The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-15

we have yet witness 70 produce, whose tssti-
mony will shaks yet more the nerves al the In
teiiigeacsv. and Of the IoyaIists" everywhere
throughout the national North-with their for
lorn hope in the South. The Richmond Wing,
unmindfal of the tsrrors Of accommodation
from the party and Of its old "loyaIty." thus en-
lists under the banner Of the Southern malcon-
tents, so far ~ to propose the call of Southern
Convention. Such a suggestion from such a
source may we'll convince the Ialslligencsr that
the day Of its power and its insolsncs is rap
idly passing by, never to return. The Wing
says
From the time that plan Of forming an Union
party was FIRST announced, in the New York pa
pers, we thought. and then expressed our doubts,
~ 10 the probability Of il. In country where
the party lines are drawn they are in this, and
party sympathiss 20 firmly fixed, il is no easy
matter TO induce men 10 surrender their opinions
The moment the Union party should be installed,
thousand questions would necessary arise. as to
the mode Of administering public affairs, TO dis
tract and divide IL. The object for which such an
organization would Re made, would be 10 preserve
view of the difficulties of organizing an Union
party, we have thought that there is simpler,
and more direct way Of gaining the end proposed
by il. The thing that would lay at the bottom Of
such a movement, would be the determination Of
The siape States TO dissolvc the connection oih the
free States, uniess their rights cers acknowledged and
esvorced--rights derived from the Constitution
We have ever thought that TO procure concert Of
action among ourselves II rouId Be polite step
for the people ofhe South to send delegates 10 gener
al conpemtion--such as the Nashville convention
ought 10 have been-composed OF their most trust
ed men, to draw line around the legislation Of
Congress upon the question of slavery, beyond
which, in no euent, should it ever pass. This dec
laration should have effect Of organic law. This
would introduce concert Of action aud be attended
with moral influence upon the free States, atthis
time extremely desirable. At present all is doubt;
al ,ckat oct ofinpasion Of the eesoi mejorty ought
zoe to rebei-an act nterdicting the slave trade be-
tween the States Or are we to act II the compro-
mise il remoutded in essential particulars---and
then what are essential particulars These ques-
tons can neper be satisfactorily determined except by
the people fhemselpes. But when shall they deter
mine these important points . not until another
act invading our rights has been passed by Con-
gress and amid the excitement that will then
prevail! To dissolve the Union without previ-
Gus notice to Congress that such would be the ef-
feet Of their legislation, would be scarcely fair
The fear Of conssquencesW thoroughly convinced
is the only check 10 deter the encroachsnfs Of Con-
greu upon the rights ofthe siavc Statsand we tru-
" believe that ii when such consequences come to
be made known that Congress, If such were the
conditions, would never pass another law in rela-
ton to the subject Of African slavery. Now union
parties are liable fall to pieces to be cheated
out Of maori,ies, or relax in vigilance, but not so
the declarations OF a Southern Congress. They
would, if the Southern people were fully repre-
senied, become an appendix to the Constitution,
and their security from violation would be imme-
diate revolution We could then dispense with
Northern allies in the eections-the whole people
would know the conditions upon which the Uni
on would stand, and they would shape their
course accordingly. These declarations of such
a convention as we speak of, emanating from the
body Of Southern people would 60 forth with
sanction that all would respect. There would
then be no use for Union meetings and Union par
ties-The present parties would continue with
their creeds-but neither would ever think Of
transcending the limits drawn around the legisla-
ton Of Congress by the Southern people. We
freely admit that there is no warrant for this IN
the Federal Constitution, neither is there any pro-
hibition Of it there to be found. But the warrant
under which the South would act, would be the
natural right Of seifprofection, given by the Al
mighty to all men, and all nations. II would do
more to perpetuate this Union, and settle the agI-
tations Of the country, than any other plan that
could be designed--and we truly believe that 1t is
the only thing would attain that end.
When the editor of the Inielligsncer dwells
upon the passages we have italicised so unpdtri-
otically frank, so unpleasant to the loyal feelings
of our Northern brethren, so Enthusiastically
Southern-that is sectionar-in spirit, We
can imagine his horror and dismay. Mournfully
will he scan, first the bold language, and then the
caption of the paper-formerly fountain OF
consolltion-and in blind bewilderment. like
the patriarch of old, cry aloud in sore perplexity
I" The hands are The hands of Esau-bm The roice
is The roice Of Jacob"
For our own part, we hail with joy every
manifestation of true Southern spirit, come from
what quarter it may-for the imminent peril
now overhanging the dearest interests, the
honor, and even the existence of the South,
SAFE as a subject colony, must unite in one solid
phalanx all her true sons, divided and distracted
hitherto by the tricks of political jugglers, or
the deccitful professions of politicians, kept to
the ear but broken to the hope.
Let THE LoyALIsTs recruit their ranks and
parcel out in adv. nee the spoils of vctory--the
I" SOUTHERN MALcoSrEsrs" will be prepared to
meet them--and though
7heyco as feet as fbrcs, deer,
Hill drire them back tame.
tWWe have unfortunately mislaid the letter
of Mr.. Seldom of Virginia, to his constituents,
declining to be considered as a candidate for re-
election after the expiration Of his present term.
It shall appear tomorrow, for like all that ema-
mates from the same source, it is characterized
by the eloquence of conviction, and the out.
pouring Of as true a Southern heart as ever Vir-
GINA could boast Of in the day ofher highest re-
nown
We have long known that such was Mr.. SEQ
DoSs intention, but had hoped that his reasons
for retiring from his present post, might not
have still prevailed, for we ore 10th to lose so
stalworth champion of Southern rights on the
floor of the House. Yet we trust that his re-
t;ran,nnf from tho public councils will be but