The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-21
THE HON. JOHN G. CALH0UN'S
A D D r e S S
TO the People Of the Southern States.

directed exclusively against me. The line Of conduct
have prescribed to myself in reference to him. is to
have little to do with him possible, and sccor
dinghy never notice what comes from ha, in his
character Senator, when can avoid doing con-
sstenty with my public duties. regard him in light
very different from what he seems to regard II
may judge from the frequency and violence of his
tacks me. He seems to think stand in his way
and that ! am engaged in some scheme to
put him down l. on the contrary, have never for
a moment thought OF raising him to tho level of
a competitor, rival, nor considered it of any
Importance to me- whether he should be put down
not. He must think he has something to
gain by assailing me on the contrary, feel that
have nothing to gain by noticing him, an when com
PEELED to do So satisfied if escape without some
loss OF self respect have another for de-
string to notice him the present occasion All his
charges against me, with few and triapg exceptions,
but the reeratons of those often made heretofore
by himself and others, and which have met and
cessfuly reped in my place in the Senate That they
made no impression against the time either in
the Senate community, there be better proof
than is afforded in the aborcus and tiresome effort no
made in his present speech revive aud give them cir
culation.
Under the influence Of these reasons, ! would have
remained silent had alone been concerned But such
is not the case. His blow is aimed much more at you
than He strikes at for the double purpose of
weakening me In your confidence and of striking ut
you and your cause through me, which he thinks can
be done eecually indirectly, than directly Thus
regarding his attack feel IL to be duty owe you aud
yeur cause to repel it.
The effort Of col Benton. from the beginning to the
end of his speech is to make out that have been
unfaithful to and that OF the free
soilers and abolitionsts: while on the contrary you
had in him unknown but faithful friend on all &C.
casieDs He that you and they have been both
mistaken in reference to my COURSE you in regarding
friend and supporter OF your cause, aud they
in regarding as hostile to theirs Judged by ap-
pearance his object would to be to dspel this de-
luson while in truth II Is to give you and yeur
what he hopes will prove deadly blows. This the abb.
htonists and free sellers well understand The dis
guise was not assumed TO deceive Them TO deceive
you They understand him and have hailed with ac
clamation his speech and published it and circua ed
1t far and and gorhed it aud its author to the
skies They rejoice in the belief that IL has dem dish
ed and this, too while ii holds the truest
and best friend to THAR 1t remains To be
whether you will understand him perfectly they
do and will the speech. lauded By them with
the reprobaon due to erontery and desartion 1t Is
not the first time that has had tn assurance
to address those be deerted and while protesting
gard for their denounced those VINO remained
faithful to it, The history of revolution furnishes
notorious ns of the kind The deserter in that
instance failed to deceive those whom he addressed
TO shake their confidence In those who remained faith
full 20 them and in return for hs efrontery and dser
ton, have sent his name down to posterity With re-
probation 1t remains to be whetser such will be
the fate Of the deserter in this instance
He commenced his speech with attacking the resou-
tions offered To the Senate the 10Th February, 1Sl7
and charges that they were introduced for the purpose
OF disunion. That you may judge for yourselves,
whether they aie liable to the charge or not insert
them -
Resolved That the territories of the United States
belong to the several States composing this Union aud
held by them their jsint aud common property
Resolved, That Congress. as the joint agent aad
represe natives of the States of this Union has no
right TO make any law, or do syy act whatever that
shall, directly or by Its effects make any d. cmins.
tion between the States OF this Union by which any Of
them shall be deprived Of its full and equal right in
any territory OF the United States acquired to be
acquired.
"Resolved, That the enactment of any Law which
should directly by its effects deprive the citizens of
any Of the States of this Union from migrating with
their property into Of the territories u the United
States, will make such aud would there
lore be violation OF toe constitution aad the rights
of the States from which such citizens emf grated and
in derogaton Of that perfect equality which belongs to
them members Of the Union, and would tend direct
ly to subyert the Union itself
Resolved, That, n fundame ntal principle In
political creed people In forming aconstu'.n have
the unconditional right to form aud adopt the govern
ment which they may think best Gale uatei secure
liberty, prosperity, and happiness; aud that. in
tormity thereto no other condition Is imposed by the
federal constitution State, in order to her adnis
zion into this UDion except that its constitution be
publican and that the position Of any by Con-
gress, would not only be In violation Of the consttu
tion, but in direct conflict with the principle which
our political system rests
They rs you confined to asserting principles
apperaining to the aud character system
Of government, and making differences clearly deduc
the question between you aud the North In relation To
the Wmot proviso IL the facts be the resolutions
stated there IL no denying the Inference and both DO
true then your right TO smgrate with slaves into
the territories becomes upquestonable under the
ttituton. This he felt and hence his bitqr dsnuncis
tion Of them But he has self den ncia
ton without making effort the resolutions
by showing they contain either the fscts
serted or differences d.ducsd He knsw that to be- be-
yond his power and prudenty avoided 1t But II the
resolutions be true he l. compelled To admit they
are by his silence, how can they be drebrand a. he
calls them, or be justly chargeabe with disuniun Col
Bents n has his way u proving things, which ap-
pears to be satisfactory to himself bat 20
who will take the pains to examine his assertions aud
reasons
Despsirpg 81 finding anything like dlsuniou ia the
resolutions themselves he for t in the motive,
which he gratuitously assigns TO for introd uciDg
them He fret asserts that they the prototyps OF
those adopted by the Legislature OF Missouri ~ ther
late session and then a-sertr that the difsfsuce
between them Is that mine aim directly at disuuiop.
ana theirs ultimately at the thing for which lac
cers no except that theirs pledged the State
TO operate with the other slav-hvldng States tie
thus assumes, that your aim, rs well a. mine. n dis
union and this while h. Is exerting himself TO the
utmost 60 dlscrddlt me with you ss dtsuuioost for
~ Is apparent his speech Intended To have its ef
tects on you generally a. well as me- own consutaents
tons to prove that the object Is ceuvention Of the
Southern states and that he assumes TO be proof con-
elusive, that disunon u intended by resolutions
lie Is quite horrined at the idea Of Jour meeting in
convention In order 20 consult on the best mode OF
eavipg both yourselves AMI the Union. ~ indeed the
madness of fanatics, and the treschery Of d-serters
should make the latter impossible. He next AS
sers in order prove that dsuuion IL their object,
that they render the adjustment of The territorial
question impractcable aud that that vas my motive
tor introducing them He makes this assertisn ia the
face Of facts perfectly well knOsn to him, that the
northern members, with very few honorable excep-
tiops. had rejected every effort at compromise and
had declared their fixed discrimination not TO accept
OF any. IL was against thi, Arrogant and uocOmpr)-
missing csurte that offered my resolutions IL Va,
then, they and not who TOOK ground against COM
promise adjustment SO far trOm this being true
tsve been In favor of any fair adjustment which
consistent with your constitutional rights OF
this very strong proof at the very next session
by supporting the bill reported by sr layton ~hicn
left the decision TO the sd Indication OF the courts rns
bill would have passed but for his associate tine aoo
itioniss tree soerr aud the question in coatre
very between the two sections in references 20 eeri
tories finally adjusted; aud yet he kno~ins AL this.
has the erout,ry O. call II BY no hsssher nsnel 10
charge and not them, opposed 20 any adj nst.
ment and that too for the base Of destroying
the Union.
But all these assumptions but preliminary TO
charge still more audzcieus-that AN the resi author
a the Wimot prOvso lie calls " the Calhoun pro
yiso and that better entitled paternity
than Wimot hinself witch ne atcJm suied By strong
a, nuncstions of the prOyiso and long enumeration
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