The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-04-21
Gbt cftlitiana Democrat.

Public Opinion at the North.----Pros-
poets of the South.
In all the elections that have take,
place in the Northern States during the
past season, the question of African slave
ry has entered as controlling element
No party took very high ground in favor
Of the institution. The only issue that any
party dared to make, was, that the people
of the States and Territories had right
to the exclusive management of the domes.
tic relations of the inhabitants. In nc
single instance was the party successful that
stood upon this platform. So far as this
argument is concerned, it is not important
to say which party it was that made this
issue with our enemies nor what claims il
had to public confidence. The startling
fact to which we desire to call particular
southern attention, is that in every in
stance, the party that made it was crushed
by popular majorities unequalled in the
previous history of political warfare-that
even in their Gibraltars and Sevastopols,
they were unable to make any resistance
but fell before their opponents, like ripe
corn in the path of the hurricane. This
untoward result took place in no one To-
cality-it was no less uniform than it was
universal. In the hills and valleys of New
Hampshirc-in the prairies of Iowa, in the
thronged cities of Massachusetts and New
York, and in the rural hamlets of Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio, the almost unanimous voice
OF the people has rendered a verdict against
the South and her institutions.
Those persons who represent that the
virus OF Abolition fanaticism is confined to
particular classes in certain localities, are
therefore, most grossly deceived. The
plague has infected the whole body of Nor
thern society.
If the South was disconnected with the
North, we might view with Indifference
the rawlings of its fanaticism. Connected
in the close bonds of Federal Union, errors
OF opinion at the North aresalmost as fatal
to our peace and prosperity as errors Of
opinion at home. Our laws are based upon
opinion, and the controlling section gives
law to the rest Of the Union. Now we
take it that if a general erection were to
take place tomorrow, the majority of the
electoral College, the majority of the Uni
ted States Senator's, and the majority of the
Representatives in Congress would be in
favor of restricting slavery. We are pro-
tected from this calamity by those provi.
sions of the constitution, which fix the terms
OF office to SIX four, and two years. Very
soon, however, these Offices will be vacated
and must be filled by men representing the
popular feeling. If we are right in the
opinion that the controlling section of the
Union is hostile to Southern rights, then it
cannot be long befyre the power and pa
tronage of the Federal Government will be |
welded by our enemies. The threatened
danger is immincnt-the day of battle
draweth night is even at the gates.
In view Of these appalling realities, what
IS the South doing to meet the emergency?
Nothing, worse than nothing. A large body
Of our most intelligent and active fellow.ci-
tizens are busily engaged in forming secret
societies to guard the Republic against the
influence of foreign born and Catholic fel.
low citizens; another large party are de-
the Democratic party and its pa.
triotic President, whose eli !ef SIM in the
eyes of our enemies, is his too great friend
ship for the South and the balance of us?
what are we doing to guard our hearth
stones from the untold evils which will flow
lpon us in the event the abolitionists get
control of the Federal Government? Here
md there, it is true, faithful watchman
sounds note of alarm, but he is scarcely
more needed than he who, in days of old,
walked upon the walls of the city and cried
Woe, woe to Jerusalem Until this IA
al lethargy is removed, and the Southern
people look their danger in the face, there
s no hope for the South. She is sleeping
n the lap of Delilah while her enemies ara
clipping the locks of her strength. God
'nly knows what her resources will be-
when she hears the appalling cry, "The
be upon thee Samson"
LOUISIANA LAND TITLEs.--A case recent
y came before the Land Office for decision
n which the claimants rested their title on
Spanish survey. The Board of Commits
toner's recommended the claim, making