The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-11
! the people, I desire nothing so much as

Of. the people, desire nothing so much As
the safety of the Union --place II beyond the
striking distance Of cunning as well as mad
fanatacism--do this, if you can, without resort.
ing to the final remedy but, il you cannot, then
give to the Constitution an express, positive,
prohibitory amendment, which shall forever
end the entangements and pretexts OF interpre-
tation.
But what, You may ask, if this doubtful and
dilatory course should prove abortive! Much
time and opportunity will have been afforded.
Congress-, the Executive and the people VIII
have perceived that the resources OF the Consti.
tuition for the defence of State rights We're pa
tiently exhausted, and may become sensible that
a single further step Of invasion will, like the
last feather on the camel's back, break down the
confederacy. At all events, the responsibility
of pertinaciously peryerting, after reiterated
warning, the functions OF the Union, will, even
more strongly than now, rest with those who
dare gravely claim to domineer the condition
and consciences of others. Instead of forbear-
ing remonstrance, of reasoning, and Of appeals
to the bulwark of the fundamental compact, the
quick instinct Of representation will alone be
left Even at that crisis, when disunion, partial
or temporary, shall seem the alternative on
which to shun consolidation, shall not cease TO
hope that faction may yet be stunned into so
briefly, and that the confronting presence OF LID.
erty and usurpation may, in this western world
Of ours, terrify the latter into retreat.
do not think that misjudge my country
men in saying that the party in the wrong must
ultimately yield but it is well to remember
that in order to retain the position OF right ex-
treme forbearance is necessary, and that perhaps
gross oppression may for season be most hon
orably borne In contests of speculative poll
tics n salutary something can always be antei'
pated from the soothing and truth disclosing in
fence of time. To fling the gnantlet while
yet the civil controversy is undecided TO mutt
ny from and quit garrison within which you
may really have more friends than foes, il chiv'
airy of the kind painted by Cervantes. Napo-
leon, the FESTIVE and intractable, owned and 10.
culcated, as to all projects, the wisdom OF wait,
ing f" TIL the pear is ripe" and not initiate the
savage who cut down the tree to reach the fruit
Southern men hose faith wavers in the mean
ing and purpose of the Constitution, as to State
equality and non-intervention, are naturally
made testy and choleric by their own misgivings;
but it is the province Of conscious justice and
perfect conviction to be patient and to abide the
inevitable triumph of truth. Nor ought it to
be forgotten that, however, convenient and ad.
missible in ordinary parlance the language Ia,
there are under the Constitution no such separate
realities as Southern rights" that an outrage
upon reserved sovereignty on any subject Is
Just as much an infringement of my right in
Pennsylvania as of yours in Texas, and that a
large proportion of the people on this side Of
Mason and Dixon's line have been taught by
experience and reflection to know that their
dangers in peace or in war have their sources in
the North A citizen who truly estimates and
loves the Union, who is capable of comprehend
ing that to the domestic tranquility and enduring
freedom of the American people, it is political
necessity, feels as sensitively blowinficted upon
one great interest or region as upon another
unon the fisheries, the navigation of the Missis-
sippi, the liberty Of the seas, the freedom OF the
press, or the local sovereignty over soil and
slavery The right 10 fish is no more Northern
than Southern: the right which was in momen-
tary jeopardy at Client, of exclusive use OF the
waters Of the Mississippi, is no more Western
than Eastern, and the right not to be impressed
by British naval audaciy was cherished alike
in the fields of Kentucky and on the Atlantic
coast and so tell you that the right of each
State to be accounted an equal of every either
State, and to secure, if she pleases, to her in
habtants the enjoyment of as ample and un-
restricted scope for the exercise OF their minds
and means as can be secured elsewhere, is not
a sectional, not a Southern, but common union
or constitutional right Such l am sure was
the design Of all those who rs master workman
built on the basis Of the confederation, the
United States; such believe to have been the
sense of those who after the most widely popu
lar forms of consultation accepted the structure
and entered upon its occupancy, and such mus
be, for the truth is mighty and will prevail, the
ultimate judgment even Of those who, with the
bigotted frenzy Of crusaders, would attain what
their dslirium deceives them by depicting as the
will Of God"
And now, my dear sir, having fear, tediously
and imperfectly met your comprehensive cues
tons, let me advert TO your intimation that you
desire TO publish my answer. Ii is unpleasant
to be thought shy Of avowiug ones sentiments
but il is perhaps more unpleasant to be obtrud
ing, rs if important, opinions which may be e.
teemed worthless, and which are liable TO be n
once stigmatized as symptoms Of the prevalent
epidemic for candidateshp. ] have scrupulous
ly abstained, since quitting the Vice Presidency
in 1910, from invoking political notice, and thi,
upon a variety of motives, some Of domesii,
duty, some di taste for the implied composition
some of different reluctance, TO seem, By even .
shade, TO differ from ADLER and better men, and
some from a ssdative suspicion that matters
would in all likelihood roll on 10 their destina
ton quite rs well without as with me. Unless
therefore. You deliberately conclude that VI,
ideas in this letter are such as may be, without
n particle Of reference 10 their bearing on my
self, substantially useful TO the country or th'
Democratic party, hope you will abstain from
any sort Of PRONUNCIATION. Owing you return
for the visit which YOU were kind enough 10 pa,
me in Nav last, | shall feel perfectly satisfied /
what have written be acceptable TO you alone
and convince you how truly and respectfully
am, dear sir, your friend and obedient servant,
G. NJ. DALLAS.
To the Hon. CITY NJ. Bryan.