The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-24

he was on this occasion called to preside. When all
these facts to be duly considered is to be hoped
ing will be disegarded by those who love the Union,
and DESTROYS that tree institutions shall be per-
pelua,ed.
Speech of Hon. W. Sharksy President Of the So9thsrn
Stale C0aUeatto1.
JACKSON, Oct. 9, 1919
Editors Mnisippian and Sonhron:
GENTLEMEN. In obedience resolution of the
Hon. have the honor hand you the substance of the ad
dress delivered by taking the chair As have been
compeled rely memory aione the language employed
cahnot be accurately given, though think there
tefial variance as to the matter.
Your obedient servant, ~.
w. L. sHARKEY.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: Whilst sincerely
thank you for the honor you have conferred me,
gei that the important duty was not assigned to some
more competent than myself / dssenble not in de-
clasing that this honor was not expected by and
hence feel more embarrassed in addressing you.
The subject OF your contemplated deliberations is an
important one: nothing less than question involving
in its consequences the liberty OF this peope-perhaps
directly remotely the liberty OF other nations. trust
that you will approach dspassionat you will
lay aside your party predictions and meet It, not as
politicians, but patriots-as statesmen. We had fiat
tered ourselves that the capacity of for self
ment was no longer subject OF doubt We have boosted
OF example OF a free government, based
enduring foundation trust It may prove so, but events
Of recent occurrence seem to forebode danger The
VOcauOn Oh asSemDy-tne intense interest MANIFEST
in every coanenance here are proofs that there is
of alarm For time have been prosperous and happy
under free governments but that time. in the great his
tory OF man, but bref space, mere point The page
of history is yet fresh which records existence
nation oil eemen. Scarce has the stain OF revolutionary
blood, shed for liberty faded from the face Of the land
before 1t has been found necessary for the people OF
the South TO prepare TO check threatened aggression.
And whence this dangerl No foreign foe threatens
m Thew 10 s hey
allied to us by the most sacred ties, and TO forget
the value OF the Union Blinded by The poison OF anai.
csm they seek to abrdge our constitutional rights in
the enjoyment Of property, under the mask Of false
humanity. II the right 10 do UNREASONABLE, in
Christian charity it should be asserted without nfcng
remorseless stlngs to our sensibes. The entire in
dependence oil the States was achieved by the most
memorable struggle that history records. They were
separate and independent soyeegnes and rst united
under articles OF confederation. These articles
defective, mainly in not having provided proper means
Tor raising revenue, and in not giving Congress sut'
power to regulate These defects gave
rise TO our present constitution In the convention which
1omed il, the States met equals in political power
The small States were unwilling to relinquish their
equality Of power; the slaveholdng States were unw
ling confederate, unless their slaves should be made
basis representation and the owners secured in their
right These were exciting subjects. After great difficult
y they were compromised The second section OF the
first article provides that representatives and direct taxes
should be appooned according TO numbers, TO be
tanned by adding three hs OF the slaves to the number
OF whites The second section OF the fourth article pro-
vdes for recapiurng slaves escaping into those States
where slavery did not exist In these provisions have
guaranty for its protection the basis OF representation,
and as property The constitution did not create proper
" IN slaves Such right existed anterior to and above
the constitution As slaves were ewned IN many OF the
States, they would not OF course have entered into the
conederacy such terms would weaken the right Of
the to his slave. diminish the value One Of the
great objects OF the constitution was that should in its
consequences, protect property BY giving protection and
strength the several States But the States were SOW.
eegn, they could not surrender Congress the right
control by legislation the property Of their citizens SUCH
grant OF power would have been complete surrender Of
sovereignty great consolidated government would
have risen up, which was an evil, OF all others most
dreaded, and most rgdy guarded against by declaring
that s power not expressly granted 10 Congress,
served TO the States or to the people Hence power
sttuon The safety Of the States and OF the people is
best preserved by holding Congress strictly within the
limit OF the delegated powers No rule Of construction
can be safe which encroaches upon individual rights
The right 10 hold slaves as property became fixed prin.
cpe inseparabe from the other provisions OF the
slI,otcn Indeed that description q property seems 10
lection. The constitution must exist and harmonic in
all lis parts Every principle u contains is inseparably
connected together II is entire thing, being the great
iramework OF the government indissolubly united in ali
its paris IL would not have been formed without the in
sertion OF every feature; il Is an inracton to violate
any oil them; the symmetry Is broken.
Notwithstanding this unqualified recognition OF proper
ty in slaves and the protection provided for it, enjoyment
SUCH still il is conended that Congress may prohibit
and abolish il in the territories Of the United States The
territories are common property and cannot be appro.
praied by Congress TO the use of portion the
common owners TO the exclusion OF another Equality
Of right must then prevail and any act which would de
stroy that equality cannot be valid Il is principle in
The law Of nations, that sl the mbers of the commu
nifty have equal right TO the use OF their common
properly" Rules may be prescribed by the sovereign
power regulating the of its use provided they
are not Inconsistent with that entire equality which
ought to be preserved II the sovereign authority in
State or nation do nothing which shall produce Inc
quality in the enjoyment Of the public domain proper
" surely such authority is not possessed by the federal
government. which has but limited power The attempt
by Congress prohibit slavery in the territory of Cali
fornia has caused this meeting That territory Is
property There each citizen OF the United States has equal
rights, - entitled TO equal freedom in the enjoyment OF the
fetones am proud 10 say that in acquiring IT, Mssis
sppans displayed as much valor any other portion OF
their brethren IN arms, and shed much blood in pro-
portion 70 tneir numbers as The citizens OF any OF the
States They were distinguished for their prowess in
many hard fought battle but now they are 10 be told
that restrictions must be imposed their right 10 enoy
The conquest Can we should We yield the fruits Of our
yalor and surrender with II constitutional rght nj
equality Congress cannot deprive Of it, and ought
not II il could cannot say that we co. must leave
our property behind Property constitutes the means
OF enjoyment and TO exclude the property OF the people
Of the southern States, in effect to exclude the people
and the country the northern States Such
power is not possessed by government possessing
eregnty, could not be rghtfuy exercised even by
monarchy. The property oil the South consists mostly
in slaves and 10 interdlc its use on our own soil,
would not only be unjust, but arbitrary violation OF
the constitution II is vain TO talk of right TO the
territories, II we may be deprived OF the means oil enjoy
ing those rights. The mere soil Is nothing; il is the
Az well might Congress intenict the use OF any other
properly there, II i exclude slave, may exclude
= horse or an OK We do not derive the night TO hold
eitef from the constitution That instrument is but sub