The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-03-23
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LEE as k.A IALAa.

sway. Indignant as we may well be at
the injuries we have received from North.
ern fanatieism; justly as we may have
feared, that unless We could guard our in
situations by additional Constitutional guar
antees, that those institutions would be-
eventually overwhelmed, and ourselves
reduced to a state of vasalage to free labor
majorities; yet, it must be confessed, that
the Upion of these States has elevated us
to pitch Of national power and greatness
which other nations have failed to attain
in hundreds of years. When VIC recall
what we were eighty years ago, and what
we were six months since, and then reHrct
upon the future that was surely opening
before us, if the Union could be preserved,
consistently with our safety and honor;
there is 10 one that will not regret the ne
cessity, under which we have been placed.
of dissolving that Union; and of reducing
ourselves and the North, each, TO third or
fourth rate powers. The experiment Of
national success has again to be tried.
However bright the prospect may be--yet
It is from necessity an experiment whose
success, or whose failure yet rests in the
womb of time
Our new Government has been fully or
gained and to it we yield not only sub
mission, but loyal obedience. For it,
and in ITS defense we are willing TO labor
But while we thus recognize the country
OF cur adoption, while we will say naught
against the action of our Convention, while
we believe that our first duty as a South
erner, ifnot by birth yet by choice, is de-
tense of Southern Rights, and that the
time had arrived, when the Southern people
should have demanded that restoration TO
their full equality in the Union which our
fathers contemplated yet we must most
severely reprobate The course Of those
whose sole aim seems to be to inhame the
public mind. Those papers, which are
secession per sc, week by week come laden
not with true information, logical acquire
nenis or reliable facts, but are filed with |
false and lying dispatches, inAamatory |
appeals, and misrepresentation, better
adapted to the Sdns Cnioftes of Paris. than
10 American citizens. Their Object seems
70 be TO arouse in our minds bitter.
burning hate forthose with whom we have
heretofore been associated as brothers, and
hus having blinded us by passion TO hurry |
rs onin the path they have marked out.
Thus it is they hope 10 make of the people
mere voting machines, who under their
'killtul maniPulations are 10 work out
her ends and aims
30 far as we are concerned secession &c
TACT complete the United States some
hing that was, the Confederate States orr
'o"htry' but the policy that shall be pnr-
.ued by this orr new Government is in orr
iands' and in which each and every citi-
zen has and must ever have deep aud al
absorbing interest.
Among the questions of vast moment
which appeal to us, is that of the relation
n which we shall hereafter stand TO fine
'on-seceding States. What would be orr
curse should the border States succeed in
obtaining full and complete equality in
he Union, and perfect protection TO slave
property, and should they extend to ms
he hand offellowshipl Have we become
% enDittered that we can never again.
ven upon such basis rs this, reconstruct
he old Union 81! No one dreams Of 50 do
nG without such guarantees az will effect
ally secure our rights Secession in its
Inauguration we are told, was no more
han the best means Of obtaining a rccoc.
lti'n nj our equality in the Union, by
"nIinchg Northern fanaicism that we
'cre M earnest. When it has accom-.
I'"hed this end, shall wc he told tina.
Is too late, and that now no comn,o-
arse Is possible and console ourselves
n our own diminished national i,npor-
1nc' with the reflection that we have in
iFed others MORE than Ourselves I'll
I,