The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-14

Whole SECTION OF the co4eu fdcY, when Uy mere
force Of numbers can control the action of the
government, Does any one doubt the truth of
this position Does any one ask for proof OF
this assertion? Let him 60 to New York, the
great Empire State, and behold her political
destnes under the absolute dominion, of one
who desecrated the forum, and shocked the
moral sense of the nation, by proclaimiag for
himself aud his followers "a higher law" as the
rule Of civil conduct The whitening scorn and
contempt which this declaration drew down upon
him from an indignant and outraged senate, have
fallen harmless at the pride of victory, the master
spirit in the most powerful State of this confed-
eracy. Look at Ohio, the great State Of the
West, under the lead of Gddngs and Co. pass
| ing laws securing to your stolen slaves the writ
ofhabeas corpus, and making it felony to aid in
their restitution. Go to Massachusetts and ask
yourself, how and by whom was Sumner the
Abolitionist elected to the senate. Visit Boston,
and ponder over the ominous fact that the con-
stituted authorities Of this misnamed modern
Athens, have actually closed the doors Of old
Faneuil Hall upon their own Demosthenes Turn
to the public press and see these great arteries
steadily infusing the deadly poison into the
public mind. Approach the altar, and hear the
terrors OF hell preached against all who will not
| join in crusade against US and ours. Is the
miserable mockery of the trial and surrender Of
Sims, the delivery Of a runaway in New York,
and another in PhiladeIphia--are these forced
costly and hazardous vindications of the fugitive
act to be held up to US as evidence of returning
sense Of justice on the part of the North, in
opposition to the startling fact that three of the
most powerful States ofthis Union are, politically
governed by men who publicly declare the law
to be unconstitutional, and boldly avow their
purpose to procure its repeal
| Are these himsy cobwebs to blind our eyes to
the fact that both the great political parties Of
| the North court the influence and obey the man
dates of the Abotionists Six months ago it
was proclaimed in the Senate, and by high
authority, that the compromise net had killed
abolition Killed, Mr.. President. 1t has had
impaired to it renewed vitality. It has been
steadily marching from conquest to conque St,
exulting in its strength, and gloating over its
4 ultimate triumph. In less than five years, If
not crushed, it will give law to the republic
We only cheat ourselves. We show ourselves
/ deaf alike to the voice of reason and experience
if we hope to ave ourselves BY relying on COM
| promises with men who have once SURRENDERED
themselves 10 the wild spirit of fanaticsm. Re-
cognizing no law, acknowledging no obligation,
its war is one of determination. Those who
cross its path must become its victim or its vic
tor. will not dwell on this point. Tie whole
history of Abolition, its rise, progress, present
4 power, and ultimate aim, Enthusiastically point us
to our destiny. When to this you add the his
tory of the imposition of taxation and its dis
bLrsement by the Federal Government for the
last twenty years, well may our Sc ator declare
to you that the Southern States occupy the de-
graded condition Of prescribed political commu-
mites. Mr.. President, / have come deliberately
to the conclusion, that this Union cannot, and
ought no longer TO exist. To us of the South
it is hard bargain. 1t has failed to accomplish
the ends for which it was instituted The COM
pact creating it has ceased to be of binding eff
feet on those who, by mere force of number,
can control its action. We have suffered until
we should suffer no longer. 1t is time we
should seek new safeguards for our future
security.
This brings me to the consideration of the
real question before us, and on which some diff
ference OF opinion seems to exist. Shall we
send forth to the country the declaration that
South Carolina will secede from Union faith
less TO its ewn obligations, regardless of our
rights and no longer compatible with our inter-
ests and safety. The objectin to this course,
so far as can comprehend it is, that it will de-
prive us of the cooperation of the other South
, ern States and defeat the formation of South
, ern confederacy, an object we all have SO much
at heart, CO. operation and Southern confed-
eracy! There was time when there was some
: mario in the words. / once listened with hope
to the sound, and linger, with delight over the
} glowing picture which eloqueBce has so often
} drawn of that magnificent confederacy, which
cooperation was so sure and so soon to usher
! into existence. But the humiliating realities
, that surround us, have broken the charm and
} dispelied the illusion. With whom will you
: cooperate? With Virginia! A little more
than year ago her legislature solemnly resolved
A. - i. IL
/ trict of Columbia, at all hazards and to the last
! extremity and but yesterday she resolved to
, submit to such legislation, and cody intimates
her displeasure Mt the course she thinks South
Carolina will pursue. Mr.. President, what a
melancholy spectacle Is here presented. The
land that gave 10 the world the genius that
/ penned and the immortal spirit that triumphant
y vindcated the great chart of American liberty,
has become the nursery of new school of
statesmen, who draw their lessons Of patriotism
from tina. comfortable philosophy which teaches
submission TO @present ills rather than fly to
those we know not Of" Will you wait on
North Carolina! The honorable senator has
paid merited compliment to North Carolina,
in the early days of the Republic, but let him
point me, IL he can, TO single oasis in this wide
waste of federalism. There is not here single
hook on which TO hang hope Ii remains 10
be sacrificed, because Of the excess Of his zeal
In defence of Southern rights Turn to Georgia
and gather hope If you can by listening TO praises
TO a glorious Union from the lips of Cobb,
/ Stephens, and Toombs Her convention marched
mp to the hill and then marched down again.
With majority of her people, the test Of patriot
is and the passport 70 honor is abuse Of South
| Carolina, and those of her sons who have man.
| fully stood up for Southern rights, unseduced
by the patronage and unterriied BY the powers
at Washington. How stand matters in Ala
bamal Visions Of federal honors, | fear, have
absorbed the soul Of her amiabe King, and the
fiery Clemens who was so eager Ito face the
music" has lowered bis colors before the first
roll Of he drum has been sounded In Missis-
sippi the prospect, though not altogether cheer
less, is by no means encouraging. | know, sir,
that in all these States, and throughout the
South. we have many gallant friends who think
No u.a flfnk and uho faof no uyo faat and h.,