Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-08-07
Ge,-. JGQ. /. Quitmaa.

Ge.. JE0. 4. Quiimaa.
In another column will be found "a letter from Gen
Quitman addressed to the central committee OF Jack
We need not say to readers that this letter
is from the pen Of conscientious man and patriot
Too clear sighted to be deceived to the future, he
looks upon the past and present, with the eye Of phi
osoPher and stands prepared to graPple with events
they arise with herosm equal TO any emergency.
We may say, and we do with sincerity, that the
position occupied by the gallant old chief in the PEN
ding contest is enviabe; and though he may by an
organization that is surely ephemera be pushed to the
WALL his seadiasthess to principle and justice in the
end viii be reward by the confidence and appreciation
ola people, who, by factous opposition and base
reachery, have come to regard him impracticable
and dangerous to the general harmony of the Union
The error into which Gen. Qutman fell, this -
He for meeting face to face, the evil he was for
graphing with the demon offanatcism now, and sran
gle it while we yet possessed the power. This was
what every brave man desired but in preparing fer
that contest he overlooked the prejudices that
everywhere spread out TO resist violent struggle and
he widely overraed those patriotic proestatons of
the politician, who, if he fails at the end of
his labor individual distinction and personal emou-
ment, becomes stone-blind to the of right and
National Justice. Thus in the very hour of the
test, the foxes seeking their burrows-in other
words, we saw the federal arm extending snug sine
some, in the shape of fat Cuba appointments
and millions of dollars dangling the point of the
swcrd in another direction. This, We say was over
looked, or if seen, too lightly estimated
An organization such as the times demands must be
of slow growththe very nature ofthe evils against
which the South is called to contend, such, that
must be taught by bitter experience that they are
to resist by something direiu than county, State
or Legislative resolutions. We say this is thing to
be taught, and hope expect to see any or
ganzaton worthy Of serious thought until the voice
of an outraged people force these Southern National
politicians, whose highest aims are to frame excuses
project preexts for Northern aggressons 70 abandon
their shallow sophistery, and meet the danges their
treachery has palliated concealed. The people
may be deluded they have been until the storm in
all its fearful fury shall break upon the South all un
prepared she will BE-, or cohsum alion 50 IN
looked for, and her safety then VIII be either to com
promise curse she may resist, take counsel not
rom her weakness but from that spirit hich shns ~,
danger when freedom is the stake. OF these is Gen
Qutman one, and, the future will show il were
better that the hills, gens and vaes were redolent
with spirit more in accordance with the coming en-
ergency, than they now are.
With conclusion arrived in this letter we dis
agree with Gen. Quitman. 1t is this: He saws the
Baltimore resolutions "requre that the States RIGHTS
democrats, their part, shall disturb or even COM
plain Of measures by which they believe that the South
is virtually excluded from all share in The common ter
ritory of the States, and by which the stakeholder is
dsfranchised in the Federal District" We DO moi so
consrue those resolutions, and MT abe to see
that in the ..abding BY and the aahsrng aith
execution Of tie acts how we pledged thai not
complain Of them as iaUs, that we may not avail our
selves of all legislative means repeal or modify Them
We a6lde by and adhere to the faithful execution OF
2llthe laws ofthe land constutonaIly administered
but II surely does not follow that we are pledged not to
repeal q modI1y sE.MT We can This is what no
party convention can pledge mankind to in this coun
try, and when party shall dare SO far to trench upon
the inalienabe right of the citizen as to disranchse
him from the exercise of that prerogative unbiased it
should receive at the hands of the people no mercy
Our opinion is, that the Southern men required of the
North the faithful execution of all of those acts that
tor the rendition OF fugitive slaves being specially NAM
ed but that neither required of the other except in
the named any pledge that should not urge the
repeal or modification of the others that were not so
named Ii Gen. Quitman is right in his construction
the delegates from this State, by what authority they
pledged the States Rights democrats not to complain
OF those acts, or to seek their repeal or modification
NO such authority granted to them by the Janpa-
y convention, they draw from the minority
report of the November convention. But we think
that Gen. Quitman errs in his construction The fin,
gtVe slave act is but the carrying into operation an
express provision of the constitution and any failure
to enforce its provisions, is simply abnegating that
clause in the National compact 1t cannot be modif.
ed SO as to impair its efficiency, without DENYING to the
South right which she may demand in obedience TO the
letter and spirit ofthe compact and hence the South
was JUSTIFIED in making specific demand in favor of
ta' act But with reference the law abolishng in
the Federal District the slave trade men would sneer
mad demand been made that that law should not be
repealed or modified That law is on the statute book
not by any constitutional requirement hence men are
not bound by the compact it in any FORM eth
er encient or otherwise but the law officers are in du
~ bound to execute it long it remains law, and
we apprehend that Gen Quitman would "abide by and
adhere to its faithful execution or enforcement
This our view of that platform, and we confess in
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