Article Title

No Title.

Authors

Newspaper Title

Mississippian

Publication Date

3-31-1854

Publication Place

Jackson, Mississippi

Event Topic

Nebraska Bill (Jan-May 1854)

Political Party

Democratic

Region

slave state

Disclaimer

Please Note: Some editorials in this collection contain offensive language, opinions, and other content. The editorials serve as evidence of the time period in which they were created and enable us to engage in more truthful conversations about history. The views expressed in these editorials do not reflect Furman University's values or our commitment to embrace meaningful diversity and equality in all of our endeavors. If you have questions or concerns, please e-mail digitalcollections@furman.edu.

Quote

we have no fanatical women roving over the country and bringing reproach upon the community in which they live, by mingling in affairs which pertain to the sterner sex, we have no preachers who convert the sacred desk into an arena of sectional strife, and whose blasphemies make the very angels weep.

Document Type

Article (Journal or Newsletter)

Full Text Transcription

The contrast between the attitude of the opposers ofthe Nebraska Bill at the North, and its advocates at theSouth, is very striking, and affords much food foragreeable reflection to those who feel a just pride in thesound sense, and the calm, deliberate judgment whichcharacterize the action of the people of the slave-holdingStates, upon questions of public interest.

Look to the North, and what do we realize? Weare regaled by the coarse vituperation of the New YorkTribune, and the insane ranting of Fessenden, (whowas once appropriately toasted at a free negro festivalas a "white brudder with a black heart,") the sicklycant of Sumner, -- the detestable demagogism of Seward, --the horrid screeching of Lucy Stone, and herunsexed compatriots, -- the sacrilegious imprecationsof ministers who degrade the holy calling, and thedisgraceful orgies of tumultuous assemblages of all ages,colors, and conditions, who make night hideous withtheir frantic howlings. In the South, scarce a rippleseems to agitate the surface of society. All is calmnessand equanimity. Here and there we read ofresolutions adopted by Conventions of the people, or theirlegislature, but they are distinguished by no mark ofintemperance and unnecessary excitement. We hear ofno burnings in effigy, -- we witness no wild demonstrations;we listen to no furious declamation, -- wehave no fanatical women roving over the country andbringing reproach upon the community in which theylive, by mingling in affairs which pertain to the sternersex, we have no preachers who convert the sacred deskinto an arena of sectional strife, and whose blasphemiesmake the very angels weep.

But we, of the South, do exhibit our feelings in abecoming manner. We assert our rights. We claima fair share of the territories purchased with the commontreasure of the country. But, in doing this, weshow that we are controlled by reason -- not by passion. If we give expression to no idle boasts and to no intemperatethreats, it is because we prefer leaving suchweapons to the blusterers, fools and fanatics, to whomthey appropriately belong. Bravado is no part of thegame of the truly brave, chivalrous and honorable man,but it is the certain resort of those whose conscienceshave made them cowards.

For one unacquainted with the nature of the questionat issue, and the true cause of the quarrel, to readthe fierce diatribes against the South, and the vehementinvocations of Northern men "to action," the inferencewould be forced upon him, that some monstrous wronghad been threatened by the South against their Northernbrethren. A paper before us, says, that IsaacToucey, a Connecticut Senator, who advocated the bill,has been hung in effigy, by a portion of his constituents. On his heart was a broad label, bearing the words,"Toucey, the traitor." It further remarks, that forthus betraying the "cause of freedom and hisconstituents" he deserved a "still more stinging rebuke." Apublic meeting at Leesburg, Ohio, resolves that "suchmember of Congress who votes for, or in any waygives countenance to, the bill for the organization of theNebraska Territory, as reported by Senator Douglas,of Illinois, is a traitor to his country, to freedom andto God, worthy only of everlasting infamy." Aremonstrance against the bill, signed by more thanthree thousand Clergymen of New England,characterizes it as a "great moral wrong," a "breach offaith," -- a measure full of danger to the peace andeven existence of the Union, and exposing us to therighteous judgment of the Almighty. A newspaperwhich is everywhere regarded as the most influentialorgan of those who oppose the bill, asks, If theslave power, aided by a few deserters from freedom,intend to deliberately crowd and plunder the Northas they propose in this Nebraska bill, how long canthis government go harmoniously on?" A meetingat Amsterdam, New York, Resolves, "That theterritory of Nebraska and Kansas is the sworn heritageof freedom -- That it shall never be reduced to slavery. That if by the degradation and treachery of demagogues,whom the North has honored to her ownshame, freedom may be wounded in the house of herfriends, we shall hold it to be our solemn duty, Godhelping us, through whatever peril the path may lie,to aid in restoring to the North and to humanity, allthe rights and immunities of which they shall havebeen, through such degradation and treachery, deprived."

These are very brave words but the bigots whouttered them would run like Mexicans, if, in the attemptto carry them into execution, they were to suddenlyencounter a Regiment ofMississippi Rifles. We ventureto say, that they have always sympathised with theenemies of their country, when engaged in war; andwill always do so. The best evidence they will evergive of their boasted courage, will be, as opportunityaffords -- to waylay and murder unoffending and unsuspectingSouthern citizens, who may be enticed amongthem to reclaim stolen property.

But seriously, -- what great wrong has been threatenedby the South? What is this Nebraska bill which isthe fruitful cause of all this commotion? The Statescomprising the Union are free and equal members ofthe Confederacy. The Constitution is the compactwhich unites them together, and it was established to"promote justice." These sovereign members of theconfederacy, jointly own a large tract of country, which,in the early part of the present century, was purchasedfrom France. All the Southern States claim, andall this bill concedes to them is, the right to enjoy thisterritory in common with the Northern States. Theydo not ask that Northern people shall be excludedtherefrom, and that they themselves shall be its soleoccupants. Nor do they propose to distinguishbetween Northern men, and say that those who hold acertain kind of property, may or may not settle with itin the territory. They do not ask Congress to conferupon them any exclusive privileges. They do not evenadmit that Congress possesses the power to grant themsuch privileges. All they claim is the right equallywith Northern men to settle in the territory with suchproperty as they may chose to take with them. Theirslave property is recognized by the Constitution, for theprotection of which, it especially provides. And it isauthorized by a "Law" "Higher" than the wisdomof man has ever yet conceived. Southern men say,let the doors of the territory be thrown open -- give usequal privileges with the citizens of the non-slaveholdingStates, and let the question be decided by the peopleentitled to suffrage when they come to form theirorganic law preparatory to admission into the Union. If during the existence of the territorial governments,it be contended that we have no right to take our slavesto the territory, and an attempt be made to exclude us,the judicial tribunals of the country are open to us,and to them we will appeal, -- just as the Northern manwill appeal to the event in the event an attempt is made to wrongfullyprevent him from enjoying a particular species ofproperty which he may deem useful and essential tohis success.

Is this a moral "wrong"? Is it a proposition to"plunder?" Is it of a nature which should provokereverend clergymen of the North to invoke upon ourheads, and upon the Government itself, in the event ofthe passage of the bill, the direct wrath of Heaven? Rational, high-minded, honorable men, who comprehendthe difference between right and wrong, can haveno difficulty in answering. "The real "plunderers"are those men who would monopolise the territory, tothe exclusion of a large portion of those who contributedto its purchase, and such will be the judgment ofthe civilized world.

The Northern Democrats, who have incurred thewrath of the fanatics, deserve the lasting gratitude ofevery true friend of the country. They are a gloriousband, whose names will live, when their traducers willhave been forgotten, or be remembered only to bedespised. With the exception of the desertion of Belland Houston, the Southern phalanx is still unbroken,and we look with confidence to the ultimate triumph ofthe measure, -- the erasure of an unconstitutionalrestriction from our statute books -- and the banishmentof the slavery question from the National councils.

Edited/Proofed by

Entered by and proofed by Lloyd Benson.

Identifier

msjmkn540331a

Recommended Citation

"No Title." (1854). Secession Era Newspaper Editorials. 89.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/secession-editorials/all/editorials/89

Rights

This item is in the public domain, and can be used by anyone without restriction.