Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-03-01
THE PROSPECT BEFORE Us.

The existence of general discomfort through
the Southern States founded upon the concessions
tothe overbearng and aggressive spirit of the North
people in the Legislation of Congress, relative
to the Pacific territories, is undeniabe.
Some division exists here, to the nature of the
remedy to be employed, and some think that pa
tent submission is the best remedy but vast ma
jority hold that the Southern States have endured
great indignity and injustice at the hands of Con
gress.
The Southern States in their material condition
well situated. Their industry is amply reward
ed. Economy has relieved their people from debt
Loyalty to government, obedience to laws, care for
State interests, attention to local improvements,
have stimulated the growth of all their domestic in
tereSts. Averse to rash innovations and radi-
cal changes in their institutions, they have been
cOntented with a steady and gradual progress
There nothing to disturb their peace but the in
termeddling and contumeous treatment they have
experienced in reference to their social institutions
The history of the past will show that the North
ern States for years past have manifested unfrend
ly purposes, while the Southern States have borne
with forbearance, reiterated expressions and inju-
rles. These have become of character so serious
involve to such a degree the honor, security and
peace of the Southern States-that the most torpid
OF their citizens have become anxious to ''the
prospect before u.s. Our object is to examine the
nature of the evils which beset u.s. and the magni-
tude of the dangers by which we are environed.
SLAVERY THE FORMATION THE CONSTITUTION
THE UNITED STATES.
The mighty influence which the existence of sla-
very operates upon the organization of State, is
discoverabe upon the slightest reflection. The diff
iculty of adjusting the relations between slave
holding and savehoding States, combined un-
der democratic form of government, was painful
ly evinced in the proceedings, which terminated in
the adoption of the Federal CopstSdtf6n. A pro-
position was made by the forMern States few
days after the DeclarationAsf Independence, that
contributions should be leytd and taxes paid by
the confederate States in oA0Ton to their entire
population. The Southern 1ates objected, that
this apportionment unefaot, and that slaves
should be excluded from the Enumeration. In the
Convention that formed hesConstitution, it was
soon discovered that all grounds of difference could
be removed and all occasions lfor mistrust accom-
mOdated with more facility than those originating
in this institution Varieties of climate, dIvers-
ties of pursuit incongruites of character, and dis
cordance in religious opinions found in the seve
raj States, more readily reconced than the
radical opposition growing out of the tolerance of
this Institution. 1t more easy to afford the pro-
per guarantees for every other interest than this
great and controlling interest in the Southern States.
The point of difference in the Convention lay, ac
cording to Madison, Pinckney King, Morris and
Butler, between the Southern and Eastern States
arising from the presence absence of this in
stitution in those States. The minds of the abest
of that body were nterrogated in vain for secur-
ties adequate to the protection of this peculiar ele
ment. Compromises were made here concessions
there, and to posterity was bequeathed the office
of final solution of the difficulties. The difficult
ties which the convention could not surmount were
covered over for the while, in the hope that time
would afford the solution. Whether slaves are to
be treated as persons property, and in what ca
1x1-h,
are subjects of dispute between the sections of
the country Then, if regarded persons, must
the government hold them to be slaves, and in
what places, and under what circumstances The
word slave is not mentioned in the Constitution,
and stipulations to avoid embarrassment seem to
have been studously deprecated. The probability
is, that this reserve, originated in the irreconcia
BILE opinions of from opposite portions OF the
country. The most palpable and essential subjects
for seltement-those in which the relations of the
slave population to the government, objects OF
taxation and commerce, and as atfordmg basis OF
epresentation-exercised all the faculties of the
Convention. They dared not penetrate into the
questions which might come 60 disturb the cOnfe-
deracy. They adjourned those, until they should
legtmately arise. Sufficient for the day is the
evil thereof is engraven in large characters upon
the frontispiece of the Constitution. This policy,
has guided those who, have since been charged
with the administration of the government. From
time to time, slavery and its influences have led to
connections after excitement and evaporation, a
truce has been concluded, and few more years o
uneasiness, but of peace, have been secured.
SLAVERY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
There were broad lines of division between the
statesmen from the dgerent sections of the Union
drawn in the first years of the Union, and which
still separate them into parties. Under the con
federation, especially in regard to the territories
there was strong tendency to geographical par
ties. An animated and active feeling, concerning
their ownership at time existed, in which sec
tonal jealousies were plainly discernible. These
were Gained by the surrender, on the part of Vir
gnia, of the Northwest territory, and the interdic
of slavery from penetrating it. We shall hereafter
state the account between the two sections VIZ
simply mention now that the Western territories
formed bone of contention in which sectional lea
lousies were displayed The strength of the tive
parties, formed in the first days of the republic
and which now exist under different names, lay il
different parts of the Union.
The Republican party, jealous of Central pow
er, attached to the federatve features of the sys
tenn, devoted to the checks provided by writer
constitution, and confident in the capacities of tn,
people found its support, principally, in the South