The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-09

msdsa fres.soi Stats In the Union. w.
These two great parties, in their eagefnessW
get possession Of the vast patronage al the gen.
eral government, have not hesitated to prosti-
tute themselves TO the vile purposes Of Tree
solers They have become 90 demoraixed by
the operation, that it is doubtful which answers
best, In practical view, the aims Of the Free
soil party. Our own people, uDfortu- ately,
have become infected by these contests. Ar
bilious men among u.s. finding that the treesoil
Was the predomina.iDg influence in the councils
of the general government, have become con-
seruaiire' in their action, :" as they choose to
denominate their cowardly and base treachery TO
their constituents"
The Southern people then have good grounds
upon which Indignantly to reject the overtures
Of old parties to settle this issue for them with
their Northern aggressOrs.
Upon the subject Of the redress OF their
wrongs, there il, uDhappily much difference OF
opinion among ourselves. These differences,
however, are easily susceptible of classification
and may be considered AS divided into opinions
favoring submission to the laws--and into
opinions favoring resistance.
Tie first class is composed of such as think
tbatjwhile the spirit of the Constitution has been
violated, vet Congress has done more than TO
they will submit to its action on this, as on any
other matter on which it has legslated, freely
declaring however, that if Congress shall do, what
the second class say has been done, or shall re-
peal or materially modify the fugitive slave-law,
they will resist such action, even at the hazard
of dis olution of the Union.
The second class, insists that the constitu-
tional rights of the South have been violated
that this has been done in spirit and under cir
cumstances which evince q settled determine
ton to do so--that the effect will be eventually
to abolish slavery in the South-that there is no
hope of voluntary redress on the part OF the ag-
gress ors, and that the operation OF these mea-
sures must, in selfdefence and to avoid our de-
struction, be resisted
Upon these two grand divisions ofpublc SEN
timent, two parties-with distinctly defined po-
siions and aims, have been formed-and, as far
as am aware, but two--speaking with refer
ence TO results and organization, and not TAX
ing into account either the fractions or factions
which hang around the march of either OF these
great bodies They are the submission or
Georgia platform party, md the secession party.
The first is regularly organized under the lead
of the late Georgia State convention. It's prin-
ciples have been endorsed by the general assem-
ely of Virginia and taken as their creed by a
large and respectable part of the people Of Ala
bama, under appelation Of the Southern Rights
Union" party. The last is headed by the gal
liant State of South Carona-which has elected
members to convention with the avowed pur-
p Sc of seceding-and in which late conven-
ton of Southern rights associations, composed
of near FIVE hundred representatives, by vote
of over four hundred majority, decided that such
was clearly the policy and will Of the State
This doctrine has also been taken as the princi-
pie of the organization Of the Southern rights
association in Alahama and so declared by
vote of hut three dissenting voices in the late
Of these associations, composed of
delegates from five-sixths Of the number then
formed in the State. But one of those associa-
tons has been dissatisfied with that platform
to dissent to it, though an issue was
forced upon il by | aiding and inhu-
entail print, and has since been actively pressed.
No other organization on these questions has
been made in Alabama. In all probability such
an attempt would be not only failure-but
would result in bringing together again the ma
terials of our old party organizations, which
would seize the occasion to erect once more a
par V standard. and to attempt TO prolong a
spasmodic and useless party existence.
In the nature Of things, such must be the is
sue to be made. If we are to submit and re-
main in the Union, we must do so for the good
of the Union, and for the purposes for which it
was formed--that ia, in the Union it is our duty
to submit to the laws--to preserve the public
peace and tranquility-to ensure good will and
neghborly feeling, rs far MS possible, between
its members. This is recognized by the Georgia
platform men-and if their premises are cor
rect, certainly their course is the only correct
one On he other hand, if we cannot remain
in the Union on those terms, certainly it is our
dntv to 90 out Of IT, To remain in it, and TO be
promoters Of i'll will, hatred, and jealousy--to
breed discord-to destroy public tranqnlity-to
carry on a quasi war with our Northern brethren
by means of State legisla,ion-to discriminate
hv our lars against the industry of "teiloto-
ctizens" of the same common country in favor
of the industry Of foreigners-is but to deserve
the character Of being pnblic enemies-to be
morally and politically dishonest. If we cannot
live in peace in the Union, with the, No thern
States, il is preferable to 90 out Of it--snd per
laps when beyond the reach of their legislation,
we may be enabled to live at peace with them
out of the Union. Thus think that the good
sense of the masses will soon perceive that there
can be but ono issue made--to wit, submission
or secession If you submit. behave like sub.
mssioDist. BE quiet and pesceable, and sub
scrvient TO the will of your masters. If you re-
sist at all, resist effectually and manfully--use
swords and not pins--cannons and iron balls,
not pop-euns and paper bullets. If you hold
these Northern men to be enemies, hold them
as our fathers did theirs" like the rest Of
mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends" In
this view am decidedly in favor of preparing
the State, by all proper means, for exeriing the
right of secession. The first great point to be
obtained Is the consent of the people. That can
only be done by fair, open, manly issue, intel
lgently placed before them. They certainly
never can be prepared for so grave an act, if Sc
cession is kept in the back ground and other
weaker remedies proposed for their consider
alton.
The second point, is preparation for maintain
ing an independent position when assumed If
in the meantime 'any eFectual plan may be
proposed for obtaining redress for the past and
security for the future, without dissolution Of
the existing Union, if there be probability of
such consummation" Gir trial should be
given TO H. But for one see no remedy and
Justice for the South in the Union.