Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-10-25
Couysnal.n OF uovei 40: s-rIeasinaD-e Designs
against the Government.

We have hitherto regarded the rawlings O
Northern Abolition and Southern flre-eatln!
disunionists with disgust and contempt, rath
er than apprehension for the safety OF tn,
Union. But we can no longer, if we would
conceal the fact, that the foul spirit Of dis
loyalty and fanaticism which but yesterday
skulkingly avoided the public gaze, to-day
proudly and d~efiantly stalks abroad in the
land. Not alone in the haunts Of disappo!nt-
ed ambition and fostering political corruption
does this hideous monster, Disunlou, now
find protection and encouragement, but IN
high places of power and trust. Under the
sanction OF authority, it proclaims its treason
| able designs, and gloats over the pictures Of
anarchy and bIoodshed that are to be real
lied in their ccslsumatiou. This is no fancy
sketch, but a sad and gloomy reality. In
proof Of what We say, it is not necessary for
us to refer to that large and in point Of abil.-
ty, respectable portion Of the Press, both
North and South, whose columns TEEN with
dIsunlon sentiments; for we have more con-
elusive proof in an event of late occurrence.
We refer TO the call for q Convention of the
Governors Of the various Southern States for
the purpose of determining what shall be
done by the South in the event Of the elect
ion Of Fremont to the Presidency.
This Southern Convention originated with
Go. WISE, Of Virginia, who commended that
the Union will and oughl to be dissolved in
case of the election OF Fremont. How far
able to say but as nearly all the governors
Of the Southern States belong to the same po-
litical household with Mr.. WISE, if is a fair
presumption, that they will generally follow
in the wake Of their more distinguished and
courageous leader. Properly interpreted,
this proposition Of Gov. WISE, il moral trea-
son-it wants only the overt act to constitute
1t the highest crime known to the law. The
mere fact that the contingency may never
happen which is to be the $ gnal for the out
break OF his conspiracy against tha govern
ment, by no means diminishes the tloraI tnr-
pl'ode of the design: Let US II at this
proposition from another point i view 1t
denies the fundamental principle, upon which
all representative and republican government
IS founded the right Of the majority 70 gov
ern, and viewed in this light alone, is il not
evident to the obscurest vision. that it strikes
at the very vitals Of our institutions Take
away the governing power from the majority
and we return to a state of nature-to the
original condition Of society, ia which physi-
cal strength becomes the chief element Of
power, in other words, a state in which the
strong govern the weak. Is there no remedy
then, 1t will be asked, against unconstitution-
al expressions if unfortunately for US, the
time should ever come, when the government
shall forget to protect the people in their
solemnly guaranteed rights Most certain
iy, and that remedy is to be found in revo-
luton. Between a conspiracy and a revolu-
rlon, the distinction is apparent. The one
looks to fancied or anticipated w,ongs as
still worse, TO the qualification of iawless
ambition, the other to real, existing evils.
after every other remedy shall have been
exhausted.
We would deplore the elevation of FKE-
MONT to the Presidential chair, as much as
Gov. WISE OF any one else, but the simple
fact Of his election would afford no lust
grounds Tor -e5ellion against the will of the
majority. If, in the event of his success. he
shall undertake to disregard the constitution
al rights of toe South, then the people Of
South, and then only, will be justified in re-
sorting to the remedy we have indicated.