The southern press., 1851-04-10

wltnOut the principles,
| We believe that when the blessing which the
Union was designed to secure alike to all classes
OF cItizens, are denied to us--when those equal
rights and privileges which the Constitution
guarantees to all Americans, are wrested from
us, and all this is done in the name of the Union,
il is our duty to adhere to the rights, the bene-
fits and the principles of the Union, and let who
will, wear the empty name.
We believe that justice honor, the rights Of
our children, the privileges and immunities Of
freemen and Americans, as our fathers enjoyed
them and we received them, are things which
we cannot abandon, while we know that the
name Of Unon--venerable rs that name is made
by the remembrance of what it once was, and
what it was designed TO be-when it is used
but rs a watch-word for every attempt to d.
fraud or oppress us, has in Us sound no charm
of sufficient potency to lull uslnto forgetfulness
of our duties and our rights or into an apathetic
endurance Of the oppression or the fraud.
But we are far from conceding that the close
and well concerted union Of the Southern States
for the vindication Of their rights, will neces-
sarily produce separation from the North
On the contrary, we believe that without it a
separation must surely come, and that this will
be the only means-if indeed any means may
vet suffice-by which that consummaton to the
labors of the Northern agitators may possibly
be ayerted.
The history of the past very clearly demon
strates that the compromise and concession
policy has tended, on the one hand, to weaken
the South both morally and physically; while,
on the other, it has utterly failed to purchase
for us any cessation of the continually ncreas-
ing aggressions of the enemies of negro sla-
very.
The present posture of affairs, we think, fully
exempliies the fact that the slaveholding States
can make no concession or compromise, short
of total surrender of their property and their
rights, which will satisfy those who clamor
against the institutions of the South.
1t is not, then, by concession that we can hope
to preserve political unity with the Northern
States, for it is evident that we may 60 on max
ing surrender after surrender of our rights, until
nothing is left us to concede; and yet, so long
as we hold the negro in domestic servitude, we
shall fail as completely to pacificate our enemies,
as we have hitherto failed to stop their calamors
byucceding to their demands.
Pursue this system as long as we may,
time must arise when concessions will Of me-
cessity cease What will then be our stua-
ton Infinitely worse than it is now.
Shall we reason with our adversaries? 1t is
in vain to remind them that the Constitution re-
cognizes the existence of slavery and protects it.
Equally vain to remind them that the benef-
cent Creator and Great Law Giver of the Uni
verse, has recognized the relation of man-ser-
want and mnd-servant of bond-man and bond
woman, without disapproval, and even instruct
ed his chosen people of ancient days, as to the
manner of their treatment, nay, that He has
more than once directed the taking of captives
and their retention in perpetual servile bondage,
or to remind them that the Blessed Savior Of
mankind when on earth, lived among people
where slavery existed and yet he "who was Of
purcr eyes than to look upon iniquity," has left
upon record no condemnation of the institution,
Who shall by reasoning attemp; to convince
people who have a law higher than the Con-
stitution!-a morality purer than the law of
God CW
But there is one call to which they have never
turned deaf ear The call Of interest Let
them realize that their farther interference in our
domestic affairs will certainly deprive them of
their immense Southern revenue upon which
they have built cities of palaces in land whose
staple production are ice, granite hills, and YAM
kee notions Let them be convinced that they
have to choose between giving up the luxury
of depressing, robbng and abusing the South,
and being cut off from all intercourse with us.
Let the merchant the ship-owner, the manu-
facturer, and the master mechanic OF the North,
become convinced that his ships will no longer
find market, and that his " trade" will no longer
be consumed at the South that our cotton
will no longer furnish employment for his
spindes; that he may keep his hats, and boots,
and kerseys, and brogans, his tin and wooden
buckets, his cotton hose, and cane knives, his
towels, and his negro blankets, at home and re-
tail them to his neighbors; and he may possibly
be induced to pause and consider of the matter.
We do not believe that the North is ready for
the separation, and we think that if there is any
mode of proceeding by which it is possible to
secure n cessation Of that system of unwar.
rantable and ntolerable interference with our
affairs, which is now sapping the very founda-
ton of our institutions, it is simply to convince
them that system must inevitably lead to separ-
alton, and that speedily.
Thus, whether with view to continuance of
the connexion with the Northern States to the
necessary preparation for separation from
them--if that should prove to be the only means
by which our rights and our honor can be main
tained-we deem union among the friends of
Southern rights not only desirable, but of ab-
soute necessity
Whatever course the South may ultimately
resolve to pursue, it is obvious that to act with
effect, she must act as a unit. United, we are
strong enough to vindicate our rights; without
united and concerted action we can prosecute
no plan successfully. We believe that we have
arrived at such crisis in our affairs that South
ern disagreement and Southern destruction are
convertible terrs.
We do not pretend to dictate to Others, or
even fully to have decided for ourselves as to
what may be the most prudent and effective plan
of extricatng the South from her present alarm
ing and precarious situation, nor do we attempt
to inform othersyof anything of which they are
ignorant, but rather to stir them up to act upon
the knowledge which they already possess. We
profess to have made no very new discovery );
nor do we claim to have organized any impor-
tant movement.
Others have far preceded us in the work of
Southern organization; and upon others than
the citizens of Matagorda county, will in all
probability devolve the task of devising way
Of escape from the imminent dangers which
threaten the slaveholding States Of the Union.
Our pretensions extend thus far, no farther:
| To hold ourselves united and ready to cor
respond--to consult and to act with the "South-