The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1860-02-01


Shareholders guaranteed by the Constitution and
protected by acts of Congress. Popular addresses,
Legislative resolutions, Executive communications,
the press and the pulpit all nculcate hatred against
us and war upon the Institution Of slavery, an in
stitution interviewer with the very elements Of our
existence The fanatieisrn engeadered in the pop.
ular mind by the doctrines taught and the enlnity
excited manifested itself very recently by an rrup-
ton OF armed men in the State Of Virginia, whose
object was to incie instruction, and whose means
were treason and murder. The abrupt end to which
the conspiracy was brought, and the sharp, quick
and just punishment of the conspirators, proved
that the South had not oyerestimated the stability
of her institutions. But the apologies and eulo-
gums which developed at the North widespread
sympathy with the felons, have deepened the dis.
trust in the permaneney OF our Federal Govern
ment, and awakened sentiments favorable to a sep.
aration of the States.
representatives Of these feelings against us
and our domestic institutions are now struggling to
obtain possession Of the Government, so that Fed
era law may illustrate their doctrines, and Federal
power enforce them cannot contemplate with
out the most serious alarm the condition to which
i the Southern States will be reduced, il political
party organized only in onesection Of The country,
and without followers or synpathizcrs the other,
should obtain possession of the Government, when
the only foundation on which that party rests, IS
detesation of slavery, and when the minority slave
section will be without the power to protect itself
through the instrunlentalty of Federal authority.
When that time arrives the Southern States will be
practically without representation in the Federal
Governments and the South occupy the position Of
subjugated States.
The Union cannot last without recognition of
the vital principles of the Constitution, that the
States are equal in the Confederaey Every State
must be permittedto determine her owa social in
situations, and left to the enjoyment OF them in
peace; and the Territories, tile common property
of the States, must be freely opened to settlement
by the people ofthe confederated equals. The in
sulting demandthat there shall be nc more slave
hle.iSsS ihuSe oS dV1ittUItu, DcCduSc III UOG OnlT
tends to make US politically inferior but because it
brands as a DISGRACE an institution which we prize
as a blessing. So like otfense is offered
and wrong inflicted ON the South BY the
heresy of popular sovereignty, by which
Shareholders are to be excluded from the
Territories by the unfriendly legislation of the
Territorial Governments. The Sapreme C9prt Of
the United States has settled the principle that
mustrue;noither Congress nor the Territorial Coy
ernrients ENTHUSIASTICALLY exclude slayers from
the Territories Southern man can therefore
rghtfa.y take lis slaves hto the Territories. AS
the Territorial Governments are without The LEGAL
power to exclude slavery, it is difficult to under
stand how they can bssallowed to do indirectly
that which they are prohibited from doing directly.
It is the duty OF Congress to protect the property
which is taken TO the Territories under The sanction
OF the Constitution, and to guard that property
from the neglect or unirenaliness Of The Territorial
Governments which is bat tic creature of Congress.
The Southern States deny nothing to the Northern
which they claim for themselves They insist only
on equality, and it remains only to beJdecided in
thestruegle now pending whether this equality will
be conceded 10 ttenl--and lam one who do not
despair that It will.
There is a patriotic minority il the non-slaye-
holding States who are faithfully unfolding the
rights of the Southland battling forthe maintenance
Of the Constitution. The entire South makes com
mon cause with this minority constituting d great
national party, all striving to conquer and annihi-
late that sectional party, whose success will ume-
dately leopard and finally sever the Union The |
triumph OF this great national organization viii be
the beginning OF return to that perfect union,
that general welfare" and that "domestie tran.
guilty" which the Constitutional the United States
was intended to promote and secure. Such tri-
umph would greatly restore the old harmony and
GwakcFl old sentiieuts-and it's the last
hope OF these, who, Ike myself desire to seethe
Union pefpetuated. Louisiana does not wish TO
these States severed from their present potical
But no man who has watched the |
OF the public mind can fail to have observed
that in Louisiana, in the other Southern States,
the progress of disunion feeling has been marked
and rapid. Lam sure, however that all concur in
this, that Louisiana, dearly as she loves the Union
will never separate herself from her sister slave
States. Identity OF interests and the sympathy |
growing out oflike social institutions, would with
out the eonpaison Of political necessity, lead her
to take whatever position the dangers of the times
might demand her to assume The dangers are I
grave and indeed appalling and it is proper that
we prepare 10 meet them as our sister slave States
propose to Go, by a thorough organization OF our
militia system. This would be jQdioous underany
and It's good effects will be enduring,
esenif the present euerssllcg pass away. Itismy
belief as well as MY hope, thai it wilt and TINT
there Will yet allowed the STATES indepcnd-
ence and equality, aud flat HARMONY and peace /
VIII be restored to our peo lie without sacrifice /
OF interest or a loss Of honor.
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ADJ LESS