New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-08


who may first venture to initiate their example.
Patriots, however. are not to be deferred BY such
considerations. Obloquy must be encountered, and
bitches must be jumped. Every assault upon es-
tablished institutions must be- led by fororn hope
with whom considerations Of glory and patriotism
outweigh ali thoughts Of personal danger.
The Southern States and more particularly the
State of Alabama can boast dge proportion. per-
hap. We ought to say extra proportion. of these
fsr.sichted. resoute, and sei-sacrifcing patriots
On the 10th Of July last. an anniversary expected,
we suppose. in certain quarters, 20 suPersede IN
due time the Fourth of July, there was inaugu-
rated at the Bethel Church in the County OF Mont
eomery in that State. and under the auspices and
leadership of Mr. William l.. isncey the League
"of United Southemers, intended to be the nu-
cleus and propacator of system Of similar Leagues
to be established throughout the Cotton states.
According TO a letter from Mr. 1ancey
10 Mr.. James l. Slaughter, whose mere
name carries certain terror with II, when letter
contrary to the intention of the writer, happened to
get into print. these associations are intended 10
=. ire the Southern heart, instruct the Southern
"mind give courage 10 each other, confession
OF timiditv. by the way which we should hardly
have expected from such a quarter, and at the
proper moment. by one organized concerted ac'
ton preciptate the Cotton States intoa revolt
ton"
This magnanuous movement thus Inau-
curated at tho Bethel Church. whether or not
with religious ceremonies We are unable To say,
though we suppose that an oath of eternal and
desperate hostility Ia the Federal Constitution
and the Federal Union must form part of the
ceremonies of initiation, was followed up, three
days after, by the establishment OF League
az Benton. on which occasion, also, Mr.. lancey
delivered - speech, and by third League, on
the Goth of July, at Montgomery, the capital OF
the State. on which occasion Mr.. lancey delN-
cred third speech. Whether the organization
has proceeded any further we are not yet III
formed; but these three Leagues of United South
erurrs. who seem to have borrowed their name as
w,u as their spirit from the United Irishmen of
former times. viii do very well for beginning.
As. however, the origin of this movement may
and doubtless viii, become subject OF his
torical curiosity and importance, 1t IS proper
To- say that Mr. Yancey does not claim, either tor
himself or for the State of Alabama any thing more
than the merit and honor of first putting IT INTO
practical operation. The idea, 1t seems, was hrst
suggested BY Mr.. Edward Ruiin of Virginia, in a
communication published in The Richmond South.
Yet strange to say-and now We return TO the
melancholy suggestions on the fate of patriots with
which our article set out-the League itself, ana Mr
Yancey as lis prime promoter, have been most
vehemently attacked in this very Richmond paper.
The South asserts that no sooner the idea pro-
nlulgated in its columns, than it was seized upon
" By faction of political adyenturers as an eype-
" dent for the recovery of place" Such are the
sighting terms in which that journal speaks OF Mr..
Yancey and his patriotic Leagues of United South
erners The soud, disowning as it were its own
child, describes these associations az "a Know
'Nothing movement" ga combination of iefunct
" Know-Nothngs end disaflected Democrats
to overthrow the Democratic Party"
Here is treason with witness. The union of
the States might be allowed to go To the dogs.
Mr. Yanccy and his Leagues of United SOutherners
might rend il into az many pieces as they saw tit.
But the unity of the Democratic party-thot is
altogether too sacred for anybody TO be allowed TO
touch it, Mr. Yancey however, is too determined
man to allow himself thus TO be overwhelmed.
He even ventures TO beard the lion in his den. He
who aspires 10 fire the Southern heart, and by one
organized concerted action to prccpitate the Cotton
States into revolution, ls not To be 50 easily
snuifed out by any Richmond editor. In letter
addressed to The Richmond South, Mr. Yancey de-
uies that the object Of The League is to super
sede other political parties by building up
a new one. The League, he asserts, has
for It's model the American Tract Society.
As tina; Society does not require from its members
abandonment of their particular religious sects-
so the League Of United SOuthemers allows and
even encourages its members TO keep up their con-
nection with the parties TO which they may be at
tached, only expecting from them the service OF
diiiusing true Southern orthodox views among their
party connections. Thus the sixth article of the
constitution oi the Montgomery League specially
provides that the League will nominate no candi-
- date for any office, State or Federal, but It's
' members are pledged to Use all honorable means
- TO secure the nomination by the respective par
" ties to which they belong OF sound, able and pure
- men of the Southern Rights school,
OF course The South could hardly object to Mr.
lancey and his Leagues Of United SOutherners
that their object Is 10 dissolve the Union. That,
We understand it, is one of the objects which
The South keeps constantly in view. But il charges
against the United Southerners that they seek to
bring about - a premature blow az the integrity Of
- the Union't not being object, in the Opn-
ion Of The South, TO dissolve the Union long Us