The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-01


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The Late Senatorial Elections.
The commentaries of the various organs Of
the two great national parties on the recent cleo
tons of senators would afford amusement, If
they did not excite sentiments of deeper kind
The National IntslIigencer expressed its regret
at the election Of SUMNER, but rejoiced at the
election of WADE. The Republic is overcome
with the treachery of Massachusetts Democrats
in electing SUMNER, but applauded the Wings
of New York for electing FISH.
Now it is not only obvious that each party
avais itself in the North of a Free-soil coalition
when an opportunity occurs, but that each pre-
fers an alliance Of that sort to one with its
regular opponents
The Wings of Massachusetts could have
easily elected HALLET, compromise Demo-
crat, by uniting with the twenty-seven Demo-
Gratis who refused to vote for SUMNER. And
these twenty .seven Democrats could have elect
ed compromise Wing by uniting with the
Wings. The same policy could have elected
compromise men in Ohio and New York-that
is, provided, in those three States, the friends Of
the compromise have majority of the people.
But this, it is now clear, is not the fact. The
election of Free-soilers to the Senate, is evil
dence that the compromise is rejected by those
States. And the attempts of fragments of the
two great national parties in other States, friend
ly to the compromise, to impute these elections
to their opponents are self-deception, des gned
to deceive others.
When the compromise bills passed, they
were supported in the Senate by but one sena-
tor from either of these States-Mr. DICKINSON
They had been supported by Mr.. WEBSTER.
who, on going into the cabinet, was succeeded
by Mr.. WINTHROP. 1t was commended, however,
that the compromise, if adopted, would be ac-
ceptable to those States, and agitation would
cease. We now know the absurdity Of this ex-
pectation
1t is obvious, then, that the three powerful
States of the North repudiate that scheme of
settlement, which, according TO the sentiment Of
every Southern State, is the utmost that can be
submitted to by the South without danger and
dishonor. Yet nothing is more common in all
the Southern submission States, than denuncia
ton of South Carolina for desiring to withdraw
from Union with section whose principal
members have thus repeatedly, distinctly, and
emphatically pronounced against those terms
which the most submissive States of the South
asserts to be indispensable to union.
If New York, Ohio, Massachusetts, and in ad-
dition to them, Vermont, Connecticut, New
Hampshire, Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin,
(for in all Of them the elections have been hos
tile to the compromise)-if all these States,
comprehending a majority of the Northern
States, and large majority of their people,
have thus, after the argument and after the de-
cision of Congress, declared against the observ-
ance of the only terms to which anybody pre-
tends the South can submit, how can the Union
be preserved ?
But if we 90 out of the Union now, say the
Southern compromisers, we do not obtain re-
dress. We do not recover California, nor New
Mexico. Let us wait for further aggressions
Well, when further aggressions made, will
you then obtain redress by going out of the
Union! No, you will only have suffered greater
sacrifices. On the principles Of Mr. CLAY, Mr..
WEBSTER, and Mr.. FILLMORE, you are now justi-
fed in retiring from the Union, because they
all admitted and asserted your right to the little
the compromise left you, and to separate if it
were not respected.
Why wait for further aggressions, when no.
tice is so distinctly given that they will be COM
mitted on the first opportunity Is it the part
we do not say of free or an intelligent people
but is it the part of rational beings to wait
until the injury is actually inflicted, instead of
avoiding or preventing it! Why, the meanest
and lowest of the brute creation has instinct
enough to foresee danger and energy enough
to provide for it. Shall States have less-nay,
worse than that-sha they fail to make any
provision for safety, not only when danger
threatens but even after receiving blow!
But we are told Of the dangers and cnlarnities
Of disunion. We know of no method of in
suring disunon so certain as continual subms-
sion TO aggression. The Union cannot be pre-.
oeTVeu Dy u TeldHCe Oh the ulOueraliOn or mag
ranimity of encroachment The Union rests
on the power Of its members to protect them
selves, and on the sense of justice, more than on
any sentiment Of affection or fraternity BY
submitting to aggression, the great ally ofjustice
is given up, and another great ally, power is sur
rendered.
Why one of the reasons that attempts at the
reclamation of fugitive slaves are derided and
defed, is the derogatory notion which the North
has conceived of Southern spirit and power since
the territory has been surrendered
The North will not respect justice, unless it
is supported by power There are probably not
ten men in hundred in the North, that do not
believe that the South has juster title to
share of the territory, than to the reclamation
of fugitive. But having seen that she can be
drun nod nj e =