The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-03

New Yosk. January 30, 1850.

""'"S "Vsv P0Sso"tsouS, ana TIE deep LAID
widely extended conspiracy Of the British gov
crnInent and The American Abolilionists auains
the repose and, indeed, existence of this Unior
is gradually developing itself in all lis lnagni
tude. It is not alone the Government of thu
United States that il arrayed against the rights
Of the South, and that of England and France
the question OF slavery is. it seems, about to BE-
incorporated with the law Of nations, and to be.
come subject Of negotiation between America
and Europe. The local laws aud regulations
adopted by the Southern States for their secu.
rity against incsndiaries and disturbors of their
domestic peace, nre about to be assaulted from
abroad, MS we'll " at home, on the ground Of be-
ing not only violations of the law Of nations
but IA incompatible with treaty stipulations;
and the period is approaching when the holders
of slaves in the United States will in all proba.
biity be called upon to defend their rights, moi
only against their countrymen, but the world
The prorfs of this are daily developing them
selves, in the uniform tone of European litera-
ture, and tho universal language of tho public
press, most especially in England and France,
which, however it may differ on other subjects,
unites in the most bitter denunciations Of slave
ry, and resorts to any species Of fasehood and
exaggeration to invest it with imaginary horrors.
This unanimity bespeaks settled purpose, an
organized plan; and that its object is the United
States, and they alone, is apparent from their
being singled out from the rest of the world, as
the peculier objects ofcaumny and denuncaton
The crusade Of philanthropy thus organized in
Europe. is not against slavery, but liberty and
If the former We're to be abolished Tomorrow,
the tide of obloquy would still continue to flow
with the same force against the character, the
government and institutions of our country
Some other pretext would be found for caumny
simply because it is necessary for the white
slaves of Europe to be made to believe that
there are in the United States millions of people
in far worse condition than themselves Thus
the freedom OF the white men ia contrasted with
the slavery of the blacks, in, ested with magna-
~ horrors, and the white slave of Europe be-
comea in some measure reconciled to his own
condition BY contemplating the phantom which
has been conjured up to frighten him into sub
mission to his own bondage, or reconcile him to
its continuance.
have been led into these reflections, by see-
ing the proceedings of the French National As
scmbly, as quoted ia the Southern Press of the
LIST of January, which pretty distinctly FORE
shadows what is coming. 1t will only be neces-
sary to refer TO Two or three passages, one 10.
dcating the utter ignorance of the speaker, N.
Schwelcher, Of the nature of this Government !;
the other to show to what have previously re
terred M. Schwelcher said, The was fully aware
that the various States Of the American Union
had the power of enacting whatever laws they
deemed most advantageous for their private in
tercsts but also that Congress had The privilege
Of Matching opsr such ldps, and in certain Eases
Of obtaining their modification II thai course
wouldseem fitting" This is certainly very clear
! exposition Of the constitutional powers of the
States and the General Government. But let
that pass there is probably not a man in the
knows more Of the governments and institutions
Of England and France, than their statesmen do
Of those of the United States. Their Ignorance
is really laughable; and their geographical
knowledge of this continent is about equal to
that Of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister
to George the Third, who is said to have ex.
pressed to His Majesty his delight at having
just discovered that Cape Breton was an Island.
Monsieur Schwelclcr concludes his exposition
of the elective State powers and functions of the
and general Government by moving that The
National Assembly calls The attention Of the Cor
ernmenl TO The present legislation Of the United
States, relative TO negroes, and men of color in
general dc" He was followed by The Minister
of Marine, NJ. Ronair Dessoses, who said, He
co,ld assure the honorable gentleman ,oho had just
spoken, and The assembly, that as 10 persons Of
color in The French fleet, the French gore, nment
wcre fully deie, mined 10 hare them treated yiM re-
spect IN every part Of The globe" General De
Iahitte, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sid The
French government had done all il could mith The
Federal Congress 10 surmount The III effects of the
laps complained of and phich loere in fact moth
iny less Than barbarous and savage. Boih Eng
land and France had been unremiuing in their et.
forts for thai purpose, but hitherto pifhom effect
lie could, hoperer, declare that they acould mol
cease their erertions 10 lead 10 the abrogation oj
enoctments contrary 10 every ia,o Of nations"
Thus We that the local and municipal
regulations which any State--providcd it is
a slavehoIding State may deem necessary for
the preservation Of internal tranquility and or
der and the safety Of its citizens, are to come
under the law of nations, aud be modified to
suit the delicate sensbties of England aud
France These internal regulations have ex-
listed for many years, but it is only since the
late grand ebuIition Of abolition, that they have
become identified with the national honor and
interests Of England and France The finger
of abolition is in tn . and We here plainly see
| the fruits of that REASONABLE union conaum.