Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-01-09

southern loeofocos Payedsthe fool 10 endofs
Ing NE cheat. rather thin quarrel with their
brcihtep Of the North. when the spills were
10 be fought for; and both wings, conscious Of
their meansess, are now alter Sing % palliale
their misconduct, " mutual rectiminaiion.-
Whilst the criminal agitation Of slavery has
been kept up by the two disorganizing factions,
sober, thinking men have condemned both.
and endesvored to bring the people to a eense
Of their danger and their duty But the Ian.
guage Of soberness and truth has been unheard
amid the din Of tho conaict, or UNDECIDED by
the victims Of passion. Prfjudice. and fraud
But now that partial cnIm has succeeded the
storm, they who seeahe tight, and dare pursue
H., should lit their voice in behrlf Of truth,
Justice and the Uuion. --.t,s ta.aniul ~
Bot TO full understanding Of the merits of
this sectional controversy. as originally begun.
the subject must be viewed in still another
light and in the honest discharge Of our
duty, we dare to speak out, offend whom It
may. We assert, then, that the northern man
who advocates the extension of slavery. Is MS
much traitor to the North, as the sou,herner
who opposes e, is to the South. II is is a
plain truth. plainly spoken, and however un'
palaiabe it may be, in this lltitude, it is right
that the people should know it. for upon its
proper appreciation in no slight degree, de-
ponds the successful application of a remedy
for the existing evils OF sectional strife. 1t
should be borne in mind, ton, that the contes,
between the two sections, Is not one Of hu-
munity.. but of political power. Upon this
ground, the South predicates its action and so
does the North, with tie exception Of a few
knsvish fanatics who strive TO enlist sympathy
for the slave. Asa question of political power,
both sections have motive Of action, legiti.
mate, It not praisewor,hy; and in clsiming
this motive as Justification Of southern policy,
we can do no less, In justice, than extend NE
benefit of the plea to the North. The CoDs,i-
tuion, it will be remembered, in,he ssoortion-
ment Of representatives, uuthorises hfe slaves
to be counted ms three whites. This provision.
the North is bound TO respect, and OF It's bene-
extent. Yet no sensible man will deny that,
In giving to properly the right of representa-.
ton, a principles established at war with the
genius of ourfnstituiions. Whilst the South,
then, urges the extension of slavery, for the
plrpossiof increasing its political power, the
Norh opposes it, for the same reason. and be-
pause by its extension, that which is property
carries with it political power, and cnlarges
the operation Of an Iirepubican principle.
This was the original ground of the contro.
yersy about slavery, and the bitterness OF feel
ing and spiri. of aggression Which now enter
into it, are the result Of a misunderstanding Of
the subject and of the villuipy of demngogues.
But in order to place This point yet more
clearly before the people, let US suppose that
the Constitution were so amended as to declare
that five power-looms shall count as three
whites. in fhe apporiionment Of representa-
ton, would not the South, as q question Of
political power, oppose the further exte nsion
of power.looms Assuredy it would and
southern politicians would be heard to proclaim
that Congress had the right to legislate upon
looms, and to prohibit their iutroduc-
ton into the territories. This is the principl lie
originally involved in the controversy between
the North and the South, and all who view the
subject in this light, will admit that, whilst
the South consults its own interest in urging
the extension Of slavery, the North does the
same in opposing it, and that its policy is en-
tircly Legitimate so long as il is restricted with
in the requirements Of the Constitution
Then, in the abstract, both sections are right !;
but, Gas in individual qusrrels) opposition has
engendered passion and prejudice, and these
have instigated mutual wrongs, until the orgi'
nal ground Of quarrel has been lost sight of.
or superseded by more recent acts of mutual
injuslic, And in the gradual progress OF
things from bad to worse, we see the footprints
OF dspesaie knaves and inuriuted fools, with
whom wisdom is eowsrdiee, and love Of coun-
try, treason.
Southern Quixotism mSy be shocked By the
proclamation of these unwelcome sruths; but
we address our remarks to the rational, and
should feel that we have written in vain, did
we please the chivalry of the South, OF the
faaaties'of the Ncr,h. The preservation of
this Union must be the work of wisdom and
prudence, in spite Of knaves and fools, or its
dissolu ton is inevitable, The physical cour.
age of Don Qulxoue is equalled by that of
munya fire eater, ond the disc feiion which
prompted the formers attack upon the wind
mill. is no rnre quality among the latter. OF
such materials whether found North or South
-patriots and statesmen are never made, and
far batter would it be for the coentFy, did it
number fewer such among lis citizens.
0J- Let The public remember that Iolnor