The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-18

The hypocritcal pretcnsions Of the admins
knows no North, no South. no East, and no
West, are exposed by acts which speak louder
than words.
When South Carolina talked of secession,
and called State convention, the President
forthwith proceeded to overawe the State by a
military demonstration, the forts were manned
munitions of war sent down, and the frowning
guns of tho forts brought to bear on the city OF
| Charleston From all the Presidents organs
rose a shri yell of treason" "treason," and the
people of that State abused, viliied and dc.
nounced by every abusive epithet in the vocabu-
larry. And all this because exercising the pre-
rOgative Of freemen, they exercised the right of
free speech, and openly canvassed the consttu-
tionalty of certain public measures.
| Well, Massachusetts, denounces the law, defes
and denounces the execution Of it within her
borders-her people forcibly rescue one in le-
| gal custody, and the law can only be executed
in its capital city by stealth at midnight, and
where slumbers this storm of patriotic indigna-
ton? Why, the President writes pathetic appeal
to his dearly beloved fellow citizens of Boston,
and gives them diplomatic assurances of his
distinguished consideration-an is very certain
that they will never act SO naughtily again. In.
stead Of pointing guns at Boston, he sends
them their own X-pounder of the Constitution
to parley with them, who, finding Fanueil Hall
| moi V IN VII
back quite exploded. The organs all treat this
outrage most gingerly--it was a mere accident,
&c. The Northern stomach is too squeamish to
be Toasted on the epithets which are supposed
to be the proper food for Southern digestion.
Well, animated by these examples of impunity,
and by the favoritism displayed towards the ma
tonal North, Vermont cooy passes an act null
lifyng the fugitive slave law. Do we hear Of
any proclamations from President FILLMORE, or
any notes of dreadful preparation " to enforce
the faithful execution OF the law" even at the
point OF the bayonet, as in South Carolina {?
No! those thunders sumber, and Vermont
laughs to scorn her constitutional obligations
with impunity What has been the consequence
of this course of conduct Of this new North
ern ann wih Southern feelings" in whose be-
half certain Southern gentlemen would build
up great Union party, the sole connecting
links of which would be fealty to FILLMORE
and the Compromise, both as 6nalities in their
totally! Why, Massachusetts has followed in
the footsteps of Vermont Both branches of her
Legislature have solemnly nufed the fugitive
slave law by an act passed six days ago, and
the act excites surprise only, not Indignation.
From the White House there comes no sign
while from the organ which used to breathe such
fire and slaughter towards Southern nullfca-
ton comes this feeble squeak for partizan pur.
pose
"THE CoALITIoNIsTs AND THE FUGITIVE SLAVE
LAw-The Democratic and Freesoil majority
of the Massachusetts house of representatives
have succeeded in overcoming opposition TO
bill with very eqnivocal title and an equally
equivocal object It is entitled bill for the
Sc further protection of personal liberty" in the
State, and we Judge from the scanty reports of
the discussion upon it that il is intended under
this cover to nullify the operation of the fugi
tive slave law. We quote from the Boston
Ira, elLer's report so much of the proceedings
of Tuesday last as relates to the measure"
Are these the planks on which TO erect
Southern platform?