Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-04-12

thousands of dollars have been lost forever bv the
South in unsuccessful expenditures of this kind
and it will continue to be until they learn the
plain truth. Hundreds leave their homes under
the firm belief that they will find the great mass
of Northern wings and democrats ready and
willing to assist them, and that all they will have
to contend against will be few crazy abotionists
but they soon discover their mistake, and return
home with empty pockets, cursing those who have
deceived them.
In the present state of the public mind every
attempt to enforce this law is Immediately heralded
through the papers from end of the country
to the other, and all the facts tending to excite
sympathy for the fugitive are carefully collected
and sent upon the wings of the wind. Thus is it
that the excitement is kept up, and the btterest
opposition to the law fostered and extended
Thousands are by this means led to investigate the
whole subject of slavery, and their relation to it,
and as a result, anti-slavery sentiment is spread
ing with great rapdty. 1t has aroused the abo-
htlonists; they are renewing their organizations
all over the country For years they have not
been as active as since the passage of this law.
But this is not all-so odious are many of its fea-
lures, and so pertinaciously does the South insist
upon maintaining it precisely as it is, threatening
to dissolve the Union if attempt is made to
amend repeal it, that hundreds of quiet, peace
loving citizens are seriously beginning to contem-
plate peaceable separation of the States as pre-
ferable to this continual strife. The South must
not be surprised if they taken at their word
some day. One thing is certain-if the North
should seriously contemplate dissolution of the
Union, they will not talk long about it, but it wH
be d0ne
The opinion of Daniel Webster, that "the Con-
stituton addresses itself to the States themselves
on this subject, and not to the federal government,
Is fast becoming the opinion of the mass of the
people, and, when this opinion becomes fully ripe
for action, will sweep the law from the statute
book without moments hesitation If the South
has any real regard for their own interests they
will hasten to repeal it speedily as possible.
That it will be repealed with or without their con-
sent is just certain as that the odious twenty
first rule was repealed. By timely retreat
they may save themselves the modification of eat
ing their own threats of disunon, which they will
most certainly be compelled to do, if they persist
BRYANT.
re- The following is from the Riply Adoertiser,
and is introduced by the editor thus; ''The ar
ticle is in all things respectful, though confess
are too duU to see its points," We have no
doubt of the sincerity of this remark. Men who
fail to not only point, but historical accuracy,
in the following, must be dull indeed. Passive
submission to contumely and wrong will paraIize
any people, and the philosophy of the following is
not to submit. 1t is no virtue to sufer when we
can right ourselves by exertions and in this the
editor of the Advertiser will not agree, because
he declines employing the means necessary to
right the South. Legislation and harmony will
right us now-in five years hence it will require
the sword and the faggot
From tie Riply Adoerttser.
Mr.. EDITOR: For the last twenty years the in
stitution of slavery has been the subject of con-
slant attack on the part of the people of the nor
thern States of confederacy. Newspapers
have been established, and extensively circulated
societies have been formed numerous meetings
have been held-district and State Conventions
have sat for days. and all for the sole purpose of
denouncing slavery and shareholders, and of de-
yising means to destroy the Institution.
For time those engaged i'll this crusade, COM
posed but fraction of the people of the northern
States, unable to control majority of votes,
cept in few localities, holding, however, the bal
lance of power between the two political parties of
the country, and ready to lend their influence
and support to that party, most ready to pledge
itself to the promotion of their particular purpose
AS a matter of course they courted by the
corrupt politicians of both parties-each wed with
the other in the effort to secure their support
The public men of neither party dared to raise a
voice against the folly and fanatcism of the aboli
tionists. To have done so would have inevitably
insured defeat. The road to popularity was thro'
denunciation of slavery, shareholders and the IN
terests of the slave States.
For the last fifteen years this demonlac spirit
has exhibited itself in a more imposing and por
tentous form. Conventions composed of delegates
from various States have been held numerously
attended, Illuminating resolutions against the rights
and property of Southern men, and at war with
the Constitution and laws of the country-and,
by the way, no charges of treason were hurled at
them-no hosanas were sung to the Union
The Legislatures of every northern State have
repeatedly adopted resolutions denouncing slavery,
and in strict accordance with the fanatic spirit of
the abolitionists.
Congress has been continually flooded with pc
ttions, memorials and legislative resolutions pray
ing the abolition of slavery. This has been con-
tinued without cessation up to the adjournment of
the recent session of Congress.
During all this time the abolition spirit has been
extending, until it pervades the whole community,
and no public man at the north has, or dares to
raise his voice in defence of the Constitutional
rights of the South.
At first this fanatical spirit received but little
countenance in Congress; now, however, MAORI
ty of that body is found trampling the Constitu-
ton under foot in order to crafty its rapacious ap
petite.
Whilst every effort is made to foster, protect,
and increase the acousition of every SDecIeS OF