Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-07-28
The Southern Mask Dropped.

I "
No one can have forgotten the almost united
threat OF the South, in 1880, tnat The North
should Weld to The demands OF the Slave Power
or the Union should be destroyed: nor that the
whole host of doughflces throughout the Free
States--from Webster downward, to the petty
village politician tferenpon raised, echoed and
re-echoed the alarm cry that the Union was in
danger, and the North must yield, and conquer
Undergraduates rhc Free Presses, hnwcvcr,
ri,Iiculed the idea, and pronounced it gronnd'ess
and false aud events arc daily occurring to
show that the Free Presses were right.
AT the late celebration of the 4'h Of July in
Charleston, s. c. at which their leading politicians
we're prseeut, the mask which had SO terribly
frightened all fiunker,loh, was eatssly dropped
leaving ne whole tribe OF Northern DuPes and
Douehfaces stripped also Of all their patriotic
pretensions at Union-saving, and standing before
the world in the pltful attitude of convicted
towards, or fools, OF hypocrites, and with the
only choice of claiming one Of the three unenvl
able appel'avcs.
The expose to which we have. alluded was
not only clearly made by the orator OF the day
John S. Preston, but unanimously applauded by
all ,but especially responded to by Mr.. Yeadon
leading South Carolina politician in the follow
ing speech; ED
81 thank him, deeply thank him, for the man
" sentiment uttered in reference to the pro-
longeJ duration and probable perpetuatlon OF
our political Union have no fears Of aboll-
ton In the whole scope Of his mastery and
uurlvaled performance, gemmed as it was with
the treasures of intellect and fancy, enriched
as it was with wise ard true philosophy, there
was nothing that more strongly commanded my
sympathy than that sentiment. 1t has only given
tongue to what has long been my own thought.
Itoo, haue no fears of dbolitiOn-it is a bugbear,
that should alarm no one, and, above all, 1t never
should induce, or sedltce, us to forfeit or surren-
der the richest potica inner eance ever be-
qneated by patriot ancestry to their posterl'y'
"In the Union, we of the South are strong
enough to defend the institution of slavery with
the limits OF the Union. and we have he inuln
chile strength of the Union to defend it against
all assaults from abroad. We have only to be
true to ourselves, and, while members OF the
Union, the institution is impregnable against
assault of any undiscovered with in impervious
shield, and having as its buIwark at once the
constitution of the Union and our own right
arms. But, were the southern states to dissolve
the Union and form themselves into separate
and distinct confederacy, we should be insulated,
as the only slave holding republic on the face OF
the cath, and become target for the whole
ciyllized world including our northern brethren,
on our border, absolved from constitutional OBJ
legations and converted into aliens, to level their
batteries at, and our position would be, to say
the least, one of doubtful strength and durabli.
lty-and the institution of slavery would be in
Hanger of lettering to its fall. Neither wal, nor
fforce of any kind, would be necessary 10 effect
this end but the potent engine of public opinion
the public sentiment of the civilized world,
brought to bear upon us and against us, in every
possible shape, might, by its constan; and wear
inc action on opinion and morbid conscience,
ultimately undermine the institution among our
selves. and SOW, within our own bosom, the seeds
of It's decay and destruction.
But, remaining within the Union. we are
absolutely inpregnable on this point. 1t true
to ourselves, have no vulnerable pont-we, or
rather the border southern states, may lose a few
hundreds, or a few thousands, Of fugitive slaves
(soon, if the truth were known. anxious to re-.
,urn from the tender mercies OF freesoiIism aud
aboltionisu, to the comforts and Injuries OF
southern slavery) but, otherwise, and within
ourselves, we are more than safe from fanatic
Vaccinations, either American or foreign, against
the insitution--in the defence oil which we are
ready, at any moment, to pledge "our lives, our
fortunes, and our sacred honor Why, sir, were
the aboltionists themselves to march in armes
among us, prociaiming liberty to the objects of
their false and devsh philanthropy, our attached
and happy slaves would themselves join in put
ting them TO route and discontinue, instead of
embracing their ruinous and deadly aid Or al.
lance"