Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-04-18
THE PAST AND the PRESENT.
(G0ncluded.)

| idCto COuucOt0O VIII tuO ouh"p
condition of our government. Al
without attempting to give IL
history Of all the wrongs that ha,
been inflicted by the North upon Il
South, and which for years, have bee
quietly borne by the latter will, 70
the present only call attention to on
| presume it silI be admitted by al
who are ut all versed with the il
lricate machinery of our politics
system, that the great fundame nts
basis upon which the government va
established, is the equality Of th
States. The little State of FloIid
in the South, is entitled to ever,
right, privilege, and immunity unde
the Federal Constitution that car
be legilimately claimed by the empire
State Of New York, 10 the North
Hence, | care not what system O
policy is inaugurated by the Fedora
Government, if the tendency Of that
policy is to destroy the equality oI
the States, i: will eventually. if not
checked, prove fatal to the Union.
Under our system Of government,
each State is its own judge as to
what character Of institutions, are
are best adapted to its soil and cli-
mate. IF We 10 Tennessee adopt
one species Of property, and Ohio
another, it is but the exercise Of a
sovereign right, and the Constitution
ought. to protect the property Of each,
whether il be found upon the high
seas, in the territories, or wherever
else the Flag Of the Union is seen to
wave.
Now, you as citizen Of Tennessee,
in order to improve the condition of
yourself and family, remove to the
city of Salt Lake with you, negroes,
worth ten thousand dollars. A citi.
zen OF Ohio also, wishes to 60 west;
and hence he tears down his ma
chinery, also, worth ten thousand
dollars aud carries it TO the came
place When you reach your des;i-
nation, you fiud that the strong arm
Of the federal government must be
invoked to protect the property from
the assaults of bandit robbers, and
hostile Indians, II the government,
under these circumstances, protects
his property, and not yours. then it
proves recreant 10 the great trust
confided to it bv the States, and at
once establishes the inequality of its
citizens.
The Republican party British
Tories assert 1he poarer and duty Of
Congress Parliament) to prohibit sla-
very 10 al the territories new owned
,r that may hereafter be acquired.
The Southern States (Colonies) deny
any such pouer, for they believe, in
Heed they know, that the adoption
of such policy. forever annihilates
he equality of the States; and like
their fathers, rather than surren-
der that, which they conceive to
be a sacred boon guaranteed to free
men, they will appeal 10 the arbiira-
ment of the sword.
Ah! but it is said by some of our
submissionists. that upon the bleak
Mills and barren plains Of the west,
Involuntary. servilu1e can never go,
because the soil and climate are not
adapted to the success of that insti-
luton; and are yougoing to break up|
The government. ,..and desert the noble
Did stars and 8 tripes of the Federal
Union, simply because you want Con-
yress to acknowledge and protect
right which the immu.able laws Of
nature, soil and climate viii f;rever
Dr. ohibit7
/ deny that these declarations are
rue, and at the same time, fear, that
be people will think, that in them
hey can smell the sulphur Of '76.
But for arguments sake let them be
ldmitted. Let Us acknowledge that
be South can never realize any ac-
ual advantage by keeping the ter
itories open for settlement by South
'rn men, with their property.
Still il the South is forced by an
responsible Abolition majority to
rield to an unconstitutional act oil
congress that will deprive her citizens
i the privilege Of going TO the public
lomain; the common property Of all
be States; then it is that the equal !