The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-03-26
TILE. CRISIS

writer. True it is that sober thoGght will, for
the time, convince any man of the real danger
which threatens the perpetuity of the Union, but
like Wilkins NIicawbor, all are too apt to conclude
that something will 'turn up" to preserve their
fights, and the Union with them, by some hook or
crook, and conclude that it is useless to let the
subject longer trouble their minds.
The fact is, politicians are becoming so selfish
foihtte patriotic, and mach engrossed by pr
Nate interest or personal ambition that they have
lost the power to persuade the people of their
truth. They have cried ''Wolf wolff" so often
to advauje their own views of individual aggran.
dzement, that their constituency fail to think
about or care for their premonition when the fold
isreally in danger of destruction. Such, however,
is human nature, and hence some philosophers
argue the necessity of occasional war and practi,
eal damage to ensure the perpetuity of any free
government Our people are so utterly free and
ignorant of the direct effect Of tyranny, and their
Government is so far removed from any thing
like one which makes felt the immediate influence
Of superior power, that they refuse to believe that
any indigenous process, either sudden or gradual,
could bring about, the disastrous result of abso-
lutism in any form.
But neither common sense nor history warrants
this dangerous feeling Of security. No private
individual has ever succeeded while he fostered
the idea that his estates capital or business would
increase, or even remain stationary, without his
personal attention. So in Goyernment-the ruling
power must study the wants, necessities and
sights of the nation it controls, or the balance
between its own prerogatives md the peoples
rights win be lost, and when this happens, whether
in favor of the people or their rulers, anarchy
muSt encroach, and, unless the evil is checked.
must prevail A king who gives up the study of
what is due to and from others will find his au-
thority decreasing, even in short reign, and his
descendants will suffer from his laziness and ne
gect.
The People is King, Emperor, Car, Sultan
sovereign authority in the United States and when
the people lose all idea of, or fail to study, the
slow but steady pace of encroachmert, then will
the people lose their prerogative of government,
and Federalism, or individual autocracy, will
override their proud heritage and the rights they
haye corquered from tyranny These are stub.
nerabe instances of monarchies and not unfre-
quent cases Of republics. If they were not
axiomatical and self-conviucng, it would be easy
to refer to precedents and prove by example.
This being the case, it is high time the people
Of the South were rejecting upon the slow but
steady advance of encroachment since the indie
pendence of this country was established The
Constitution, at first openly praised by every
expression of reverence and respect, lost by de-
grees its need Of devotion, until finally it is
attacked, without qualification, by the most
dogmatical fanaticism
SO surely as the sun shines the crisis is now
approaching In truth is the wolf now ready to
spring upon the fold There can be no danger of
false prophets now the fear is that cowardly
politicians or near-sighted speakers may lose all
view of their counhy's danger or sacrifice every
lining upon the altar of sef-interest and persuade
the people into false security. Let the people
beware of such timid or troitolous advce let
them listen to politicians but do their own think
ing; and from political quackery AMI political
facts let them craw the proper inference in respect
Of their own situation.
We have no need Of the predictions of office
seekers. Political prophecies are nearly always
formed the anticipation of increased popularity.
Let us shun them as we would the very evils they
torete with such show of pathetic rhetoric.
bet MS do our own thinking, with no ether found
alton than the facts as the records show them to
exist The man Of ordinary reasoning faculties
who does this must see that the South is over
whemed by numerical majority that that
numerical majority will sooner or later effect the
political ruin of our section unless checked by
Der own strong hand and her own insulted courage,
Such man will see that it is dishonor to remain
stationary that yielding is ruin and that there
can be no stand-still. Ropel or submit; take
your choice Of watchwords. Submission will
entail upon us farther encroachment and dishonor.
Resistance immediate and decided, may save the
Union, and also our liberties. TAKE your choice
But suppose we jog oleng until Black Re-
publican is in the White House, and until this is
accomplished, of course it is we'll enough, on the
slavery question, to make no show of resistance ;
what then? Then the crisis will be upon us.
What shall we do? Or rather If the electoral
college for 1860 see that Black Republican
President will inevitably be chosen, whot then ?
Let statesmen of courage and information furnish
reply. We should say, let our electors refuse
to vote, and let the government 10 by the board.
Anarchy is worse than the worst and most despotic
government but no government at all is better,
infinitely better, than national disgrace. Let our
Congressman remain at home let Southern
Convention ASSEMBLIES and if the North still re-
fuses to submit to the Constitution then let us
have Southern Republic, where rights, priyile-
ges and freedom may be secured from encroach-
ment, contempt and overthrow
TnE sIcKLEs TRAGEDy.-AccOrdiHg to the pa
pers, there are rumors afoat in Washington to the