The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-02
Southern Protest Against the Virginia
View of Harper's Ferry.

From the Mobile Register
We publish elsewhere remarkable arti-
Gle from the Richmond Enquirer. We do
so in order to place on record our unquali-
fed, earnest, indignant protest, not only
against the conclusions of the writer, but
against the tone and spirit of the article.
We are unwilling that such crauenly
outcry shall go before the Northern public
without at least one voice of dissent from
the South. 1t was disgraceful enough that
the inrOad of twenty two wretched border
marauders should COW town of a couple of
thousand inhabitants. We smarted under
the ignominy, but could find extenuating
circumstances in the paralyzin effects of a
panic originating in surprise and utter
ignorance of the extent of the danger. Then
it was bitter pill to swallow, that Gov
ernor Wise should praise (if, indeed, we may
trust the report of his own organ) his cti-
zen soldiery for not having shown the white
feather while on their way to take sniff of
gunpowder. But now, for Southern pa
per to 20 before the world with what the
world will consider cowardly confession,
and what we denounce as an unmitigated
falsehOod, is more than we can bear.
The burden Of the EnQulrer's wailings is,
thet the institution of slavery requires the
assistance of the General Government, that
it has no self sustaining power, and that to
repose in peace and security, we must needs
trust to the stalwart arms of our beloved
brethren, the factory hands and mechanics
of the North. Protection (meaning Fed
eral protection) of slavery is demanded by
the blood of slaughtered citizens, and the
traitorouS Southerner that dares deny the
right, is even more criminal than the in
mates of the Charlestown jail" We pro-
TESS to love the South with an ardent heart s
devotion, and we feel in this moment that
we love it as the Enquirer is incapable of
loving it yet we spurn the above sentiment
as unworthy of Virginia, recreant tie South
ern dignity, and insulting to Southern
honor. We, in Alabama, and in the other
Southwestern States, have more slaves than
ever they had in the negro breeding States !;
and not only are we fully competent to take
care of them and keep them in subsection,
but to furish to Virginia, if she can not deal
with hers, arms as steady and rifles as true
as the Enquirer's clamors will be likely to
SSO IL Jill VuC l. CuCtd al OONCIuuICuG uuu CuC
Northern States. Wenever expect to need
such aid, and would scorn to ask for it.
Could the worst enemies of the South
could the most frantic of freedom shriekers
at the North--have invented calumny
more injurious to US than this novel plea of
Governor Wise's organ of the insecurity of
Slavery for want of Federal protection ?
Has the Enquirer forgotten how, in the
trying days Of the Revolution the Carolina
planters left their homes and families under
the charge of faithful slaves-how the ne
groes planted the crops while the masters
fought their country's cause? Has the
Enquirer forgotten how few Virginia slaves
availed themselves Of the royal Governors
proclamation-how few sought refuge on
Lord DuDmore's ships? Have the times
changed since then, or has the Enquirer also
forgotten the more recent occurrence, which
is so frequently its text, and where not a
solitary slave joined the invaders, and the
first victim was negro faithful to his trust?
We are heartily sick of this unmanly
whining, this crying like spanked baby
over imaginary grievances. Wehave hemp
enough grown in the South for all slave reb-
els and their white instigators we have
rifles and bullets enough to protect our wives
and children; and we should fling back as