The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-25


came 10 us from our fathers,
We Gag. never unite IN support Of wing al
mlpistratfon which is characterized only by great
zeal and anxiety to have The laws observed south
of Masou and Dixon s line, and ny great hes,t-
ancy and culpable neiliclency ~ enforcing the
law north OF that line; also by efforts to obtain
from Congress protective TARIFF and prodlgnle ex-
penditures. Therefore we can never unite IN
Union party. because IL was we'll known that to
this complexion that party would come at last
The very formation OF that association was de-
signed TO crush the truest champions Of the South,
To destroy the Democratic party, and to betray
the unsuspecng and we-meaning among them,
into the ranks OF a party which has never been
welded TO any name longer than II was fashion,
able
We can never unite in regarding exclusion
IRON all our vast territories, and the emancipation
Of slaves IN certain casea, by Congress, IN in's
District, MS nothing worthy OF complaint, ana theh
agree to dissolve Is this glorious Union" upon the
repeal or modification Of the Fus'tise-slave law OF
1850.
Upon these points or terms we can nerer agree.
There are others upon which fear we 'rW never
come to any agreement.
We UiH not unite in demanding some additional
constitutional guarantee for our future safety and
protection, though by the admission OF Califor-
mia the South is placed at the mercy of the non
sayel0ldlng States in all the departments OF the
government; and the future prospect makes our
condition still more hopeless. fear the Souh
can never be aroused to sense Of the Importance
of such wall OF defence for our security and well
being, I'LL it is too late, and che is weighed down
with. the letters thrown around her
We ril not unite in insisting and demar ding
that our rights of property and equality as now
secured by the Constitution as II IS, shall be pro-
tected and enforced by the federal government,
because that position would necessarily bring us
ia conflict with party leaders, and it is cheaper
and more profitable 10 desert sectional rights
than to lie suspected OF party disIoyalty.
We ,riu not. fear, unite in the call of con-
vention Of all the Southern States. It's with feel
ings Of shame and sorrow, avow it. Such an
assemblage, composed of delegates of the first in
telligence and greatest weight of character among
US, clothed with the authority of the people OF the
respective States, and required 10 submit their nc
ton to them for approval disapproval, would
certainly be safe, patriotic, useful, and worthy OF
all confidence. common interest, a common
danger, Il common honor and safety, and n com
mon destiny, would indeed make such council
eminently proper. But it is really notifying to
find many Southern men afraid to trust the
people of all the sayehodng States to send dele
gates TO a convention, whose sole object II would
be to consult what, II any thing ia necessary TO be
done for the safety and happiness Of our own peo-
pie. Are they afraid that the people should can
vass their own rights and honor? Why doubt
the peopei Even II the past aggressIons have
been perpetrated with impcnlty and success, Is 1t
not becoming mus to consider and prepare for the
contingency of future aggression. That aggres-
sion, if we to judge from the past, will newt
ably come. To hide our eyes from the prospect,
or TO shrink in apathy and fear from the danger,
would be unworthy of free and intelligent peo-
pie. Even the States which have submitted to
recent injuries have announced their determination
TO submit no more.
The evil lies in our public men. The North
has the offices and the honors for distribution, and
If no Snnfh hell, that South-
erner must be untrue to his own household and his
own section TO obtain favor on a national theatre.
Thus divided upon what we cannot do, and
what we iciH not do, | despair. All hope of re-
sIstance TO the late measures which passed Con-
gress, to any satisfactory end, is gone believe
there is patriotism, justice, and love Of Union still
existing IN the free States to extent sufficient to
enable the South To obtain whatever, with united
voice, she might demand as necessary for her Sc
curly and protection for the future. But If the
South is divided in her requests or demands, no
thing. of course, will be obtained. 1t is vain and
futile To expect il.
The South united is invincibls; A people who
can turn out and support million of warriors, ex
port $50, 0C0 900 worth OF annual products, and
are versed in all the arts Of peace and war, with
climate producing every necessary for the susie
nance of man, can stand up and MAINTAIN them
selves against world in arms. Moreover, by
means of our staple productions, we have the civil
lied nations of the earth in bonds Of amity and
good will, which will force them TO keep the peace
with us.
But should the South divide, while all the world
is united in raising camor against "black sla-
very" she will become so weak that, in the end
will be destroyed. and fear her own
sell-respect and selfesieem will yield to the out
ward pressure.
But turn with pleasure and pride to Nissis-
spp--proud and true hearted Mississippi Your
gallant governor, obeying the impulses of a geHer
Gus nature restless under The assaults of VIC
torIous and psolent Northern aggressors, called
the Legislature together Immediately upon the con-
summation of the measures which compromised
away your constitutional rights. In response, !
your legislature sensltvely .aliye the injustice
which had been done you, and to the necessity
that existed for action, has wisely called conven-
ton, the highest authority and the most potent
body known 10 a sovereign people, TO consult for
your safety and happiness. Ofcourse, her honor
and her pledges will lead her to act cut her part
in that same dignifed and lofty spirit which char
acteriZed the first meeting in Mississippi. She
then invited her Southern sister States to meet her
in council and consult her for the common good Of
all. In that convention she can, IN the Highest |
and most imposing form, give expression to her !
opinions of her rights, and her convictions of her
and Of the dangers which threaten her. |
But every step Mississippi has taken heretofore !
has been based upon the idea that she could not
and would not act slnglehanded and alone, but |
that she NOuiu pe ready 10 make common cause |
in defence Of violated right and sullied honor. To
this pledge would have her to remain true at all
hazards To effect the union and the desired CO.
operation In the South she should be stendfasi
and unwaverng in all her movements. No APP
parent apathy or deserton on the part Of her Sis
ter States should unse,tle her fortilude or drive
her TO ndscreet action. ssTruth crushed to earth
will rise again" Being right, she should never
anticipate final defeat, but should persevere with
mistaken faith that time and subsequent develop
ments will arouse the South from her alarming
stupor and false security, and thus secure that
union which is essential to her salvation.
But could not advise her TO change her posi-
tion could not advise her to pledge herself to
The attempt TO secede.
regard secession for Mississippi alone, hemmed
in and comprised about she ~, a impracticable
And to make the attempt will nute the cause
which we seek to maintain. Without the SYM
pathy and support OF the coermnous States, we
make but a sacrifice of vital interests in seperat-
ing from them. No--a common fate awaits the
Southern States for good or for evil God has
linked them together, and man but fights against
his DEGREES when he attempts TO separate them.