The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-11
From the So,tih-Side Democrat.
No Peace.

IL Is q pity, g!leVOus plty, tnat tue men OF
the South will not or cannot discern the truth.
Ears have they but they hear not, eyes have
they but they see not. Deception and deusion
have blinded and cheated them. Events of
startling moment are unheeded by those whom
they most concern, and portents of dire signif
canoe excite not even passing comment or
momentary apprehension.
The prosperity of the Southern States, and
their existence as distinct community depend
upon the perpetuation of the institution of
slavery. Whatsoever affects that, affects their
welfare whatsoever destroys that, by the same
stroke brushes them. Not their material we'll
being only, but their liberty and their happ
ness, their political and constitutional rights,
fall to the earth when slavery is extingushed.
powerful party is organized, with but one
animating and mpelng principle, hostility to
slavery, and with but the single aim of it's over.
throw. The growth of this party, has been like
the gradual expansion of the cloud seen by the
prophet-at first but speck in the sky; now
like black pail, it shrouds the heavens and
shuts out from the eye every ray Of hope. The
progress of the abolition party has been an a.
vance from conquest to conquest, and its march
has been an uninterrupted triumph. 1t has never
sustained monetary repulse, much less suf-
fered positive defeat. If it halts, it is but to
re-collect its scattered forces-if it sumbers, It's
but to recruit its exhausted strength. 1t can
neither be awed into submission nor be lulled
| to repose, but with ever increasing speed, it
presses forward TO the final overthrow of sla-
very. This is the nature Of abolition, as every
body knows
| Now, what has been the conduct of Southern
men, in opposition to a foe, that can be diverted
from the contamination of its grand purposes OF
ruin and desolation, by no pleadings OF mercy
and no cries for quarter? Have they accepted
the alternative of victory or death, and prepared
to make Thermopyle stand against the inva-
der? Alas, no. They have impored, while
their ertreatss were derided; they have CON-
promised with foe that would accept no terms
but an absolute surrender. They have retreat
ed and temporized and parleyed-the enemy
meanwhile buckling on the armor for the last
assault
Shall this suicidal policy be pursued farther ?
Will Southern men fast close their eyes, and re-
fuse to be admonished by the trumpet toned
events of the hour! Will they still cheat
themselves into the belief that they can ap-
pease the appetite of abolition by concession,
or stay its progress by compromise If such
be their delusion, let it be dspelled by the bold
and insulting menaces of abolition. The new
York Tribune shuts out all hope of peace, and
thus proclaims war of determination.
The ErpressHperfectly knows already that
such a peace as it talks of-namey, entire
silence at the North respecting slavery, with
unbroken acquiescence in the fugitive slave law
cannot be conquered If all the politicians of
both parties were to assent to such a Peace,
nothing would come of it but deluson and dis
appointment. The people are not thus to be
trammeled-the free spirit and awakened con-
science of the nation refuse to be thus con-
quered. Pass just such a resolve at Baltimore
as Toombs or Marshall might draft, and it
would do nothing toward nllaying agitation
but very much toward discomftting the Wha'
party. You may pass any sort OF fugitive
Slave law resolve in a Wing national convention
pronounce slave-hunting 'inality,' and de-
nounce as traitors all who will not take part in
it-yet you know-yes, you, Messrs. ]. d b..
Brooks that no single Halter of slavery would
hate it the less no contemner of the fugitive
slave law would be senced or cowed by the
maneuver. There would be not one less anti
slavery man the day after than there was the
day before your conquest--and nobody would
be conquered by it except, probably, the Wing
party.