The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-02
WHAT SHALL THE SOUTH Do?

WHAT SHALL THE SOUTH DO?
We confess that we are thoroughly sick and
tired of discussing the question of slavery
We have every disposition to lay it aside, to
hold communion with our readers in regard
to something which is not worn so thread
bare, and concerning which. discussion win
do some good. But we find ii impossible to
carry out our wishes Scarcely has the ex-
cifement caused by one outrage died away,
before another springs up, and then another,
and another, until like a man whose slum-
hers are disturbed in city of incendiaries by
ilrebell after fire bell, we feel that it is use
less TO seek repose, and long for the morning
to come with its active duties and cheerful
light. Shall the morning ever come to the
South Must she ever lie with a dismal
nightmare on her breast, or make one vigO-
rous and final effort to shake it off and secure
health and life What is she to do In all
calnness, in the name of all that is right and
just, and becoming people who have some
self-respect and something of the instinct of
sef-preservation, what is she to do Slave
ry is here It's here by no agency of hers =;
it is here against her circumstances, but it
is here, and has waxed great and mighty, in
tertwining and interlacing itself withe very
root and fibre of her social system, until it is
impossible to eradicate it unless the whole
structure of Southern society topples down
with it. Slavery is here, and it is recognized,
and the rights Of Shareholders under it qua
ranteed by the American Constitution
Without that recognition and guarantee,
without the provision which makes it incum-
bent on free States to deliver up fugitive
slaves, the South would not have entered the
Union, for the Union had no advantages to
offer her which could compensate for the loss
OF this and we believe that we speak the SEN
tinents of ninety nine out of every hundr5 d
men in the Southern States when we say, that
the Union has no advantages now TO offer for
which the South would be willing to surren-
der the property which the Constitution re-
cognizes and to sacrifice her peace indepen-
dence and homer
And yet, it is plain to every mans obser-
walton and knowledge, that the sacred guar
antee by the organic law of that Union from
which the North has derived all her pros
pority and power, is practically a nullity-
ihe scene now Transporting at Boston, is but
one OF many, fresh in the readers recollec-
ton, in some CT which not only has the slave
escaped, but owners have been killed, Off
GERS Of the law maltreated and slain, and in
all an expense has been incurred by the own
eis, sufficient, if pecuniary considerations
alone were consulted, to deter other slave
holders from all attempt to recover their
property. We are told that allowances must
be made for those who know nothing of sla-
very except by report, and that, evil report
that the minds of these people have been
poisoned by the pulpit and the press; that
they are honest, but misguided zealots. All
this except SO far as it applies to the lead
ers, may be true, but it does not alter the
fact that the South cannot recover her fugi
tiveS from labor; it does not relieve her erie
Vaneesi it does not hold out any hope Of re
hef. Who Is to supply the antdote to this
poison OF the Northern press and pulpit p
by whom, and in what way, is access to be
gained to the minds Of the deluded masses.
and their ignorance enlightened and their
prejudices dispelled! Isnot their faDaticis,o
increasing instead of decreasing; and is it
not more likely to increase than decrease :?
These are questions on which the Soutbern
people ought to reflect most calmly and most
seriously
Then, there are still other and most mo
mentous questions to be decided It is i'm.
possible to obtain indemnity for the past
Where shall we look for security for the fu.
ture To Congress Why, the law, carry.
ing out the requirements of the Constitution.
which was wrung from their reluctant hands,
is made to yield to the higher law of Nor.
thern public opinion The Constitution itself
Is trampled under foot. And what can we
expect from political aspirants Why, it is
precisely and exclusively to unhallowed per.
sohai and party ambition that we are indebt-
ea iof all the consequences which abolition
has attained in this country SIaver,, .
oo"thefi domestic institution, with which DO
iticians nave no more legitimate right to in.
ferfere, THAN with the servitude of the Nor.
thern kitchen or factory, is habi,ual,v sx,s
tematicaliy and designedly used as bohh,
upon which demagogues, without tho ;ntri
lectuai calibre to attain distinction by fair
and just means, ride into notoriety ana e.,
tion. This subject which does not call f>u
discussion, which can injure neither the 90
vernment nor the people if left alone, is re-.
morselessly dragged into every political can.
vass, and the unity of the country, the rights
and property of the South. the peace and
safety of society perpefually imperiled, in
order that some miserable party purpose may
be accomplished. 1t is useless, them to look
for help to Congress. The South is in mi
nority there, and tho upright Northern men,
who would rather lose their seats than bow
to the whirlwind of popular passion, are in
still smaller minority. Even had they the
plumbers. they can pass no law which viii be