The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-28
From the Charleston Murcuru.

given to him in Macon, recently, Mr. Speaker
COBB delivered himself of a speech which is SO
enthusiastically praised by the Macon Messenger
an ultra Wing paper, that we suppose there can
remain no doubt of the complete utilization OF
the Northern wings of the two old parties. Mr.
CoBB's topic was the compromise, and the sacred
obligation Of defending IL at all hazards and to
the last extremity, against South Carolina OF
this State, he spoke in strain Of unmixed bit
terness, such as might be expected Of man
who had sold himself and his country, towards
people whose position was terribly in the way
Of his getting his payment. The following is
an extract:
"The plan now adopted was for her to make
the issue and then rely upon the sympathy of
other States to rally them to her rcbellious
standard. He knew not what others might think
of such scheme, but for himself he looked
upon it as both Infamous and disgraceful. Geor-
gia could never consent to be dragged into n
conflict by any State less by one that
was not her superior in anything. For himself,
he protested against the State of his birth and
his affection submitting to any such degradation
Our convention, composed of as much wisdom
and as much patriotism as had ever been con
gregated in any body upon earth, had settled
this question and we were in honor bound to
abide by its action. For one, he stood ready to
defend that action, even to the exercise of force,
if necessary"
Nothing is more decisive Of the dishonesty Of
cause than the systematic misstatement of what
it supports and what it opposes. If the people
of Georgia nre not in favor of the action of
South Carolina, by what power can they be
dragged into its support What means has
South Carolina Of forcing Georgia to act against
her convictions! What proposition has she ever
made looking to such an end The thing is
simply absurd. If South Carolina confidently
believes that Georgia would not stand silently
by and see the Northern hordes of abolitionism
overrun her fields and destroy her people, it is
because she judges the latter by her own spirit
and not by any standard of political morality
such as Mr.. COBB eveNrected or ever followed
But Mr.. Cobb talks of 'force"-of "force" to
be used in sustaining the action of the Georgia
convention,-to be used against South Carolina
What incomprehensible jargon is this /! The
Georgia convention decided on submission, and
Georgia has su milted. Does he mean that he
is in favor Of perpetuatng that decision, by
bringing down the federal armies upon his own
State, if the people should ever decide to reverse
the position? Or does he mean that the Georgia
convention deci led not only for that State but
for all otter Southern States and that he is now
ready to enforce the sovereign authority Of
Georgia over her sister States, by joining The
North in making war upon them? He evidently
means the latter The whole passage is a de-
claration of war against South Carolina, and he
thinks and speaks of "force' rs the means of
preventing her from unroling the 'rebellous
standard" LISA foul proceeding, in his opinion,
for South Carolina to present to Georgia a cause
embodying the common and vital interests OF
L.-<t .sx1 L. - \ r.
express the hope that she will not suffer it to
perish by the violence of their enemies. This
is dragging" Georgia into conflict But it is
all right and fair and patriotic, for Georgia to
unite with the North in dragging South Caro-
lima into dishonorable submission For this
amiablc end, Mr.. Cobb counses his State to en-
poy, not invitations, and the inspiriting argu-
ment of noble cause, but force He threatens
the armed intervention of Georgia to prevent
South Carolina from resisting the progress of
abolition. We can make nothing else of his
language.
We do not quote this to show The opinion or
feeling of Georgia,-far fromit. But it is worth
remarking that of all the enemies Of the South,
there are none so ultra,--so overilowing with
rancor towards her honest defenders,--so ready
to threaten with the coercion Of federal armies,
every movement that looks to her dsenihral-
ment from the omnous tyranny of hostile
majority,--as those Southern aspirants who
pledged themselves to the miserable and one
sided bargain of the compromise. ''One sided"
as to the South, but not ms to the traffickers-
diey were to have her share Of the "adjustment,"
and hence the feeling, marked with personal
venom, that they exhibit towards the whole
Southern rights movement. which has gained
such strength rs to give them a much clearer
prospect of punishment than Of reward, for their
fathlessness to the honor, interests, and safety
of the South"