Washington sentinel., 1853-10-09
Tic Southern Press.

The Southern Press,
We are told byveritable historians that King
Canute had his throne placed on the verge of
the seashore as the tide was rolling with resist
less force, and that he very complacently said
unto the ocean, "Ocean, the land on which
sit is mine, and thou art a part of my domin
ions; therefore, rise not-obey my commands,
and presume not to wet the edge of my robe"
But King Canute, no doubt much to his chagrn,
found that imperial power and royal arrogance
were of no avail against the course OF the
mighty waters. ..
Shakespeare tell us that you "may call spirits
from the vastly deep" Indeed, we are told
that witches came at the bidding of Macbeth,
and passed away like shadows when he bade
them. Spirits from earth, air, and water,
were at the beck and call of the enchanter
Prospero. These two latter, not very we'll au-
thenticated instances of the influence of mans
power over the spirit world, have impressed
some imaginative persons with a sort of belief
that they can exert the same power and per-
form the same poetical and captivating mi
racles. "
But among all the difficult and impossible
things, the most difficult and the most impossi-
ble is to arrest the tide of human feeling and
human passion 1t can no more be damned
up, confined, and limited than the waters of
the great ocean can be controlled and OBJ
structed. When the masses, impeled by com
mon feelings, sympathies, and convictions, be-
gin to act, and to act with vigor and resolution,
it is in vain for any one man, or for handful of
men, to attempt to stay them. To oppose re-
sistance to them is to court destruction and
to accomplish sefimmolation. At such times
men must follow. If they play the laggard,
they will just simply be slowed away as lumber.
They will be regarded as neither flesh, fish,
nor fowl, or yet good red herring
These remarks have been drawn from us by
the effort ofa fen presses of the south to pre-
vent the people of the south from taking any
partin the New York feuds. Their motives are
no doubt good, but their policy is bad. 1t is q
foreeone conclusion. These difficulties have
already become matters of general and pervad-
ing interest Politicians and presses every
where-north, south, east, and west have taken
| their sides in the "o~t~cvorsv Th" OWL 's don"
| We cannot help ourselves. The south IS aciM
the national democrats. The current has set
in swift and strong, and no man and no press
can say with any effect" Thus far shalt thou
go and no farther ..
The south does not regard this controversy
as an administration quarrel, for both divisions
helped to elect General Pierce -" ~.
Whilst on this subject, we cannot refrain
from expressing our surprise and our mortiG-
cation at an article which appeared in the Rich
mond Examiner of the 7th inst. We extract
from it few sentences. (The italics are our
own.) The Examiner says:
The 'hards, encouraged by southern assaults
upon Their adrerSaries, invite whigs-FnLMoRE
whlgs-Ere-emancipati pation-letter wings into their
council. THat as the coahtiom zchich seems 10 be
concocting At the north against The administration
against the heart, SonL, and centre Of national
dem0crutic oreaRieatioU. We say to the demo-
cratic press and party ofthe SOUTH il is not pru-
dent safe Just TO indulge in hasty and bitter
ordinations against Me supporters Of tie adhainiS-
tratjon IN Nc3r York"
"The 'hards, encouraged by southern as.
saults upon their adversaries" We respect
fully submit to the Examiner, if the south is
with the "hards," is it not fair to suppose that
they are true to the south /? And does it be-
come southern journal to take sides with their
"adversaries,' who have never been true to the
south?
Again, the Examiner speaks Of coalition be-
tween the mhigS and the national democrats
"agoinst tie administration Where, we en-
phatcally ask, is the evidence of this coalition?
| We have searched in vain for it. But it seems
that there is not only coalition, but that it is
against the administration So grave and
serious charge should not be made without
due dcliberation and ample authority; for it
puts the south and the national democracy of
the north in antagonism to President Pierce
and the last sentence ofthe extract, which con-
tans both an admonition and n statement of
fact, leaves the Examiner without the ranks of
the south and the national democracy, where it
surely does not wish TO place itself Moreover
it very indiscrectly makes out the supporters
of the administration" in New York, par ercel-
lence the Van Buren party. ....
Now, we have all along believed that both
divisions of the New York democracy voted for
General Pierce, and have supported his admin
istration. We live to learn--and we some
times learn some very unpleasant things.
-------~~Ss~-
Bds" PERCEIVE from our exchanges that
the subject of agriculture is attracting great at
tention in every part of our country. Fairs are
being held, which are attended by large num-
bers of persons. Stock, fowls and products Of
all kinds are exhibited, and large premiums are
awarded in many instances. Some of the most
learned and eminent men Of the nation have
delivered the addresses on these occasions.
Agriculture is at last the basis of wealth and