The southern press., 1851-11-04
From tho .Nbrtk Carolt,sian.
CenStas Of lS5O--Thc Balance OF Pewcr.

Prom tho sTOrth Cafo1tstd"'
Census Of lssO-Ths Balance OF Pswer.
The total population of the United States, as
shown by the census of 1890, Is 23,297,49o.
OF this number 1886 ,27l, reside IN the free
States and 6,62l ,227, in the slave States. The
free inhab btants of the free States number 49,
646, l52-the free inhabitants of the slavehoid
ing States number 6,44l,757. From comPari-
son Of these respective statements, we perceive
that the number Of free people In the Northern
States is more than twice as great as the number
of free people in the slayeholding States. The
disagreeable reflections which this fact taken in
connection with the history of parties in this
country during the last few years, is calculated
to suggest are only slightly alleviated by recur-
renee TO that feature Of the Constitution OF the
United States by which three-iitths of the slave
population is represented in one Of the houses
of Congress. For after we have marshalled all
our strength we are still in minority, both in
the Senate and in the House of Representatives
In the House of Representa- yes Of the present
Congress, the members of which are apportioned
among the several States on the basis of the
census Of 1850, the slavehodng States, not in
cluding Delaware, have 80 members, the free
States l43 members--the whole number being
233. In the House Of Representatives of the
next Congress- the members Of which are ap
portioned by the act Of May 23d, 1850, on the
basis of the census of 1850, the Southern States,
excluding Delaware, will have 8S representa-
tves, and the Northern States las, the South
loosing tioo members, and the North gaining tloo,
which makes the majority Of Northern votes
exactly four greater in the House of Represen-
tatves Of the next Congress than in the present.
And when it is reconcied that this result is
brought about without any increase in the num-
Der of representatives, it becomes startling
fact.
The balance of power is on the side of the
North and what is more the dispropOrtion be-
tween the representation of the two sections in
Congress is decennially increasing in favor OF
the North The attempt has been made by the
opponents Of the institution of slavery to con-
strue this circumstance into an argument that a
people without that institution are, other things
being equal, more prosperous than people with
it. We protest against any such Inference
When it IL recollected that the Ordinance of
1887, and the Missouri compromise appropriated
exclusively to freesoism the great Northwest
lone of the very best regions Of country, in an
agricultural point of view, on which the sun
shines--and containing, by the census of 1850
population, to speak in round numbers, Of
5000, 900; and when it is recollected further
that the apathy Of Southern merchants has per-
mitted the cities Of the North to monopolze the
importing trade, while Southern cities have Ian.
guished for the want Of that very trade; when
it is recoIlected further that the history of the
government of this country exhibits course of
legislation generally if not uniformly in favor of
the North--taking Southern farmers to enrich
the manufacturers Of the North, and consequent
ly greatly increasing the population of the latter
section by building up manufacturing villages
and when it is recollected finally that immense
numbers of immigrants are arriving monthly at
the Northern cities, and that by far the greater
portion Of these continue to reside in the free
States, we say when all these facts are recol-
lected, the proportionaby greater increase of the
population of the North than that of the South
may be accounted for without any reference to
the institution of slavery.
But our object at this time is not to vndcate
the institution of slavery, or to show that it is
calculated to advance the prosperity of the
South We wish to remind the people of the
South that they are loosng ground, and that the
North is gaining on them in political power;
that unless something is done to prevent it, the
time is not far distant when the representatives
OF the free States will be able to muster two
thirds vote in Congress, and thus frustrate the
executive veto itself, should it be interposed to
arrest the progress of aggression. How far of
The number Of members of the House of Repre-
sentatives is fixed at 233. OF these the North
will have l45. Eleven more added will give
majority of two thirds The North may then
run rough--ho over the executive vetc, should
it be interposed, or propose amendments to the
Constitution ad h6tum, yea and adopt them
too, when by the admission of free States car
ried out of the great Northwest, three fourths of
the States of the Union shall be enlisted under
the banner of freesoilism. We do not say that
this state of affairs is nigh, "yea, even at your
DOORS" but il will be brought about sooner or
later, unless the latent energies Of the South
shall be reused into action. And what should
be done! This ia the vital question. And we
wish that the attention Of ststesmen at the
South were more intensely directed TO It's solu
ton even though it might be to the neg.ect of
questions of a party character. Is this com
paratiye weakness incurabe? And must the
South, like the imbecile Musseltnan, who sees
danger, but has not the energy to escape from
it, cry God IL great the will of God be done,H
and make no effort to regain her lost positions
The South has decided by overwhelming
popular majorties against any political treat
nent of the disease of the body polite at pres
emit has decided to abide by the recent COM
promise measures enacted by Congress With
nat decision we are content Dut III does not
ollow that because one course of treatment is |
elected, we must give up the patient as lost |
We do not hope by any suggestion Of our own, !
low or hereafter, to throw much light upon !
his difficult subject If by exhib ting the |
langer which meances US, we shall succeed in |
Ealing the attention of wiser heads than our
,wn to the necessity Of averting it, our object
will be accomplished. IL may be said that we
ire sounding the tocsin Of alarm rather late in |
n the day, and that the country has passed the
,risis. The agitation through which the coun.
ry is passing we consider the result in great |
Measure of past acts Of aggression. We are
,ndeavoring now, forgetting for time the in
ures already received, to remind our people
hat there are other and yet greater evils in
'tore for them, unless they use the means to
vert them.
BY the very Constitution of our government,
is the great element Of political
power. The united, determined and unwaver
ing policy of the Southern States ought to be |
directed towards the regaining of their lost
power. And as most important step towards
is attentainment we consider the establishment
,f direct trade between our Southern ports