Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-07-12
The Facts i'm the Case,

1t is gravely put forth IN high quarters, that if
q certain set of measures, termed the adjustment
or settlement measures, passed by Congress in the
year of grace 1850, should ever be hereafter dis
turbed, by alteration, modification or repeal then
this Union is to down about our ears in jif
fy And it is so threatened because these meas
ures are alleged to be nseparabe parts of a scheme
of compromise" between hostile interests in the
Republic, the whole of which must stand or fall
together Now we say that any threat of disunion
by anybody, because of a law enacted, or a law
repealed by the proper authorities, as to be after
ly disregorded and contenned. And those who
make the threat or who use it at second hand to
influence others in the exercise of their proper
functions of judgment action, are guilty of in
fidelity to the Constitution, and of treason to the
principles of Democratic Government. Our pur-
pose now, however, is not to dwell upon this point
but to show the emptiness of the disuniOn threats
with which the country has been vexed for two or
three years; and to show further that there is no
ground for assuming certain repeaable and ire
pealabe acts of Congress denominated ''adiust-
ment' measures, to be of that Siamese-twin char
acter that they are often represented to be; and
furthermore to expose to derision the insgnfcance
of the post which the puuy heroes of dissolution
have at length retreated, and where they still bran
dish their llhputlan weapons swearing to their in
vincibiIity. THE bursting Of a beer barrsl ac0uld
hare much effect upon tie diurnal rotation of
this planet as tier most Ualorous demonstration
acoutd hare upon tie stability Of tie Government,
get the distinction Of some Of tie hackers of this
immortal body as such as TO enforce our criticism
Originally, we were to have disunion for some
thing tangible and important. 1t was first threat
ened, If the South was to be excluded from any
territory ace might acquire from Mexico. As long
ago as l847, IN the famous debate arising in the
Senate, on the proposition to clog appropriation
of three millions to carry on the war, with the
"Proviso," South Carolina few into a mania of
rage at the 'Faudacity' of the proposal, and
threatened dissolution insanter Georgia, on that
occasion, threatened that the South would resist
the exclusion of Slavery from the Territories; that
it had then become probable we should acquire
from Mexico, by the amiabe process of cutting the
Threats of the Northern Legislators in then Seats
who should dare to vote on it. Florida Joined III
the chorus, and declared that in any territory we
might acquire the South would hold Slaves there
IN, ON defiance" of the National Government
and that any attempt to exclude them would be
met by open war. Mississippi and other States
followed suit.
After we had got the Territories, the claims of
the South to the share in them for Slavery, were
set forth with renewed vigor and more abundant
warmth. magnificent Southern Address was
issued by Southern Members of Congress in Wash
lngton. Mississippi moved for grand Southern
convention to assert Southern Rights in the Terri
torres Other States seconded the motion, and the
Nashville Convention, in time, followed, threaten
ing secession, dissolution and other Hartford Con-
ventons terrors, all on account of Slavery being
excluded from the Territories. Georgia famed
out with the resolutions of her State Legislature,
declaring herself ready for dissolution, and order
ing ner Senators home from Congress, in the event
OF the happening of certain contingences-on of
which was the admission Of California as a free
State. For such cause as this did Georgia de-
clare she would dissolve the Union In the SEN
ate, Jefferson Davis, Clemens, Judge Butler, and
sundry others, declared that the only settlement
the South would submit to was partition of the
Territory, giving to slavery all below 800 3O'
Senator Davis declared he spoke from the book
when he announced that the PEOPLE of the South
We're far ahead of the politicians, this subject,
and were ripe for the insisting upon these terms at
any cost. Their half of the Territories Mey acold
houe-Callfornia included The immortal Foote,
for many weeks, could only be likened to man