, 1857-12-25
The Southern UltraiStS, the Admintlr,,
lion and the Union.

I give puOHclly, IN our leading column 70 n,
article ona political subject, as well colcr
lated to please true democrats than by ririDa
| place to the following. Our own views ara
expressed therein eractly;
Never perhaps, at any previous period
in the political history of this country has
there been so urgent necessity, as now
for calmness and moderation on the part or
the people of both sections of the Union
A crisis has come, and upon its issue do.
pends the peace and prosperity of the com.
try, or the convulsion and disruption of tbe
confederacy. The result Of the Presidential
election in 1860, will probably determine
upon one or the other alternative Tn ,bo
South and in the North, we believe there is
an immense majority in favor Of the pcrnc.
tuity of the Union. In both sections tbtro
are antipodal uliraistG, who would sooner
see a severance Of the confederacv than de.
siSt from agitation. The fanatics of tho
North have placed themselves beyond tbc
pale Of argument. Denunciation is the OIL
ly weapon that can wound or weaken them
But the ultraists of the South err on the
side of right, and it is to be hoped they are
not inaccessible to rcmonstrance and reason
There are few disunionists per Sc. 1t may
be said, indeed, that the absorbing object
now in the American mind, is the safety Of
the Union with security to the South.
THE slave-holding States have never
contended for any other right than those
guaranteed to them by the Constitution
They only ask that the agreement between
the States, the compact of the conlcderacy
shall be observed strictly aud impartially
But. this they demand strenuously and justly
| There have been instances in which the
Constitution was grossly violated, and with
injury to the interests and insult to the hon.
or Of the South. Then we were warranted
in demanding reparation by The repeal d
the obnoxious laws, and in making war upon
those who encouraged them with their couH-
sells, or shielded them with connivanee. But
under what grievance, we ask, is the South
now suffering? Is there any enactment Of
the. Federal Government still standing on
the statute books which initiates against
the institution Of slavery? If there is none,
what right or reason have We to demand
more than is already accorded us?
The slavery question has been a source
Of excitement for a number of years. 1t
has led to serious troubles, and it may yet
be the cause Of dissolution of the Union
The South, however, can never be justified
in demanding a separation from the North
as long as the compact between them is er-
forced. 1t matters not to what excess Of
fanatcism and phrenzy the anti-slaye States
may be wrought by the prejudces which
control them, the General Government is
amenable to the Southern people for FEEDER
al legislation alone on the institution Of sla-
very. 1t is true, those States which enact
unconstitutional laws in antagonism to the
acts of Congress providing for the protec-
tion Of the rights Of other States, should, if
possible, be coerced by the Federal Govern
nent into submission to the execution Of all
laws recognized by the Constitution But
because the people of Vermont or MasSa-
chusetts may resist the capture of q slave
BY bis owners, without any violation Of the
laws of the State, the Federal Government
! should not be held to answer. There are
United States officers in every State amply
, empowered with all the authority the Gov
ernment can confer And yet il is utterly
impossible always to battle the designs OF
unprinciplea traitors and fanatics, who OPP
pose the execution Of the law. The truth
is, the South has only to hold on to what
she has, and she will have nothing to fear
But it may be questionable that she will be
able to hold on Then We say, when she is
driven from the position she now occupies
when Black Republican is made President
or Congress attempts to prohibit slavery ID
the Territories, the time will have come
when, cost what it may, the South must SC
cede from tue Union. But until the inter
ests and honor of the slaveholding States
are assailcd and impugned by the Federa
Government, or an abolitionist is elected 10
the Presidency, there can be no cause loF
an event so much to be dreaded.
"The Administration of Mr.. buchanan
is prompted by no prejudices or preulle''
tons North and South and East and "cs'
are alike regarded and disregarded, in ODE
diencc to the preccpts of the Constitution
and the principles of the Democratic parry
| Mr.. Buchanan was made President by tie