The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-01-14

6 tlons were marked by feeling at once ac
rlmonIons aud sectional, and especiaIl,
characterized ON the part Of the Nouherr
representatives by a spirit OF startling ae
gressions upon the rights Of the South, ans
: the institution Of slavery Tie result O
/, their action has been to place the Union IN
the most momentous and difficult crisis
through which it has ever passed Some
OF its enactments have produced feeling OF
deep and bitter dissatisfaction atthe South
whist the law for the recovery of fugitive
slaves has been met with a reception at the
North, lit.le, if at all, short of open rebel
hon and utter defiance This state OF
things has grown out Of ah unwamaniable
interference, on the part OF Congress, with
the subject Of slavery and is another
prof of the great danger which mus. ever
follow any attempt, on the part Of thar body,
TO transcend the clear and well defined
limits set by the constitution to govern and
control their action.
"Fhat restless spirit Of fanaticism which,
for the last twenty years. has been foslered
IN the free States. and directed against
Southern slavery, has, at last, grown TO
such fearful magnitude that il row threat
ems seriously a disruption Of the Union. 1t
will require our calmes. deIiberaiiou, and
our coolest but most determined resolution
to withstand the shock 1t has produced, to
save our honor and our rights, which il in
wolves, and the Union which is Itself now
lperiled in the strife. To act with rashness
or precipitation, is TO sever at once tile
bonds which now unite us; TO falter in the
occupation of ground we have assumed
or IN the maintenance of the principles so
often apowed and so strenuousIy maintain
ed, is 10 forfeit our own self-respect the re-
spect of the nation, and to bring about a
state of things which will ultimately lead to
the inevitable overthrow OF slavery itself.
"The resolutions passed by the last legis.
latnre, avowng distinctly the grounds Vir-
ginia intended TO maintain, have not been
explicitly violated bv any action Of Con-
gress; and yet the legislation intended 10
remove the causes Of disturbance, it is much
to be apprehended has failed of It's effect.
| We cannot fail 10 he sensible of the great
sacrifices incurred by the South for Of all
the priceless domain won from Mexico.
chiefly by the vaor Of Southern men, there
is not left open of That, worth having. one
square foot for the occupation Of the slave.
| holder Itwonid be an idle attempt to dis
guise the fact flat this injustice rankieszin
the bosom Of the Souih, and nothing but the
earnest hope, that this action IF Congress
has settled forever all agitation Of the Save
ry question, could or ought to reconcile us
to its course. But if peace and quiet can
be restored, If the constitution shall be re-
spected, and the Union preserved, we may
even regard the sacrifices, great as they are,
light IN comparison with the objects they
attain. Should this reasonable expectation
lprove fallacious, and the abolition agtated
be still continued in The halls of Congress,
it will furnish proof convincing and conclu.
sive, Of that fixed and settled hostility 10
fsavery on the part Of the North, which
should and will satisfy every reasonable
man, that peace between us is impossible !:
and then necessity stronger thai all law,
the nscessity Of self-preservation, will de-
mand at our hands separation from those
who nse the relationship of brotherhood only
for the purpose Of rejecting upon Us the
worse acts Of malignant hostility"
lie then refers to The reprehensible su.
pineness Of the South, in resisting the in-
trigues and aggression Of the North
ITO those familiar with the peculiar form
of our government--who know that in all
matters not directly embraced within the
provisions Of the federal constitution, the
separate States are as distinct and disunited
as the kingdoms Of France and Germany-
the gratuitous interference of the free States
with slavery must appear to be the most ar
roganb presumptuous. unjust and iniquitous
outrage ever perpetrated by one civilized
people upon another. All the authority
given to Congress. directly or indirectly, to
speak upon the subject OF slavery, Is in
single clause Of the constitution. which inn
poses upon them the duty of providing
means for the reclamation of slaves, who,
absconding from their masters. find their
way into free States. And yet the right has
been claimed by agitators in Congress to
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia,
in all the forts and arsetals throughout the
slave-hoding States. to prohibit the citizen
OF one State from seiling his slave 10 the Cit
izen Of another State and to declare that no
man owning slaves shall be allowed TO euli-
crate with them to territories. the common
property of all the States.
sThese movements in Congress are the
results Of hostility. amongst the citizens
Of the free States. to slavery as it exists
amongst tis--one which has exhibited itself
| III them ia manner much mole offensive
| even than that displayed in the halls Of Con-
gress Some Of them have by law prohib-
lited their officers Of every kind, under heavy
lpenalties. from rendering any assistance in
aresting fugitive slaves they have refused
the use Of their jails for the confinement
of absconding slaves. though they often
irnprison the master going in pursuit Of
them. They have passed laws. which put
4 every master attempting 10 recapture his