Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-02-08
NUMBER 9.

ton, may tend to show the magnitude OF some oil
the dangers with which slavery is surrounded
The population of the U. States is now about
twenty-five millions, of which about nine millions
are the slaveholding States
The natural increase is about thirty per cent.
per annum or seven hundred and fly thousand
a year
| The foreign emigration by the Atlantic and Pa
ciic sea boards may be estimated at upwards of
half million year.
In twelve years the entire population of the
United States will be about forty millions of inhab-
! itants.
In that time we may calculate on loosing, at
least, four of the slaveholding States.
But, if we do not, the way to white emigration
being open and to slave emigration closed, it is not
probable that the white population of the South
will increase.
On the contrary, if the Tchuantcpec rail road Is
completed, it probably will be in ten years and
if the South disgracefully submit to Northern SUI
prcmacy, at least one-third of the most active and
enterprisiRg of the whole population of the South
en States will be drawn to the fertile coasts of
California and Oregon, and to the vast commerce
of the Pacific
In twelve years from this time the North will
have three fourths majority in the lower branch of
Congress, and there will be between forty and fifty
States in the Union, of which nos more than ten
will be slaveholding States.
1t is said, that if we make decided movement
now, it is not certain that Maryland. Kentucky,
Missouri or Tennessee will go with us
If these States are doubtful now, they will be
certain to go against ten years from now
What then can we gain by delay?
With Nebraska, Minnesota, New Mexico, Utah
and Oregon nearly ready to come in as States, and
with territory enough to make twenty more States,
and with Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri and other
States oradualV tpndnU to ahotioniSn1 and with
the probability of being weakened by white emf
grafton from our borders it would seem proper for
a wise and prudent people to act with promptncss
and decision in order to avert the most dire calami
ties which ever befel a nation.
We need not fear to be Independent. In fact
there is middle course left for us. We are too
strong and wealthy to play q subordinate part
We must have national policy of our own. All
history shows that people possessing great
wealth and resources must use their means for
their ends, or their wealth is the bait of op-
preston.
If the Southern States collect end disburse their
own revenue, control their own relations create .
their own navy, and establish national policy in
harmony with their peculiar situation and produc-
tons, they Will be great, prosperous and happy
people
| But it, on the other hand they in spite of in
suit abuse and injury, adhere to an unnatural and
forced Union, which withholds protection from
their greatest interest, and threatens it with de-
struction, they will be poor downs trodden and
despised people, meriting the contempt of the
world, and soon destined to mingle with its most
miserable oatcasts
Gen. Huston stated that he had TO confidence
| in any compromise or compact with the Northern
States. They would concede to nothing which
would be safe and satisfactory to the South and
if they did, they would not perform their agree
mcnt
They have violated the Constitution framed bv
our fathers and at this time they set at nought ts
planest provision. When Virginia gave up to
them the vast territory North of the Ohio they
bound themselves to surrender fugitive slaves;
they violated the compact. Recently we have
given up the mines of California, and an empire of
territory to get law to carry out the Constitution
and in thirty days af;cr the passage of the law it
was dead letter.
! > We might force the politicians of the North to
semblance of fairnesst but there are two classes
which control the elections and are inaccessible to
reason and argument-the religious denomina-
tons and the laboring classes; the dne impeiled
by blind fanaticiSm, and the other taught to be-
| lieve that there is antagonism between free and
slave labor and that if slavery was abolished, the
fair fields of the South would be open to them.
! If the politicians were to make terms with us,
the cry of repeal would be raised, and the frail
fabric would be swept away, leaving us worse off
than before, and forced to resist at a time when
even we hotspurs might well hesitate at the pros
pect before us, Now we strong but delay
few years, and we will be weaker, both relatively
and positively. Why; then, should we.by faint
heartedness, draw ruin upon ourseNss>and our
posterity? a