Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-04-19
Rantnul 0f MaSshchu eits.

er,t;o1 from the faint of Aboltionism To have
endeavored to make this impression would have
been as unfair and dishonest as the course OF most
of the Southern whig presses which hesitate at
nothing to keep up their national party fellowship.
We too. have a desire to maintain the ascendon-
cy of the whole party, but not at the expense Of
the South. We have freely admitted, upon all
occasions, the unsoundness OF many northern dem
ocrats upon the slavery questions and have lost
no opportunity of warning the people Of the South,
Of the dangers which menace our institutions ; but
Of the same time we have failed to observe that
tbe democracy, of the North, as body, have
boon eounder and truer to their constitutional obi
cations than tie whig party. The political histo-
~ Of the country for the last four years proves
his bevond doubt Without the conservative
influence of a resolute band of Northern demo-
Gratis who brested the storm of aboIltonism the
WRONGS which have been inflicted upon the South
ern States mioht have been ten-fold less endura-
bic.
The above remarks have been suggested on a
pcrusal Of the resolutions introduced by Robert
Rantou-the late United States Senator from Mas
sachusetts-at recent public meeting in that State
1t will be remembered that he accepted the seat,
although but ten days remained Of the term for
which he was elected. He did not define his po-
sition while in the Senate, but has done so since
his return home, as we learn from the Boston
Post
"MR. RANToUL's PosITIoN DEFINED.-The meet
inc held in Lyceum Hall, Lynn, yesterday after
noon, called for the ostensible purpose Of anordIng
Mr. Rantoul an opportunity TO address an assem-
bly, of the voters OF the second congressional dis
drict proved TO be out and out free soil and an
ti-fugitive slave law affair. Mr.. Robinson of Mar
bIehead presided, and made Sumner coalition
address upon taking the chair and was followed BY
Mr. Rantoul, who commenced his remarks by sta
ting that the meeting called at his suggestion.
Having said that he wished TO man, who had here
tofore voted for him, 10 vote so again, under any
misimpresson of his views upon the most exciting
question of the day, he read the following resolu-,
tons against the fugitive slave law, and supported
them in a speech OF nearly two hours length:
'''R esoEcsd, That the Constitution of the L. s.
has not conferred upon Congress the power TO en-
act any law authorizing officers OF the [. States
to determine the slavery freedom Of persons
found within the territory of any State, and 10
convey them out of the State wherein they are
found to be held as slaves in another State.
:, .''Resoiced That no person in any State of tie
Union can be lawfully deprived of his libeaty with
out due process Of law, which process IN the cause
of an alleged fugitive from service in q suit at
common law, wherein the fact, whether said fugi-
tive lawfully held to service in the State from
which he Is alleged 20 have escaped shall be deter
mined by trial by jury.
"ResoLgcd, That such trial by jury should pre-
ing him, Of such alleged fugitive and should b.
had in the vicinity where The said alleged fugitive
Is found.
'I3esoIeea That in the determination Of tie
question Of liberty, all Prescriptions OF law AM
fact are and ought TO be in favor Of liberty.
Resotred, That the Fugitive Slave Law enac-
ted by the Congress lately expired, CONTRACTING
these principles, is unjust, unconstitutional in der
ogauon, and ought TO be speedily and forever re
pealcd.
CAT the close of his remarks. Mr.. Rautoul read
the resolutions again, and re-aifrmed, with -rea.
emphasis, his entire and unqualified concurrence
II them. The resolutions was then adopted by
nearly unanimous vote and in like manner il
was voted to support MIR. RaBtoul at the election
to be held on Monday next.
: Thus it seems that the fugitive slave law IS to
be defeated on the preteBse of State right to de
fend the persons of is inhabitants by Jury trial
We confess that when we first saw tie announce
ment that Mr.. Rantoul had abandoned the posi-
ton assumed by our democratic friends at the
} North, We could scarcely credit it. His passed
career had induced us to believe him incapable of
such treachery. But such is the fact, and We re
gard 1t as another alarming sign of future trouble.
The bleeding wounds are not healed in spite of
the nostrums of constitutional compromises. To
what destiny tending when the soundest
northern democrats are embracing whig and aboli-
ton hereses can on Y be revealed BIZ the future
The tide of tanatciSm must be swelling when such
2 staunch supporter of Southern Rights as Robert
Rantoul is drawn headlong into the current.
The people of the South should not be lulled in
I to fatal apathy by the comparative calmness of
the political clements. 1t is but the silence which
f precedes activity. We are no aarmist, but we
caution our friends not to be deceived There will
yet be work to be done, and a demand for the de-
votion and energy of every true Southerner. 1t
will be no easy to task defend our ghts against as
saults of northern abolition with its hvdraheads.
t With the general hostility of the whig party of
that section, which is to all ntents and purposes,
thoroughly saturated and infected with freesoisn
the open and rabid warfare of the Abolitionists
proper, and the assistance of craven democrats
the South will have its hands full enough. Let Us
r resolve to be equal to the mcrgency.-NashrIs
-dnlercdR
E a WORD IN SEAsoN.-When Cotton commands
pretty fair price, it is now doing planters are
very apt to so in for large cotton crop, even at
t the expense of the crop. This is certainly
oad policy For experimental especially that
OF the last year or two-proves very clearly, that
e snort cotton crops bring more money than full
large ones But cotton has not commanded for
years past-nor is it at all probable, that it will
e command again very soon--a price sufficiently
o hgh 10 justify planters in increasing the cotton
: crop at the expense of the corn crop In fact we
, doubt II planter promotes his interest
n however much cotton he NOV -,