Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-05-22

If the people of the South had other reR
son for protesting against tho present unequal,
unjust. aud unconstitutional mode Of di-posng
of The public lands. abundant cause for It might
be found in the rnpidity with which the system
has built up populous and powerful Free Soil
States in the Northwest. 1t Is susceptible OF
easy demonstration that much of the growth o'
the Northwest in population aud political power
is due to the policy If the Federal Government
in taking that portion Of the country into lis es-
peoal favor.
1t may be objected TINT it is upatriotic and IL
liberal TO complain of, or to view with envy, the
rapid strides which the Northwest has made 10
wards a commanding position in tho tonfedera
cy. Such indeed, in ordinary circumstances,
would be The case But. unfortunately. we are
not living in peaceful times. struggle IL i'm
pending wherein the rights and the honor and
the dignity of,hc South will be placed in extreme
peril. policy which will strengthen those
from whom we can expect noth ng bat enmlty,
and everything but assistance, is not the policy
which the South should pursue at 50 critical
junciure as the present.
1t has not been many years since the slave
HoluinR anu upn' Nih'fhpihllH ''thifH IN" "a" -"
number of Representatives in the lower House
of Congress. A, that time, the South not only
commanded, but was able to enforce. proper re-
epeot for its rights. But, Gradually political
power has escaped from South 10 North, until,
at the last tpportiomment the South was IN
minority of fifty four in the popular branch of
Congress. The next apportonment, in ls6O,
will develop how rapidly the tide sets in the same
direction. Even surprising that no new Freesoil
States are admitted into the Union in the mean
time. it would be safe TO say that the South will
be in minority of not less than seventy five, in
the House Of Representatives, after the reap
portionment of 1860. And this comparative de
crease Of our power will be due to the unexam
Piled growth and prosperity of the Freesoil States
of the Northwest.
Year after year have these States besicced
the halls of Congress for acts of special legisa
ton--and almost invariably with success
Grants of lands for railroad purposes, for eduea
tioual purposes, for oanas-grants of swamp aud
overilowed appropriations for custom
houses. Notifications, and internal improvements
have been literally made; until at this time all
to DO, to succeed, is to ask. Territories not yet
invested with the dignity of States are as sue.
cessfu as they are importunate in their appeals.
Emigration 10 them is stimulated by this special
favoritism of Congress and the Froesoilers of
tie New England States, reinforced by the Ger
and Scandnayiens of Europe. swarm
the whole country, and place themselves at
once in antagonsm to the institutions of the
South.
Self-detence is the first law of nature-to
States and communities as well as to individuals.
The South can no longer consent-and ought no
longer to consent-to policy which renders her
weak not only by depriving her of her just rights,
but by building up and streng thenng those States
that only await the power to deprive of all O.
quail rights in the confederacy.
Most of the European wars, of modern times
have been waged to preserve the balance of pow
err among the great nations of tho continent
Were the people of this country all animated by
acommon impulse, and bound together by com
mon fraternal tes,no one portion would view with
Jealousy the material wealth and prosperity of
another. II is because this is not the case--it
is because power is sought by the Northwest for
the purpose CT its own aggrandizement, no mat
ter at what expense to the interests of others,
that the South should resist in solid column, the
present msapplication Of that great trust fund,
the public Territory. In few years she will
lose the ability to do it-and it must, therefore,
be done now, or not at at all.