Democratic banner., 1851-05-21
LOUISIANA.
"THE NORTH OUR BEST FRIENDS"

speech at Fayette, after his appeal, and when he
had 'd~etermined to abandon the interests Of Mis-
souri,, and risk his fortunes in the hands Of the
abolition party Of the North. We were then
told that ''slave property was as safe under
northern as southern legislation" That the
North had been our best iriends-that we owed
to them a debt of gratitude for past f~avors, and
should not say aught against their f~anaticaI course.
MED that there were such men as abOli-
at all in the confidence of his northern
4tends. He even showered praises upon Mr..
Hale, and vindicated his character against the
charge Of abolition. 1t was replied TO him that
the free.soilers were endeavOring TO accomplish
by direct means, that which they could not at.
tain directly. Thatthe passage of laws by many
Of the nOn-slavehoIding States prejudicisl to the
South, and which were in direct conflict with
the laws Of Congress and the plainest provis-
ions Of the constitution, connected with the most
strenuous efforts to induce Congress TO interfere
with the rights Of the Southern people, by the
enactment of the Proviso, were but the maniies-
tations Of the most ~fanatical abolition ~spirit-that
though they might disclaim the name, yet the
whole tenor Of events most clearly forsshadow-
ed their real intentions to agitate, TO render slave
property insecure, to undermine it by degrees,
until it might be boldly attacked with IMMUNITY,
and the rights of the South safely trampled un-
der foot. Since that time events have shown that
Col. Benton was wrong, and knowingly wrong
at that. The patriotic men and presses of the
State that denounced his course from the begin
ming, can now enjoy the consolation of conscious
rectitude. The high handed resistance and open
defiance Of the laws and authority Of the Union,
conceived 1.-THE design, evidently, TO abolish sla-
very throughout the nation, and instigated by the
most unhallowed fanaticism, have at length open
ed the eyes Of good men every where. BY such
men as Benton, who, seeing the danger, gave it
encouragement, the Union war placed in jeopar-
dy-o1r institutions endangered. and the good
and patriotic Of every section in detailing the
causes Of the threatened rupture, and applying
the remedy, have vindicated the position as,um.
ed by the Democracy of Missouri, in opposition
to the ~free-soil doctrines of Col. Benton.
The following is q, portion of the charge re-
Gently delivered by Judge Nelson of the federal
Supreme Court to a grand jury in New York:
f"' +" " Dissolution Of the Union.
This question has been raised BY fifteen
States Of the confederacy, six Of whom were
original parties to the compact. It has been
examined and considered over and over g.
gain By the governors In their public mes.
ssges, by the representatives 10 their legis-
lative halls, BY The people in their primary
assemblies, and BY the press; and they have
come to the resolution-one and sll-that
if this hostile Legislation is carried into eff.
feet; aud the constitutional obligation no
longer adhered to by their northern breth-
rem, but thrown off, disregarded, and con.
Termed, the Union is no longer a blessing,
and should be dissolved; that the abroga-
ton Of one material provision of the funda-
mental Law is Obstructive of the compact,
and the portion of the Union for whose
benefit it was adopted, and whose rights
and interests are thereby endangered, is
absolsed from its allegiance. This l be-
lievs 10 be the settled conviction and sen.
timent Of fifteen States of this Union, and
II presents an issue Of the gravest aspect,
and d that can neither be evaded nor
suppressed
II is an issue which the northern States
must determine for themselves. Thatlaws
exist on the statute-books Of most, if not all
! Of Them, in conflict with the act OF Con-
grsss, and rePugnant to this provision of
the constitution, is matter Of history. That
the enforcement of these laws would be a
virtual 'abrogation Of the provision, is not
70 be- denied. 1t remains for these States
to determine whether any attempt shall be
made to enforce them-whether they are to
remain'on the statute book a dead letter or
be repealed. son
These are questions Of transcendent i'm.
port, for the determination Of them, in my
humble, judgement, involves The perpetuity
Of the Union.
= am aware that opinions are entertained
and doubtless, honestly entertained, that
the Onion has not been at any time in dan
ger, and is not now. / wish these opin-
Ions were well founded. My deep convic-
ton and belief are, thatit depends at this
moment upon the Confidence inspired nv tho