The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-11-20
For the Western Democrat.
NORTHERN AGGRESSIONS g. SOUTH
ERIN RIGHTS.

For the Western Democrat
NORTHERN AGGRESSIONS G. SOUTH
ERIN RIGHTS
As it is now a settled fact that Lincoln has been
elected President by strictly sectional vote, it be-
comes the people of the South to seriously look at
the present state of political affairs by which they
are surrounded, and to arouse themselves to the
momentous future that lies before them.
To properly understand the present state of our
affairs, I will 60 back few years and call up some
of the events as they happened until the present
time. 1t is sad retrospect and full of meaning /;
and if the past be any guide to the future, We may
profit by it before it is too late.
Ten years ago We were in the midst of exciting
times men of all parties here met upon common
ground-Whig and Democrat agreed that the time
for action had arrived. The Mexican war had
closed and the territory thereby acquired (mostly
by the bravery and hearts blood of the South }
became the subject of contention in our federal
Congress. The dominant majority of the North
were determined that We of the South should have
no voice in its disposal.
After long and angry struggle, conpron use
was concluded, when, usual, we lost. UP to that
time the South were equal in the Senate of the
United States. In the compromise, California was
admitted into the Union free State, and the
South forever placed themselves in minority As
equivalent to this political preponderance of the
NOrtn, portion OF the DemOcratlc party VI lne
free States in Congress- with the assistance of the
South passed the fugitive slave law, which boon
was nothing more than what the Constitution ex-
pressly commands. That vote, however, has be-
come the shroud that envelopes in one common
political grave in the North almost every one that
gave it support. Certain astute politicians among
us glorify the compromse-not for the world would
they touch it-ther honor is at stake! Since the
passage of this glorious compromise, this honorable
compromise, where the compromise was on one side
and the honor and glory on the other-thirteen of
the free States have passed laws in direct violation
of this law, obstructing its enforcement and con-
demning every person who assists in its execution
to the mild and humane punishment of from four
to fourteen years imprisonment in the benehcent
fpenitentiary! Every one knows that the execution
of the fugitive slave law in most OF the free States
is an impossibity, and any owner of an escaped
slave who attempts his recovery risks his life in the
attempt. In the face of this how is it possible
that those who, ten years ago. in favor OF the
Nashville Convention, now cry out, "Unon the
Union Is in danger not from the poor innocent
fanatics of the North but from demagogues In the
South ?"
Once great and glorious Union cemented by
the blood of the North and the South, poured out
together on the altar o. liberty, when a Washing
ton made the offering and world was redeemed.
But alas Though the soil was encrlmsoned In
blood from Georgia to Maine; though the grave
opened it's bosom to receive the cold brothers from
the North and the South, and though Washing
ton to preserve it bequeathed us his legacy. its
glory has departed-fanaticism has done its work
in ruin, it lives only an instrument of oppression
and wrong.
After multiplying the fugitive slave law to all in
tents and purposes, after destroying all who are for
giving us our rights under the Constitution, the
people of the free Stltes not yet satlshed-hey
intend to destroy us. Seward, the Senator from
the great State of New York, procaims his "higher
law" doctrines, his irrepressible conflict, "tree-
dom and slavery cannot exist together on this con-
tinent." To carry out their DOCTRINES mighty
party arises and sweeps every other party before it,
and when about eevating Seward to its head,
man, infinitely lower than him. succeeds in thrust
ing him aside and eevates Abe Lincoln to the post.
This man, Horace Greeley, publicly lauds and
praises John Brown, the murderer, and gores in
his deeds of blood and death. Lincoln is elected
by an overwhelming vote, and we are called upon
to await some overt act! This glorious Union must
be preserved! If the midnight torch of the in
cendiary is at your DWELLING ready to consume the
wife of your bosom and the little innocent children,
and the knife of the assassin is at your heart,
will you huzza for union with such demons? If
so, | say, God preserve me from such union.
1t seems to me that awful lethargy is creep
ing over our country, benumb bling US into security
and closing OR eyes to the appalling in the
future
Were you in co-partnership with one who was
taking sure and steady steps to ruin and destroy
you, would you remain in partnership until he had
bound you hand and foot? Would you quietly sit
down and sing peans to the union because it once
was profitable and pleasant, and let him peacefully
weave his artful web around you, poisoning the
minds of the world against you, corrupting the
fidelity of your servants, alternating the affections
of your children, and tainting the purity of the
wife of your bosom? Would you sit trembling,
hesitatng how to act because in dissoving the con-
Germ you might lose little money? If you did,
would not the world say, miserable craven, poor
sordid wretch he richly deserves his fate--lct not
a tear bedew his gravel 0.
FOREIGN NEWS.
II Is rennrted that tie 8 ,,Str;.I