The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-24

preamble to that instrument to Asrl.re !. ~.
the people" for II founded an axrusa To- cc..ei
idation advocates 10 work into faotiore nrrncss
when they might choose. We, the States M
their people would have been the more anpro.
pirate reading, AZ in consonance with The eeniu.
Of the Constitution-the States in their sover-
eign capacities being represented in the Senate.
and in their populate capacities represented in
| the House.
It cannot be pretended but that tho thee.
fifth compromise was plainly unjust to the slaye
labor States. And cannot help thinking, that
if this partial item in the rationale of free
government Constitution had been rightly an
derstood in its innate wrong, in its misleading
Tendencies as an exemplsr or precedent in the
body polite, the fathers-the great and good
men who established our liberties, would have
formed Constitution void OF the UNEQUAL rights
infracton. We have had the Missouri compro-
mise-an assumption by Congress outside Of
the Constitution the tariff c0mpromise.-brok en-
up and disspated without Femorse /; and the late
con- promise to quiet Unienal distraction-hov
| far TO be abided by, Ia 10 be seen.
| We know that intrepid spirits, wise and good
men. issued the Declaration of Independence
and formed the Constitution and no one feels
more deep veneration and reverence for the
memories Of these sages of the revolution.
through whose labors the liberties we epioy.
have been achieved, than the writer; withal. It
may be considered as trenchl.M too freely on
halowed ground offering the foregoing remarks.
Let it be repeated, however, that, studyinQ The
errors of the past. enables to improve and profit
in the future" And in this reference have some
particulars in the formation Of the government
been dwet on, and also Accommodating the
three fifth compromise sacrifice to effect the act
of Union by those who used slave labor
aggravation of the ingratitude, sinister purpose,
and faithlessness in their duty to the Union and
it's Constitution, of those who would outrage
the rights and independence of their fellow eifi.
zens through the medium of false issues
as Wilmot proviso, free soil, higher law, &c.
Factionisms thus devised to subserve thirst for
power, place, and aggrandizement, misleading
and distracting the people to the ultimate de-
structon of the Union, and with that calamity,
the death Of free government. "The preayer
the man tho greater the crime" So v ith states.
men who dispose themselves to wound the con-
stitutionu rights of the constituents of the
Unional government-the States and their peo.
pie.
Although the three-ffth compromise in the
Constitution operates an increasing ratio OF
wrong to the slave labor States, they will, OF
course, as they have ever DONE faithfully abide
by, maintain, and cherish 1.-THE Constitution.
in all it's provisions 10 the very letter; hoping,
at the same time, that the other States or rather
those in them who have forgot, or been derelict
in their duties as United States allegiants will
become 30 far enlightened as to reform into
their duties honestly and faithfully, and will
ultimately, in true orthodox spirit of Union
principle, be willing to strike the three-ifth un-
equalrights gangrene from the Constitution.
But it must be confessed, however, thrt this
is barely hope, with but little encouraging
data for its support; for when we look back
from results to their causes, what do we per.
ceive? That from the most prominent to the
least prominent of those who have interfered-
to the distraction Of the Union, in misleading
and deceiving the people--vith the fundamental,
constitutional rights Of the States and their peo-
pie, all are directly or indirectly involved in of.
cal honesty of such men? there is not particle
present They will tell you it is public opinion:
yes, there may be somewhat Of it so, after the
varously interested have manufactured it. mis-
led honest, well-meaning people into the slough
OF their vernal purposes. Withal, public opin-
ion is rarely fixed fact" now days: and
even if it were at any time 20, it could not gov
ern the Constitution, the Constitution being for
the wbole-the defender, guide, and security of
the whole; and public opinion principle dur
ing the days tn It tried mems souls" now more
or less vagrant, this to day and that to- morrow.
Look at all who agitate and torment The Union,
from the county commissioner through the whole
range Of office, State and Unional, mp to the
Presdent-and they want office, power over
their fellow men,
have nurtured on these observations TO
prove warrantable propriety behind the ncces-
silly and business themselves, for the delegation
IN Congress from the slave labor States taking
a higher attitude than merely defensive one,
against slavery discussion, If attempted again to
be mruded into Congress in any phase or uu-
der any pretext whatever-Wilmot proviso or
other factious assumption. Therefore, slave
labor circumstance, if offered in question in any
way on the floors Of Congress, should be de-
termIned by the members from slave States az
above debate, not TO be touched, slave labor
polity being an inherent right in State, no
more to be questioned than the being of the
State Itself or the equal rights Of the States in
the Unonal territory owned by them in com
mon. And this rightful position will (let aber.
ration from constitutional rectitude be glazed
over as it may) be firmly supported in minds Of
single purpose. as Unonal constitutional rights.
truth, and Justice.
IL 10 evident that nothing can save, continue
the Union, but the rights of the States being
kept religiously inviolnte; and it is plain also,
that that depends on the slave labor States
maintaining their rights unanimously. There.
fore, should constitutional ecrating majority
arise in Congress at any time hereafter, pass
through the Constitution as rope of sand, as
has been done too often with impunity, 1.-THE
creature thus defying its creator,) let the mem
bers from the slave lnbor States, having consti-
tutional right with them and being the attacked
party, from thence forward neither speak nor
vote on any proposition that involves slave cir.
cumstance; thus, letting those who perpetrate
the outrage on State rights. on the Unional
compact, on The Constitution, take the respon-
sibity-and ! solemnly believe that tho Qreut
mass of the Amcricsn people will enfore Union.
al Justice. tall events, the delegation from
the slave labor States will have acted rightly
been true to their States, the Union, and the
Constitution
Let the Southern States bc true to them.
selves, and thus true to the Union--be impair
tinl and firm in exacting their Unional rightr,
and all honest politicians in the other States