The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-22
THE SOUTHERN PRESS
WASHINGTON CITY.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1851.


Our last article 10 the controversy with the
Richmond Enquirer on the internal improve
ments Of New York and Virginia, appeared
about two weeks ago; and seems to have been
such a settler, that the Enquirer remained mo-
tionless and speechlcss. AS we did not sup
pose that il had candor enough to confess ts
blunders, and to promise not to meddle with
figures again, we thought il well enough for it
to remain silent, until time had mltigated the
anguish of its discontinue
But the sufferings OF the Enquireris intolera-
BILE, and since it presents its contortions to its
own readers, we hope we will be excused for
the irresistible propensity we have, to exhibit
themto ours. We take pleasure which, it seems,
isenjoyed by none of our opponents in giving
alllength specimens of those who assail US, and
therefore insert the following entire as it is
printed in the Richmond Enquirer of Saturday
last the 18th inst.
The LuSAcy OF THE SOUTHERN Pass. Some
time since IT became necessary for us very
thoroughly to dssect and fully to expose the alb
surdities Of two articles, which appeared in the
Southern Press, relative to the system of internal
New York. The senior editor of the Southern
Press is jack of all trades-a dabbler in politics
"a quack economist--and pretender to a vast
amount ofstatistical knowledge. His paper, since
its commencement, has been an intermeddling
concern, interfering impertinently with the do
mestic well as the general policy of the South
ern States II dictates one day chapter Of polit-
ical economy to Virginia, and the next, lecture
on the "horrors OF submission to gallant Georgia
1t presents to laughing public a strange picture
OF Quakerism run mad-Bobad clustering, and
Of an amalgnmationist Ohoan, struttng about, the
leader of slim squad Of hotspurs OF the cotton
States One day the disciple of the cody Penn
flames like an insane comet and whisks about
among the Southern States--the next he punges,
kissing like hot poker, into the middle of a
New York canal, or cooIs off by wallowing in the
mire of some mud-pike OF western Virginia. New
err was there paper published in the city OF
Washngton that underwent so much vcarious
suffering for the Southarn States--never was a
Quaker SO bellicose or amalgamatioDst SO disn-
sterested in support Of Southern rights. The
Southern Press really seems to think, that the
people Of Virginia unhappy and very sad at
having incurred its displeasure. But it is humi-
iating fact, that but for our having, in the excess
Of our charity, occasionally noticed the Press, the
people Of the State might not be aware of the ex-
istence Of the Southern Press. Depending as il
does, for its existence, upon an unnatural and I'M
fortunate excitement upon the slavery question,
which will soon, we hope disappear--its precar-
Gus existence has no doubt been prolonged by our
having occasionally, at idle. moments, amused
ourselves in impang its statistical articles flies
were pinned to the wall by a distinguished Ro-
man philanthropst. We have serious reasons to
believe that our last article in reply to the South
ern Press has reduced the senior TO the meancho-
w condition ola raving mailman. The eccentri-
cities-the Imaginable logic, threadbaIe sophistry,
solemn, dreary, mournful humor, fru'tiess wit,
hotn nd uddv
DE- 'arations of the Southern Press, have ended,
we fear, in incurabe insanity.
The proximate cause of this m lancholy event
was undoubtedly the article in which, by refer
| epce to the proper documents and author ties, we
succeeded in demolishng the Southern Press, in
the very midst Of its labyrinth Of arthmetcal err
rors romantic statistics, and hlmsy sophistry
| But misfortunes have Of late fallen heavily upon
/ this hapless child Of excitement. Ii is given to
but few moras to read the future. 1t is fortunate
that we cannot do so--our fortunes and destnies
are hidden by the veil which hides the future
| But it is the misfortune of the Southern Press
whilst living, to have been able TO read, from the
signs Of the times, the truthful tale of its APP
proaching dissolution; and, although the Union
still stands firm, the Southern Press is sinking
gradually from the view Of the world as the cause
of the Union grows strong. Dlsappolntments, q
Sense Of its increasing insignlhcance, its failure to
do any good, the certainly of its speedy demise
/ and thorough demolition of its internal improve
ment articles have driven the Southern Press to
insanity. If any one doubts assertion, let
him read in the Southern Press Of the 9th Of the
| present month, the three columns OF genuine
| King Lear rawlings, in an editorial upon the New
York canal. Since reading, mind has been
recurring to picture of master artist, in which
the principal figure demented writer with
shaved head, straight jacket, chains, and bed Of
straw. After that article, We must be excused
! from treating the senior editor of the Southern
| Press as coDipos n,enfs. 1t would be toilsome as
well as ridiculous for us gravely to reply to the
nonsense Of crazy man. Another broadside Of
statistics might kill the patient--and then we
would stand lefore the world with the blood of
the Quaker upon our hands.
The rise, progress, and insanity of the Southern
Press serve well to point moral. Established at
period Of great excitement, its food and exist
ence depended upon the agitation of the question
| of slavery. 1t was heralded to the world as the
only true and faithful defender Of the South. Its
mission was to check Northern aggression and to
crush the compromise. Respectable and patri-
otto men stood godfathers for the paper, and their
names gave it temporary responsibility. For a
time the mass of the people OF the South were dis
posed to give it encouragement But the tone and
character Of the rickety concern soon convinced
every intelligent Southern man Of its utter worth
| lessness, as a dignifed Southern organ. 1t has
been conducted upon the hypothesis that the peo-
|
| temperate fanatics and dsunionsts. Moderation
common sense, and catholic scirt Of conca
| ton, have had no place in its columns They
have teemed with the doctrines of Rhei, Cheves,
and that class of politicians who are said to re-
gard disunon as a blessing. Whilst other papers
have looked to the maintenance of the Union
the great object Of every patriot, the Southern
Press has consistently advocated measures which,
| il carried out, would render dlsunion inevitable.
With degree Of imperinence unexampled in
the history OF the editorial world it has lectured
States, and abused the most respectable Southern
men because they not willing to act the parts
Of incendaries and dsunionists. Whilst its whole
course has been eminenrly well calculated to drive
| from the support of the South the friends Of the
Union and Constitution at the North, it has pro-
duced unkind feeling among the people Of the
South.
| Not content with opposing the compromise, it
emptied the walls Of its wrath uron every State
that refused to recognize the policy and proprety
Of the course of South Carolina. Instead Of aim
ing TO bind the States together--instead Of uniting
them by the ties Of amity, its denunciatIons Of
| 4. haa