New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-31
WHY TIE SOUTH FEARS WAR.


Our Southern cousins are ever Boosting of their
own yalOr and cOntemptuously describing the cow
ardce Of other folks. Perhaps they the bravest
people in the world but their brags don't prove ii.
Indeed, il has often turned out that braggar5 are
the greatest towards. We have no doubt that our
kinsmen are fond of sangunary delights, but they
prefer to take them in the form of assaults
peaceable unarIned men chasing timid, weapOness
blacks and Strengthening their antagonists generally
with the least possible danger to their own per-
sons We do not dispute their love of killing
when they can do it in comparative safety. This
is all amable passion which they share with
the people of all warm climates; and the So
lcitude for their own persons while indulg-
ing it, is equally growth of fervid ATTITUDES.
But they are by NO means fond of provoking the
bold thumps OF equal war. When these are
threatened they become suddenly prudent con-
seryative and cautious. The prospect OF dan
geIous hostilites reduces their swagger ut to
its minimum proportions.
We have often seen this illustrated in the appre-
tensions expressed by Southern Members of Con-
gress over our relations with England. The re-
hottest prospect of an embodiment with first
rate Power excites their nervousness in an excess
sive degree The merest passing cloud in the sky
sets them in SILVER. When real danger threat
ems, there are no bounds TO their solicitude. 1t
was especially so during the Oregon controversy.
The whole South Carolina delegation, headed by
Mr.. Calhoun, were on that occasion in a fever OF
terror. SO were Father Venoble and his compat-
riots from North Carolina, while every Virginian
roared as gently as a sucking-dove. There was not
a long-headed man from the South who did not
exert himself 10 his utmost to avoid rupture on
that question. Indeed Mr.. Calhoun claimed that
were it not for the conservative character of
Slavery (eyinced in the fear to provoke hostillties
with any frst-rate Power), there was no knowing
what would have happened then or be in constant
danger Of happening subsequently. He used to
harp forever oil the idea of the risk there that
the people of the Free States, being destitute of
any such conservative institution, would plunge
the country in foreign war and so leopard and
probably destroy his pet institution. In these
fears all Southern men of prominence then
shared and now share. They are convinced that
an earnest war with England or France would be
the deathblow to Slavery. All talk to the con-
trary by Southern men, either in Congress or out
is spouied for Buncombe or is the offspring of
stupidity. Anybody, therefore, who suppOSes that
the leading Southern statesmen will do anything
to provoke foreign war or fail to 10 anything to
prevent one, is laboring under delusion
The course which affairs would take at the out
set of such catastrophe pictures itself TO the re-
Elective Southern mind in a manner which is GER
tainly somewhat alarming. IfEngland were the hos
tile Power mighty armament would move to Hall
fax aud there prepare for descent upon our coast.
OF course that part would be chosen where the de-
lenses are smallest and the objects TO be gained the
greatest. These two conditions would be fulfilled
in the South. If one powerful division Of the
enemy were to land in the Chesapeake and head
Scuthwsrd, and another Were to precipitate itself
upon CharlestOn-mOying northward, each arning
the slaves AS il went and declaring emancipation,
a single campaign would very Likely see Slavery
abolished in the two Carolinas and Virginia. 1t
would be as much AS Georgia and Maryland could
attempt TO take care of themselves, while the
Slave States west Of the mountains could do but
comparatively little in their aid. Succor, then,
would depend On the Free States, and it is not to
be denied that the recent course of the Slave
Power has done much to prevent the spontaneous
| rising that would otherwise have taken place in
these States under such circumstances and TO Justify
| the fears and anxieties of Mr.. Calhoun and his
followers. Meantime if the war were not so ar
rested, the blacks with in their hands, might
! hourly become more and more Formidable from
discipline and means, and aided by potent foreign
allies and the sympathy of the outside world,
might take the position of distinct native force