Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-12-20
TIE UNION OF THE SOUTH FOR THE
SAKE OF THE UNION

country. that the safety and Perpetuity of the
Union Itself TO say nothing of our own imme.
date local and political interests) depend up
on a thorough political union and organization
Of the Southern people, having in view the
three great objpcts-to protect i~nvioIate the
Constitution and the Union, to beat back the
waves Of Northern sectionalism and fanaticism'
and at the same time, give a united attention
to the development of Southern resources in
the esta bIishing of manufactures of various
kinds, and the building of railroads and other
internal improvements. This is evidently the
course which patriotism and interest, "trumpet
tongued," call upon the So nth to pursue. Let
our Watchword be.-No interference even in de
bate with our constituted rights-death to sec
t~ionalism which aims to disfranchise a portion
Of the confederacy-and lastly, ''the union of
the South for the sake of the Union" With
out this last des;deratum the other resolves
would be Of lit lie value. To effect this last
object then, a talented and respectable minori
ty Of the Southern press and people, in the
language Of our able city contemporary who
SO cordially enl;sts in The support of our views
would have of necessity ITO lay aside the
strong political predictions of q life-time, and
join heart and hand, mind and soul, with those
formerly arrayed against us" Can this be eff
fected? We have no doubt of it, if the dom
inant party will not Of itself throw any impe~
diment in the way of such coalition, which is
at this moment imperative if we you'd pre-.
serve inviolate the Union Of the States and the
integrity and welfare Of the South.
Our reason for not entertaining the doubt
alluded to above, is the tone of that minority
press, which a few weeks since was the "Ame.
rican" press. Since our article Of the 9th, in
which we express sentiments similar to the
foregoing, two at least of the most promi-
nent organs of the American party during the
late campaign have adopted similar views, indi-
eating their course in the future, which / is in
opposition to that which they have previously
followed, but which has been impressed upon
their convictions as the true course by results
astounding and overwhelming, and which, like
the "hand on the wall" announced the death
of a great political compact while they pointed
to the path which it is the duty of patriots
North and South to follow in the future.
The journals we allude to are the Crescent
and the Creole. These papers were The. lead
ing American organs during the late campaign
The article Of the former upon this subject
(and for whose remarks respecting our former
article we feel highly complimentary we give
in full, as we grasp hands with it upon every
opinion, principle and determination enuncia-
ted in that article. The article in the latter
upon the same or a similar subject. is entitled.
Concert of Action the Duty of Southern
Men" and appears in that paper in its issue of |
the 18th, the following extracts from which we
annex:
1.-THE experience of years is often crowded into |
rnonths-nay, even into days. A single event
one important struggle-sometimes finally de- |
cIdes the direction of action in regard to matters |
which had long been involved in doubt and created
only irresnlution and timid hesitation. The
South, il is believed, has learned that experience
by the late political struggle, which was unnre-
in its character-in the Importance of
IFS results, and the influence which it must exert
upon the public mind. 4 The
thought Of the North has been daguerreotyped by |
that powerful lens the ballot-box. Its antipathy
to the spread of the institutions of the slave States
has been exhibited in the most unmistakable
terms. The gauge of battle has been thrown
and the contest, though temporarily sus-
pended, is not ended. II X j
Southern mind is now awakening 10 the COM
prehenslon of the actual condition of things, and
there is a growing union of feeling and a gather
ing intensity of determination to prepare for
whatever may betide. Thisi is not only the senti-
ment OF what is often termed, without much
meaning. the Young South" but the conviction
Of all who have a stake in the union of the Sta ties,
or an interest in the government of which ali
a Americans are Justly proud.
Inc exhibition of this change in feeling at the
South is all around us; in the tone OF abstract
speculation; IN the revival of interest in home
IN the determination to develop home
industry and the natural resources of the South
# " u y
There must first be union of mind and purpose
among Southern men. To effect this, no ex.
RENE measures must even be suggested; no more
ideas must characterize the men Of the
The opening sentiment of these extracts is
similar to one we also expressed in our issue
# the 18th, that "Great events, not to be fore.
zen, upsetting the anticipations Of wise men
nd patriots as well as the calculations of DO.
i~ticians, must Of necessity change the pre.con-
'eiVed views Of men as to the policy and prinx
iple incumbent upon themselves and upon
II" &c. Our own personal destiny for good