The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-31
TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WAR
THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH.

public opinion in the United States in regard
to the war in Europe, remarks as follows:
"Permit me to say word in behalf of the
| action OF the Southern States towards Great
/ Britain. The record shows that the South has
uniformly acted in favor of peace, in all the
questions that have arisen between the two
countries. No friend of civilization ought to
forget that it was the South which saved the
two countries from war on the Oregon bound
| airy matter. While the Middle States were
unanimous in their horrible cry of Fifty-four
forty ga 40) or fight Mr.. Calhoun led the
Southern Senators in behalf of fair and hon.
orable compromise. We saw even the honored
j. Q. Adams and j. r. Giddings in the House
of Representatives speaking and voting for a
fratricidal war, while the words of moderation,
| Christianity, and peace, were left to a Butler,
| King, and Yancey. And at this present mo-
ment, We see the newspapers of a Greeley, a
Weed, and Raymond, rivalling Tammany
Hall in its vulgar hate of the British No,
sir; it is not the Southern States which are
| chiefly to blame for the Russian sympathies of
| the Union. The onus Of this lies on the Mid
die States and those who, as citizens of the
| world, regard the issue in the Crimea as the
paramount issue, cannot help being thankful
at the present time that the South imposes
| conservative moderation on the foreign action
of the White House. and are we'll content to
see the Middle States in a condition of vassal-
age to the South, provided that Tammany Hall
is muzzled, and the Aliens, Hannegans, Cases,
and Douglases, are not allowed to pursue their
policy of war for the sake of war.
Understand well that we prefer Calhoun
to Cass, and the Charleston Mercury to the
New York Tribune, at tie present pson,eat; for
the retrograde influence of Russia, affecting the
destinies of two hundred and fifty millions of
Europeans, is q far more serious impeachment to
the worlds progress than the little local evil of
American Slavery. South Carolina with true
chivalry and magnanimity, chooses this time
to relax her inhospitable laws against the in
gress of British colored seamen into her ports,
while the Middle States of the Atlantic sea.
board are burning for an opportunity to pick
quarrel with u.s."
Our correspondent is not sufficiently versed
in the domestic affairs of this country to pro-
nounce judgment upon the motives or relative
merits of its different sections. He and our
readers know that the Era has never pandered
to the vulgar antpathy against England, but
has endeavored, so far as its influence would
60 to promote kind feelings between two great
nations, more intimately bound together by ties
of kindred, institutions, and interests, than any
other two nations on the face of the earth.
But, devoted as we are to peace, and especially
with Great Britain, our first demand in all re-
lations, domestic or foreign, is Justice. We
would in no case submit to injustice at the
hands of a Foreign Power.
We differ from our correspondent totally in
regard to his estimate of the action and senti-
ment Of the South. He gives it credit, where
it deserves none. We tell him-and we know
what we say-that the pro- Russian sentiment did
originate in the slave States, among savehold-
ers-that it was the product of an institution
identical in principle with the serfdom of Rus
sia-of the fact, that the Car Nicholas had at
one time, acting as arbitrator on question be-
tween this country and Great Briatin, rendered
a decision highly acceptable to the slavehold.
ing Olgarchy-of the fact, that Great Britain
and France have abolished Slavery in their Col
onies, and are interested in promoting the
emancipation of the slaves in Cuba-of the fact,
that strong suspicion prevailed among slave
holders that their combined efforts would be
directed to prevent the acquisition of Cuba by
this country, sought as means of aggrandizing
the power of Slavery-and Of the apprehension,
that their triumph over Russia would place
them In an attitude unfavorable to the schemes
OF the Slave Power for subugating both Cen
trail America and the West Indies.
Our correspondent completely overlooks the
Elements at work in the South-the Despotism
that rules there, its aims and principles The
influences indicated naturally generated and
organized proRussian Sentiment in the
South. and, as the Slave Power controls the
Administration, determined of course its policy
and the tone of its organs in both the free and
slaveholding States.
Our correspondent should remember. that
while the causes we have mentioned induce. in
the slave States, a strong sentiment of hostility
to England, other causes have been continually
at work to make them, IN action. forbearinq
and pedcd6ie. "Nonconformst seems TO al
tribute their conservative policy to the inAu.
ences of Christian civilization Calhoun was
the Christian statesman, Adams, the Moloch of
war The Charleston Mercury is the type of
civilization, the New York Tribune, that of bar
barism. Were our friend native-born Amer
lean, we should hold him inexcusable; but it is
almost impossible for men not familiar, from
their youth up, with our institutions, to under
stand the state Of things in the North and
South
The Slaveholding Olgarchy understand clear
ly their own interests, and pursue them without
compromise or postponement. If violence or
war will promote them, violence and war will
be their policy. They will threaten the Union.
send armed bands into Kansas to subiugate its
peaceful settlers, intrigue for a foothold in Do
minica, encourage filibustering on Cuba, wage
war against Mexico. Is this Christian Civil.
zation? But, where war would endanger their
interests, by cutting off the market for their
products, by exposing to imminent perils the
system of labor on which they rely for their re-
sources and their political power, by involving
the accession of States hostile to their "pecu-
liar institution" then Peace will be their poli.
cy, especialyif it can be secured by concessions
not hurtiul to them, but really advantageous.
Mr. Buchanan did demonstrate that onr title
to Oregon, up to $40 40, was clear and indis.
putabie. Mr.. Polk asserted this-we believed
t-John Quincy Adams believed it. Now.
what was the plain duty of the Administration?
10 stand by our rights it has as good a right
to surrender all, as any portion of our terrific.
~. But, under the controlling influence of Mr..
Calhoun and the Slaveholding Oligarcbv. If
backed down" to 490, disgracefully surren-
dering large portion of American soil. The
Christian Civilization that had too much con.