Southern planter., 1832-12-15

WITHOUT NpVIl-lNk NlH VI hfl hN'lit'uf "h' ENHk
him an opportunity Of preparing his defence. OF
the proprieiy or impropriely Of your conduct, you
arc the sole Judge. shall not call you to an ac-
count for the course which you have pursued, nor
pronounce iudgmeRt against you. My votes in
Congress and my political sentiments are public
property, and yon, as one fmy constituents have
not only the right, but my express permission 10
use them o. you think proper, reserving TO myself
the privilege Of being heard 10 my own defence. /
did not wish 10 conceal my vote on the bill until af-
Ter the election, but if had known your intention
to place your side Of the question 10 the hands Of
nv personal and political enemies, to be vanished
with all the fasehOods aud misrepresentation their
fertile imaRinaiions could invent, and used Nv them
as an engine to crush me at one fell swoop," in the
commencement Of my political career, should
have placed in the hands Of my friends The weapons
OF defence. They however, like vliaant Dayids ad
vanced 10 the polls, and. with but pebble met and
yanquished the Goliahs with all their armour =
Those who know me intimately know that never
attempt 10 conceal political sentiment or a public
act from my constituents To prevent any further
misconcepiion Of my conduct and The motives by
which was actuated deem il proper, before | ei.
ther affirm or dsavow the statements made by YOU,
to give a minute account Of the course which pur-
sued on the bill referred to in your letter, in my
own rustic language
The bill was taken up in the House the same
day that Il passed the Senate read first and second
time, and a motion made by the chairman Of the
committee on Public lands 10 refer il TO that com
mittee. The motion was opposed with great
warmth and some violence by those known TO be
hostile TO the interests Of the new states. They
were contrary TO the established usage of the
House, against any commitment, and urged the
l.. - A.
plies to press the bill to third reading without dis.
cussion or a reference TO any committee, on the
ground that il was Of vital importance TO the old
States TO dispose Of the subject at that time, which
was considered the most propiious period and the
only opportunity they would ever have Of urging il
with any prospect Of success. They also had the
kindness urge it on the ground Of its being fair,
equitable and Just to the new states, in opposition
to the whole delegation from those states. excepi
ing few advocates and supporters of protective
tariff. was in favor Of its reference to the COM
mitiee on Public Lands, because that was the an
proprate committee 10 which 10 refer the subject,
and because wanted an opportunity Of moving
81 10 amend the bill as TO strike out the second |
third and fourth sections containing the odous.
unjust and oppressive features Of distribution among
The twenty-tour states according to their Federal |
Representative population, and the still more
odious feature of colonization, calculated in nv
opinion, to destroy the sovereignty Of the states
md the liberties Of the people, and 10 retain the
ectlons giving TO the new states the l2s per cent
md granting TO our state the five hundred thousand
cres Of land. Before the vote was taken on tho
notion 10 commit, Mr.. Wilde moved 10 posipone
is farther consideration 10 the first Monday of De-
,ember next. On this motion an animated debate
rose, in which took part in opposition TO those
ections containing the disributive and colonlza.
ION principles, and went somewhat nto the merits
u the bill. | thought saw sufficient manifes.
alton of strength on the part of those who were
Known to be opposed to granting any benefits what
'ver TO the new states, To force the bill down upon
IS without giving to the Representatives of The
rev states fair opportunity of being heard IN their
ieience. My feelings were wrought to the highest
pitch OF indignation at the want of liherality
shown by those IN favor of the general provisions
Of the bill; therefore, IN the heat of debate, a,
The close Of my remarks expressed myself prepared
10 meet the question; and said, as far as was
concerned, that | was willing for them TO take
their course with the bill-that if il was the de-
of a majority of Congress to sell out
Mississippi for the benefit of the free negroes. the
sooner she learned her doom the beiter-ihat Mis-. !
slssippi had supposed herself a member of the con.
iedemcy on an equal footing with the old states in |
all respects whatever; but if she had been msia-
ken, It was high tune for the fact to be made known,
in order that she might be prepared for the conse
quences. also stated that the people were about
10 assemble by their delegates in convention for
the purpose Of amending their Constitution, and
that if an advantage had been taken of her while
in state Of minority and under the guardianship
and protection of the General Government. and
any Of her sovereign rights restricted, she would.
since she had arrived at the age of majority, de.
mand, as a matter Of right, an admission upon hon. |
orable and equal terms with her elder sisters. And
farther gave II as my opinion, if admission on
equal terms with the older members of the conCed.
eracy, was refused her, that she would siay ont of
The Union rather than be considered in the deora.
ded light of colony Of the General Governmen,
or deprived ofany Of the attributes of soyoreioniv
not delegated TO congress in the constitution oftbe
United States In order to suit the action 10 tbe
word, answered when my name was called. in lbe
negative Before the result was pronounced bv the
chair, the vote stood, ayes 90 noes 90. A Gen.
ileman opposed to the general principles ofthebill
who had answered with me in the negative and
myself requested our names to be called again. and
answered in the affirmative, which left the vote
ayes 80, noes 80, II the vote had remained n
hls situation, II being tie, the motion to postpone
wonld have been lost. The changing of nv vote