The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-01
Returning Reason at the south.

II is such common thing TO read in the
southern papers unqualified denunciaiions
OF lree.soilers that we confess TO have look
cd over the following paragraph, from a
Marietta paper, Georgia, second time, TO
see whether it was original or only an
extract. We found il 10 DO editorial, how.
ever, and were glad TO note so much good
sense in t,,at region. The writer says
"Why will the Southern Press persist in
misrepresen,ing northern sentiment 10 the
Southern people! What more does the
South ask Than frecsoilism comedies, re-
specl for our rights in the Union aud equal
iiy OF rights in the territories 2 We know
there are people al The north who hate
slavery MS much as some of our southern
friends recently hated the Union bu, we
should also know that they possess just
about as much ability 10 give effect 10 the
hatred. '' 60"
With no sort of Justice can il bo said
that opposition TO The Nebraska territorial
law is an abolition movement. in nine
cases in ten it has resulted from what was
regarded as The impolicy Of supcrceding a
long established law, the terms OF which
had settled The legal rights of free States,
with regard 10 The lerri,cry in question.
We have no doubt Of the fact that all
the people of the free States arc ireesoiers,
and just rs naturally freesoicrs as that we
are the friends of The institution of slavery.
I, is n question of interes, with both, and,
though it has been differently decided
north and SOUTH we are rs far from believ.
ing That the north decided wrong-that slav.
cry would he profitable, beneficial there
as we are from believing that it is no, pc.
culinlly adapted to the climate, soil and
productions OF the south This is Tho true
basis OF public opinion n, tho north on The
subject Of slavery. That such an opinion
can ever produce crisis between The free
and slave States, involving an abandon.
ment of southern rights or dismember-
ment of the Union, we do no, believe -
We canno, sec why the south may not iol.
crate the freedom Of such opinions, cs.
pecially rs they are strictly compatible
with The protection which the constitution
affords us. ..r .ts
Perhaps the recent returns from the cleo
,ions in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania
have gone grea, way 10 show that free.
soilism is pretty ncAly universal at the
north, and lha, The an,i-Nebraska move
men, is not entirely IN abolition movement !;
but whatever the origin of the sentiment, we
wish il were more general nj the soulh-
The Washington Union, and other prints Of
that character, have so long refused 10 ac-
knowledge the graduations of opinion at
the north, have SO indusriously, and for n
malicious purpose, misreprcsented the sen.
iiment OF consideraie and thoughtful men
here, ,ha, we arc hardly surprised nj the
misconceptions of our southern friends.-
The presen, crisis, however, will open their
eyes. They will discover that freesoilism,
ms !, is called, is not a temporary or fnnati-
cal excitement, which is disposed 10 over.
ride all considerations Of law and propriely
in the eager pursuit of impraciicable ends,
bu, sober, rational and ineradicable pol,i-
cal conviction, moi easily in,imida,ed and
impatient Of outrage. II is a conviction
which the South will bc compelled no,
merely 10 tolerate but TO respect. Indeed,
we foresee and have ollen predicted that the
South itself ere long will be happy 10 shell.
Ter itself under the identical principles Of
STATE rights aud State limitations, which are
now distinguishing traits Of the ireesoil
democa,s.
|, requires no prophet 10 predict, iha, il
the pro-slavery party continues 10 insist up.
on making slavery national Question-if
j; continues 10 carry il beyond the jursdic.
ton OF The States in which slavery exists
il will sooner or laier provoke fearful ret.
ribu,ion upon itself and its cause. With
the prodigious increase OF the north in pop
ulalon, aud the rapid growth Of free senti-
ment among the people, the south ought 10
see that its only safety consists in rigid
adherence 10 the good old democratic State
rights doctrine. "rho future" exclaimed
Mr.. Calhoun, in the comics, against, the bank
/" the future Is ours "-bui The future will
not be The soulh's If slavery extension is
made the national issue E~. Post.