The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-03

nublishes an editorial in which the confession is
frankly made, that the great living issue now
before the country is the slavery question. This
great truth which we have so long been reviled
and denounced for openly proclaiming, is now
admitted at the eleventh hour by the chief Of
our defamers and sssaiIants, and the hypocrisy
which 40 long cloaked and concealed it, now
stands stripped and naked to the eyes of all
men.
A candid confession is good for the soul, and
even tardy pentence has its merits. So even
at this late hour there is saving grace in those
admissions Of the Union, though wrung from it
with pangs equal to those Of psrturion Lis
ten how it echoes the very doctrines so long de-
nounced a. unreasonable" and "faclious," and
sectional" when uttered through the Southern
Press Listen, too, TO its admissions rs to the
effects of "the plan Of pacifcation'-"the ad
iustmentn-'the settlement" There can be no
better evidence than States evidence-the VOL
untary confession of accessories before the fact
If We required any justification for our previous
and present course, In regard to that "plan," We
would find it in this death.bed confession But
the facts and events have justified and will JUS
tify us.
Thus speaks the Union.
ain the absence of all excitement in regard TO
the old points Of difference between the two
great parties, brief examination of the main
issue before the country, and an inquiry into
the relations which those parties respectively
bear towards it, would not seem mt the present
moment inappropriate or ill timed.
"Strive to conceal it as we may--hatter our
selves as we are inclined to do, that all is peace
and tranquility, and that the noble and benelcent
institutions we enjoy are established upon n
foundation that cannot be overthrown--it can
not be denied that danger has existed, does ex
list, and will continue to exist, ms long as the
elements out of which it grows are permitted to
combine with our political action, aud enter
into the composition Of the public sentiment
which it produces
4Gradually and slowly, but steadily and surely,
the great question of the day has for years been
increasing in importance, until it has at length
concentrated tho interest and riveted the atten.
ton of the whole people of the United States
upon one particular point Of issue, upon the de
cision of which depend not only their peace,
prosperity and happiness but their very existence
as nation. We are not, it is true called upon
yet peremptorily to reply to the query, Shall
there be peace or war shall the integrity Of
the Union be preserved or its bonds at once be
severed, and civil strife and internecine slaughter
take the place of fraternal good will and friendly
domestic relations? The enemies of the per.
manency of our institutions are not quite pre-.
pared as yet for resort to the Ultima ratio
Of republics as well as kings they are not yet
ready TO draw the sword or point the gun upon
the defenders of the Union and the Constitu
ton. But the question before us is preliminary
and necessarily 30, to the last terrible demand
which fanaticsm threatens to make upon patriot-
ism and upon the nature of the answer given
to that question depends whether that demand
will ever be made, and one portion of the con-
federacy be compelled to surrender its rights or
stand to its arms.
at is unnecessary for us at this time to do
more than merely alude to the alarming progress
of anti slavery sentiment in the North. To
adduce facts in proof of its prevalence, or to
use arguments for the purpose Of showing the
dangerous character of its pretensions and de-
signs would be labor thrown away. TIE noise
Of their captains and the shoutings are borne to
ns on every Northern breeze"
"Anti-slavery agitation is to be continued
continued, too, in defiance of each one and all
of the interests of the country, in opposition to
sentiment political or purely patriotic carried on
and carried out without regard to consequences,
however momentous--or results, however appal.
ling. Mark, too the extent to which the designs
thus announced are made to reach Anti slavery
agitation is no longer to be confined TO purposes
of excluding the South from the territories,
ruling out the admission of more slave States
to the Union and abolishing slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia. The termination of its exist
ence in the country is the end now aimed at
NH am Mt nj ofo ,,;fl,
out being conscious that it would be the end of
the Constitution-thelendo of the republic
This, then, is the issue. Shall agitation for
such an end be permitted-shall anti slavery
agitation in any shape be any longer tolerated
For to the same result it would lead, no matter
what the professed purpose of those who com
mence it or continue it, One would suppose
that to such question the American people
wonld find no difficulty in returning a speedy
and decided answer.
Critical, indeed, must be the crisis-over-
whelming the evidences of this feeling-when
the organ pipes such strain, after its antece-
dents and protracted denunciation of this paper
for sternly and unwaverngly declaring the same
truth when it was not 80 popular or so prudent
to do 80 as now, when il can neither be disguised
nor denied Why, then, persist in the repeti
ton of the stale slang of the fnaity" of
series of measures of pacihcaton, which have
resulted in such peace as that one of its chief
organs 80 pathetically pictures 1t has" striven
to conceal" this fact too long-it has flattered"
itself and the North too long that all is peace
and tranquility its penitence now is al.
most too late, unless the merciful spirit of the
old creed be extended towards it, as in the case
of the old sinner, when
SC Bet,cirt the sti'7up an the ground,
Mercy he sought and mercy found"
IMPORTANT DECISION ON THE REVENUE Laws
The United States Supreme Court, just pre-
vious to its recent adjournment, decided that the