The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-22
For the Southern Press.

1t seems not little singular that almost if
not quite, all the Union meetings-as thoy are
called-tke place in the Northern States most
notorious for their abolition propensities, and
that they all, without exception, proceed from
minority, few in numbers, and without much
weight or influence in directing the Legislative
action of these States. Thus in New York, H.
inois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Massachusetts,, &c, &C.,
all abolition States represented in Congress and
in the local legislatures principally by Abolition
lists, we see these patriotic meetings occasionally
announced as the voice Of the. people, though
everybody knows they are the mere whisperngs
of few friends of TIE Compromise which they
have substituted for the Union.
The question is, do these meetings speak the
sentiments Of the respective States and the an
swer may be found in the uniform course Of
their Senators and Representatives in Congress
and the proceedings of their legislatures. All,
without exception, are represented by Adolf
tionists in different degrees, from the most rabid
disciples of Garrison to the devotees of Free
soilism. The State Convention of New Hamp-
shire las lately declared its devotion to the
Union, by adopting the Compromise. Did it ex-
press the sentiments of the State in so doing
If it did, why is Mr.. HALE permitted to misrep-
resent that State, without any instructions from
the legislature, to arrest or check his opposition
to any measure Of Cancellation calculated to sat
isfy one portion Of the Union, and of course
bind it together! If Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio
New York, and Indiana, are such friends TO the
Union, why do they select for members of Con-
gress, and Senators, the very men who are most
deeply pledged to the repeal of the Fugitive
slave law, and to every other abolition measures
So with all the New England States which are
wringing wet with Abolitionsm. If we take
the sanitary Union meetings'as evidences of the
popular sentiments, they arc devoted to the
Union, and appear as the champions of the Fu-
gitive slave law, which Virginia and some other
Southern States have madc--or pretended to
make--the test question; while at the same time
it is notorious that vast majority of the peo-
pie, as well as Of their legislators, are deter
mined to resist or evade that law, either by
force, or legal chicanery.
desire to call the attention Of the people of
the South TO bill, introduced the 10th January
instant, in the House Of Assembly of New York
To protect free citizens from being taken OIL of
the State, and 10 render il punishable by The same
lar as That 10 prerent kidnapping" Without
doubt this is an abolition device to defeat the
operation of the Fugitive slave law by side
blow, instead Of multiplying it at once openly, as
has been done in Vermont. They will see more
of this attachment to the Union, if don't mis-
take, in many of the Northern States, before
the SHOWS melt on the mountains, and while
Congress is quiet the ball will be kept rolling
in the State legislatures. This is what is called
putting down slavery agitation.
Can not, or will not, the people Of the South
see all this : Are they about to exemplfy the
saying, that those whom God destines to ruin,
he first deprves of their senses Do they not
see, that the cloud is becoming every day more
black and portentous; that their own govern
mcnt has become their worst enemy, with the
exception Of themselves that the governments
Of England and France are both iueclose League
with American AbolitIonists, and preparing to
modify the law Of nations, so rs to bring It to
bear against those local laws which they have
adopted for their security' Or do they see all
this, and seeing it, have they not the sense to
provide against, or the spirit to resist the pro-
grcss Of tempest that will ere long PROSTATE
them in the dust, and bring them TO irretrievable
ruin Is IL possible they believe they can re-
main In the Union without the ultimate emanci-
patton Of their slaves, unless they at once unite
in self-defence, and adopt measures for their fu-