The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-01
CASE OF MRS. DOUGLAS.

Under this head, the New York times
which finds il difficult to suppress its apoition
tendencies, makes the late trial and convic-
ton, in Norfolk, of Mrs. Margaret Douglas,
for violating a law of this State, the occasion
far = lecture to the South, which concludes as
follows;
The only efcien, way in which the Southern
e,,.as can 9isarm the A6otionsts Of the North, is
hy taking action to remove from slavery those Tea
f,ires which shock common sense, and SET at Deb
ance all attempts of sophistry 10 make them appear
tolerable in the public judgment. Ite SOBER and
rational portion of the Northern people see plainly
snoueh that slavery, whatever may be Its charac-
ter il exclusively local instiuion-that Congress
has no power TO interfere with 1t IN any way-that
the Northern States have stl less fshs 10 take &C.
lion in regard TO it. and that Whatever Is 10 De aone
for ,s Moderation abolition must De done ny me
Southern States themselves. And II they could see
any SYMPTOMS that the Southern States are at all
alive to the responsibilities thus devolved upon
them and that they are inclined TO take any steps
towards dschargiug the duties which they involve,
they would be very far from encouraging the vio-
lent movements in their midst which create so
much indignation and alarm at the South. But
such incidents the recent trial at Norfolk, are
formidable stumbling blocks in the way of those
who desire TO promote rational and harmonizing
views upon this subject"
The Southern States will estimate at its pro-
Der value the dictatorial andimpertinentinter-
meddling of Northern fanatics with Southern
affairs. The Times can have but little know
ledge of Southern character, if it supposes
that the South is to be influenced in its course
of action in regard to its own institutions or
any other subject, by terror either of the
open "abolitionists' or "the sober and ration
al portion of the Northern people," whose
fidelity to the Constitution and the Law; is
dependent upon the conformity of Southern
men to Northern prejudices upon slavery
The violent movements" ofwhich the Times
speaks may create indignation" bat we
have never heard of their arousing alarm at
the South And we can assure Northern
journalists, "that the sober and rational por-
ton of the Southern people," are beginning
TO be of the opinion that, if the sober andra-
tional portion of the Northern people are
secret traitors to their constitutional obiiga-
TONS (which we do not believe it would be
more manly in them to throw off the mask,
TO become open abolitionists, and renounce
th9 SHEon S@hlSia DiluS llItIi W oDJCCtS anu "
duties which they loathe. Certain it is, that
the South viii not swerve a hair from her
views Of right and dutyto prevent every man,
woman and child, North of Mason and Dix
on's line, from becoming abolitionists to-
morrow. We do not exist, gentle sirs, by
your sufferance. We neither ask your favor
nor fear your frGwns. We are abundantly able
TO take care of ourselves in any contingency
which may arise. The only influence which
abolition has yet exerted in Southern lati-
tudes, has certainly not been found in any re-
Taxation of Southern discipline, any conces
sions to the humanity and common sense
of people who sold us our servants, and
having pocketed the proceeds, want to de
spoil us of our property; who never enamel
pated their own negroes till they ceased to bt
profitable, and who crush their white slaves
to the earth without compassion or remorse
The day of negro emancipation is not so near
now by two or three centuries, as it was when
Abolitionists began to intermeddle with our
affairs. or our part, we hope, for the good
and happiness of both races, it may never