The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-30
VOL. II
.he danger Of conflict vim be small. Bnt uny

the danger of conflict will be small. But any
detection from its right course. to the prejudice
OF the States will, as usurpation Of authority
and IN deroga.ion Of the Constitution, be sur,
to be met by determined resistance A striking
evidence OF this was given in the general excite
nent amongst the people and in the threatenips
attitude of the Southern States, whilst it wa,
supposed that Congress-, forgetful of its duty X
afford protection to all, was meditating aggres
sion upon the peculiar property of those States
j BY an irritating agitation, the Free-soers O
the Northern States, and their confederates, tn,
Abotionists, aided by their miserable tools il
Congress-, have greatly weakened those ties o
brotherhood which once united us so firmly
and it is not to be disguised that events have,
late, rapidly tended to bring upon us that un
happy geographical division Of parties, agains
which, as fraught with danger to the Union, the
country long since received an impressive warn
ing We lament that any excuse for such di
vision should be found in the past action of fed
eral Legislation; and we indulge the hope, thai
in its recent measures, COMMONLY known as thu
compromise, we may realize the covenant which
Is to terminate the strife that has so largely con
| tributed to exasperate, and to "render alien to
| each other those who ought to be bound to.
gether by fraternal affection"
Whilst candor compels US to admit that those
measures are not, in all respects what we could
desire, we vet do not hesitate to declare that VIC
perceive in them nothing tyrannical, nor degrad.
ing, nor oppressive, to any portion of the con-
federacy; nothing but what every patriot my
consistently sanction; and as compromise oil
conflicting opinions, as settlement of an angry
sectional controversy, threatening in its fury the
Union ITSELF we think they commend themselves
to universal support.
Amongst these measures, that which was de-
signed to facilitate the recovery of fugitive
slaves has alone excited any considerable oppo-
siton II is the only one that requires active
excrtion to enforce it. The others have received
the appreciation of the States whom they imme-
dately concern, and are of nature to execute
themselves. We view all distractions to the
execution Of this law, whether on the part OF
States or individuals, as destructive Of the fun
damental principles Of our Union, and rs Of
fatal tendency. We consider the Constitution
ms obligatory on State Legislation, and we con-
slider it the duty Of every individual to obey the
established government. We therefore hold il
to be the duty of the federal authorities to en-
force, by all the constitutional means at their
command, the observance of this law.
In making this declaration, we must not be
understood to intimate any distrust of those to
whom the nation has confided the administration
of its affairs; on the contrary, we take pleasure
in bearing testimony to the entire faithfulness
with which their high duties have, thus far, been
performed Upon their continuing, in any en-
Urgency, to act with the same good sense, firm
ness, and patriotism, we place the most I'M
doibted reliance.
As Wings, we congratulate orr party and the
country on the entire fulfilment Of the Wing
assurances. during the last Presidential canvass,
that Mr.. Fillmore would prove sound on the
questions that affect Southern safety. Ofcourse,
we may equally congratulate them on the falsif-
cation Of the injurious predictions and accusa-
tons so boldly and indiscriminately made against
him by his adversaries His patriotic perform
ance of his high duties his wise, right, and firm
conduct under every difficulty, have indicated
onr filth in him, and endeared him to all good
citizens. In his hands the Fugitive slave law
will be faithfully executed, andall combinations
and associations, from whatever causes proceed
ing to defeat il, will b. disappointed Of their
purpose We rejoice to believe that in this
suspicious result the efficacy of our federal gov
eminent to accomplish the purposes Of justice,
enforce obedience to its authority, and in all
things fulfil the expectation of its founders, will
be demonstrated in manner that cannot fail
more strongly to cement the bonds Of the Union,
and convince its enemies Of the utter futity Of
all attempts to accomplish its dissolution.
Already has the controversy concerning sla-
very-which, upon the disposal Of our ncqu;si-
tons from Mexico, assumed such portentous
magnitude--ceased to create IN exclusively sec
tional aspect On our part, acquiescence in tenn
perate councils, and submission to moderate
demands, have excited to action the consider
ate and patriotic Of our fellow-citzens of the
free States: and, accordingly, we find the exist
ing contention removed from our midst to other
theatres more appropriate to the mad fury that
has produced and feeds il.
If ut once the entire body of the Northern
and Northwestern States-the great overruling
mass Of their educated popuation-has not re-
sumed its duty, its senses, and the feelings
which, in nobler days, made us all one. North
and South, in spite of slavery, ms Involuntary to
us now ms then, there is one grave excuse for
that fact, which all should recognize Il this /:
that wild political theories, captivating as long ms
untried, are abroad over the entire civilized world
red republicanism and communism in France /;
the like in Germany and Italy; chartism in Eng
land The sudden opinions peculiar TO the
dav, all possess the singular characteristic Of
being Jealous and extreme, IN proportion ms
tHey are new. Like CildH w every tHlnR, tncy
are like il in this that they must blaze in order
TO burn at all. Ideal doctrines Of liberty, per.
sonal and political, as limitless as imprescrpt-
ible, prevail everywhere. From Europe, and
especially England they had some time ago
spread to the Northern States Of this Union !;
but merely as a speculation, an idea, until dem.
agogues--far more criminal in this matter than
fanatics--saw an opportunity Of working 10 their
personal or party profit the unopened mine OF
these notions. They aattered, they heated them.
and drew them into politics.
Parties were so nearly on the equipoise, that
the "liberty men" the Abolitionists, were enough
10 turn the scale either way. OF course, com.
petition of both parties for them began. With
their political importance swelled their numbers
and their zeal. That zeal of course excited in
an opposite quarter an opposite doctrine and
zeal equally strong, ard popular feeling Of the
South, which in its turn became passion and
a monomania capable Of being made to tell in
elections; and demngoguism began to cherish
and to inhame IL, just as II was doing under an
opnoeifa name In tho North In u,nrd or,,f