Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-18
A Word TO the south.

10 control pubic sentiment anu Poiiucai aceioii,
in that section OF the Union, maintain the dan
gerous position that the question Of African
slavery, should be incorporated into the plat
forms Of political parties. We on the contrary
assert that this question is local and sectional
one, over which, those who tolerate II, In sepa-
rate State communities should exercise exclu-
sive jurisdiction. Slavery is not, like the ques-
ton of tariffs, internal improvements, public
lands, &C., matter Of national concern, or OF
national control 1t is not question with
which, others than those interested in it, have
any right TO interfere. Its protection, under
the Federal Constitution, is guaranteed to those
States where it exists, in terms which admit Of
no dispute or cavi, amongst intelligent jurists.
Though the words /" African slavery /" are
not named in the Federal Constitution, the
property enjoyed therein, Is recognised by q
provision whose phraseology is too plain to
admit of doubt and the Legislative and judicial
construction Of which, has been uniform since
the Constitution was adopted The South has
always hitherto relied upon the Constitution,
as their protection against the assaults of Fa-
naticism. That protection is due to the States
where slavery exists, and the power Of the Fed
eral Government must always be exercised to
protect the rights Of the States, in this respect,
if endangered. But the new-iedged politicians
of the South--ultra and Gas it seems to us) Wis
ionary in their notions, seek to incorporate
the question of slavery in the political plat
forms of rival parties
They seem willing to attach themselves to
any party which viii make fair promises on
this subject; nor do they stop to ascertain how
often and how readily the platforms of parties
may be changed Is it wise for the South to
abandon the guarantees Of the Constitution for
the promises Of politicians? Is it safe for the
South to permit the question Of slavery to be
the football of partiess If convention Of
politicians be held in 1865, in which the South
and North are properly represented, and that
convention resolve to sustain the peculiar
views and institutions of the South, are the
North bound by it? "0f course they arc
bound" is the answer. Be it SO. Ifa similar
convention be held in 1856, and that conven-
ton resolve to eradicate slavery" are the
South bound by it?
The answer which our new fedged politicians
of the South would give, is this, "Circumstan-
COS alter cases n Now no man can deny, that
the North and South, who 60 into q convention,
and agree to 0tlopt a platform upon any gir0n
political question, are in honor bound by the
result. That Is clearly the Democratic rule,
and it must prevail in all conventions, or there
can be no union and harmony Of action. Sup
pose. then, the South should consent, that the
question Of slavery shall be discussed, and a
biaaiag resolution be adopted by Democratic
Tor other) Convention; and, suppose that
convention should be composed of majority
Of such Democrats as formed the Ohio State
Democratic Convention, on the 9th Of January
1855, who declared thuss viz:
Resolved, That the people Of Ohio, now, Az
THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE, look upon slavery az an
evil, and unfavorable to the development of the
spirit and practical benefit of free institutions and
that, entertaining these sentments, they will AT
ALL TIMES feel it to be their duty TO USE ALL row.
Err CLEARLY GIVEN BY THE TERMS OF THE NATIONAL
CONTACT TO prevent its increase, to mitigate, and
FINALLY TO ERADICATE Irs EVILS"
In what condition would the South find
thsmselvcs2 Sold to the spirit o.. tanaticismi
Now, we have to say to the South, that their
only escape from such dilemma, is TO insist
upon, and maintain that slaveryis local and
not national, that the constitution is its pro-
lection, and that it should not be acted upon
or considered by any National Convention. We
take this position as an advocate Of State
rights, and a firm friend of the Federal Union
We are alike the friends Of Southern, of North
srn, and of Western rights and interests,
knowing no difference and showing no prefer
ence for either. No friend of the Union in
tho North desires that slavery shall be a SUBJ
ject of discussion in National Conventions,
and no Southern man who understands the
true position and interest Of the South, ought
ever to consent that any such convention shall
take jurisdiction Of the question Of slavery.
The maledictons of Southern ultraists,
which have been so copiously showerod upon
US, because we affirm that the question Of
slavery ought not to be incorporated in the
American, or any other national platform, have
neither disturbed our equanimity, nor win they
change our editorial course. The clcar-headed
aud sound-hearted people Of the South, when
the present excitement shall have passed away,
will properly discriminate between. our efforts
to prevent their interests being engulfed in the
whirlpool Of political conventions, and the
misguided attempts of others, to substitute tho
sUer changing resolves of political parties for the
exchanging provisions of the Federal Constitu-
ton.
In essaying 10 prevent the question of sla-
very from being made a subject for the action
Of political conventions, we do not act, as the
narfisan If the North or, n tho Coutb b,,f 60