Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-03-08

of which was to be avoided, When abolition wa
started as Northern or National concern, it of
Tended this opinion it required much effort to re
: move the conviction and to destroy the sentimen
of the danger involved in its agitation.
t The administration of Gen. jackson, which wa
then in power, possessed of vast influence ant
popularity, from its popular sympathies and grea
principles, took an uncompromsing attitude of hos
: tiGty to it. His party, embracing large majori
ty of the country, sustained his position. The in
f1uence of the impression he then communicated il
felt to this day Through the long series of anti
slavery reports, the hostility of his party is always
anticipated
There was, moreover strong persuasion thro
the country, that the agitation of this question ser
ously menaced the perpetuity of the Union. The
Union was then source of pride and power, of In
tiuence abroad and security at home and thought
fu and considerate men eschewed the courses lead.
ing to its dismemberment. The active intellect o.
the country looked to it for honors and preferment
and returned for the glad hopes it excited acknow
Judgments of its blessed Influences
The pecuniary interests of the country, depend
ent upon the Union, enormous. There are of
flee holders and office -seekers-there are those
whose positions in the States depend upon the sue
cess of rival parties through the country: these
all desire moderate agitations within constitutional
limits barely sufficient to affect elections. The in
direct influences were infinitely of more importance
| We feel them in the convention which framed the
Constitution. When the Constitution was under
discussion, the Southern States-apprehensve of
monopolies- demanded that navigation acts should
only be passed by vote of two thirds of Congress.
Mr. Gorham, of Massachusetts, said, ''He desired
it to be remembered that the Eastern States had
no mOtiOe to Union but a commercial one. They
acere able to protect Themselves They were not afraid
Of external danger, and did not need he aid ofhe
Southern States" The disagreement on the sub
Ject of the Navigation Act was queted by tolera-
ton Of the Stare trade for twenty years, of which
our commercial friends became the agents. The
first Congress adopted Navigation act which has
secured till now monopoly of the coasting trade
to the marine of the Northern States
The same tendency to compromise for Govern
ment bounties, scruples of conscience, was shown
by the manufacturing interests in 842. The ''home
league e'-representing the great interests of manu-
tactures-ln their address of f842, employs the
following significant language upon the subject
'Now, neither the farmer mechanic content
ed to be dsfranchsed, and debarred the privileges of
freemen whilst portion of their countrymen, possess
ing market for the products of their slaves deny
them the night OF living by free labor unless reduced
to the degradation of working for the miserable
subsistence allowed to slaves. Even viewed constiu-
ttona, the Of thousand slaves, chdttels of
dty labor saUing machines they called the
South @ has surely right to be protected than
the free farmer, with thousand cattle or the free ma
nuacturer with thousand looms chdeS of industry.
''Protecton is due to alive mean adequate, posi-
tive protection trhee 1T as By favorable climate pc
culiar chartered grant, discriminating Tariff.
herever labor the great element of growth and
independence as nation, requires security and protec
ton the hand of government should be stretched out
with wise benefcence. LET PRINCIPLE ADOPT
ED, AND STEADILY ADHERED To, and there
END TO ANY INvIDToUS INTERFERENCE PORTION
OF OUR CITIZENS WITH THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF
THE OTHER. WE URGENTLY ENTREAT OUR SOUTHERN
FRIENDS, SERIOUSLY, TO SUB
JECT."
Unquestionably if the Southern States had yield
ed from time to time to the demands of the North
ern cupdity passively, ''invidious interferences"
in some degree ight have been prevented. The
enormous bounties afforded to the manufacturing,
navigation and commercial interests however, have
had, and do exercise material influence in favor
OF those conclusions, which strengthen the Federal
Government. This is natural, and it is SO.
There was another important condition of the
confederacy, which weakened the force of this dis
turbing element. This was its size. Ideas circu-
late slowly in the new and unsettled States Sla-
very in Texas would be comparatively matter of
to Boston, while Boston abolition is but
little heard of in Texas. So in the Northwestern
States, for time, the ideas of Union, constitution
al right, obligations to party, were strong enough
to counteract tl-slavery agitation The old ideas
retained their hold there with much fxedness upon
the people.
The increase of the conveniences of intercom-
munication, and the prodigious emigration to
those States from New England and Europe, have
overcome this influence. Wisconsin, Michigan
Ohio and Iowa seem to pursue the ways of this fa
tai agitation. Those people seem as much control
led by abolition ideas, as those in the Eastern
States. There are other influences of an inferior
value, but we believe that we have noticed the
most infuensive We testify to the vast power of
these influences. The wonder is, that they should
not silence all opposition to them The fact that
this agitation has attained its present growth,
against the power of these influences, is, in our
Judgment, one of the most ominous circumstances
of the time.
The generation, tolerant of slavery from their
long and peaceful connection with it, is rapidly pass
ing from the earth. The men who will occupy their
places have been taught that slavery is an offence
an execration, a blight, SIM The warm, exube-
rant, united, sympathetic Democratic party of the
time of Gen. Jackson, is extinct. The words Con-
stitution and Union have lost their SPELL The abo
ltonist boasts, we little cause, ''We have dis
enchanted the mind of the people, in good mea-
sure, as to the divinity of their parchment idol.
We have taught men to calculate the value of the
Union The idea that loyalty and allegiance are
due to it is fast becoming ridiculous and contemp
tible His beginning to be looked upon as matter
Of bustness-a partnership IN trade.' When we
reflect with candor for one moment, what else could
we expect? A whole people is taught that their
Constitution supports and upholds the direst, most
abhorred disgraceful evil that ever dishonored a
nation. A religious people is taught that sin and
crime were compromised with, in the formation of
that Constitution Can we expect them to revere,