Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-11-01


and truth disclosing influence of time. To fling
the guantlet while yet the civil controversy is un
decided; to mutny from and quit garrison with
in which you may really have more friends than
foes, is chivary of the kind painted by Cervantes
Napoleon, the restiye and intractable, owned and
inculcated, as to all projects, the wisdom of wait
ing ''till the pear is ripe and not initiate the
savage who cut down the tree to reach the fruit.
Southern men whose faith wavers in the meaning
and purpose of the Constitution as to State equali
ty and non-nterventon, naturally made testy
and choerc by their own msgivings; but it is the
province of conscious justice and perfect cOnvc-
ton to be patient and to abide the inevitable tri
umph of truth. Nor ought it to be forgotten that,
however, convenient and admissible in ordinary
parance the language is, there are under the Con-
stitution no such separate realities Southern
rights that an outrage upon reserved sovereign
ty on any subject is just as much an infringement
of my right in Pennsylvania yours in 1exas,
and that large portion of the people on this side
of Mason and Dixons line have been taught by
experience and reflection to know that their dan
gers in peace or in war have their sources IN the
North A citizen who truly estimates and loves
the Union, who is capable OF comprehending that
TO the domestic tranquility and enduring freedom
OF the American people, 1t Is political necessity,
feels sensitvely blow inflicted upon one great
interest or region as upon another, upon the fish
cries. the navigation Of the Mississippi, the liberty
of the SEAS the freedom of the press, the local
sovereignty over soil and slavery. The right to
fish is no more Northern than Southern: the right
which was in momentary jeopardy at Ghent, Of
exclusive use of the waters of the Mississippi, is
no more Western than Eastern and the right moi
to be impressed by British naval audacity was
cherished alike in the fields of Kentucky and on
the Atlantic coast and so tell you that the right
of each State to be accounted an equal of every
o. -, u. l.,
her inhabitants the enjoyment of as ample and
unrestricted scope for the exercise of their minds
and means as can be secured elsewhere, is not
sectional, not a Southern, but common union or
constitutional light. Such l am sure was the de-
sign OF all those who master workman built on
the basis of the confederation, the United States;
such believe TO have been the sense of those
who after the most widely popular forms of con-
suItation accepted the structure and entered upon
its occupancy and such mast be, for the truth is
mighty and will prevail, the ultimate Judgment
even Of those who, with the bigotted frenzy Of
crusaders would attain what their delirium de-
ceiyes them by depicting as the "will of God"
And now, my dear sir, having fear, tedously,
and mpeEIectly met your comprehensive ques
tons, let ne advert to your intmation that you
desire to publish my answer Ii is unpleasant TO
be thought shy OF avowing ones sentiments, but
it is perhaps more unpleasant to be obtruding, as
if important opinions which may be esteemed
worthless, and which are liable to be at once stig
matzed as symptoms Of the prevalent epidemic
for candidateship. have scrupulously abstained
since quitting the Vice Presidency in 1848, from
invoking political notice, and this upon variety
of motives, some of domestic duty, some distaste
for the implied competition, some of different re-
luctance, To seem, by even shade, to differ from
ADLER and better men, and some from a sedative
suspicion that matters would in all likelihood roll
on TO their destination quite as well without as
with me. Unless, therefore, you deliberately con-
clude that the ideas in this letter such may
be, Wi.houta particle OF reference to their bearing
on myself, substantially useful to the country or
the Democratic party, l hope you will abstain
from any sort Of PRONUNCIATION, Owing you re-
turn for ohe visit which you kind enough to
pay in May last, | shall feel perfectly satisfied
If what have written be acceptable you alone,
and convince you how truly and respectfully l am,
dear sir, your friend and obedient servant,
G.. M. DALLAS.
To the Hon CITY NJ. BRYAN