Year: 1861

somewhat dubious; il we may trust the news
by the last Pony. 1t is reported that the
Republicans in the Compromise Committee
have refused all guarantees and concessions
to the South. of whatever character. If this
be the case, then, indeed, have they been
guilty of the EXTREMIST madness and folly;
for they should certainly have been willing
to agree to the repeal OF those State laws
which conflict with the Constitutional pre-
vision for the rendition of fugitive slaves
They might at least have done thus much, / {
no more Their refusal TO do this, if the re-
port be true, places them in the disgraceful
attitude Of set of stubborn factiOnists whose
necks deserve to be wrung from their shoul-
ders Since the Fugitive Slave Law has
been pronounced constitutional by the Su-
preme Court of the United States, what right
have theao men to contend for State legisla-
ton in opposition to it If, at time like
this, the Republicans upon that committee
refuse to yield all that the Constitution OF
their country demands, they deserve so be
hung up by the neck as moral traitors of the
blackest dye.


AT the same time, we do not acknowledge
that the South is justified in breaking up the
Union, even if the Republicans upon the
Committee do refuse these concessions. And
why? Because their remedy is within the
Union, and is to be found in the vital power
of the Constitution, as now interpreted by
the Supreme Court, and ready to be enforced
by a majority of both houses of the National
Legislature. The time to go out of the I'm
ion will be when the Constitution shall be
violated by any one of the departments Of
the Government to such an extent as to de-
prive the South of her rights. Such thing
has not yet happened and it cannot happen
under Lincoln's administration In all prob
ability a man will be elected to succeed him,
if the Union holds together, who will be a
friend to the constitutional rights of the
South. The experiment is well worth try
ing, and it is madness to now go out of the
Union, when the institution supposed to be
so fearfully jeopardized by the future, is in
its full strength and vigor. Old John Brown
hung, dead and Observation-Disclosures swung
up everywhere in the South, and no.
body to dispute the proceeding-Northerr
incendiaries, or supposed incendiaries hus'
tied out Of the Southern country, or treated
with coat of tar and feathers, and nobody
to say yea or nay to the transaction, in al
the Northern region-the laws Of the South
ern States in full and complete operation
what earthly thing is there to justify seces-
sion at this time Why, nothing but the
vague fear that perhaps, hereafter, Southern
institutions may sustain damage.


The South would show q little more hard
sense, by waiting until they are hurt.


AS for South Carolina, who takes the lead
in this business, we have already reminded
our readers of what is the matter with her.
She has been angry and dissatisfied ever since
California was admitted into the Union, and
has had standing declaration on her statute
book, that the Compromise measures of 1850
under which California was admitted into
the Union, were just cause for dissolution
While the whole country, almost, was singing
p@ans to the great names of Clay and hi:
confreres, and glorifying them for having
saved the nation by that Compromise, South
Carolina was grumbling because California
had been admitted into the Union with n
Constitution of hor owp framing, and threat
eninO tO secede on account of IL


The fact is, South Carolina has for long
time only wanted a pretext for going out of
the Union, and any sort of protext will do
her, if she can be backed up little by South
ern sentiment She thinks she Is thus back
ed up now, and, for fear that the troubles
may be compromised and peace restored to
the country, she refuses to wait and see if
anything can be done, but precipitates her
self headlong into secession, in the hope of
dragging other States with her.


We hope still for an adjustment at Wash
ingtOn. If such an adjustment be made,
South Carolina will have to be managed
somehow or other.