The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-12-08
yhe Aulue $ontMal.
BY w. j. SLATER.
From tho Richmond Examiner.
THE END OF THE CHAPTER
OF COMPROMISES, CONCESS.
IONS AND ADJUSTMENTS.


lONS AND ADJUSTMENTS.
More than thirty years ago the frs,
struggle between the North and thu
South was commenced by most fla
gitious and unconstitutional attemp
to deny, upon various pretexts, the ad
mission into the Union of slav,
State. The right of admission wa,
clear; but it was resisted aud denict
by the fanatics Of that day. The op
position to the admission of Missour
was so hagitious and iniquitious tha,
it afforded a most appropriate and ju
dicious opportunity for the slave State.
to have taken the same firm and reso
lutte stand which Virginia did wher
her attitude of resolute defiance in
l70S-'90 anihilatcd the whole fabric
of the old Federal party. Had the
slave States in 1920 demanded, as q
right, insisted upon'the unconditional
admission Of Missouri, and scorned
all suggestions and propositions fol
compromise, a manly precedent would
have been established which would
have saved rs from that sea OF troub
les which have since engulied u.s.
But tilnidity ruled the hour, and that
llliad Of all our woes--that primeval
southern curse-the Missouri Com.
promise, taught the North that foI
temporary peace the slave States
would submit to unconstitutional re
striclions npon their territorial rights
Had the South, reckless of consequen.
ces. when the Missouri Compromise
was proposed, boldly declared that
where clear and palpable constitution
al rights were involved, the South
would submit to no surrendcrs Of hel
Rights, we should have heard nothing
more Of the abolition of slavery in the
territories. Had we then tearIessly
and boldly met the enemy, appalling
as the dangers which environed US
appeared, they would have vanished
INTO thin air. Had we, in 1920, torn
the projet of the Missouri Compro-
mise into fragments, trampled them
under foot, and thrust the banner of
State rights into the face of the ia
nalics of that day, they would have
fled in dismay. When dangers not
less fearful menaced the Union in
1893 go, Virginia erected her armoI
INDUCED in no clustering, but paral.
yzed the Federal party by an exeibi'
ton of genuine State Rights, indomit.
able pluck. The anti.slavery party
in 1920 should have been treated as
Virginia delt with the Federal party
in l79s-'99, and as Napoleon |. dealt
with the Paris .mobs. Napoleon
ploughed the compact ranks Of the
mob with canister and grape shot,
filled the streets with dead and dying
insurgents. charged them with death
on his "Pale Horse" until fear seized
upon every san culone in Paris; and
when they were flying through every
side street, and seeking security in
every alley and cellar Of Paris, he
fired volley upon volIey OF blank car
tridges until order regned in the most
Iawless Of European Baltimorcs -
Napoleon's receipt for tie cure Of
French Plug. Ugl, ism was like that OF
Virginia's cure Of Federalism in the
days olthc "Alien and Sedi,ion Laws
She built II substantial armory, laid in
a good supply Of artillery, muskcts
and ammunition, prepared the people
for the worst, and then fred her res
olutions plump in the face Of the Fed.
eral party, with what effect it is un-
necessary now to describe.
So should the South have met the
first interference of abolitionsm with
our territorial rignts. But in 1890 the
first humiliating lines of our long
chapter of compromises, concessions
and adjustments were written. We
replied to an insulting demand by q
surrender of constitutional rights, and
since that time many pages OF humil,
atlons have been written. The pre-
cedcnt of 1890 has blightcd and
scourged the South. Like the shirt ol
Nesus, it has proved a constant source
of torment and long agony. And
after nearly forty years of conccss-
ions, where do we stand to day Z
Further from disunion than in 1920 !
More capable of defending our rights!
Have our concessions stripped our en-
cmies of their strength, disarmed their
hostility, or made them less insolent!
Is that Promethcan vulture of iana;i.
cism, after its long feast upon the vi
tails of the South, now that it is gorg-
ed with territorial spoils, less reIent.
less than it was in 1890! Look back,
ah ye men OF the South, over he
long, dreary track of untimely "con-
cessions' and spoliations, under the
gulse of compromises" strewn, as it
is with tie pillage and plunder of our
constitutional rights. and tell US what
have ye gained by proclaiming' Peacep
Peace 7 After all your concessions,
after all your compromises, tanati.
cism to-day is laundering at your
gates more cruel, more remorseless,
more greedy or lawless cxactions than
in 1920. By our mistaken policy Of
peace and clemency, we have grown
weak and our enemies strong, until
we are menaced with the election of
a President whose doctrines lead most
inevitably to treason. insurrection and
murder, and pillage Of slave holders.
1t is unnecessary TO enter into an
elaborate argument to show how per-
nicious and suicidal have been all OF
/ our concessions In fanaticism. We