The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-12

II ~ 21 r01H1 Da
sion, with which her politicians have bound he
strong limbs.
Thus mourns the Macon Telegraph over thos
| Resolutions
ViReIsIA.--In the Virginia house Of dele
gates, on the 25th ult., MIR. Flourney, from tn,
select committee of thirteen, on the compromise
measures, and Mr. SCOTS resolutions TO seDc
commissioners to South Carolina, presented 1
report and resolutions, which after short debate
were taken up and agreed to nearly unanimous
ly. These resolutions, are substantially to the
effect, that although Virginia symplthises deep
y with South Carolina in the feeling excited by
the nnwarranted interference of the non -slave-
holding States with the institution OF slavery,
and whilst diversity Of opinion exists among the
people Of that State, in regard to the wisdom,
Justice, and constitutionality Of the measures OF
the late Congress of the United States, taken
as whole; and commonly known as the com
promise measures, yet the Legislature of Virginia
deems it duty to declare to her sister State OF
South Carolina, that the people Of that State ere
unwilling to take any action, in consequence OF
the same, calculated to destroy the integrity Of
the Union.
We are mortified ut this sad letting down OF
buttons of our own State conrem on are no
Thing but a God speed 10 abohionism They
declare that the people of Virginia will SUB
mr-yea suBMIr-that is the word, to the
compromise. So Virginia has backed out from
her platform of l849. What effect will any fu-
ture attitude of resistance, though ever 80 i'm.
posing, assumed by such State, produce upon
the North? Why, nothing but dersion and
ridicule. We trust in God the day for resolu.
tons Is rapidly passing away At any rate we
hope the South is done with them. five do not
mean to resist the aggressions of the North, let
us, in Gods name, submit in silence, and not add
to our other disgraces the character of buster
ers and towards.
The third reference to these resolutions, and
to the position of Virginia, we take from one OF
her own prints-from one that loves Virginia
too much to "acquiesoe" silently in her degra
dation. In the stern spirit of an old Roman
thus speaks the Norfolk Argus: and speaks but
the truth, harshly as it may CRATE on submis
sive ears-the truth over which the friends of the
Old Dominion mourn, and over which her foes
height of her exaltation, so il the depth of hel
fall. She must retrace her steps, and retrieve
her lost renown or hers will be the fate of Lu.
cifer--
"Oh who would soar the solar height,
To set in such starless night %
The Argus says
ACT THE THIRD.-We publish in our col
umns to-day, the doings of the people Of Bos-
ton, consequent upon the arrest Of another fu-
gitve slave. We shall await with intense inter
est the denouement in this third scene of the
solemn drama now playing between the North
and the South. Ia connection with this sub
ject, the miscreant Rantoul has been defining
his position, and we Print the series of resolu-
tons offered by him at great Free-soil meeting,
where he has unbushingly surrendered to the
enemy.
In whatever light we contemplate tbs con
troversy between the North and the South. we
cannot fail to discover that it increases in i'm
portance as it advances Boston has now pro-
claimed herself the asylum of the slave She
has the will, and, heretofore, che has shown that
she has the power to effect her purpose The
pending controversy is drawing rapidly to a
point, and to our mind it presents but a single
alternative. We must prepare either to give up
our slave property TO the dctation of the free
States or to maintain that institution ut every
hazard, and in defiance of every consequence.
We have appealed to the North, not once only,
but repeatedly. We have reasoned with her
calmly and in the friendly spirit which becomes
our political leationsA We have appealed to
her justice, and even invoked her humanity
We have shown her the necessity of folbear-
ance, by pointing out to her the disastrous con-
sequences of her conduct, not to us only. but to
the whole Union. But we have labored in vain.
All attempts at an accommodation of this ques-
ton, even by degrading concessions on our part
have failed, and failed in a way to prove to us
beyond all doubt, that every future attempt will
be equally abortive. We have no reason TO be-
lieve that this issue, involving our institutions
and our personal safety, can ever be adjusted il
a spirit of friendly Cancellation. The South, anc
especially Virginia, has already humbled herse
too much in begging her sister States to nc
knowledge her urdoubted rights 1t was there
fore with deep regret and modification that We
witnessed the submissive resolutions which
passed the late Legislature We shall soon have
the bitter fruits of such craven policy in in
creased aggressons. Better, far better would
it have been for her Legislators to have adhered
to their own solemn resolutions previously
adopted, and to have appealed from the cancelled
obligations of the Constitution to her own in
herent right Of self-protection. There is no
danger to the Union, except in the timid and
temporizing counsels which invite attacks upon
the very rights which the Union was intended
to secure. Such course has been the great
error Of the South, and we fear she is destined
grievously to answer for it.
Rand ais Life OF Jefferson
We are much obliged to our correspondent.