Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-11-20
"A Striking and Significant
Article.
From the Charleston IS. c. Standard.
THE SLAVE TRADE.

From the Charleston rs. c. Standard.
THE SLAVE TRADE.
Nearly three years ago we avowed our
selves in favor OF the Slave trade, and as
this had at least the merit oi being new
position, it may be interesting and iuStruc.
tive. perhaps. to look upon the changes, ii
any, in Southern opinion, that have since
occurred 1t is not to hitch to say that the
position was All extreme one. Men were
generally dlsinclned 10 make a standard Of
Slavery. We had Slaves, and as against all
others, we had right 10 hold them, but
there was the feeling that, in some sense,
they were plunder, which it was enough 10
get out OF the way with, And, solictous
TO sustain ourselves within the existing So
cial sentiment of the world, we were I'M
willing 10 revolt against it, and we were
rather inclined to brave the world in the
practice of an acknowledged wrong than
promulge the social principle upon which
our acts were TO be rendered right. This
we thought unwise. We believed it not
only possible, but necessary, TO erect stand
ard of our own. Though Slavery was pos
sessed Of every element necessary 10 a liv-
ing social system, we felt it never could be
defended upon pre-eXsting principles OF
opinion; but that. TO its vindication and es-
tablishment, there was the necessity Of dis
iinct organization and intelligence; that, in
stead of flank VIC must present front
instead Of fear we must have hope-instead
Of endurance, action-and, TO the end of
changing our attitude in the contest, and
planting our standard right in the very ia
ces of our adversaries, pe propose, as a
leading Princ,pas Of Southern policy, TO re-
fopen and Legitimate The Have Trade.
There were few, at first, to come TO this
position. The Southern journals were gen.
orally silent, and all those which spoke, ex-
cept the Charleston Mercury and the Rich
mond Examiner, deprecated its temerity.-
We called 10 have the proposition placed be-
4 fore lie Southern Commercial Convention;
we found an indi.posiion in the public mind
Ia be disturbed upon disagreeable subject;
and we were indebted 10 the journals at the
North, for the opportunity OF more full
discussion of the subject.
Since that time, however, there have
been many circumstances TO affect opinion
AT the South. The sentiment of opposition
10 onr institutions has led 10 further acts
of political aggression. The entrenchment
Of cur position, has been no impedment 10
legislative and territorial circumspection.-
Yielding ground before Our adversares, we
have come at last, 10 points beyond which
we can yield no further, and the alterna-
lives of surrender or Reaction, therefore,
we have been forced upon us. To re-ac-
ton, therefore, we have been impelled; but
at every step, we have been met by Difficult
ties, which seemed only 10 be obvated by
the measure we propose. One necessary
step was 10 pre-occupy the Territory TO the
West, and thus preserve, as near as pcssi-
BILE, an equality in the Federal branch OF the
National Legislature; but there we were
met by an in>ufiiciency OF population.-
Willie men, from superabundance. were
crowded out from the North, and were di-
reaed by Emigration Aid Societies, upon
Kansas, we had not enough for the ordinary
offices OF labor, and it required force TO
send them out, Even then there was the
further difficulty: If we were TO send labor
ing whites, there was the apprehension that
they themselves would acquire an interest
in the Territory in opposition TO the insiiIu-
lion of domestic Slavery, and thus might
fail TO secure the State. Ii we were to send
slaves, we lose their conservative Office in
the social economy at home. So many
whites have come in since slaves have been
restricted, that this class of population is
greatly in excess. Many have taken 10 the
walks OF manuel labor. They struggle for
subsistence in competition with the siare,
and already, even in this State, where there
is an excess Of slaves, the proposition had
been made and pressed, TO relieve the whites
r from the seventies of such contest. To
D fortify the frontier, therefore, there was the
danger of violating the integrity of slave
soeieiy in the centre Of our soundest State