Des Arc citizen., 1859-12-14
THE POSITION AND DUTIES OF THE an. su fsT l gOUTH h4d ff9g

which vastly predominates among the
 Southern people, is that of sincere and
 deep rooted attachment to the union of these States under the constitution. We
 read declarations as to the existence of a
 similar state of feeling prevailing among the great mass of the people of the Nortf, not only Tn the Democratic journals pub
 lished there, but in very many of those
 which are enlisted in the support ot what we of the South term Black Republican,
 ism. Attachment to the Union, there fore. may be assumed as being the con. trolling political feeling of the entire coun- Itry. Nevertheless, all candid and reflect ing men in both the North and the South cannot deny that this Union has for years past beenin imminent danger of disso- lution, and that unless the irritating causes which have made 1t a " sick man. with the hot fever of sectional strife coursing through his veins, prostratng his nervous system, and heating to the point of mad ness it's very hearts blood, be. removed, i, no moral skill can avert so deplorable result If there be any balm in Gilead which can effect . cure in this dangerous case, it is from the hand of the South that it must couie.s and upon her shoulders will rest, in a great degree. the responsibilities for it's proper and elfecual application: always supposing she wishes the patient 10 recover. f4As sle 4aa4 8
 Since the beginning of this sectional strife on the slavery question, the South has seen with admiration the firm devo- ton to her constitutional rights of many among the leading men of the Democ- racy of the North; and she has mourn fully beheld the heroism with which some of the greatest and best of the statesman of that section have met with political death while battling with the serried ranks of her enemies. Each of these mnrtyrs in the cause of Southern equality and Southern rights, has a monument in the grateful hearts of every loyal and just minded Southron. Even yet, our battleis being bravely fought by Northern men on Northern soil; and nobly are they con. tending against odds which might appal men less resolved to fight for the right and against the wrong. Despite some | little cavilling here and there among us,' there is sentiment growing up that our Northern allies have lately given severe check to the hitherto invincible hostile forces; and that even in the enemy's ranks there are whole regiments and divisions who beginto relax in fervor, and to pon- der in their tents as to the justice and pros priety of the crusade in which they have been enlisted; and there is reason to be-. leve that many among them may perhaps break up their camps and retire from the field, or even turn their arms against those at whose sides they have until now been fighting. a9 1
 If the South acts with the mingled firm ness, dignity, and moderation which befit her. she may do almost anything to bring about the restoration of good feeling be- tween all sections of the Union; while if her efforts to that end should unhappily
 fail. she will at least command the re- spect of the civilized world, and win it's sympathy and, if needed, it's aid in the reconstruction of her political system, out oflhe confusion which will inevitably follow the breaking upofthe present Federal Uni. on. Her course, we take 1t, is plain and simple. With singular unaniinity her people accepted the declarations of the Cincinnati Platform on the vexed ques- ton of slavery They endorsed the con struclion placed upon it's language by MT. Buchanan in his letter accepting his nomi- nation for the Presidency; and they hail. ed with satisfaction the decree of the Su- preme Court in the Dred Scott case, which maintains their equal rights to hold their property in the common territories, with the citizens of the Northern States. Upon this ground we are convinced that of the people of the slaveholding States are willing to stand, now, and for the future. This vast ma- jority of the Southern people do not de- sire any interpolation of new issues in this part of the Platform, nor do they sympa- thise with the ultraisms which are put forward by few among us, as regards the slavery issues. We do not wish to emburrass our Northern friends with the
 burden of maintaining positions no; aclu- Eaily essential to the proper vlpdicaiion ot
 our rights and equality. It twill probably
 be expedient for the Charleston conven- jlion to endorse the Dred Scott decisions, and in order to prevent all future possl- billy of misapprehension or dispute, to asser. that the right of ihe people of the Territories to regulate the slavery ques- ltion, begins only at the moment they are l forming constitution for a State Govern lment. There exists neither necessity nor desire to go farther than this, and upon
 such platform the lovers of the Federal
 Union, and the adherents of the Constl- Hutton, will in all likelihood be able to lcarry the Presidential election next year. If victory cannot be thus won, it will be plain that it is not attainable under any circumstances. by any party opposed to Northern sectionalsm and aggres >n, and the South will then be obliged to shape her own future as theabest course. li--T New Orleans Courier. Eiasssn7 | gSy- The Democratic State Convention \ lof Illinois, which will appoint delegates 10 'lC6arleslon, willb held at Springfield on libe 4th of January, 1860. It will consist of