The southern press., 1851-04-09

therefore looked upon the great interest mani
tested for the passage of that law, as a para
sitica infirmity of paDic-struck statesmen, even
had its provisions conceded to the South some-
thing more than her acknowledged rights The
rgoicings of the populace over its passage,
shows how contentedly the human mind can
endure heavy INJURIES if they can but feel that
they have just escaped some still more aoeightier.
A subdued spirit is apt to be most grateful for
the smallest favors.
| The net spread for the South in the anoma-
lous State organization of California, and her
unrestricted admission as State Of the Union,
was daring exploit in the abolition progress.
| That bold stroke was a death blow to the
slavery institution. No one can now doubt that
the abolition of savery IN the States will soon be
attempted, or that it will be carried triumphant-
| ly. A government fnesse, equal to that which
concocted the California State constitution, to
march in frontsofthe colonization hobby, already
backed by your compromise" coadjutor, Mr..
Clay, will finish the job for us; and, Judging
from the strength exhibited of Southern attach
ment to the Union al all epenis, l am not sure
that the South will not quietly acquiesce and
relnquish her property as the best she can
do" to avoid the cutthroat alternative.
LIS uHHcu oOubh uiiShb have IfiPpcu tno COL
lossal stride Of Northern arrogance, in excluding
her people from the common territories, but
divided by the slavish elements of lingering, par
tizan feeling, and begued by the charm Of a
single wor,i, g Union" she closed he eye of her
vigilance, and must awake shorn Of the locks of
her strength. Now bound captive shut out
from the light of freedom and her just equality
in the confederation, she may choose, like
blind Sampson, between lingering life of SER
Mtude and the early struggles of death of vio-
lence; revenged only, it may be, by the COM
partnership in death Of those who we're her OPP
pressors. That the latter will be the South's
desperate alternative, can no more doubt than
that Sampson did grind in the prison-house of
the Philistines, and by desperate, self-destroy-
ing struggle, toppled over the temple of Dagon,
and persisted himself in the common ruin.
From close observation of the habits, tastes,
and prevailing sentiments of the people of the
free States, as exhibited among themselves and
upon their own soil, and, from what have wit
messed of the easy transformation of sentiment
and character when they come to reside among
us, / am satisfied that nineteen-twentieth of the
whole population are destitute of the least true
sympathy for the black race, whether bond or
free. It true, with some few, the abolition of
negro slavery is the ebulition Of a sincere, but
sickly and ignorant philanthropy Others are
prompted by a sheer feeling Of enry--regarding
Southern shareholders as lazy, dssolute, ndo-
lent race, living in luxury and ease upon the la
bors of their slaves. But another and more i'm
posing class entertain no sincere regard for either
the moral or religious aspects of the question,
caring little for the abstract principle involved,
and less about the happiness or misery of the en-
shaved. This class is the most noisy and most
dangerous-using the theme of abolition as a
hobby to gain credit with party.
1t is vain to reason with either class. The
only avenue to their conviction of the right or
wrong of their demands, is the medium which
extends to their pecuniary INTERESTS. Strike
that chord, and reason and common sense will
respond, and the fanatical distractions, now in
dulged in with so much puritanical pertinacity.
will be dissipated. Am ! asked hoto we could
effect this object! Ianswer, some of the states
men of North Carolina have hit the expedent
Whether the courage of their legislature equaled
the genius of the protector | have not heard
The truth is, we never needed congressional
action on this subject. A Southern State, single
handed, If need be, could protect itself. The
levy of an exhorbitant State tax on all articles
ofAmerican fabrics, with adiscrimination greatly
favorable (even to an entire exemption) to the
produce of all States which, by their legislation
or by their representation in Congress, should
treat our interests with fairness and Justice
this is the specific for Southern wrongs, and
would be an appeal stronger than all the con-
gressonal eloquence ever uttered, and far more
avaiing than all the bragadocia threats ever full
minated by Southern indignation. Some high
authorities regard the measure a constitutional
remedy, but suppose IL were questionable, must
the Southern people be the only sufferers for
conscience sake ? Must we bear the loss of our
property, and be degraded of our equality in the
confederacy, while those who infict the injuries
by palpable violation of the compact-and only
for the sake of maintaining an idle abstraction
are to be regarded pinks Of political purity! In
deed must zoe strain at gnats and be reckoned
grievous sinners, while fanatcal and perjured
Vermonters may gulph down camels, and be
models of patriotism for all that No, sir, re-
peat: the only way to recover or to retain our
just equality, is by adopting measures Of stern
retaliation II is not only expcdient, but just
and proper. II is the only mode Of redress left
for a hopeless minority. Let those who sickle
about the constitutonality Of such remedy,
consider that the parties TO be effected by il, are
those only who have openly repudiated the re-
straints of the compact by which our obligation
is made mutudl-that the obligation they fear
10 violate, is already violated by tie parties 20
be affected by our act-and that where an obi
cation is mutual between two parties, viola
ton Of il by one party destroys the mutually
and absolves the injured party. At any rate, az
helpless minority, this is the only power left
us to restrain reckless majority. Our appeals
TO their magnanimity have been fruitless. Our
threats have not deferred them; but this appeal
10 a.base passion is the rod 10 force them to the
path Of honor and duty
The Union-lovng party Of the South have, by
their misguided action. precipitated this crisis
upon the country. The responsibility for all
the results is theirs Posterity will foot the bill
In the very act Of quiet submission TO injuries,
wonder they are not ashamed to bluster now
Their Union conventions say boldly () that i'll
the Fugitive slave law is repealed or materially
modified, they will what! secede and dissolve |
the Unionl No. What thenl Will they null |
'lify' That is an odious name, and would dis
grace any State South Of Mason's and Dixons
line. What then, ! ask, will become of the
threats Of great Southern State convention 7 |
This party have no grounds left for any resent |
fna Mt In raot nj ,,.I.. Al.