The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-15
WASHINGTON CITY.s



our statements, adduced the evidence from their
central organ in this city, promising to follow il
up to-day with confrmatory proofs from the
New York Tribune.
Thelanguage of that print is so explicit and
direct, as to need no commentary-and IL speaks
the sentiment of the controlling power at the
North, as indicated by the recent senatorial cleo
tions in Massachusetts, Ohio, and New York
not TO mention the Christiana and Syracuse at
fairs, and other unmistakeable indications of the
popular sentiment. This sentiment, first pan
dered to by politicians for the promotion Of their
selfish ends, has grown too potent for their
control. They are now compelled to crouch
before the demon. they have invoked, and from
its masters have become its slaves. The press,
the pulpit the ballot box, all prove this and
such utterances as these we quote, show how
secure these plotters of mischief feel" smiling
ut the threats" of those whom they have found
such easy dupes. and hope to make as easy
victims.
The Southern compromisers will have it that
those healing measures" were in the nature Of
treaty between two contending powers. Well
here we have the Northern construction of the
terms of that treaty.
Be it remembered that the Tribune supported
and urged the passage Of the " compromise" as
the best the North could get at that time-then
listen to its language. Speaking of the position
of parties in New York, it says
aThe State conventions of the two great par.
ties met in Syracuse about the same time, and
each resolved to contest the election on issues
unconnected with slavery. They said nothing
touching that sore spot which any reasonable
stakeholder could object to and 10 their very
silence is made cavil and opposition! Whether
they will or no, the cotton interest of our city
insists that the people of this State shall resolve
and vote with reference to slavery at each eec-
ton. And thousands, who had congratulated
themselves on the prospect of a lull in SLAVERY
agitation" will find it revived by the action Of
the Union and Safety Committee.
Well, gentlemen! so be it, If you will have it
so. A few can excite a c0mmoion which ten
times their number cannot control. If the peo-
pie must pass upon the merits or demeriis of
slavery and ofslave. hunting on free soil at each
election, they will do SO but how long you will
O6 bduou0Q Will tuclt VcIuiCto, tltu6 Luu6t tcli.
That you will relish better the first than the
tenth decision which you thus force them to pro-
nounce, we have an abiding conviction.
For our own part living within the very
shadow of the temple wherein the god cotton is
worshipped, we defy the priests who oficiate at
the altar to do their worst. We tell them that
from the depths of our souls we hate and abhor
human slavery, and every institution, law or
usage, whereby the poor and feeble are racked
and dashed to make them minister to the pomp
and luxury Of the wealthy and powerful. We
tell them that we feel that the soil we tread 10
desecrated, the air we breathe polluted, by the
inhuman slave-hunts which an ill-consdered
compact, made when our fathers were themselves
virtually shareholders, compes US not to oppose
by any other than moral resistance. We tell
them that we icW not be instrumental in forcing
back into bondage those who have escaped there.
from but while we would dissuade all from vic.
lent resistance to any legal mandate, We will our
selves cheerfuly 60 to prison or bear any PEN
atty which our refusal may invoke, rather than
aid to consign an innocent fello w-being to per.
petual bondage. We tell them that very large
proportion of our fellow-citizens share our con-
victions and emulate our determination and that
the time s not distant when no man (and much
less woman) can be hunted like beast of prey
of no crime but that Of loving liberty. Gentle
men of the Union and Safety Committee if
you mean to silence all utterance adverse TO
slavery and slaveholding in the free States, your
task is hardly yet begun!
And in yet later editorial, speaks even more
peremptorily to this point:
Well Annexation took place, and war with
Mavtcn fnlloWad IA xVa ami eYutia N IN
had all along believed and predicted, while our
adversaries had ridiculed and derided our croak
ings. Mexico was successfully invaded and dis
membered, and this question WAS necessarily
forced upon the country: Shall this newly ac-
Quired territory be free or slave? We promptly
respond FREE, and for once manifest majority
of the American people stood with us The
South of course resisted, protested and threat
ened to dissolve the Union, il we Free-soilers
were enabled by Congress to rob them (as they
called it, of their full and equal light to carry
their property q. 9, slaves) into the newly ac-
quired territories. We smiled at their threats and
held on, and by doing, saped those territories
from the dissertation Of slavery. The soil of
California, down TO the line of 80 deg. was ex-
pressly consecrated to free labor; there WAS
then no Union Safety Committee TO deprecate
Southern vengeance and yet there WAS no Sc
cesel0n. were we reckless ana aggressive agf-
tators, Mr. Wood, in fighting the battle for
freedom You did not say so then dare you
say 30 now9 If not what becomes of your re-
cital of twenty-five years anti-slavery aggression
on the rights of the South
"Ah" says a cotton. broker, ait may have
been well enough to resist the extension of
slavery into new territories while that was a
practical question; but now that is settled
there is no more excuse for agtation-and il
must be PUT DOWN"
No, gentlemen you mis- read or mis-state
The question Of sldpery extension is NOT settled
II is present and potent today At this mo.
ment, California is convulsed with projected
dismemberment which ia TO cut of her south
orn half and make it a new territory--ye., and
a slave territory There are various pretexts
put forth; but slavery is at the bottom of the
agitation" The Southern propagandists have
never for one moment taken their eyes off Of
Southern California; they long ago determined
to have it for a slave State; and they have now,
thanks to the Union Safety Committee and kim
dred aUepcies Congress little likely to make