The Daily Dispatch: February 22, 1861., [Electronic resource]

The Southern Confederacy--an Answer to the Charleston Mercury.

‘ The Charleston Mercury is known as an able and influential journal, and as far as we have noticed, is the first to enter its protest against the Provisional Constitution of the new Government, and in assuming this responsibility it would seem that prudence has given place to passion, and that judgment has been superceded by an inordinate disposition for public notoriety. We presume that at least nine-tenths of the people of the Confederate States endorse the action of our Congress, and would, if permitted to do so, sanction with their votes the Constitution which they have adopted, as a permanent as well as a Provisional Constitution; and in opposing its most important provisions, we apprehend the Mercury will have the honor of standing alone in its glory.

’ We do not insist, however, that any individual is under obligations to approve any particular policy because others do; on the contrary, we admire an independent thinker, and a will that dares to act for itself, though the whole world oppose. But this opposition, to entitle it to respectful consideration, must be based upon principle and dictated by reason, neither of which we think is expressed in the factious opposition of the Mercury to the new Constitution. So far as the Tariff is concerned, after adopting the policy of ad valorem taxation as a basis, of course the imposition of duties upon imported articles will be regulated from time to time as circumstances may dictate and necessity require.--This is a matter of no material consequence at present, since it is subject to future regulation; but it does appear that he who urges the policy of leaving the slavery question, or any important department of it, an open political question, and making it ‘"a proper subject of legislation,"’ has learned but little from the past political history of the country upon this subject.

The grand mistake under the old Government was in leaving the slavery question an open political issue, and not incorporating it as an express constitutional provision. Political questions can never be settled; they are all the while subject to agitation, and are thus made the food upon which political demagogues feast, and the substance upon which they exist. The leaving of the slavery question as it existed under the Government of the United States, ‘ "a proper subject of legislation."’ has served to build up and break down parties, to distract and divide churches, to disturb the public peace, to de throne political virtue, demoralize the National Legislature, corrupt every department of the Government, stimulate rebellion, engender fanaticism, incite aggression, and finally subvert the great fundamental principles upon which our institutions were based.

And is this the policy that the Mercury desires to inaugurate into the new Government, by leaving the exciting subject of the African Slave Trade an open political issue and a proper subject of legislation? Already has this subject been made the source of political controversy, and if left an open question, parties will be organized upon it, ambitions and designing demagogues will use it as a hobby upon which to ride into power, and through their instrumentality it will become a vital issue, and be made the political test of fidelity to the South and her institutions. But to leave the principle entirely out of the question, the great mass of the Southern people, as well as all others, are adverse to the policy of reopening the African Slave Trade. Consequently, we think the Congress has acted prudent and wisely in thrusting it from the political arena and incorporating it in the organic law, and those who do not desire to inaugurate the exciting scenes of the past will appreciate their wisdom in this matter.