The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-27

| Southern wing men 81 ehe Cempfomlee.
The New Orleans Bulletin contains an article
on the subject of the Compromise which will
be found interesting at this crisis, AZ indicating
the view taken by Southern Wings:
ToLERATIoS.-As the day fixed upon for
holding the national conventions draws near.
we find the word which heads this article in fire.
quent use--cted by the most intolerant and
proscriptve men in the and--men whose gen.
eral walk in life and daily conduct, prove them
to be the last persons in the world who have a
right to refer to the benevolent and christian
teachings involved in its meaning. The New
York Tribune breaches liberation to the Wings
of the South Seward is understood to be de-
cidedly in favor of toleration just now. The
Wing Freesoilers and Abolitonsts, quite gen
orally, unite in shout for federation Now,
what is the cause Of all this Why has fanati-
cism, all at once, become so cooling and gentle
What is the reason IL is matter easily solved
and easily answered. The toLeraiion which
Southern Wings are asked to extend to North
ern FreesOil Wings amounts simply to this.
They are entrealed to go into national conven-
ton and nominate candidate for the Presi
dency, whose views in regard to the fugitive
slave law are comparatively unknown-to say
the least, prob.ematcal This is liberation with
a vengeance. federation that only knows one
side of great question federation that may
give the Abolitonsts advantages over the South,
fraught with incalculabe mischief, if not with
utter ruin. federation, forsooth Heaven pre-
serve the South from such specimens.
"Now, that all features Of the compromise
measures, supposed to be favorable to the North
have gone into operation, and are, in the very
nature Of things, irIevocable-as the fugitive
L., a..
] the principle involved in its faithful execution
by the North, the Southern people look for
happy continuance of the present Constitutional
Union--the proposition for liberation in regard
to that coming, as it does, from such question
able quarters, smacks more of downright impu-
dence and unadulterated dishonesty, than any
thing else. If the citizens of the slaveholding
States look with n favorable eye upon such a
! proposal, the burning words of the poet
Ye Vould be dupes and victims, and ys are,"
may be appropriately applied to them.
+ y
"A1ost truly does the Express say that the
Southern people care little or nothing about the
law in merely pecuniary sense. We do not
believe dollar and cent calculation has ever
entered the mind of the most determined sup
porter Of the statute South of the Potomac. 1t
is the vital principle at stake, which causes so
much Of Southern anxiety The right TO re-
claim fugitive slaves is especially stipulated in
the Constitution. 1t is part of the covenant
entered into between our fathers in the early
stages Of the republic. Without that stipnla-
ton the covenant never would have been enter
ed into. That covenant must be obeyed as a
whole--it is good or bad as whoe---no one
part Of it can be enforced and another rejected,
without violating the letter and intent of the
! whole.
THAT the Southern people look upon the fugi-
tive slave provision as the great bulwark, as the
constitutional fortress of their rights, there is
no doubt whatever. This is what makes them
so pertnacious in regard to the slave enact
mont. In itself, they care nothing about it, 1t
is valueess, in pecunary sense. But as
principle it overshadows all others. The Con-
stitution plainly gives us the right of reclama-
ton. No one disputes this If the North re
fuses to carry out this part of the contract, she
may, ere long venture upon further aggressons
Having rendered the fugitive slave provision
nulity, how long will it be before they over
leap other barriers in the Constitution and com
mence a system Of intermeddling with slavery
in the States Yield them all they ask now, and
how long would the Abolitonists remain quiet
Not day; not one hour, even. A fresh series
of insults, indignities and expressions would at
once be act in operation. The fact is--and
every Southern man feels it, and every Northern
man ought to know tiff we of the South en-
not secure the enforcement Of solemnly
plighted constitutional right, the proposition is
self evident that in all things unpledged, no
matter how just and proper, we have no safety
or security whatever.
This is the true reason why the citizens Of
the slave States make it condition precedent
that candidate for the Presidency shall be SOL
emily publicly and unqualiiedly pledged, to
support and enforce the fugitive slave law in
order to secure any degree of assistance from
them. Is it a constitutional outpost to protect
us in the enjoyment of our inaenable rights
Break it down, leap over its barrier, demo'ish
its defences, and we have no security, whatever,
under the national organic law We all know
this, feel this and have therefore, staked our all
in the maintenance of this particular portion of
our constitutional prerogativss When the
North shall finally refuse to do us justice in this
behalf, the darkest day to the American Union
and to human freedom, will have da vned dismal
ly and forebodngy upon the earth"