Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-02

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The restless activity and the zeal of this fanatical
pro-slaVery party the Southern States are known
to all from the unfortunate success which has at
tended their propagandism of disunion ideas in the
interest," as they conceived, of political and
nomical empire to be founded on compulsory labor
| As at once expressing the present opinions and
prefguring the future aspirations Of this party at
the South, we may recall to the recollection of our
readers the exposition Of its principles and policy
given with great elaboration only two years ago by
one of its recognised champions. We allude to
the Hon. l.. w. Spratt, of South Carolina, who, in
the month Of February, 1861, while yet the pro-
hibtion of the foreign slave trade as embodied in
the Confederate Constitution was awaiting ratifca-
ton, addressed to the Hon. Mr.. Perkins, of Louisi
ana, very able letter in opposition to its retention
10 the Confederate compact
The right of Mr.. Spratt to speak for his
| party at the South will not be denied by any
The prominent part he took in the steps by
which the secession movement was initiated, the
confidence bestowed upon him by the people of
Charleston in electing him, with such unanimity,
to seat in the South Carolina Secession Conven-
ton, and the marked honor conferred upon him by
that Convention in deputing him as one of the
Commissioners appointed to interpret the action of
the Palmetto State before the Convention Of Flor-
da, Cthe first which met after that of South Caro-
lima are all SO many titles by which he may as
sumo to speak with authority in expounding the
purport and bearing of the civil revolution to which
he SO largely contributed.
Let us zee, then, what those principles were as
he understood them, and which, however oversid
for time, by prudential reasons, would, he pre-
dicted, eventually win their way to triumph, though
it might be by another agitation leading to another
revolution in the heart of the Confederate States
We cite from his letter as follows. 1t may be
found at length in the National Inteligencer of
February 10, 1861, having originally appeared in
the Charleston Mercury of February 18th j
From the abstract Of the Constitution for the Provi
sona Government appears that the slave trade except
with the Slave States of North America shall be prohibited
The Congress- not content with the laws OF the late
United States against it, which, it s be- presumed were
readopted, have unateraby fixed the subject by provi-
sion Of the Constitution That provision for reasons
equally conclusive will doubtless pass into the Constitution
of the Permanent Government The prohibition there
fore, will no longer be question of policy but will be
cardinal principle of the Southern Conederacy 1t will
not BIZ question for the several States in Of any
popularity in their circumstances and condition. but will
fixed by paramount power icieh nothing another
rep0iufiOn can 0perfurn"
IN thus appears that the contest is not ended uith dis
solution Of the Union, and that the agents that contest still
erst ohin the limits Of the Southern States The causes
that have contributed to the defeat slavery still occur
slaves still drawn of by higher prices the West
There still foreign pauper labor ready to supply their
place Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, possibly
Tennessee and North Carolina may lose their slaves
New York Pennsy lvania and New Jersey have done In
that cnd ton they must recommence the contest There
is no avoiding that necessity The systems cannot mix
Ing from the field of victory, still bears master his
back; and haring adhered reooiuon escape de-
moeracy at the North it must still aehiepe another escape
at che South That nH ultimately triumph none can
IF you shall commerce by ignoring slavery, rhal
be content to edge it on BY ndrecton if you shall exbi
bit but for Republic respect but for democracy
if you shall stpuate for the federation Of slavery az an
existing evil BY admitting assump ions TO its udce ard
rest lotions to its aud progress you renhugurate
the buudrr OF l769 you will combine States, whether
true or not to slavery; will have tests of faith
will find it to their interests to abandon 1t slave
labor will be fetered birerg labor will be free your
nfderaey IS ogan divided into antagonis societies.
the urepresse conflict again commenced; aud slave
ry sustain the structure Of stable government and
will sustain such structure, and oiu sustain
ue bnt ats another rep0lution eomes-but heter in
the order and proprey Of this IS graUey to be doubted
"Then why adopt this measure Is II that Virginia aud
the other Border States require it They may reqae
now, but IS certain they uiA continue to require
normal institution Of society They have regarded the
slave property but not slavery relation They hsye
treated prostitution but have never yet espoused IT.
Their intellect have exhibited enlightened views
upon this subject but their politicians who have held the
public have it thing Of dolars aud
to be fought FIR if need be, but to be cherished aud
perpetuated And is IL certain that uhen better opinions
shall preraii that phen they join, 1hey shall oin Stare
Republic r. public to perpetuate tle institution when
there sba be less inducement sell their slaves aud the
that when they shall sell them they will fall uu
der the rule Of democracy pheh unfit then, for
ISOLATION Stare Confederocyle people Of these States
may solicit increase IF siapes7 AID it policy 10
preclude the possibility of such increased" -
The people Of the Cotton States pant labor tey knon
that hites and siapes cannot ioo together They
Of abandoning their slaves that they may white
abor and they want slaves, therefore, and they iU hare
hemrom the Seaboard States, if the slave trade be-
opened, and they cannot heartily embrace policy which
while il will tend to degrade tho Seaboard Stat to the
condition of ademocracy pu compel m pay double and
treble prices for their labor
1--WE hsve seamen for our commerce il we had It,
and operatives for the arts but 10 not for that
oppose restrictions the slave trade oppose them from
the wish to emnUcpae institution regard the Stare
trade as the test Of ITS integrity that be right then
cry right bIt mot pthont and have been too clear in
my perceptions Of the claims of that great insttuonoo
assured Of the failure Of antagonist democracy
WINGED the presents the conditions Of social order
convinced the other does not aud too convinced therefore,
that the must stand while the other falls to abas my
efforts prstcrmt the by which IL may be broue
to recognition and establishment Believing then that this
is test Of slavery and that the institution right