to use the powers Of the
federal government, now permanently fixed in
it's hands, to discriminate against the slave labor
of the South. President Fillmore, forgetting
that he was President of slave States as well as
Of the Northern, consos the law loving citizens
of Boston bv the assurance of his anxious de-
sire to sec slavery extinguished in America Mr..
Webster avows, in Buffalo, his determination
that no new slave State shall be admitted into
the Union; and Senators Chase and Seward d.
rect the efforts of their respective parties, the
Democratic and Wing, to 6 "locase and discour-
age" slavery within the States. If the North
States persist in this purpose, it must inevi-
tably destroy the Union, whether they shall
abandon it,fsnd this constitutional confederacy be
preserved, depends upon ourselves.-The worst
enemies Of the Union are those who encourage
aggression by cowardly denunciations Of all who
oppose it. Let us, on the contrary, by a man
full resistance to wrong, and by honoring those
who are boldest and most faithful in our cause,
convince the North that we mean to enforce a
strict adherence to the Constitution, and secure
respect for all the rights of the sovereign States
We may then hope for peace, which will be at
once secure and honorable, far different from the
hollow and deceitful quiet of submission, to
which we are now exhorted to resign ourselves
am fully aware, gentlemen, of the many cir
cumstances which tend to d-hearten US. The
battle seems over, our hosts disbanded, and we
see only the banners of the Northern con-
querors, and we hear nought save the noisy vi
tuperations of their Southern allies, who are now
lost in serve adulaton of their masters. 1t is
easy for us to be bold in the heat of the strife,
and still easier to be faithful to victorious
party; but know how difficult it is in the calm
and deathlike silence that follows defeat and
degradation, to preserve the soul mistaken, to
maintain our faith in the right, and dauntless
courage in the cause of truth. These are the
times that try mems souls. Let us not regard
the senseless and faithless cry of Onion. Patriot
ism is cheap to dominant majority who have
fifty millions of revenue and hundred thousand
offices to distribute. The true patriots and
friends Of the Union are the men, who, like
Messrs Bocock and FIournoy, stand by the
Constitution and States rights, through good
and through evil report Let us then not be
discouraged but, fighting the good fight, remem-
Der that the darke It hour is the one before day.
In conclusion, allow me to offer the sentiment
you will find below and return my sincere
Il anks for your invitation, and the very kind and
hattering terms in which you are pleased to ex-
press it.
Very truly, your friend, and fellow-Virginan
M. r. II. GARNETT
The Commonwealth of Virginia-the only
sovereign to whom our allegiance is due. Her
ancient faith of '9s and 99 is the pillar of fire to
guide us from the house of bondage in this dark
eclipse of our rights and our glory.