Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

SOU T H ER N TRIB UN E . PUBLISHED WIEKLTf BV wM. B. HABKISOR. WM. U. HAKEWUN, > ani» > Editors. WM. 8 LAWTON, ) From the Southern Frets. The Prospect. We said in our last, that if the present bills in progress through Congress pass, and the Southern States submit, the non elaveholding States can in six years amend the Constitution, do away with the three fifths basis of representation and abolish slavery ; and that too withnutt assuming any new position or principle or any which has not received the sanction of one branch of Congress. We stated that we could prove this position by plain mathematical reasoning, and a fair deduction from the principles assumed by our enemies. We are aware that many will he startled at this statement, and that the public mind is not fully awake to the real dangers which threaten us. When propositions for “compromise” and adjustment were made in the United States Senate and advocated by Southern men, the confiding spirit of the Southern people induced many to believe that these proposilion contained something tangible and substantial and that a way would be opened by which the slaveholding States would be enabled to partiepate in some degree at least in the advantages to be deri ved from the vast territories conquered from Mexico. These delusions are dispelled and the stern truth is forced upon all that the whole of the territories of the United States ate devoted to Free Soilism. We have laid before our readers the opinions of Mr. Clay Mr. Webster, Mr. Badger, Mr. Atchison, and others on this subject but as we wish this matter to be well understood we will give the evidence of Mr. Chase which is conclusive. That gentleman said in the United States Sen ate : "It has been said here on every side of the chamber that every foot of the soil which the United States acquired from Mexico will be free soil. Senators from the South have urged it, and Senators from the North have not denied it.” This matter is hardly debateable if California is admitted all inducement for a slaveholder to move to any of the territories is taken away. Can any man point to a single individual who contem plates moving with his negroes to New Mexico or Utah. It may be ssid that the Wilmot Proviso is not attached to the territorial bill in the Senate. That is so. But it is expressly understood that the proviso is omitted be cause it is not necessary;it is not aban doned. There were but thirty-five votes on that measure ; Northern Senators absenting themselves to avoid passing it. And why? They feel sure of the territory without it, but they will pass it, if there is the least necessity therefor. The Mexican law's are arrayed against us, the people of the territory have been incited to declare against slavery; the terri torial bill gives the writ of “habeas corpus” to the slaves, and the Judges are to be appointed by a President adverse to the South; and, finally if it were necessary, a State government would be formed before a sufficient number of slaveholders could go into New Mexico tohavo any influence in the formation of a constitution. Who will go there l We assume, then, the posit ion, that there is not the least probability that another slaveholding State will ever be admitted in to this confederacy. It will be years before there will be population sufficient to divide Texas, and, at this time, a majority of the North are opposed to carying out the compact of an nexation. Nece-ary to our argument is a correet understanding of the present relative politi cal strength of the slaveholding and non slaveholding States. Thero are sixteen non-slaveholding States, and fourteen slaveholding States.— The former have thirty-wo votes in the United States Senate, and the latter twonty-eight. In the lower house of Con gress the Northern majority is upwards of forty, and it is supposed that, by the cen sus now taking, it will reach between sixty and seventy. But this should be borne in mind, that the strength of the North is entire, whilst that of lire South is divided. There are four slaveholding States which are tending to abolitionism, and in which it not conider ed reprehensible for their representatives to act in conjunction with the enemies of slavery. Brit let present measures pass, and the South submit thereto, and it will be evident to all that the fate of slavery is scaled, it will nolonger be considered hon orable to be attached to a slaveholding State and abolitionism will make rapid progress in the doubtful States. Maryland,Kentucky, North Carolina and Missouri are already considered lukewarm in our cause, & there are those who, from the course of New Orleans, are deceived in the true position of Louisiana. We look at things practical. The polit ical power is in the hands of the North, a Northern man is in Presidential chair, and there is not the least probability that there will ever be another Southern President— Southern in location and principles. The power and patronage of a government which collects and disburses thirtyfive millions of dollars annually, and controls gouernment contracts, foreign missions, and thousands of lucrative and honorable offices, will always be tremendous; and those powers, wielded by Northern influ ences, can at any time control the votes of at least four Soutnern sentors for any purpose. It will be well that if, in our downward course, they cannot control more in a few years; but we assume, what we think the present and the past will justi fy, that four Souttern senators at least, ac tuated by ambitious or more unworthy motives, can always be relied on by North ern statesmen, let them propose what they may, adverse to slavery. At this time we could point to more than one Southern seutor who, for a pros pect of the Vice Presidency, or the cer tainty of a foreign mission, and a little Northern pressure, might be induced, from the most patriotic motives, for the sake of peace and harmony, and devotion to our gloious Uion concede so much to the tender consciences of our Northern bre thren as to support a propositions do away with the tluec-fifths basis of representa tion. Let it not be said that this is an unrea sonable calculction, nothing that lakes place hereafter will be half as extraordin ary as that which has already occurred. Viewing things, then practically, we estimate the real relative political strength of the two sect ions,as twelve slaveholding States to eighteen non slaveholdiug States to make a two-third majority, which, with the casting vote of the Vice President may amend the Constitution. We will show that, in six years, six nay twelve nonslaveholding States, will be admitted into the Union; but, previous thereto, we propose to examine the posi tions and principles of the Northern States to see whether it is likely that when they have the power they will amend the Con stitution, and do away with the three fifths basis of representation, and abollish slavery. We think that there is not a doubt but that they will do so whenever they attain the power; and further, they will, as they are now doing, Ly the hot-bed system, override the Constitution to force a major ity to effect their objects. These doctrines are held in the North, and are not peculiar to any party: That slavery is a moral evil, a sin and a curse, and ought to be eradicated ; that they of the North, are disgraced by their con nection with the institution, and are impli cated in the sin, and responsible for its continuance and existence, if they do not exert every constitutional power which they can to oppose and destroy it The resolution of twelve State legisla tures, and of innumerable conventions of the great parties, have in every form set forth these principles, and the representa tives in Congress from the non-slavehold ing States have almost en masse shown by their acts that they truly represent the will of their constituents. Wo do not deem it necessary to lay particular resolutions before our readers, and will now close this branch by refer tence to Gott's resolution, which virtually declared slavery to be couttrary to “natu ral justice and the fundamental principles of out government,” which resolution pass ed the lower branch of Congress by nearly two-thirds. The passage of this resolution, more than anything else,satisfies usthat the South have nothing to hope from the forbearance of the North whenever they have the constitutional power to abolish slavery.No one will deny that two-thirds can amend the Constitution, and that those who have already violated and set at nought the spir it ts that instrument, will not hesitate to change its letter whenever they have the power. If, as we have stated our belief, the se Auctions of the General Government can command four votes in the Senate,and a proportional vote in the lower House from the Southern representation, it only ac quires six more non-slaveholding States to give them a two-thirds majority. Every one can speculate as to what the result of such a state < of affairs will be; we can only set forth our views, and say to those who think they can shift the evil hour off on to posterity, that they are most egregiously mistaken. If this Union continues, the pro blem as to the continuance of slavery can be forced to a solution in six years and will be forced in twelve years. The Union and slavery cannot long continue to exist to gether. Our territories, or rather territories of the North, including that conquered from Mexico and rest or bribed from Texas, and held prior to the Mexican war, are very nearly equal in area to the populated portion of the United States, and are sufficiant to make twenty-five States over the medium size; and it is not generally known or noticed that our front on the Pacific ocean is greater than that on the Atlantic, leaving out the Peninsula of Florida. From the mouth of the Colora do, at the head of the Gulph of California, at the thiity second degree of North latitude, to the British line, at the forty ninth, is seventeen degrees of latitude; whilst from the thirtieth degree in Flori da to the forty fifth degree, our limit on the Atlantic, is only fifteen degrees of lati tude. There are twelve States fronting on the Atlantic. Hardly a beginning has been made in the settlement of these vast regions, and yet six States will he admitted therefrom in two or three years. Minesola, Nebraski, Utah or Ueseret, New Mexico, California and Oregon aro all nerly ready to demand admittance into the Union. It should be borne in mind, that accord ing to the precedent set, by the admission of California and the attempt in New Mexico, it requires very few inhabitants to make a State. Nothing in the past history of the world equals what will be tho rapidity with which these territories will be settled up. Those amongst us over fifty years of age, who recollect when all the coun try west of the Allegahanies was a wil derness, when Cincinnatti, Louisville and St. Louis were villages, are astonished when they think of (he immense change which has taken place in so short a time ; hut bear in mind, we were then increasing from a population of only five or six mil lions, and now we have twenty five mil lions, and foreign emigration is much larg er now than it ever was before. There is a constant stream of foreign emigration by way of the Northern Lakes to the Upper Mississippi and Missouri,and imagination can hardly picture the masses who are moving and ready to move from the Northern and Southern States to Cali fornia and Oregon ; and we may also cal culate that there will be a large foreign emigration to the Pacific seaboard. Our space is limited, and we must cut short these calculations; suffice it to say that is a small estimate that half a million of emigrants will annually go into the ter ritories per year for the next six years As new routes arid locations are discover ed, this population will gradually spread over the whole area. In the first place, six large States will be formed, and then, as the geography and natural divisions of the country ar ascer tained, the process of division will com mence. California has a front on the Pacific equal to six or Sevan of our Atlantic States, and already has it been said in her Convention that she may be divided into six States. It is nearly the same with Oregon. A mere majority of Congress may di vide a State with its consent, and many reasons will concur to make the process easy. The convenience of the people will make divisions necessary. The Pa cific States will seek political weight and power, and a larger vote in the Senate; and our calculating Northern biethren will see,in the admission of r.sw non-slave holding States, a means of relieving their tender consciences from responsibility for the sin of slavery. We think it more than probable that there will be twelve new States added to the Confederacy in six years. It is proposed in Michigan to divide that State, and the location of her territory would make it advisable to do so; and some have suggested that Long Island might be detached from New York, and made a State. We must close, with the regret that we have not limits to pursue the subject further. We think that all will admit that there is strong ground for the position we assumed. But what difference does a few years make. The territory is there; it will be populated; it is capable of ma king territory for non-slaveholding States, and when but a third of that number are formed tlirire will he a two-thirds majority in Congress hostila to slavery. Now, we ask those who charge South ern men with ultfhism, to reflect on these things; and we think that they will agree with us, that all that to make the prospects of the Southern States gloomy fn the extreme, is it for them to sink beneath contempt by shrinking from the position they have assumed. From the Augusta Republic. Kcsoiii-ccs of the South. There are various opinions as to the mode and measures of redress which should be adopted by the Convention. It is important that the people should have every means within their reach, to form a clear conception of their wrongs, their rights, their resources and power. Some fear that in the even of separation a long and bloody war would follow. That idea is absolutely rediculous. This govern ment fought about fifteen hundred or two thousand Seminole Indians iu a narrow strip of territory for seven years, at an ex pense of nearly fifty millions of dollars, and did not whip them finally. The idea of the people of the North invading and overrunning territory from Mar) land to New Orleans, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, is puerile and foolish. VVe insert the first number of some ar ticles which were published at the time in some of the Carolina papers. We do this to make all the contribution we can to the full stock of information calculated to ena ble the people to act wisely, prudently and firmly in this crisis of their affairs.— We will also present other shades of opin ion as they may develope themselves in the progress of events. No. 1. The resources of the South, in the event of separation and Hostile collision with the North. Mr. Editor :—From tho late action of Congress and most of the Legislatures of the non-slaveholding States, I take it for granted the North will persist in theii ag gressions upon the South, by excluding her from all territory lately acquired by the blood and sufferings of her noble sons ; and by abolishing the institution of slave ry in all other places over which Congress claims to exercise exclusive jurisdiction. I say I take it for granted, because tyran ny has rarely been known to relax its hold until broken by violence or severed by the sword. 1 also take it for granted, that the South once nearly her equal in numbers, and ever vastly her superior in moral and intellectual greatness, has not fallen so luvv, as to submit like a craven to the de gradation of having her rights wrested from her without a struggle. Under this aspect of the case, a collision seems inev itable—it may ho bloodless, but either peaceable or bloody, it may sever the bonds of this Union. It is then time for us to throw aside all sickly sentimentality upon this subject, and look the event boldly in the face. Asa member of political partnership, into which each State entered as an equal and sovereign, any State has an unques tionable right to secede peacefully and quietly whenever in her opinion the in fractions of the Constitution have become so flagrant as to be borne no longer with patience, and honor to herself. The right has never yet been denied in the South indeed it is inseparable from and consti tutes the chief conservative feature in our admirably framed government. 1 repeat singly this secession can take place, but jointly with others the end in view will be more certainly and effectually secured.— But will the right to resist these aggres sions of the North, by the secesssion of two, three, or even all the Aggrieved States, be peaceably acquisced ini It may bo, hut there is danger that it will not. It is scarcely to he hoped that that spirit of fanaticism which burned witches in New England, and drove Roger Wil liams into exile, and which has at a later day murdered our Southern citizens for claiming their property under the Consti tution, will relax its hold without a strug gle. It is then the part of prudence to prepare for the worst —to calculate the consequences and look to our resources in the event of hostile collision. Fortunate for our purpose the late report of the Commissioner of Patents fnrnishes data upon which to base a calculation. From this it appears that the population of the slaveholding States proper, leaving out the “ breeches pocket,” is as follows : Maryland, : : : 510,000 . Virginia, : : : 1,295,000 N. Carolina, : : 780,000 S. Carolina, : : : G 20.000 Georgia, : : : 825,000 Alabama, : : : 715,000 Mississippi, : : : 070,000 Louisiana, : : : 490,000 Tennessee, : : : 980,000 Kentucky, : : : 890,000 Missouri, : : ' 580,000 Arkansas, : : : 200,000 Texas, : : : : 150,000 Florida, t : • 80,000 District Columbia, : : 48,000 Total, : : : 8,843,000 Or an aggregate of 8,843,000 souls.— From this should be deduted the 3,000,- 000 slaves included in the above estimate, which will leave 5,543,000 whites. Al lowing one-half of this sum for females, and one-half of the remainder for aged and children, unable to bear arms, and we have 1,400,000 fighting men. But as there ever have been, and ever will be, tories and tories in every conflict for lib erty, we may strike out for this class all over one million. In lien of these, how ever, if necessary, should be added at least 100,000 blacks, who from their known at tachment to their masters, and thier con tented and happy situations, would be unwilling to abandon the first or change the last, and would, therefore, fight brave ly on the side of the South. This estimate would then give us 1,100,00 effective fighting men, leaving out volunteers from all other quarters. With this number of good men and true, or even the half of it, if Eutavv, York town, Monterey, Buena Vista, Chepulte pec and Cherubusco, tell not egregious lies we should be wholly invincible. Then too, we would be fighting for our rights, our honors and the safety of our wives and children ; while the North would be fight ing to perpetrate wrong, injustice arid vil lainy. Men, however, do not alone consti tute the sinews of war. Money, arms provi sions, clothing and munitions are all need ed in such a contest. In this respect, the advantage is wholy and entirely ours ; for all these we have, or that which will most readily command them in the markets of the world in our Corn, Wheat. Rice, To bacco, Sugar, and cotton. Dr. Cartwright, in his able and unaswernble essay upon the subject of slavery, informs us, that both in the Revolution and War of 1812, the British government under the impres sion that the South, from her peculiar in stitution constituted a weaker portion of this Confederacy, directed its attacks par ticularly to this quarter. But being most singly foiled and unable to understand the why and wherefore thereof, a junto in London instituted inquired through “de puties” and agents, specially appointed for this purpose, the sum and substance of which was embodied in a pamphlet, solely for the benefit of the English aristocracy. While in London a copy of this pamphlet was placed in the gentleman’s hands, and the result of this inquiry seems to have led our translantic neighbors to the discovery “that negro slavery is the accursed thing which enable the Amer ican colonists, with out money or credit, to prosecute success fully a years’ war against the great est power of the earth, and that so far from the Southern people having their hands full at home in keeping their slaves in subjection, they actually furnished more soldiers in proportion to their populatoin than any other people in the Union.” Such too, was the case in the late war with Mexico. This apparent anomaly with those extraordinary facts is most triumphantly shown by the author referred to, as resulting from “that instinct in Canaan’s nature attaching him to his master”—an instinct so strong as rarely if ever to be broken, even by the hope of froedom itself—that such is his affection, so docile and obedient is bis disposition in his present relation, that during hostile in vasions of the country, can be safely en trustted with the protection of the wife and children, and to some extent the culti vation of the soil during the master’s ab sence in the field of active service. Con sequently that enervation resulting from tbe'prostration of the Agricultural oppera tions of countries engaged in war, does not result to the same extent where slaves are the laborers, as in those where every one is liable to be called into service at any moment. The necessary result therefore, of this stale of things is, that the sinews of war are never exhausted in countries like ours consequently the war can be indefinitely protracted, until the invaders themselves are heartily sick of tho fruitless job. So plain is this made by the examples cited by the learned author referred to, that a fool only can doubt their truth. It will be wise for the people of the North to ponder long and’well upon thi s view of the subject, before they resort to coercion to keep the South in an Union rendered adious by their oppressions. To dissolve this Union is possible—but to drive the South back when once she has seceded, or subdue her even, is whol. ly impossible. The North has not the men,nor have they the money. Her pros perity, as well as the prosperity, of the whole world, is mainly based upon the staples of the planting States. Let the usual supply he cut off’even for a single year, and she will have enough to do to control her own turbulent population of Agrarians, Communists, and discharged factory operatives, without attompfin?! subdue a distent, much wronged hnt i ' alrous people. But let this wholly and entirely cut ofT, and their L tifu) and thriving villages, built U p Jj' the legalized plunder of the South * soon put on the tattered garments ofd ec " 3 and her cities now so full of the busy of commerce, will ere long became J “dens of thieves.” The South then i nothingtofear from the event of separate She cannot be coerced by all the p OWe of Christendom, if arrayed agaist her. * attempted however, a single compai, will satisfy the valiant invaders ofher 6 o Such men as faultered at Cerro Gordo l Cepultepec would never gain laurel in such a contest, I am well assured.. Their march would be like that of! King, of Spain, xvlien with “Full ten thousand men, He marched up a hill and then marched dou again.” Or, perhaps, like that of Taddy f rom t | •pratic patch,’ back again in double quic time. I repeat, we have nothing to f e j from Northern valor, but have much ] gain besides our rights, in a pecuniai point from separation. Let us then, li|| the old Revolutionary fathers, cease J look upon Disunion with fear and treri bling, but rather as a redemption fiua bondage. M A C O G A SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SEPtIjU ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE!! The Friends of Southern Rights ar invited to assemmble at Messrs. N. Ouslr Son's Warehouse, cm Cotton Aum on WE DNESDA Y E VENING Na at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of forming Central Southern Rights Association inti city—at which time the Committee of Fi teen will present a Constitution and Byt Laws for adoption—and scceral Addresst may be expected. A general attendance is respectfully soli cited by MANY FRIENDS. Macon, Sept. 21, 1850. MASS MEETING IN CHEROKEE. We copy rhe following notice from the lai Cherokee Advocate, and heartily concur in ill propriety of holding the meeting at the time an place specified. We should be zealous in oi efforts to maintain our rights, as our opponetil who “operate privately,” are ever on the alert “ The Friends of Southern Rights at invited to meet at KIN G S T 0 N,i TIIURSDA Y, the 26th of September, i fake counsel on the important issues whit are now disturbing the peace and harum of the country. Let us show that Chcrolt knows her rights, and knowing darts man tain them. It is all important that tk People speak out, that the position» Georgia and the South may not be misn derstood. Addresses may be expected from th ablest men from various parts of this ant the adjoining States. A I REE IiARRECUE will be pm tided, sufficient for all who may come." The Right Spirit.— We invite the spem attention of our readers to the preamble an Resolutions, recently passed at a meeting ii Crawford county. This is, in our opinion taking hold of these evil times by the right ha» die. We, for our part, would not give surf primary meetings for all the mass gatheringsi the State. When Southern men get to takin, to their homes the grievances that are thicken ing upon us, and legislating for them, then «» we hope—until then, never. We should re joice if the other Districts in the countv o Crawford, would follow suit, and then ever] other County in the State. These Resolution were passed unanimously, and in our opinion have spoken in language fit and proper, the trui spirit of Georgians. Accidktns.— On Tuesday last, as Mr. Si« 1 Srxrt.Ev, accompanied by Misses Wrssnrean 1 Kii.lkn, were riding in a buggy in this city, horse ran away, upset the buggy and threw 1 inmates out. Mr. Staley was instantly kl ie whilst Miss WiNstiiP had her wrist liai> and Miss Ku.i.en escaped unhurt. Mr. S »* MissK. were from Houston county- In the afternoon, tho ltev. S. L. S T,r "’ was run against by a horse and had his c bone broke and received other injury, l )Ul learn is convalescent. On the same day, as Mr. Franks, of county, was proceeding to this city, his ran away and dashed the buggy against •> bruising and injuring Mr. F. very seriouv^ On Wednesday Mr. Scott, of Bald"* n > * thrown from his horse in tliis city, and sc injured, but lias recovered. On Thursday, as Mr Joseph WiU-* tT '° , J . I fuii from county, was in his mill-house, ho - beam and was instantly killed. He our most respectable citizens, and family and many friends to mourn his <>'- [P-Tlio hill abolishing th e slave * ra J , j e oUseS ol District of Columbia has passed bot Congress—and the nest blow ngain** is to bo struck through tho Tariff, °” * f gtc ci'' joct the North is now niurshalling icr ' esl ioi They intend to put the salt on us ' n von thick and rub it in. ‘Ho it boys, are young ' I