Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-04-17

;stiao one ,Oas expressly recognized by the
language ofthc constituitO" itseg'
Mr. Claiborne, in this part of his I'D
dress ' embraces the very doctrine of the
Abolitionists themselves. Hesays, virtually
that the Constitution grants to the people
the right of petition on any S"e)ect. !oN"'SO-
er and that even they may petition Tor
snch measures as arc unconstitutional, Tor
the reason that that right was ''pre-e1's-
ing one y-"that the right '0as not ac-
ouircd bu the Constitution" but IS one IN
hercnt in the people. Now as we, (and we
presume every enlightened man IN the on,
ion also) understand the "r1ght q Pct'i1on'
it IS only allowed when the petition Is IN ia
vor ofredressing such grievances as are
remediable by Congress, which requires
the strong arm Of the law to put down.
but. assuredlv, the right Of holding slaves,
a right secured to the people OF the South
when the Union was formed, IS not a gre,
vance, but to the whole South is Alright ana
privilege to which TIE South owes all her
prosperity. What Southern man, we ask,
after reading the above extract, Will not be-
convinced. that with all the fartonade of
Mr.. Claiborne, he is secretly welded to
Van Buren, and his mad schemes against
the prosperity ofthe South, and in favor OF
building up monied power at the North!
While on this subject, and before we
close, it may be well TO place in juxtapo-
sitlon to Mr.. Claiborne's backing and FILL
ing on the Abolition question, the manly
declaration of sentiment on the subject OF
slavery by Mr.. S. S. PRENTIss rs we G lean
from the following resolutions which he
introduced and eloquently maintained in the
legislature Of our State. Read them.
RESOLUTIONS Of Mr.. Prentiss, introd"c ed
INTO the Legislature Of Mississippi Feb
ruary LIST, 1886:
ResoEred, That the People of the State
of Mississippi look upon the institution OF
domestic slavery, as it exists among them,
not as curse but as a blessing; as the legi-
innate condition of the African race as
authorized both by the laws of God and the
dictates Of reason and philanthropy and
that they hope to transmit tito their posterity
as the best part of their inheritance.
Resolred, that we hold our institution OIL
domestic slavery like all our other domestic
institutions, as sacred from the touch Of for.
eign interference; we hold discussion upon
this subject as equally impertinent With dis.
cussions upon our relations, wives and chill
dren, and we will allow no present change
or hope of future alteration in this matter.
ReSOlued, That by the comfy Of nations
and still more by the compact Of Union II
is the duty ofevery state TO prevent, by the
strongest legislative cnactmcnts, all treason
bic aud seditious Vaccinations, within it,
limits, against the institutions and safety o
sister states, and from this duty arises tc
such states corelative right TO demand tho
enactment Of laws to prevent such machin
atoms, when endangered thereby.
Resolved, that the State of Mississippi
respectfully, but firmly and decidedly
claims other sister states of the north, as {
matter of right, arising out ofthc law ofna.
tons, the compact of Union, and the dictate;
ofjustice and humanity, that they intcrpose
by legislative enactment to stop the aboli.
tlonists in their mad career Of sedition anC
crime.
RESOLVED, That should our sister States
contrary to our anticipations, refuse to lis
ten to our just demand, VIC must resort tc
such means of protecting ourselves, as the
vital importance of the subject may war
rant; and should this contingency occur
and the evil still continue, we recommend
that the emergency be met by a convention
of slavc-holdlng States, whose object shall
be to devise such means as may be necessa
to preserve our domestic policy myiolate tc
this subject.
Who now viii hesitate to choose be
tween the two-or who will hesitate mo-
ment TO vote for the Peoples bcnefactor
and Mississippfs representatives, PREM
TISS and WORD.