The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-06

When Franklin was before committee Of the
British House Of Commons, previous to the COM
mencement Of the revolution, and in stating the
condition Of the public mind in the colonies, al
luded TO the probability Of = separation, in case
their grievances were not speedily redressed, he
was scornfully asked which party was to decide
when the period had arrived in which resistance or
secession would be Unsuitable the part ofthe col
onies. He answered with his usual brief smplici-
ty, "Those that feel, can best judge . All the ar
guments, rather assertions, of Messrs Clay,
Webster, Benton, and the rest Of the advocates OF
passive obedience and n0n-resistance, cannot in
validate this self-evdent maxim. Those that feel
can best judge Of the measure Of infection, and
the extent Of the suffering, as well as the period
when submission is no longer compatible with
selfpreservation. It's wicked absurdy to say
that those who naict, not those who suffer, are to
decide on the Of suffering, that will usti-
fly the VICTIM either in resisting or retiring out Of
the reach Of the oppressor All animal instinct,
all human reason all human feeling revots against
such mischieyous dogma Of despotsm; dogma
which has long since been repudiated by Locke,
Sidney, Milton, Harrington, and by every writer
on the law Of nature and nations, worthy Of being
cited as authority before free people. Why
there is not a statesman, or a newspaper in all
England, not even bishop, that dares to main
tain this doctrine in the face Of the world Yet
strange to say, here, even here, in what is called
the freest country on earth, this doctrine Of pas
sive obedience and non-resistance is openly pro-
claimed by the highest authorities in the highest
Legislative body in the land and echoed by scores
OF newspapers that pretend to be advocates of hui
man rights. l confess | am astonished at their
hardihood in thus asserting principle which, il
once recognized and acted upon, will assuredy
result in the consolidation of the government, and
the slavery of the people. These gentlemen have
shouldered heavy burden, and must either sink
under it, or the country will sink under them.
CONFEDERATION or STATES.
In confederation of States like ours, each one
possessing equally all the attributes of sovereign
ty not relinquished by the express terms of the
compact, the maintenance Of their reserved rights
will, in great measure, depend on the minority,
which will always be placed on the defensive. =
There is little probability that they will attempt
any encroachments on the majority, which, il
united, can always easily repe them. Encroach-
ments ever come from the strongest party. But
the is altogether different with sectional mi
nority, which has no other protection than a sa.
cred adherence to the original compact, over
which it behooves them to watch with sleepless
vigilance. 1t is obvious from the present tenden
cy Of things, that the preservation Of State rights
will, in great measure, if not altogether, depend
| on the slaveholding section Of the Union, whose
only existence hangs successful resistance Il
the doctrines that are now brought to bear agains
It by Abotionists, Free-soilers, and every othe
variety offanaticism and hypocricy. Out Of tina
section, the rights Of the States, though occasion
ally admitted into the catalogue Of Democratic
principles, are little understood by the people,
| know no more, and care no more about them thar
they do for those of the Achacan league, or thu
incomprehensible German confederation.
| PUBLIC CREDIT.
The system Of government loans is in the emf
as fatal to liberty as standing armies, which hay
in fact grown out OF it. Previous to the commence
ment of this system, armies were enlisted as tn,
public exigencies required land promptly dscharg
ed, when the exigency ceased. In England thu
militia and the navy were called on for defenct
against invasion, and standing armies in offensive
| warfare. But by borrowing money that govern
ment was enabled to maintain perpetual stand
/ ing army, and the militia has since been so com
pletey neglected that it has not been mustered 70
nearly twenty years. The truth is, the govern
ment does not trust arms in the hands of the PEG
pie, and the consequence is, that they have not on
lost all their martial spirit, but all their skill in tn
use Of guns; 80 much so, that an invasion Of fft,
thousand men from France would in all probable
ity result in revolution, or conquest. Had Napo
leon possessed the present array Of French steam
ers, il would have been all over with England.
In addition to this effect of the system Of loans
! it renders power in great measure despotic, By
ensting a large portion of the capitalists and in
| huential men IN its support, however great may
be its excuses. II robs the people, by entailins
upon them perpetunlly increasing burdens, calling
for additional exertions and sacrifices to NEE
them; and the present abject poverty ofthe masses
OF England, and indeed all Europe, may in very
considerable degree be traced to debt Of some
6000 900 000 the interest Of which they must pay
by the sweat Of their brow. When government
as ia now the case with that of the United States
is obliged either to borrow money or lay taxes to
support its peace establishment, it is time for III,
people to look to themselves and their future des
tiny, instead of befuddng their noodles with
higher laws, and meddIing in the affairs of the
neighbors. Happy is that people where govern
ment has no credit, for it cannot beggar them by
borrowing.
PROFESSOR AGAssIz gave a lecture at Ke,
West, on the 2lst ultmo, having for his subjec
the Florida Reef and its builder, the coral in
sect, of which correspondent of the Sapa,nal
Republican gives the following account
"He set ont with stating his opinion that the
peninsular of Florida was made by this little
workman, and then, with illustrations on the
black board, described its physiology. There
are, he said, different races of coral, some Of
which lay the foundation Of the reef in deeE
water build up to certain height, and die