The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-12

.s.,as u II r. ~ El \ s n:
sss,s; ~ y s'sssssss q sssisss3 sssiss Z
dlu tjess ~ tkaa who npnaposa III
-! n y il 49, pen Who haveae
Slo1 ~ n the(r iseoxsjasssts rulers, ~
~ .hdsa. there l. noshing sore hate
f}p Snose saiooas, than the frequent intsrfsr-
e1 k1veFnmsnts, 10 their business This,
h&1py& tAsy cannot always prevent and there
fore their assscity il ever on the alert, to detect
and guard against movements which, either
tA9eugh rashDess 0r ignorance, national legisla-
ture sometimes contemplate. Invested or fixed
eopltai u always sure TO feel the first blow. W.,
A u 70 this observant class Of men that we now
address ourselves. Ii il 70 those skilful and
tbpwehu9l merchants, whose conduct, example.
- ppinipns are Of such immense value 70 Ne
p11bliq, that we now address ourselves, believing
uAnoe sincerely that it il no time to hesila'e,-no
tins 10 "palter in douhle sense" with the DIFF
1eahiss which are now at hand. We are no
aMrnists, but we believe the day and hour are
nigh which are 70 upheave the constitutional foun
dskieps of thu country.
But NV days since. and alta public entertain
ment It which the legislature Of this State were
guests, and their great leader was present, and su-
dihle, il was announced that in the course OF an,
other generation. the United States would extend
aou&hward 70 the Isthmus Of Panama, and there
would then be neither master or q slave. lhis
oentinent was received with applause, ana VIII
70 forth TO our Southern brethern as the voice OF
fha Empire State. What effect this will have on
those portions of tbs confederacy IN the South
which have thus far remained loyal to the union'
ssme can alone determine. We DO not pretend 70
fnow even what an amount Of disgust such an
syowal may produce in the minds Of our South
r., ff;ends and correspondents. What we seek
"a roaka the subject Of the earnest consideration
II ar readers il tho fact, that South Carolina at
this moment il surely preparing Tor secession ron
the Union, and whether she succeeds or not, the
atisunpt will be death-blow TO the permanence,
interes,s and the honor Of the Union. This is the
point we should bear in view. II is of no conse-
nuence whether South Carolina withdrdws peace
Xttv. or il compelled by force to remain, the fatal
blow will be struck. The American eagle VIII re.
csiye its death wound from an arrow poised
With feathers from its own wing. Mr.. Seward
encs with the domestic institutions Of the South
viii elevate him to the Presidency, without much
r;sI to the Union, and that the Northern States
will finally Weld under the pressure OF Norihern
opinious and political necessity But, In ourJudg-
uent, he and all his friends err in this view OF the
subject, and that unless they are undeceIved' or
coerced by the public voice to cease their danger
ous agitation, crisis is at hand which will IN
volve US all in ruin. II the agtators contemplate
this al possible consequence OF their agiiauon,
and vet determine to go on, If they think me
Uniou 10 OF no value, in COMPARISON win tne
succses Of an abstract benevoence, to use the
mildeut tsrn, (for practically nothing better can
b expected, Peven if the question of slavery
leads TO dissolution Of the Union then no pun
ishment can be TOO severe no axe too sharp for
those willing traitors to their country. What can
the Southern slave gain by the separation Of the
Southern States from the Northern' Or what
the Northern blacks by such an occurrence 2
Neither religion, nor humanity, nor white men or
black, will be benefited In the slightest degree
by any such catastrophe.
But our object is to show that the danger Is
more imminent than has been supposed II Will
not REQUIRE any concert Of action at all, IN the
slavehoiding States, to dsmember the Union, or
TO destroy it's credit or commerce. South Carroll
m II competent TO do all this mischief herself,
and il is this which our hot-headed agtators will
fully overlook.
This point which they overlook, is precisely the
one which we wish to bring before the readers OF
the Dry Goods Reporter, for the purpose Of Undue
ing them TO action, before it is too late. Inc ac'
of rupture, 'tenth or ten thousandth, breaks tht
chain alike"
A magazine may be exploded by single spark
a ship may be lost by means of single leak. The
Union will be endangered if not destroyed ny any
resistance on the part Of South Carolina.
Because, the first act of secession disorganizes
the whole theory of cur government. In this CASE
it will be the act ola sovereign State; 1t will no
be Shay's revolt, nor whiskey instruction. i
not only, but TO the whole world, and it will bt
couched in such language, andbs founded on such
show of reasoning, will have effect, not only
on large body Of Americans, with similar feel
ings, and smarting under similar provocatlons
but on those nations Of Europe that have long de-
sired our downfall.
II will at once be seen that there is no enduring
tie among the States and that their perpetuity is
at an end A howl Of demoniac Joy will be heard
throughout the pandemonums Of tyranny at the
downfall ola repvblc, destroyed by it's own IN
ternal discords, and which otherwise could have
maintained itself against world IN arms.
The United States will longer present to
them the imposing attitude of powerful and con
solidated people, but cluster Of broken and dis
united provinces, jealous of each other, and fall
ing victims in turn to the SUPREMACY of the strong
est for the time. This struggle, commenced by
this solemn act Of sec ession, which will dethron'
the Constitution, and invite foreign nations to tht
plunder of our commerce and soil, will b,
prolonged by the active opposition Of the national
Government, in arms, under such circumstances
probably controlled by the fanatical politicians
who have produced this disorder We see how
personal fears, or personal ambition have nlread
80 clouded the vision, or parailzed the energies o
the administration, that it has acted for the Unior
only by empty and unenforced proclamations
But from this position, it will be necessarily drIv
en-. when the legislature Of South Carolina at
teu,pts the collection Of the imposts The gener
al government having posse ssion of the forts, II
the harbor Of Charleston, and navy to supper
them. will of course remove its custom-house ia
the forts. and there demand its duties. The re
cepts Of the United States collector will avail thu
importers nothing, on reaching the Charleston
wbsrves Duties viii again be demanded, nnt
the inevitable consequence will be the utter ruiz
81 the trade OF South Carolina, or an appeal by
the State to the great European powers, ga,
France and England, TO protect their own ships
when trading with sovereign and Inde penden
State. It will not be long under such an invita-
ton, before conflict takes place, costing us on
best blood and treasure, exciting every man il
the country to the highest pitch, and drawing
forth the now restrained sympathes Of othe
Southern States.
Without contemplating this probable termna
ton Of such conflict 70 the happiness Of tbs peo
ple Of THE country for ever, let see what efec
this would have commercial prosperity
The national credit would be struck down a
once. Our domestic credit would succunb. Wha
foreigner or what American capitalist would car
about holding public stocks Of any kind, whe
the fabric which supports them was giving way
A general panic would pervade the country an