The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-04-12

II the news brought US BY the telegraph |
be true, that the fanatics and fools who |
have got possession Of the government at
Washington are really decided upon a
war policy, Il will be the most stupendous
instance Of wickedness and madness in
high places, that the history Of the civili-
zed world has yet produced. What do
they promise themselves by it, Do they
expect TO subjugate the South and hold
all the States below Mason and Dixon's
line a. conquered provinoesi II they
have sense 10 know any thing, they must
know that they cannot do this-they must
know the border slave States will all Join
the South, the battle be fought out TO the
bitter end, that they can never subdue us.
What then do they expect to make by
the Wari Cannot the rail-splitter be con-
tent with having split the Union, without
sggravating that disaster by the horrors
Of bloody and proftless civil war9
The wrong in this whole thing is too
clearly on the side Of the North to admit
of argument; and if we are to be invol-
we'd in the calamities Of a war, it is mat
ter for qualification with our people to
know that they have acted from the first
purely in selfdefence-that TO preserve
the old Union and avoid the scenes which
it seems we must now witness, they suf-
fered long and patiently insults and inju-
ries such as no high spirited people, actu-
ated BY less pure and patriotic motives
would ever have submitted to. Just see,
for a moment, how this quarrel stands.
The Union was formed Of all slave-hold-
ding st&tes except one. Could it, then,
have been formed for the purpose Of ex-
tirpating slavery. Would the illustrious
men who did form it have done so for the
purpose Of rendering slavery infamous 2
Does this accord with common sense, or
with the motives that generally influence
the conduct Of men. Certainly not.
What is now the professed object of
those who control the Government of the
Unioni Is it not the destruction Of
slaveryi Did they not gain possession of
the government upon their oft expressed
principle Of hostility to slavery? That
was the very foundation upon which the
party which elected Lincoln took form
and substance, maintained its existence,
and finally usurped the Government
We contended that under the Constitu-
tion Of the government, the States were
equal. that slaves were property, and that
we had q right to expect the ful6Ilment
Of the object Of all free government, the
protection Of its Constituents. They said
not-that we and our institutions should
be placed under the ban Of the govern
ment-that the influence Of the govern.
ment should be employed 10 render US
infamous in the eyes Of the world, and
they at least achieved the power to en-
force their policy. With them the ques'
ton involved q mere sentiment-with Us
it was one Of life and death-if decided
against US reducing US to the position Of
interiors. destroying all our material pros
perity and endangering the lives of oul
wives and children.
Finding how radical was the difference
between US, and how determined both
they and we were not to yield to one
, another, we asked aud asserted the poo
privilege of peaceful separation-tha
we might be allowed 10 set up a govern
ment which would be effective for oul
own protection, adapted to our owl
wants, and which at the same time would
relieve them from the odium which the,
considered TO be resting upon them BY
reason Of their connection with our in
situations. Their answer is in effect, ''W,
feel the disgrace Of your association, bu
you are profitable TO us-we intend Z,
preserve the connection regardless o
your rights and interests-we will sen'
our fleets and armies to keep you in tn,
Union, and subjugate you if necessary"
This is brief, but we believe, jus
statement Of the matter. II q war is nov
: forced upon US, all we have to say is lie
it come. We are clear Of the responsi
bility, and while there is q man in tn
! South who can shoulder a musket or dra1
9 sword. the oppressor and invader ma
expect resistance. Our people have onl
! TO Be animated by patriotic and dc
termined purpose-to be resolved to en-
dure with cOmPosure and fortitude tn
evils and sufferings the war may entail
in order to vindicate their rights an
= maintain their honor. Every true ma
will die in the last ditch rather tina
think Of yielding We have the pOws
and the will 10 make good our defenc'