The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-15
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
The Terms Of the Treaty.

"agitators" in proof of the correctness OF
our statements, adduced the evdence'from their
central organ in this city, promising to follow it
up to-day with confrmatory proofs from the
New York Tribune.
The language of that print is 30 explicit and
direct, as to need no commentaryS-and il speaks
the sentiment Of the controlling power at the
North, as indicated by the recent senatorial cleo
tons in Massachusetts, Ohio, and New York
not to mention the Chrstiana and Syracuse at
fairs, and other unmistakeabe indications Of the
popular sentiment This sentiment first pan
dered to by politicians for the promotion of their
selfish ends, has grown too potent for their
control. They are now compelled to, crouch
before the demon they have invoked, and from
its masters have become its slaves. The press,
the pulpit, the ballot box, all prove this; and
such utterances as these we quote, show how
secure these potters of mischief feel" smiling
at the threats" of those whom they have found
such easy dupes, and hope to make as easy
victims.
The Southern compromises will have it that
those healing measures" were in the nature of
treaty between two contending powers. Well
here we have the Northern construction of the
terms of that treaty.
Be it remembered that the Tribune supported
and urged the passage Of the " compromise" as
the best the North could get at that tnae-then
listen to its language. Speaking of the position
of parties in New York, it says:
aThe State conventions of the two great par
ties met in Syracuse about the same time, and
each resolved TO contest the election on issues
unconnected with slavery. They said nothing
touching that sore 8 which any reasonable
Shareholder could object to and 10 their very
silence is made cav and opposition! Whether
they will or no. the cotton interest of our city
insists that the people of this State shall resolve
and vote with reference to slavery at each cleo
ton. And thousands, who had congratulated
themselves on the prospect of a lull in slavery
agitation" will find It revived by the action OF
the Union and Safety Committee.
Well, gentlemen! so be it, if you will have it
so. A few can excite commotion which ten
times their number cannot control. If the peo-
pie must pass upon the merits or dement's Of
slavery and of slave. hunting on free soil at each
election, they will do So but how long you will
be satisfied with their verdicts, time must tell.
That you will relish better the first than the
tenth decision which you thus force them to pro-
nounce, we have an abiding conviction.
For our own part, Gring within the very
shadow of the temple wherein the god cotton is
worshipped, we defy the priests who offciate at
the altar to do their worst. We tell them that
from the depths of our souls we hate and abhor
human slavery, and every institution, law or
usage, whereby the poor and feeble are racked
and dashed to make them minister to the pomp
and luxury of the wealthy and powerful. We
tell them that we feel that the soil we tread is
desecrated, the air we breathe polluted, by the
inhuman slave-hunts which an ill-considered
compact, made when our fathers were themselves
virtually shareholders, compels US not to oppose
by any other than a moral resistance. We tell
item that we piH not be instrumental in forcing
back into bondage those who have escaped there.
from but while VIC would dissuade all from vio-
lent resistance to any legal mandate, we will our
selves cheerfully go to prison or bear any PEN
atty which our refusal may invoke, rather than
aid to consign an innocent felo being to per-
petual bondage. We tell them that very large
proportion of our fellow-citizens share our con-
viclions and emulate our determination; and that
the time is not distaht when no man (and much
less woman) can be hunted like a beast of prey
through free States, when known to be guilty
of no crime but that Of loving liberty. Gentle
men Of the Union and Safety Committee IL
you mean to silence all utterance adverse to
slavery and slaveholding in the free States, your
task is hardly yet begun!
And in yet later editorial, speaks even more
peremptorily 10 this point:
Well: Annexation took place, and war with
Mexico followed, as we earnest annexationists
had all along believed and predicted, while our
adyersaries had ridiculed and derided our croak
inps. Mexico was succt ssfuly invaded and dis
Numbered, and this question was necessarily
forced upon the country: Shall this newly &C.
quired territory be free or slave? We promptly
respond FREE, and for once manifest majority
of the American people stood with us. The
South Of course resisted, protested, and threat.
eped to dissolve the Union, il we Free.soilert
were enabled by Congress TO rob them (as they
called h,) of their full and equal right to carry
their property {. O. slaves) into the newly &c
ouired territories We smiled al heir threats anc
held on, and by so doing, sared those territorie,
from The dissertation Of slavery The soil o
California, down TO the line of 80 deg was ex
pressly consecrated to free labor; there wa,
then no Union Safety Committee TO deprecatt
Southern yenpeance and yet there was no Sc
ces.ion. Were we reckless and aggressive agi
tators. Mr.. Wood, in fighting the battle TO
freedom! You did not say so then; dare you
saw so now! If not, what becomes of your re
cital of twenty-five years anti-slavery aggression
on the rights Of the South!
aAhr says cotton. broker, "it may hav'
been we'll enough TO resist the extension
slavery into new territories while that was
practical question; but now that is settled
there is no more excuse for agitation-and J
must be PUT DowN."
No, gentlemen you mis- read or mis-state
The question of slavery extension Is not settled
II is present and potent to-day AT this mo
ment, California is convulsed with projecte
dismemberment which is to cut off her south
ern half and make il a new territory-yes, an
slave territory There are various pretext
put forth but slavery is at the bottom Of III
"agitation" The Southern propagandsts hav
never for one moment taken their eyes off {
Southern California; they long ago determine
TO have II for slave State; and they have nov
thanks TO the Union Safety Committee and kir