The southern press., 1851-04-02

dignity of the Union. that is one of its most lu-
dicrous qualities. We never called even the
most stupidly or inventive Of our traducers, dis
honest or insane, as the Union pronounced the
Southern opponents Of the compromise.
As for the ability of metropolitan papers, if il
can be determined by the verdict Of corrcspon.
dents, we will abide the decision and give large
odds. But we may take this occasion to say
that, the contributors of articles to our paper
are beyond all question superior to those of oul
rivals We do not hesitate to say, of two OF
our contributors, A Northern Man" and "Ran-
dolph Of Roanoke" that their articles have evin-
ced more ability for the last ten months, than
all the communications in all the metropolitan
papers besides put together.
We do not pretend to exult in any produc-
tons Of ours-but rather to apologize. The
reason we have not done better is, that we have
had SO little ability to encounter. The Com
promise has been the greatest question of the
day. We assert that no argument in its sup
-.either from the Union or htelligencer, or
from Mr. CLAY or Mr.. WEBSTER. The absur-
dity and enormity Of that measure are so palpa-
Bile that the genius of its leading supporters has
failed to make 1t even plausible We have had
Senate speeches and dinner speeches. and dinner
letters, all betraying the conscious want Of de-
fence for that measure, and succeeding only in
showing the want of an argument. Nothing
but such total destitution of pertinent reasoning
could have driven Mr.. WEBSTER and Mr.. CLAY
to the desperate expediency of attempting to
sanction the California fraud by pretending that
slavery was excluded from that territory by the
law of God-or that such thing could be done
under such a tlimsy pretext as the power of Con-
gress to admit State.
As for the controversies in which this paper
has been engaged, we are quite willing that its
readers should Judge, when we inform them that
in all cases when our adversary presents an ar
gument of any force, we insert it in full, but the
favor is seldom reciprocated.
1t was perhaps not very extravagant in the
submissionists to expect that when the resolu-
tions and pledges of some twelve or thirteen
Southern States went down, that this paper
would go down. But We suppose we shall have
to disappoint them. The paper is not going
down. 1t is going on. Its subscription is in
creasing, and has never for q day declined
Although the expense ofpublishing such paper
as this, with so large an amount of reading
matter, is about twenty five thousand dollars a
year-yet, the present number of subscribers is
almost great enough to support it, and there is
no probability that the increase will not be quite
sufficient.
AS for the begging, We don't recollect any.
We received sundry assurances on commencing
the paper, that whenever funds might be want
ing as was probable before its subsc; iptions
were complete, they could be obthined without
difficulty. Well, some time ago. in consequence
of the tardiness of some of the subscribers, we
suggested to few of our friends that the paper
must either stop, or 60 on for time at our ex-
pense exclusively, or with some Of their aid
1t was Immediately promised-but, as the nego-
tiations were rather uncomfortably tedious, MIR.
De LEON insisted on going to Columbia, his
friends, and those of the paper. After some re-
luctance and delay il was agreed to- lie went
1t was only necessary for him to name the
amount then required--$2, 500. 1t was fur
Al Il l.
any others, and all other persons or places, have
contributed Such is the amount Of aid this pa
per has received
We have thought it proper to be thus par
tcular, for the benefit of our friends as well as
our enemies. 1t will be perceived that little can
be required, and that it can easily be obtained.
But the most efiectual and the most gratify-
ing aid is in subscriptions. And they can be
had largely with but little effort. While we
were writing this, letter came this evening
from gentleman in Georgia with thirteen
tri-weekly subscribers and the money. A
few days ago we received from another friend in
Georgia two letters, with twenty subscribers
throughout the South, go and do likewise, and
it will soon be permanent and Independent.
AS for the editors of this paper they did not
volunteer in this undertaking. They will not
abandon it-at least, until il is manifest that they
are left TO contribute more Of money, of time
and of labor to its cause than any other men in
the South
PASSPORT TO FOREIGN TEAvELERs.--The
Washington Republic publishes the following
information prepared by the Department OF
State for the benefit of citizens who are going
abroad, and who may desire to be acquainted
with the course TO be pursued in order to obtain
a passport:
Citizens of the United States visiting foreign
countries are liable TO serious Inconvenience, i!
unprovided with autl ii, proof Of their nation.
al character The best security against this is a
passport from the Department Of State, certify
ing the bearer to be citizen of the United
States which passports are issued gratis, upon
application supported by proof Of citizenship.
tVhan Tho onpYcopt ia n poy;ro <.,yi,ou al fbe