The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-28

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| Upon their continuing, in any emergency, to ac t
with the same good sense, frmness. and patriot
ism, We place the most undoubtcd reliance.
| As Wings, we congratulate party and the
country on the entire fulhlment Of the Wing assu-
rances during the last Presidential canvass, that
Mr.. Fillmore would prove sound on the questions
| that affect southern safety. OF course, may
equally congratulate them the Justification Of
the injurious predictions and accusations 90 boldly
and indiscriminately made against him by his ad
yersaries: His patriotic performance of his high
duues. his wise, right, and firm conduct under
ny difficulty, have indicated faith in him; and
endeared him to all good citizens. In his hands
the Fugitive Slave law will be faithfully executed,
and all combinations and associations, from what
ever causes proceeding to defeat it, will be disap
pointed OF their purpose. We rejoice to believe that
in this suspicious result the efficacy of our Federal
Government to accomplish the purposes Of justice.
enforce obedience to its authority in ali things
fulfil the expectation of its founders, will be de.
| monstrated in a manner that cannot fail more
| strongly to cement the bonds Of the Union, and
convince its enemies Of the utter futility Of all at
tempts to accomplish its dissolution.
Already has theControversy concerning slavery
which. upon the disposal Of our acquisitions from
Mexico, assumed such portentous magnitude
ceased to create an exclusively sectional aspect
On our part, acquiescence in temperate councils
and submission to moderate demands have excited
to action the considerate and patriotic of our fell
low-ctizens Of the free States; and, accordingly,
we ind the existing contention removed from our
midst to other theatres more appropriate to the
mad fury that has produced and feeds IT,
If at once the entire body of the northern and
northwestern States-the great overruling mass of
their educated popuation-has not resumed its
duty, its Senses and the feelings which, in nobler
days, made US all one, North and South, in spite
Of slavery, as involuntary TO US now as then, there
is one grave excuse for that fact, which all should
recognise II ia this that wild political theories,
captivating long untried, abroad over the
entire civilized word-Red Republication and
Italy; Chartism in England. The sudden opinions
peculiar to the day all possess the singular char
acterstic OF being jealous and extreme, in proper
ton as they are new. Like chaf in every thing,
they are like it in this that they must blaze, in
order to burn at all. Ideal doctrines of liberty.
personal and political, as limitless mprescrip-
tiblo, prevail everywhere. From Europe, and
especially England, they had some time ago spread
to the northern States Of this Union; but merely
as speculation, idea, until demagogues-far
more criminal in this matter than fanatics
saw an opportunity of working to their per-
notions. They fattered, they heated them, and
drew them into politics. Parties were so nearly
on the equpoise, that the Liberty men," the Abo-
way. or course, a competition of both parties for
them began. With their political Importance
sweled their numbers and their ZEAL That zeal
Of course excited in an opposite quarter an opposite
feeling of tho South, which in its turn became
passion and mOnomania capable Of being made
to tell in elections; and demagoguism began to
cherish and to inhamc it, just as i was doing. un-
great part of the guilt Of these ultrasms, of these
dissensons, lies with politicians and parties. They
were one of the ills that are ever attendant upon
free institutions and governments of opinion The
wise will bear them with patience and treat them
with moderation as things which, being very hot,
must be allowed como time to cool again, even
when the pillows of political incendiarism have
been made to cease blowing the Goals under them.
COnfding, nevertheless, in the fraternal feelings
and sober patriotism of the masses Of our sister
States have little mistrust of the eventual ter
mination of the conflict; aud with hearty and
tire devotion to our institutions, witnessing the
gradual dissipation of all sectional influences,
cordially hail, brothers of one blood, the coming
restoration OF those friendly relations essential
to the safety of system and to the development
of its great capacities.
We would, at this point, gladly dismiss the sub.
ject of our Federal relations, and conclude this Ad
dress with brief remark or two upon topics more
intimately connected with our State concerns; but
the gravity Of tho consequences likely to flow from
the dissatisfied condition of of the States for
bids W. to pass that matter unnoticed. Having, in
regard to relations with the northern st ties,
exhibited sketch Of the Federal affairs latterng,
we would fain believe, to our national hopes, we
would rejoice to leave our fellow citizens TO its
has another side. truth requires that it should be
turned round and its darker aspect xposed to view
The apparent determination of Congress to use
the Federal power for the exclusion Of the peculiar
property of the southern States from the Terrific
tories acquired from Mexico, very naturally ex.
cited this sensbity of the people of those States
and carried some of them so far to assume an
attitude of threatened hostility to such action. The
passage, however, of the Compromise measures
suaged for the most part the sensibility, aud
duced amongst the people disposition to acqui-
esce in the adjustment, such as with the exception
OF South Carolina, brought about in the States
corresponding change of position. That State
alone rejects the proffercd Compromise; and, with
intentions hereafter to be explained, has provided
ern congress- recommended by the Nashville CON
vention. 1t is believed that such congress can
not at this time be assembled for we are not aware
that any other State haa taken steps to be repre-
sentcd i'll that body. In the utter abortion of that
scheme the country will be relieved from the dan
gerous consequences too likely to flow from it.
But at the same tme-as il anticipating the fail
ure OF the proposed congress-South Carolina sum-
some time yet to be fixed, in order 10 take into con-
sideration her relations with the Federal Govern
ment Elections to that convention have been held
throughout her limits Assured that in the present
condition OF our affairs there is nothing to justify
extreme measures on any part; and, trusting to the
good sense and patriotism of the people of that
State, we should apPrehend nothing really danger.
Gus to the Union, did not know that in the can
preceding the election, candidates before the
people openly avowed themselves in favor of seces-
sion and that the election resulted in the choice of
great majority of those who held that opinion.
The act for the appointment of her deputies to
the congress and for the assembling of her State
convention was formally communicated to the
other States, and was laid before the House of Del
egAtes at early day of the session of the General
Assembly of Virginia.
In the presence of these grave facts and OF others
around US, we are not at liberty to doubt the pur-
pose Of that State, or to shut eyes to the evil
dent dangers that threaten US from that quarter.
We do not deny that out of the acts of the Fede-
raj authorities the conduct Of other States causes
may arise to justify an aggrievcd State in resorting
to the strongest measures Of redress; for, as has
been well said, to deny this would be to question
the very title by which the people Of this country
hold their liberties. But we mean to say that a
cause sufficient to justify member of this Con-
federacy in withdrawing from it, and violating the
faith plighted to the rest, must be of such cnor-
NOUS magnitude, marked by such unqucstionable
aggravation, and Of such mperous necessity a. to
leave no doubt the mind Of an impartial public
Of its adequatencss In the present case the in.
Juries complained Of are not peculiar to the State
complaining, but shared in equal, ifnot supe-
rior, degree by the other southern States And
yet these States find in them no sufficient excuse
for disturbing the Union Indeed. the very acts
from which the injuries are supposed to proceed
the admission Of California State, and the set
Element OF the Texan boundary-derivcd their
lidity, in part, as the records Of Congress show.