The southern press., 1851-04-11
F+em u. Wmrs,.soa (Ys,) Flse n "a

F4sm ths Wssrs,toa (ye,) Fiss sf 98s
Virginia Resolutions aouth Carolina.
Our Virginia Legislature bas besn passing reso-
lutions on the subject OF the compromise and the
slavery question. and the present attitude Of
South Carolina We have not sympsthized
with the disposition TO talk" on the general
question involved in the late compromises. We
are acquiescing ia the compromise, and see no
earthly necessity for eternally proclaiming the
fact. We are not Of those who see in the pas
sage of that system of measures any ground of
exutation on the psrt Of the South. We be-
ieve the South was badly treated in that matter
We are at the same time warmly attached 10 the
Union of these States, and desire its perpetua-
ton. We are not, however, Of those who pro-
claim that they will stand by the Union under
all possible circumstances" To take such posi-
ton is at once to surrender at discretion and de-
liver ourselves bound handand foot to the enemy.
We cherish the rights Of the States even more
dearly than we do the union of the States, and
we are for adhering to the Constitution as the
basis Of both
With these views we are opposed to this per-
petus building of "platforms" on which to
stand. The only platform we should recognize
Is the Constitution. Ii that be violated in letter
or spirit, as we believe was the case in the COM
promise, then it ID for us of the South TO say
whether the encroachments OF the North are OF
such magnitude and practical evil in their effects
upon us as to justify us in incurrng the evils at
tending n disruption of the Union, or If not, then
what course short OF that we should pursue.
This question is one for ourselves alone. The
North has nothing to do with it, and we should
not say word to her about it.
In regard TO the compromise, the attitude OF
the South is unmistakaby that of any remon-
strance, but sullen acquiescence. True, there
are some who praise the compromise for itself,
and others who are for disunion on account OF
it, but to the mass it is disagreeable subject,
and their sullen acquiescence is accompanied
with a sulen silence. We humbly submit that
this is much wiser than to be forever talking
about it.
We differ from those VINO think that this
compromise is to be dove Of peace to the
country on the slavery question. Abolitionism
in its very nature is aggressve~and restless
The check it received by the passage of the
Fugitive slave bill and the territorial bills only
exasperate it. Those partial checks it would
never have received but for the provisions OF the
Constitution, to which the South appealed, and
in the name of which she demanded justice.
Let not the South compromise away the com
promises Of that instrument in which alone lies
her strength. Let her appeal to nothing less.
Let it, and the compromise Of 1850, or the
Missouri compromise, or any other compromise
be our rallying point. In our humble opinion,
the South need scarcely hope for undisturbed
repose, not at least until fools and madcap theo-
rsts are all dead; nor will she even enjoy safety,
except by standing to her arms, and boldly
maintaining her constitutional rights Again
we say, the South should build no other plat.
form. When we talk to the North, it should be
in one word: "The Constitution" When we
undertake to tell them what violations of that
instrument we will submit to, we may rest as
sure that they will profit by the imitation and
occupv every outpost they may.
We by no means maintain that for every yo-
laton of our rights, disunion should be the
remedy. In the endless diversties of honestly
entertained opinions on all subjects, we should
act fooshly if we make no allowance of this
sort. The remedy too should be graduated to
suit the evil Secession in the political, like am
putation in the surgical world should be resort
ed to only when the evil is beyond endurance,
and other remedies have all failed. There are
many remedies short of secession, all of which
should first be tried. The example of our revo-
utionary ancestors is a wise one for imitation.
AS to the compromise, we do not think the
South in justice to herself ought to fly to disu-
Mon on account Of it. Mr. Scott of this coun-
ty said lately on this subject that if he believed
it was insulting and degrading to the South, he
would split the Union into thousand fragments
sooner than submit to it, We assent to no such
fustian. This rhodomontade may serve to swell
period and produce a sensation among the
loungers in the galleries but it is unbecoming
a statesman, especially one who claims to be
pre-eminently friend of the Union. We should
not suffer ourselves to be thus taunted into dis
union.
Unfortunately for his consistency, Mr.. Scott
speaks great deal and against the violent doc
trnes of this bold flourish, we appeal to the dis
creeter remarks contained in another and more
memorable speech of his, delivered in the year
1919; speech in which we have found but lit
tie to commend. There speaking of the anti
cpated passage of the Wilmot Proviso, he says
Il desire to condemn it. No one here condemns
it more strongly than do" And again he says
he cannot but regard the Wilmot Proviso as
insulting to the South, and manifesting disre-
gard of that brotherly feeling which ought to
characterize the people of this Union. ShA /
rouM mol fly 10 arms about H." An insult if
submitted to is a degradation Still Mr.. S.
would not fight about it, because he thought no
great practical evil was involved. We think he
was then right We believe he is now wrong
In tne Affairs OF men, common prudence ana
proper regard for our own peace and welfare,
sometimes require US to temporise with the
wrong doings of others. The infirmties of hu-
man nature render it necessary, else the world
would be scene of confusion, violence, and
bloodshed We owe it not to the wrong docr,
but we owe it to ourselves not TO plunge into
great evils to resent small ones
While we may believe the compromise to be
insulting and degrading to us, the majority of
those who passed it, we believe did not so con-
slider or design it. Nor would we split the
Union on a question upon which the South is
so much divided, and which has perhaps inflicted
no serious practical evils. We would meet ab-
straction with abstraction We would warn
the majority that we would not allow it to be
plead against us rs precedent While we sub
mitted, we would not assent We would meet
insult with defiance. We would denounce it.
and demonstrate and protest against it. And if
their abstraction should assume the form Of
practical measure, attended with serious pract-
cal oppression and degradation, it would then
l., rl,- Co.. At.