The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-12

pose, on the oher hand, that the Democratic
convention shoAd take proper ground, and that
of the Wing ,aEty fail TO do The result
would be- that the Wings, being in position to
court the Abditionsts, would win them over
BY adopting entirely their doctrines, and have
their aid in breaking down their Democratic
rivals, whom they would stgmatize az pro-
slavery men, &C. IN such a proceeding it be-
comes not me to take part 1t they can get
into power bysuch MEANS instead Of my assist
ance they shall have my determined opposition
If the friendsof the Constitution are to be ex.
terminated shall not join in the war agains,
them If Wtbst r is to be crushed in Massa.
chusetts, and Dickinson trampled down in New
York, because they have been willing to do
what in their Judgment the Constitution required
them to do in behalf Of the rights Of the South
at least will not fight in the ranks against
them II the bloch OF our allies is to be shed
it shall not stain my hands. Concurrence in
such proceeding would, on the part OF. South.
ern men, be not only criminal, but in the highest
degree impolitiu. There would be terrible
recot on Us.
When hereafter the Anti-Slavery party, invig-
GRATED by this process, and flushed with victory
shall assaiI us, and we the minority call upon
patriotic men OF the North to aid us, what re-
spouse can we expect! Will they not point us
to the graves Of our former Northern allies, and
remind us that We are in the habit of throwing
off our friends the moment we cease to need
their aid, and Of permitting them to be sacrificed
to crafty the vengeance of the Aboltionists
We shall be left to our own energies, and col
lsion between the two sections will most prob.
ably result in the overthrow of the government
The whole anti-slavery movement in the North
has been unconstitutional and sectional. They
have sought to pervert from their legitimate
purposes the powers with which the federal
government was invested for the protection OF
all the States and their citizens and to use them
az means of attack against the people of the
Southern States. II is not less unjust than il
would be if the guns on the ramparts of a
fortress, stationed there to repel the external
enemy, should be turned inward by those hav-
ing them in charge, and fired at part of the
garrison. Instead of cooperating with such
traitors to the Constitution it is the duty of the
South to oppose them. My advice to the men
of my own section is to come together, so that
they NAV in a body stand by the national meu
of the North. If we do that, we shall have
friends enough there to assist us in giving the
government national line of policy. AS long
as we are dvided--as long as we give as much
expect to be sufferers.
have confined my remarks for the present
to the bearing merely of the slavery questions
OF course, there are other important points OF
policy to be considered in connexion with the
choice of candidates for the Presidency. l wish
to he understood as being neither the advocate
nor the opponent Of any named candidate. What
have said has, as it purports to have, reference
only to general principles of action. If have
made no reference to the action of the Northern
Democracy, it is not because do not find mat
ter for condemnation. AS am not connected
with them by party affinity, of course am in nc
way responsible for their past or future conduct
My purpose at this time is merely to show upon
what terms am willing to cooperate with the
Northern section Of the Wing party 4
have thus rapidly and hurriedly glanced al
some of the points now under discu sion in the
prints of the day. NV purpose has been to
compress what wished to say within such mar
row limits, that those editors who regard my
individual course as matter of sufficient mo.
ment to the public to justify their making it a
matter of discussion, may be able to place these
views before their readers without a sacrifice OF
too much space in their columns.
Very respectfully,
r. l.. CLINGMAN