The southern press., 1851-08-09

| tempt to define patriotism, but he had to learn
that patriotism meant surrender to the majority
and yet The Unionist- acceptation Of the term
could be made to imply 90 other DR.. Johnson
had once been asked what was the meaning Of
the word, and the doctor replied, patriotism il
the last resort of a scoundre" He had seen
circumstances that reminded him Of such an ap
plication daughter and applause.) He had nc
objection TO any party taking up the name ol
| Union, or any other name that suited them
they had a right to adopt what name they
chose, but he objected to such name being
adopted for the purpose of making an issue
upon it; and he also objected TO this same party
fixing name upon himself and his party. II
their opponents were Unienists, why let them
be so, but he could not conceive from whence
they got their right to make up an issue for the
Democrats. 1t was, not usual for one man TO
cut, shuttle and deal cards, nor could 1t be just
for Submissionists to have all the say. There
was no need to change the name of Democrats
lit was one that was honorable and reputable
--one that their fathers had borne, and as parties
stood, he knew of no name more sacred, nor Of
any that he would more readily bear. What
name was more honorable or sacred than Wing
in the old revoution--that name was then dear
have been misused to cloak the acts of federal
ism and power, through which it lost its beauty
and its charms. For what reason the g Union"
cry in Mississippi had been raised he could not
conceve-it was matter he was at loss to
understand. Seward, said he held the Union"
above the question Of slavery. That, he (Col
Davis,) could understand, but he thought Sew
ard would receive little sympathy in Mississippi,
If slavery became abolished Il was not the
name of the party but the significance which
the word " Union" betokened to those who az
sumedit He was arraigned not rs disunionist
only, but as an archleader of disunion.
He did not know why such terms were ap-
piled to him, for he was sure that nothing he had
ever done or said could be referred to, to bear
out such an application But when man
charged him with being disunionist, he should
make monsylabic answer which was not fit to
be used before that assembly, yet which was the
only one that ought to be used to his foul as
sailants. (Cheers.) A disunionist must be
made from one of two causes, either interest or
prejudice. He could have no prejudice, for
since he was sixteen years Of age, he had
served the federal government. For twelve
years he had borne arms for his country; for
five years he had served in the council of the
nation. Whatever had been his course of life,
United States. When called upon, he had al
ways been prepared to serve his country, and
his acts had been constituted with the United
States. For twelve years, his home had been
under the flag of the stars and stripes, and it
would indeed be strange, if after this he should
desire to become dsunionist The kind con-
fdence of his fellow-citizens in Mississippi had
placed him, he feared, far above his deserts, but
he had endeavored to deserve their confidence
He had reached period of life that caused him
to desire no higher honor, nor could any man
reach to a higher stati on, unless he soiled his
hands, and bartered away the interests of the
South to the fan lticism of Southern opponents
"a temptation he hoped ever to resist. (Cheers.)
Then what interest had he? He had no ambi-
ton to crafty Ly becoming disunonist; no
higher station to obtain, but he might by such
a course, sacrifice the high position he held.
Having thus, then, neither interest nor prejudice
what on earth could be an inducement for him
to become disunionist! (Applause.) Had he
been willing TO have accepted the inducements
offered to him, to become traitor to his constitu-
ents, he might have been led into the camp of
the "Unionists" and got his reward-he might
have gained other laurels, that were but to fade
He might have come home to justify his acts, and
his constituents might have appeared satisfied
for time.
But who were the gentlemen that assailed
him! He knew not whether they were at that
meeting or elsewhere he was unable to find
one of them who had ever lost drop of blood
in defence of his country-or whose acts of pa.
tIiotism had ever gained them laured of fame
they were merely those who had basked in the
sunshine of pleasure or indulgence, and whose
peculiarites were an attachment to Office. loud
cheers) He claimed his right to be for the
Union, because his heart beat for the welfare Of
his country, but the Union was not so dear to
him as Mississippi; and as a choice between
secession and political and social degradation,
were he asked which he preferred he would say
secession" and every son of Mississippi with
feelings of honor, or a sense of justice in his |
breast would be with him TO the last loud |
applause.) Was this disunion or disruption |
that deserved such censure? IL were, why il |
was the principle Of the revolution Of '76 and |
TT, out OF which the Constitution arose, being |
rendered sacred by the blood of those who fell
to cement it and who declared that it was right |
to discountenance government, when that gov !
ernment became oppressive The Declaration |
Of Independence recognized the right of seces- |
sion under circumstances Of oppression and in |
justice He wanted TO see the man who would |
come forward with arguments TO show that IL a
country has right to secede from an oppressive |
government, as the United States did from
Great Britain, why States had no right TO secede |
from the federal government under similar cir.
cumstarces. How could colonies have greater |
powers than States And what arguments could
those be that denied the right Of secession. Mr. |
Madison had given his opinion. New York and
Virginia bad both ayowed their opinion in favor
of the right Of secession. Whilst that great
and good man who always opposed State coer-
cion, Gen. Washington, in his farewell address
discountenanced the perver-Ion Of power by one
department over another, nor did he ever alIude |
to treason in the sovereign acts Of State, but |
he left II TO this degenerate race 10 discover that
treason could be committed by sovereignty. |
Treason In the United States was specifically
defined by raising war against, or giving aid,
comfort and assistance 10 enemies-it was not |
crime Of sovereignty, or Of States, but Of a per-
son, and the punishment was restricted to the |
natural life Of the offender. Yet gentlemen IN |
these dsys went one step further and talked OF
the treason Of States and the punishment Of
Al l..I