The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-23


An able writer in the Mobile Advertiser has
given series of articles on State rights and
State remedies3 which, from the mastery man
ner in which these subjects are handled, must
do good service in Alabama. We take the fol-
lowing extract from No. 5 Of the series, and
commend it to our readers
8 The late Compromise measures as they
have been called, are unequal in their opera
ton, oppressive in their tendency, and fatal in
their effects to the peace and harmony of the
country. They have weakened the bonds that
unite us, and have sown broadcast through the
land the seeds Of dissatisfaction, disunion, and
dissolution. Instead Of measures Of peace, they
are, in fact, measures OF discord and collision.
The South, on the passage of these aggressive
acts and the indications OF public feeling at the
North on the slavery question, would have been
ACQUITTED before the worlds tribunal, had she
with one voice and with one spirit demanded
resolutely and boldly, equality in the Union,
or Independence out of it, But she failed to
do her duty. In the very crisis Of her political
existence, she temporized and looked to the
North for Justice and protection. We now
stand ito use the bold and energetic language Of
the distinguished and patriotic Troup) stripped
and desolate, under feryid sun and upon gen.
erous soil, a mockery to ourselves, and the very
contrast Of what, with little frmness and FORE
sight, we might have BEEN | hope all is not
vet lost. The spirit Of our forefathers has not
entirely died out 1T still beats il manysa pa
triotic bosom 1t will show itself in the day Of
trial. That day will surely come. Itmay be
near at hand. What is our duty?
g 1t is the duty of the South, at every hazard
ard to the last extremity, to maintain her instr
tutions and her equality in the Union. II for
this it be necessary to assert her sovereign
rights, il should be done if the consequences be
a dissolution Of The Union The responsibility
of the act will rest on the North ard not on the
South Mr.. Jefferson, in the evening of an
eventful life, while contemplating the encroach-
ments of the general government, and estimating
the value of the Union, said that its dissolution
might be considered as among the greatest ca
amities which could befall us-but not the
greatest. There is yet one greater, submission
to government of unlimited powers
.If the slaveholdng States, acting togethe-
withdraw from the confederacy, or one State in
the exercise of her sovereign power secede from
the Union, the general government has no right
b.; the employment OF its military and naval
forces, to prevent the act Ours is a Union oi
The bonds that unite US are moral and physical
ones. They are cords of affection and not the
chains of terror, force, and oppression. These
States can never be held together by the sword
and the bayonet- Whenever the attempt is
made, the Union is dissolved, and civil war vii
drench the land with blood. This is certain
The South will never stand by and see hel
sons, defending her rights, her firesides, and hel
affairs, struck down by the hand of power, and
the sword Of oppression. She will mingle ir
the strife, and battle manfully for her existence
~ he fate of slavery itself will depend upor
the result of the conflict Our subjugation-
the subjugation of one State--strugging 10 sucf
cause and for such rghts-wil sound thu
knel of slavery, and give freedom to every
slave in the land. Who doubts this? Wher,
then, if this struggle is forced on us, will thu
Southern man be found You will find him
to use the language of Mr.. Webster, changing
! the North for the South)-'true to the South
because all his sympathies are with the South
| He was born at the South--educated at tn,
Southland has lived all his days at the South
/ He knows FIVE hundred Southern men to ON
Northern man. His affections, his children. hi
hopes, his everything, is with the Sonlhv AM
1 by the blessings Of G ID, he will discharge hi
duty to the South, in the day of her trial an
PERIL"