The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-13

lo never 10 % &SoslHoU 81 "os Wv" oS>f~e~~~'
weeps the fugitive slave, but does not otfer 10
pay for his freedom She invites the African TO
equality, bat docs nothing for his amelioration
What she has strivsn to do for the liberty Of
this continent outside Of the Union, We are al
a loss to knew The landmarks Of Mr.. WEB
sTER's course are plain enough-Mexico, our
natural ally, outraged and abandoned to British
influence system of police over our waters
organized by the French and English cabinets
"a British protectorate tolerated in Central
Americs-have marked his administration Of
our continental policy.
Reverting from these last political utterances
of Mr.. WEBSTER to his earlier constitutional
arguments, we cannot but mourn that so great
an intellect should have so long labored at
sanping the foundations Of natural patriotism
and natural allegiance. splendid rhetoric
wells the falacy of his celebrated utterances dis
ella lining as miserable the cry Of Liberty first
and Union afterwards" and unfurling upon hia.
banner the motto, "Union and Lberty-one
and inseparable--now and forever" Yet we
cannot believe that Mr.. WEBSTER himself is
really insensible to their logical unsoundness
If union and liberty are one and inseparable,
then there is no objection to liberty's going
first since union must follow after. Liberty is
the end, union the means. The first is founded
in the generous instincts of human nature, the
other is no more than masterpiece Of human
construction. But the assumption that union
and liberty are one and inseparable is enormous.
Will it be asserted that no practical despotism
Of majorities, no violation of Constitutional
rights, to whatever extent carried, can ever en-
danger the liberty of any State or section 80
long as this Union is held together, if even by
force ofarms? If this be not 80, if there be sup
possible any possible case of prolonged injury
to the liberty of the weak by the Legislative ty-
ranny of the strong, then Mr.. WEBsrER's motto
falls to the ground, false in logic, vicious in
ethics--and that which he denounces as despi.
cable, must be the rallyng cry of all true patri-
OTIS and lovers of the Union-Li6erty first and
Union afler,oards
AND THE BRIrIsH PARLiAMENr.-We noticeds
some time the reference of the case of Manuel
Pereira, a British seaman, held in prison in
Charleston, South Carolina, under the police
regulations of that State. Under these regua-
tons, relating to free colored seamen, they are
subject, on arriving at the port of Charleston, to
be taken by the authorities, and put in prison for
safe-keeping till the departure of the vessel to
which they may belong, the owners Of the vessel
being held liable for the costs. The object Of this
stringent policy is to prevent abolition
emissaries, in the disguise of free colored cooks
or seamen, from diffusng sedition and mutiny
among the slave population, which, in South
Carolina, considerably exceeds the white popula-
ton.
In the case Of Pereira, through the activity of
Mr.. Mathew, here Majesty's consul at Charles
ton, the matter had been carried up to the sup
rene court of South Caro- lima, where, at the last
accounts it stood postponed till the term Of next
January Perera, in the meantime, being held in
custody at Charleston. The issue is, the con-
sttutionality and legality, under treaty stipula
lions and international law, of the imprisonment
and detention of Pereira as a British seaman.
BY our last advices from England, it appears
that this case had excited some inquiry in the
house Of commons, but that the government were
waiting for further information. The interest thus
in Parliament, is consistent with the
invariable vigilance Of the British government in
defence Of its Subjects even to the hpmbest Of its
dependents, and indicates probable settlement
Of the international issue involved. Some years
ago a Mr.. Hoar, Of Massachusetts, was sent down
to try the consttutionality Of this question with
the authorities of South Carolina !; but being from
that very nest Of agitators, against whom these
particular regulations were especially directed,
he was quietly warned to leave-which he did,
The matter was subsequently drawn into the COM
promise discussion in the Senate, but all amend
ments proposed in reference to it were decisivey
rejected. 1t was not matter for the action Of
Congress-, but for the State Of South Carolina and
the courts The laws, so obnoxious to Massa-
chusetts, are simple local police regulations, to
which the people of South Carolina were driven,
as measures of defence, against Northern aboi-
ton incendaries. The question of their legality
is now IN process of settlement, and it is not
ried up to the Supreme Court Of the United
States. Meantime, the Seward and other aboli-
ton organs are endeavoring to make this a matter
of sectional agitation, and we may expect to see
it introduced into the forthcoming Pttsburg con-
venton. The agitation Of the slavery question, lat
every point, is yet to form prominent feature of
this campaign; and Manuel Pereira will doubtless
become almost as great man as Faustin Sou
ouqeu or Fred Douglass, before the election is
over Mark t.--N. Y.Htraid.
LORD WHARNcLIFFE, of England, was invited
by the Boston authorities to participate with them
on Monday last, in celebrating our national ami
versary. He replied by letter, thanking them for
the compliment, and added
"Lord Wharncliffe can fully appreciate the de-
monsration Of the citizens Of Boston in the cee-
braton of so important an event Of their national
history. But the object of that celebration is
A Nd ,,,c ZION