The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-18
Froa The Coastiil,lioaalist aud Republic.
The PrinsipIes aud Policy Of the Southern
Rights Party.

| The Principles aud Policy OF the southern
Rights Party.
The TUB last elections in Georgia have twice
definitely settled all practical questions in refer
ence to ttf passage of the compromise measures.
The election for members to the convention in
1860 settled the point that Georgia would ac
quiesce il that compromise. ihe election OF
governor members of Congress and OF the leg
islature d 1851, has settled the point over again.
Resistance to the compromise was killed stone
dead in lt5O, and lay PROSTATE in the political
arena hit to carry the State by means of hum
bug, the fsderal leaders pretended that there was
sti life u the dead carcass--raised panic
charged UPON their slain enemy with sword and
lance, and vaianlly pierced him over and over
again. like Fallstaff, they feared, or pretended
to fear, ibis gunpowder Percy, though he be
dead" Hence this false cry of Union was raised,
and thesepolitical knights achieved another VIC
tory under false colors
II there have been, really, among any inteli-
gent m4H in Georgia, apprehensions that the
| Union WIS in dan ger from the Southern Rights
| party, it lis reasonable to suppose that theit
alarms ar, now Enthusiastically and forever.
The fraud and the hypocrisy would be so palpa-
BILE, IL the cry is again raised by demsgogues,
that the most stupid and ignorant voter can't
avoid seeing it.
The South has pretty plainly shown that she
will not secede from the North, and there ap
pears but little danger Of the North seeding
from her The North has found her pigeon
to be plucked hitherto, and has no disposition to
part from so fat a customer
The question. then, was the compromise "wise,
liberal and just" or the reverse, has no longer
practical bearing and must hereafter be enrolled
among the dead questions of past times and
past conflicts among politicians. Men will still
differ as to the merits Of that compromise. 1t
may be, and will in future theme for reflection
and speculative opinion with the political stu
dent curious in the history of parties and their
struggles 10 this country; but beyond this, it
will be no more an active element in the politics
Of the country, than the question of the policy
of purchasing Louisiana--no more than the
British orders in council, and impressment of
seanen, which gave rise to the last war with
Great Britain-no more than the question of the
wisdom and justice of the Missouri compromise
no more than the question of the propriety of
annexing Texas to the Union.
Turn we now to question which is pract
cal, and which looks to the future-a question
which rises to the lips of every Southern Rights
man in Georgia: What shall be the future poll
cy of the Southern Rights party of Georgia!
The resolutions of its convention, in May last,
contain creed, apart from the issues growing
out of the compromise, involving questions Of
State rights and national policy, worthy of its
support at all times and under all circumstances
"A creed not sectional, nor necessarily CON-
nected with slavery and territorial issues
creed WHICH, while it is essential to the main
tenance Of Southern rights, does not encroach
upon the rights Of any other section, and may
be usefully invoked in defence of the common
right Of all against the aggressive spirit of
federalism and consolidation. As sectional
organization, the Southern rights party has been
proved to be poweress, and is overthrown by
| the very people whose peculiar interests and
] rights it aimed to protect. Its patriotism has
been impugned, and its championship of South
ern rights scornfully declined by decisive ma
orties in the Southern States, and that office il
dcvolved upon the SPECIALIZED constitutional Union
party. Let us patiently wait and see how man.
fully that party will discharge the duty, or how
much more OF Southern Righs it will yield to
the spirit of Northern aggression-all for the
love Of the Unlyn.
When the renewed assaults are made upon
the institution Of slavery, for which slavery
is now marshalling its forces, and which are only
postponed until after the next Presidential cleo
ton, the Southern Rights men will be among the
foremost at the breach in defence of the South
IL the choice OF the people should be for resist
anoe in preference TO submissian, But Judging
the future by the past, 1t is not imprc bable that
the voice Of resistance will again be stiied BY
I" The false cry Of Union"-indignatio at North
ern aggression will be again stigmatized as the
spirit Of disunion and treason, and submission
will be lauded rs patriotism-all for the sake Of
the still glndous Union, And thus, step by step
the weak, unfortunate, and doonsd' institution
Of slavery will be driven to the wall
The time Is probably not distant v hen thou
sands OF Shareholders who have aided To place
that party In power, will regret victory bought
at so dear price
The Southern Rights party, afer purging IL
self OF its sectionslsm, growing out Of It's vair
and fruitless opposition 10 the compromise, vii
have a set-of principles broad, national and en-
during-worth contending for, and capable o.
raying TO their su' port majority Of the peol Il
Of Georgia-of the South. and perhaps MAORI
ties in other States Of the Union. Taking tn,
resolutions OF the souihsrn Rights convention
in May last, and excluding or modifying thos,
referring 10 the territorial and slave questions
we would have the following platform:
, Resolved, That il is vitality important for III,
maintenance Of the rights OF the states, that th'
republican doctrine Of '9s and 80, as embodied
in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, b.
nainIalneu WIN ubll UcUlng UfmUess, anu tDa
among them we recognise the following:
: g. Resoiped, That the States, as separate anC
equal sovsreignties, formed the Constitution.
} g. Resolped, That each State by it, own con
yention deliberated upon and determined for IL
self The question Of the ratification or rejection
Of that Constitution, and that il came into III,
/. Union by It's own sovereignty and voluntary act
and that therefore this is Union ~ Soaseni ant
not Of fdroe.
T. ResOlped, That each State in view OF III,
voluntary n iture Of the Union, has the right il
virtue Of it, Independence and sovereignty, o
seeding from the Union whenever the peopl
thereof, IN their sovereign capacity, shall deter
mine such step 10 be necessary TO effect thei
safety or happiness, and Of consequence, tina
! the general government has no authority 10 at
empt, by military force or otherwise TO Restrain
State in the exercise Of such sovereign right
10. Rssolpsd, That. the harmony and safety o
|, the Union depend upon strict construction o
the Constitution. And because ve are for tn
!. Constitution as Il is, we oppose the Unite,
/ III. - =