The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-15
WAsHINoroN. NAV 10 1852


body designated US as delegates for the State at
largo to the Baltimore Wing Convention in June
next.
This honor we feel it our duty to decline, and re-
spect for those who have thus distinguished
quires that we should assign our reasons for 30
doing.
Under ordinary circumstances, we assure you,
sir We should have taken such position, II 1t had
been assigned Us by the Wing party Of Alabama.
with pleasure and pride, and have discharged the
duties belonging to il with zeal and hdety. Asit
IS, we cannot accept OF It, We believe that tue IN
terest OF our State of the South, and Of the whole
country, demand of the Union men OF the South
that they hold themselves aloof from both the Ma
tional Conventions as now contemplated; and, I'M
shackled, to be prepared to act in reference to
greater questions than possibly divide the old
parties OF Wing and Democrat
These questions grow out oi the unfortunate
tional controversy which Tor years has agtated our
country. we VIII recur TO aud notice "A few prom
inent facts connected with il. We of the South
have an institution among which is in its nature
political, social, and domestic. From it we can
never be separately with it we must live, or with
II we must perish. 1t Is guaranteed to us by the
Constitution, and the people of the United States
are bound by the most solemn covenant to protect
that institution.
On account Of this peculiar feature in our social
SYSTEM the people of tue South have been for years
the subjects OF unqualified abuee and defamation
from portion of the people of the North. This
we have borne with moderation and patience, be-
cause we believed that under the Constitution we
should maintain our rights, and, SO long we did
80, we regarded not the rawlings OF the fanatic
the rant Of the demagogue.
This party at the North mingng in politics, and
becoming eof its elements, i'll time grew stronger,
till In 1850 they declared that the slave trade should
be abolished between the States; that no efficient
law Tor the rendition Of fugitive slaves should be
passed by Congress; that more slave States
should be admitted into the Union and attempted
to exclude by an act of Congress the southern people
from going with their slaves into the Territories
then recently acquired from Mexico.
The terrible struggle which then followed is fresh
IN the minds OF all. Our people have never, at
any o,her time. beheld the sky Of their future 80
black with danger, or felt our political system
trembling beneath such earthquake shocks. Men
laid aside old party distinctions. The great and
Illustrlous OF the land--Clay and Cass, Webster
and Dickinson. and many others who had fought
each other for years upon questions Of policy
gathered together, shoulder TO shoulder, like bro
TIERS around the altar of their country, defending
it from destruction, and attempting to alay the
storm OF angry feeling which ragged around Them.
These. aided by the sympathies OF an immense
majority OF the American people, succeeded, after
nine month"; discussion in Congress- in settling the
controversy in that body by the acts known as the
Compromise measures.
Upon this, then, followed the division and contest
in the South OF acquiescence resistance to those
laws, or, moro plainly, Of Union or Disunion. We
took the ground OF acquiescence, because we be-
leved there was in those measures no violation Of
that the North would also abide by them, and
"would not repeal or essentially modify the Fugi-
tive Slave law" Upon this issue and this pledge,
80 consonant with our own convictions, and
sential &c the rights of the Sonth, we and those
who concurred with were successful, end the
disunionists were for the time overthrown In this
contest old party lines we're obliterated, and new
parties arose. Union party was formed in Ala
bana, which met in convention in Montgomery in
January last, and resolved to maintain its organi
cation, and to send delegates to neither OF the old
party National Conventions. ii will not be pre-
tended that the Wing party OF Alabama did not
go into that convention. We conceive ourselves
bound by the action of that body, not only as hav-
ing advised il and concurred in its action, and
members OF the Union party, but by still higher
considerations, some OF which we will mention
hereafter But why should we abandon this or
ganization? 1t ia said that we must do it TO save
MIR. Fillmore. This, sir, is object which in the
right place and in the right way would goas far
TO accomplish as the warmest advocate OF the re-
election Of Mr.. Fillmore.
There Is no man who places n higher estimate
upon his able and impartial administration oil the
laws, and his fidelity TO tho Constitution, than we
do; but we cannot think that the right plan or way
is by meeting in convention with Abolitionists TO
choose Tor US a candidate :or the Presidency. 1t
however is by means certain that we would
secure the selection OF Mr. Fillmore in the conven
ton by going into it, Our opinion is that the
Union party at the South would do more TO secure
the nomination OF good Compromise men in both
the National Conventions by keeping aloof from
than by going into them. IL certain that the free
States can, If they disposed, control the nomi
nations against the united South; and there is very
general impression at the North that the South docs
not mean any thing more than little bittstv when
we talk about the hnality OF the Compromise; that
we love the Union better than the Constitution,
better than equality of right, better than liberty II
self Is il not time that we should undcceve them!
And such step will be going far towards doing it.
IT we manifest 10 the conventions to assemble at Bal
tmore that we look not 10 Whiggery or Democra-
cy, bot viii go for the man and party who arc cafe
be apt to disregard the votes OF the Union party in
Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama.
We will now briefly alude 10 some Of the rea
sons why we should retain organization. The
Union party is composed OF Wings and Demo
Gratis, united together for the purpose Of defending
the Constitution and the rights Of the South against
Dsunionsts at the South, and Abolitionists ut the
North. After their defeat, the Southern Rights
party, or the greater portion Of them, protested To
yield; but the temper occasionally manifested by
the press belonging to that party through the coun
try the maintenance OF their leading paper in
this city; their adherence TO their most dangerous
hcresy, the right Of secession; and the concert OF
action OF the members OF that party in Congress
oil show that they only "bide their time" till some
new aggression Of the North shall afford them new
and more favorable occasion for lifting again the
standard OF disunion in the South. But O more
important consideration than this is the strength
and the designs Of Abolitonists at the North. A
portion OF the politicians and people there declare
they will not abide by the Compromise; that the
Fugitive Slave law must be repealed. Some poll
ticans high in office advocate lie repeal, and others
quail before IT, But il is said that the Union party
viii make n sectional party With all difference,
this TO US lie a strange position. Those who as
sumo II must suppose there other Union
men In the nation but those who compose the Union
party at The South. That this s error have
no doubt. We are not afraid. In truth, what VIC
want -, 10 cst the pulsations (ooscd from the ga
mcnts OF party) Of the great national heart upon
this vital subject.
But II II be 80 aov, or Of any time hueefu, or u
ecr there nre majority Of the American people in
favor OF disunion, then tho Union should be dis
solved In the possibility, them Of either Of tlese
three evcnts-the intended repeal OF the Fugitive
Slave law, the whole Of the North being unfriendy
20 the Union, or majority Of the people Of the
United states Icing in favor of dsuniou--it be
hooves US, as southern men, 10 prcss the issue and
20 ascertain the fact. We shall mover be in good
condition as now 20 realize aud to meet IL. Every
day will weaken aud strengthen our foes. The
corruptiDg influences of hostile government will
insinuate themselves in midst Our antago-
nists vi grow by the settlement Of the vast territory
Of the northwest, now thrown open To emigration.
Our own population will dcpletc by the tempting
ollurcments of that came region. Humiliation will
follow the surrender Of constitutional right,
anH hail .,pHer