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

never eountenance the oppressed in vindicatng their
rights by resorting to physical force
This Society undertook an arrangement of the
scheme of agitation for the country It's means
consisted in the formation of auxiliary societies,
wherever they could be formed: .'In the unspa-
ring circulation of tracts circulars and pamphlets
In the enlistment of Preachers to mingle ant-sla-
very inculcations with their teachings: To engage
the Pulpit and Press in the cause of abolition To
array the powerful organization of the Church and
political parties as allies in their work, and to give
preference to the productions of free over those
of slave labor.
At a very early day, they announced their pur-
pose ''to overthrow the most execrabe system of
slavery that has been witnessed upon earth :
to deliver our land from its deadiest curse to wipe
out the foulest stain which rests upon our national
escutcheon: and, to secure to the colored popatla-
ton Of the United Stairs all the privileges and rights
which belong to them and as 1mericdns -
1t will be observed that immediate abolition is the
shibboleth of the party. There was to be no pre-
paration of the community no expedients to light
en- the burden of this tremendous revolution. The
consummaton, was to be instant with its commence
ment. The array of means manifests no convic-
ton that the work would be an easy one Their
plans, required the abors of years and the dedica
ton of lives Steadily, and perseveringly, have
the labors been performed and the devotion been
displayed. A careful analysis of the various me-
thods they have put in operation to effect 1.-THE
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES
the grand result placed before them-enables us
to reduce them to a single principle. Their plan
of action consists in the declaration, ''I acW cast
obominoble filth upon thee, and make thee vae, and
acW set thee as gazing stock ''That slavery is
heinous crime in the sight of Cod are the all
devouring words with which their assaults upon us
are pointed.
The transmission of tracts, papers, prints and
books through the mails formed their primitive mode
of action. The strong hand of the people, South,
was raised at in resistance to this and an end
was put to it. For time, a disposition was shown
to send anti-slavery lecturers, but these were
PEELED auxiliary societies, to the number of fifteen
hundred, were formed over the Northern and West
ern States. Money was collected for the main So
ciety, amounting to between 40 and $4,000 per
annum. Six seven hundred thousand papers,
prints and pamphlets annually circulated,
some of which display the highest order of l!tera
ry talent, and were prepared by men of extended
reputation The transactions of 1859 show the
collection during that year of $47, III 74c. The
The circulation of 100000 newspapers, 210,639
pamphlets 19 ,058 bound volumes, SO, 875 tracts,
and SO, 44O circulars. The same proceedings show
the employment of lecturers and agents to traverse
the country, to foster and propagate their enter
prise. In accordance with their fundamental OBJ
ect of blackenng the institution of slavery, ear
ly effort made to enlist Congress to their pur
pose.
AGITATION IN CONGRESS-.
The first debates melted by these societies, oc
CURED in the early part of 1885, Petitions for the
abolition of slavery in the Federal District in
troduced and motion made to refer them to
a special committee. The object of the motion was
to secure favorable report. The first counsel gi
and embraced by the South was to answer the
petitions. This was done in an elaborate Report
drawn with ability by the member representing the
Charleston district of South Carolina. The COM
ment of the New England Anti-Slavery Society
upon the debate in which these proceedings orgi-
mated places their purpose distinctly before us
This purpose, it will be seen, was to blacken the
institution of slavery, until the stakeholder shall be
regarded and treated as Barbary pirate. eve
rything the Southern members said, declares the
Society ''only confirmed in the persuasion that
we must persist until we get the subject OF stacery
FULLY before Congress-. No measure will be more
effecual to duse information and enkindle thought
and feeling throughout the land. Congress is as
the central sun. 1t sends light and warmth TO the
extremities of the system which revoves about it.
The considerations which will lead to the abolition
of this horrible institution in the District will bear
with equal weight against it IN every part of the
country. AT the same time we overthrow the sys-
TEN there, we shall heave the foundation every
where. This our Southern brethren see and there
fore will they resist all attempts of Congress to act
upon the subject, aye, even to entertain petition.
But they must be given to understand, that we see
this result of the action of Congress as clearly as
they do; and for this very reason, among others,
shall never give over our endeavor to induce our
National Legislature to remove slavery from within
their own jurisdiction.
There are those who condemn the action of the
noble band of Southern statesmen, who resisted
from the beginning the effort to introduce that sub
ject into Congress- We hear it stated, and we read
it in print, that had a committee been appointed
with John Quincy Adams for chairman, we should
have heard nothing more of abolition after his re-
port. Such declarations betray absolute ignorance
of the subject well the disposition cast the
blame of the present crisis upon Southern patriots,
to the relief of the abolition politicians and aboli-
tionists, North We have quoted from the first
Report of the leading Abolition Society, to show
wherefore petitions to Congress were made.
That the conduct of Southern statesmen may be
fully vindicated, we shall abstract from an Address
of prominent officer of the principal society, de-
livered before it, and which is bound and circula
ted with its Reports. g The committee to which
the petitions must be referred, " he says, "should
be friendly to justice, determined to do its duty,
and have power to send for persons and papers. y
The committee should send for all the codes of
slave-laws of the several States '' statute books
Of crime, " .fnU Of high treason against God and
humoasty,'' The committee should send for ten
experienced planters, to state, as honest men,
" achether the question has not often been discussed
among them which IS most profitable, to work slaues
to death an ttve gears when cotton is IA cents