The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-11

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know: end We tel that tho only danger 70 on
prosperity and institutions y from our own gov
j eminent
\ submit with aon6dsncs t,s question to th'
Southern people " hen ask them, II they fee
~ secure IA the tenure and enjoyment OF thei
property, ~ theydid ten years since! II moi
whence The insesuyitys The answer must b
from the action Of the government. Ten year
past, Congress would not even receive Peti
ton on the subject OF slavAry. Now it il bu
great Central Abolition Society, or rather wa
80, for eight months out Of ten OF the last scs
sion. This IL state Of facts, which must b
corrected by some means, for | feel that it y
impossible FOR freemen to bear with such treat
ment and retain that self-respect which ALONE
can make them worthy Of freedom. Twill take
II for granted that the State of Mississippi will
evils And feel assured that she will stake nc
step backwards," on the question, or that she
will ever give her approval to the measures oil
the ast session of Congress Is impossible.
will not now attempt to say what should be
her ultimate action; this to be determined wisely
must be judged of in full view Of all the ex-
listing circumstances, when her people assemble
in convention. To the wisdom Of that conven-
ton, which will be composed Of our wisest and
best citizens, l am willing to confide the safety
and honor Of the State, and the destiny of my
self and mine.
II you should publish this letter, am aware
that 1t may bring from the submission party the
charge Of my being disunionist, bat this must
bear, In the full consciousness that the charge ia
utterly untrue. yield to no man in devotion
| to the Union Of the Constitution. And will
not consent that our opponents shall take TO
themselves the privilege Of assigning our party
name, as well as constituting themselves the
peculiar guardians Of the Union. Our position
Is not taken, because we love the Union less
than our opponents, but because we love liberty,
equality, and. the Constitution more. And as
said before, look upon the submission party OF
the South, as taking that position which 10 most
likely to emboden the North, and ultimately
to bring about such state of things as may
render the Union an impossibility. There is no
better mode OF preserving the Union than by in
sisting on all the guarantees Of the Constitution.
The Constitution il the Union--it il the only
ligament that binds the States together, or makes
US one people. Destroy the Constitution and
you destroy all nationality.
am fully aware Of the party advantage which
is sought, by making against US the charge OF
being disunionists; but such has ever been the
fate of those who have had the courage to resist
the usurpations of tyrannical power. / am proud
of our Union, and our common history and
common glory; but know that the Union was
but the means to an end-that end was protsc-
ton to lfe liberty and property. lfthe Union fails
to secure these, it will have failed in the object
for which it was formed, and ought to be over
thrown. Allegiance and protection are co-rela-
tive obligations, and no government which fails
Sn he - q
tied to their confidence or support. ! give no
heed to the seneless cry, of the Union! our glo-
rious Unionis endangered! know what Wash
ngton and all the heroes and patriots Of the rev.
olution did. They valued freedom more than
union with the mother country. They sustained
the Declaration of Indepenoence-and it was
but solemn act of disunon-and in support OF
it, they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor.
1t should be remembered by the American
people, that like causes produce like effects. The
North, by the action Of the last Congress, has
put the South, for all time to come, in a hope
less minority. We are no longer able to pro.
tect our rights by our votes, in any single depart
ment of the government The consequence il
that for the future We can present no Other
alternative but that Of justice or separation. But
our oppressou deny to US even the right of sepa.
rntion, and insst upon it that the Union shall b.
preserved, If necessary, even by the bayonet
This monstrous proposition changes our beauti-
full system OF free and sovereign confederate
States into military dospotsm, and the weaker
section into provinces, to be controlled and held
by the sword. If this is to be the theory Of our
government, and we from fear of consequences
submit to it, we are slaves already. 1t is con-
tradiction in terms to speak of free govern
ment which is upheld by the sword. And the
idea Of one of the free sovereign Shtes Of this
confederacy being held as conquered province
| is an absurdity-an absurdity which, il yielded
to, is fatal to all liberty Are our Union-lovine
friends in favor Of such Union as this wodd
be! Are they willing that in the name of Union
our houses shall be given to the flames, and ouI
people to the sword Or can they expect us
who have been born freemen, to consent to fal
down and worship at the shrine Of this false God
this Moloch besmeared with blood of human
sacri6ce?" No No! No! 1t is impossible.
The Union of the sword, is the Union ofslaves
We will have none such. There can be no Unior
which is not founded in the fraternity Of tn,
people, and based upon the consent Of the St,tes
no other would be worth possessing: any othe
ought to be overthrown. This government
never should be presented to the people as tn.
cEuci ucePOt, AuTTouuueu ny terTorS, Ieauy ule
anxious to punish, but an the kind and gentle
mother, surrounded by her children, it should
stand in the midst of the States, extending the
bounties and blessings of benefcent rule tt
each and all alike Let this be done, and yor
will no longer have any necessity for Union
party; then one common sentiment in mind, anc
heart, and voice, from the St Lawrence to the
Rio Grande, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
will unite in the great anthem Of praise to thu
Union and to that God who has preserved ant
blessed il. And you would then hear but one
universal chorus of voices, uniting in the joyous
Amen! Amen! Amen know that such would
be the sentiment of Mississippi But il on the
contrary, this government Is to be made the in
strument of our destruction, socially and poti
cally, then it must lose our affections, and coult
not Justly cIaim our allegiance We will neve
consent that Union of the sword shall be sub
stituted for the Union of the Constitution ant
fraternity. We nre now, and ever have been
ready to give our unbought support to tina
Union which protects us in life, liberty and pro
perty. This was the object of the Union ant
| If IL fnil of this H. can no Longer chalipnUe on