The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-11


ExeeHtive xpuld do much to arrest the eurrsat
OF fansticsf agitation, and thereby ensure The
prompt and faithful execution of tha law, foTtu-
nately for y it is not our only, nnr is it our
main dependence In this hour Of trial. Oar
nsed'o Of aajkty lie vithAl ourssirss. 1t depends
4 ,pon'a union Of notion among those who are
united in Interest," common interest must make
ours common destiny The people Of the
North must be made TO believe, and TO feel not
II necessary, that upon the subject Of slavery we
are not only united, but in earnest. Heretofore
they have too believed it, and some Of our South
srn prints as well as Southern, politicians, have
Inisled them into this fatal error. We have
been too long in the habit Of singing hozannas
TO the Union, without specifying the Union to
which we are devoted. The people Of the South
love the Union which they have heretofore re-
garded as the ark of their political safety. But
the Union which they love, is the union of our
ancestors, based upon constitutional guarantees,
and intended to secure to US life, liberty, nnd
property. While it fulills this high destiny, 1t
may we'll claim and will always receive our fial
attachment and undying devotion.
| As soon as it shall cease to be such Union,
it will cease to be the object of our devotion,
and we shall regard it no longer as shield, but
as sword Those who have represented Us as
for the Union at all ere,us, have done us, as well
as the people of the North, injustice. They
have nisreprcsented us, and thereby misled
them. Ii such were true, then many of those
who are now upon the busy stage of life would
live to see slavery abolished among us for it is
fatal delusion to suppose that this whole agi-
tation--this stupendous organization---is lin
tied to the abolition Of slavery in the District Of
Columbia and the territories. The object is
higher and more commensurate with the vast
means employed. 1t is crusade against sla.
very everywhere. The work once dene in the
District, II will be an easy mitter, under the in
fiuence of the same anatical spirit, to marshal
the same force 10 war against the unconsti-
nationality of slavery in the States" In my late
visit to Boston, saw already pamphlets in the
shops and upon the highways, with such title
pages. Ifth0se who now represent them should
have constitutional scruples, it will be IN easy
matter to supply their places with those who
have none and with their undoubted popular
majorites, and our supposed spirit of submis-
sion al all erents, what else could we expect than
the speedy abolition of slavery among US? BY
the use of such language We are made to oc-
cupy false position, and invite to an encroach-
ment upon our constitutional rights, which ]
verify believe the people Of North Carolina, in
common with the people Of the whole South,
are prepared to resist at all euents. Come veal
us by our fathers, will be maintained with our
lives and our most sacred honor
II is for you, sir, and those wise mon associ-
ated with you in this great emergency, to adopt
some means to undeceive those ut the North
who suppose that North Carolina values any
other Union than constitutional one, or than
she can fraternize with the people of any State
who disregard and trample upon her constitu-
tiOnal determination to maintain them, is due
alike to us and to them--alike to the constitution
and the Union, both Of which may yet stand to-
gether, if they desire it, We acquiesced in the
Missouri Compromise, and it has been violated
We ncquiesed in the late Compromise. Shall
we allow the only provision in our favor-a
provision considered by our fathers SO essential
to our peace and prosperity thai they made it a
fundamental article of the Constitution--shall
we allow it too to be violated or disregarded
with impunty? Never--no never! have
heard but one opinion-I believe but one exists
among the people of North Carolina-the Fugi-
ipe SLAVE bill must be erecuted in good faith, or
This once glorious Union, 'one and indirisibls,'
UiH be among the things thai ,oere. A faithful
picture of public sentiment at the South cannot
but have its influence upon public opinion at the
North. 1t will awaken the friends Of the Con-
stitution and the Union to more activity and
zeal. In many places it has already aroused
them to noble exertions and they have been
able to throw back the tide of fanatcism which
for years had been rolling onward and gaining
strength. There lies the disease-thcnce must
come the remedy. There the great battle for the
Union must be fought between its friends and
its enemies Whether won or lost, it behooves
us to stand ready, and with full heart to hope
for the best, butt be prepared, with a 81 out one
for the worst With great respect and consider
ton, | am, my dear sir,
-. Very truly yours, A. RENCdER.
To the Hon. r. NJ Saunders, Raleigh. t
Public Speaking at the Capitol
On Thursday evening last, the State Rights
Association was addressed by Hons. S. ]. GhoI-
son and J. ]. McRea The char cter of these
gentlemen for mastery ability in treating upon
their subjects of discussion was more than sus-
tanned The audience was greatly Interested,
and manifested frequent qualification by loud
applause. Judge Gholson showed the folly Of
the anti-constitution men who expressed 40
much regard for the Union, and yet were willing
to dissolve it, il the Fugitive slave law was re-
peaed. This would only place us where we
have been since 1893, and yet they are willing
to dissolve it for, that reason--for merely an act
ofIegislature. lie was satisfied that when that
took place, some other excuse would be found
for sustaining the Union. All specific issues
| like these he condemned. As in the of
the Wilmot Proviso, there was always way to
get out Of them. The Judge sustained the
| Governors views, and believed that we had suf-
fered aggressous upon our Constitution which
demanded the deliberate consideration of The
people in their sovereign capacity, and he was
in favor Of convention for this purpose.
Hon. ]. J. Mclile took an interesting and ex-
tended view of the past He clearly pointed
out the impossibty of existing together ms
United States with the unbridled power of Con
gress, always ready to subvert the Constitution,
when she felt that it would add to her political
power to do so. He showed the inconsistency
of Southern members, permitting Congress 10
purchase large territory from Texas, which
must most certainly become free State, while
they made no attempt to adopt a similar prepo-
sition for the purchase of California south of
36 deg 80 min. although asserting-as was the
case with Senator Foote, that California must
become a slave country. Their cry is that the
question is settled and the South must submit