Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-02-01
From the Richmond Enquirer.
The I2th Section, SOutherners Hnnd-cuffnS
Themselves,

The famous 18th section which we will quote in
full, is the deepest take in of the day. By it the
Southern chvalry bound themselves TO silence nom
agitation, neutrality on the slavery question: and
sidered, too. that in doing so, they had achieved
master of policy. They came home from
Philadelphia, and made the welkin ring with self
laudatons for their triumph over the North In con-
ventlon They admitted that, it was true their
hands were bound, and their mouths gagged, but
what of that, so were the hands and mouths of
N rtherners" That the South only asked to be let
alone on the subject OF slavery, and that the 18th
section would effect this" Well, what has been the
result Why the Southerners still partially wear
the gag and the hand cuffs will not agtate slavery,
winch lhey charge in this famous 18th section, to be
the great offence of Wings and Democrats and stand
off, as neutrals in the great waging in Congress
and throughout the Union between the Abolitionsts
and the Democracy. They declare that they agree
with the democracy, too in opinion as to slavery
admit that the contest is of vital Importance to the
South and the Union, but, as gentlemen, they must
keep their word, although, by so doing the South,
at all times in minority, is robbed Of onethird of
her strength
The Norherners either refused in Convention to be
gagged and handcuffed, slipped off their brides
as soon as they returned home. The famous 18th
section multiplied aholitionists at the North and tied
the hands of It's enemies at the South Barnum
might be proud of such splendid humbug such
deep &c take in Including Bolts men, twothrds
OF the KnowNothings active allies of aboli-
tion The other third are the sensible Southern gen.
uemen who tied their own hands and gagged their
own mouhs-and boasted of the feat, stroke of
policy beating all hollow Machiavelli, Metternich,
or Talleyrand. They have given their parole of
honor and, as Southern gentlemen they would not
break it to the world, much less the Union
The Whg endorses their leader, Mr.. Fuller. He
too is gentleman Well, the gentlemen have been
outWltted by the tricksters, and cut very sorry fig
ute in gags and hand cuffs while the trcksers are
free as air and clsmorous as harpies We are not
surprised that our neghbor of the Wing, greatly as
he admes their chivalry, should not be willing to
attach his name and his fortunes to such suicidal
simplicity and folly. He fouts in their face the ban
ner of indep pendence, and at the very that he
compliments their gentlemanly bearing. As Know
Nothings, they cannot be true TO the South, for they
are in honor bound not to agltate the slavery ques
ton. The North will agate it. Agitation only
be met by counter agitation. The alleged evils of
slavery only be justified by She10ing up continu-
ally the far greater evils of free society At the very
moment the tide of battle turning against the
North, by Southern agitation exposing the enormous
evils of free society," in this odious 18th Sec
lion. to close lips, 10 stop press, and tie our
hands. Abolition could moi have devised better
cheme 10 insure success:
"XII-The American party having arisen upon
the ruins and in spite of the opposition of the Wing
and Democratic parties, cannot be IN any manner
sponsble for the obnoxious acts or violated pledges
of either And the systematic agitation of the slave
ry question by those parties having elevated section
al hostility into positive element of political power
and brought Institutions into pc ril, it has there
fore become the imperative duty of the American
party interpose for the purpose of giving peace TO
the country and perpetuity to the Union. And as
experience has shown it impossible 10 reconcile opin
ions so extreme those which separate the dispu-
tants, and as there be dishOnor in submitting
to the laws, the National Council has deemed it The
best guar anee of justice and of future peace
to abide by and maintain The existing laws upon the
subject of slavery final and conclusive settle
ment of that subject. in spirit and in substance
"And regarding it the highest duty to avow their
opinions upon subject SO important, in distinct and
unequivoca terms, it is hereby, declared as the sense
of this National Council that Congress possesses no
power, under the Constitution, to legisate upon the
subject of Slavery in the States where it does or NAV
exist, TO exclude any State from admission into the
Union, because lis Constitution does or does not re-
cognise the institution Of Slavery as part of it's So
cia system and expressly prelermting any express
sion of opinion upon the power of Congress to estab-
lish or prohibit Slavery in any Territory, it is the
sense Of the National Council that Congress ought
not to legslae upon the subject of Slavery within
the Territories of the United States, and that any in
reference by Congress with Slavery as IT exists in
the District of Columbia, would be violation of the
spirit and intention of The compact by which the
State of Maryland ceded the District to the United
States, and breach of the National faith"