Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-11

The Washington correspondent OF the
philadelphia Inquirer furnishes the follow
ing sketch OF the sayings and doings at the
Southern caucus, which, he says, may be
relied upon
MIR. CALHOUN. The resolutions of the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bayley) are
good, and considering the length of time
which he had to prepare them, do him
great credit But they are not perfect
They are defective in several particulars,
| am therefore unwilling to agree to the mo-
ton Of the gentleman from Georgia, (Mr.
Stephens) Another consideration strong
" impes to the same course. am thor
oughly impressed with the necessity of har-
monious and united action, both on our
part, and on the part Of the Southern com.
munity. | am opposed, however, to too
great delay, and consequently would prefer
that the committee should report to meet
ing to be held on the 10Th, instead Of the
10Th of January.
The legislatures of several Of the South
ern states are now in session, and it would
be we'll that an address should reach them
in time to be acted upon by them before
their adjournment. consider the address
Indispensable Whatever action is taken
must proceed from the slaveholdlng states
If the Constitution be violated, and their
rights encroached upon, it is for them tc
determine the mode and measure of redress
We can only suggest and advise. We are
in the theatre of action, the witnesses OF
the alarming encroachments which have
been going on upon the rights Of the slave
holding part of the cenIederacy, We see
them panly-we feel them deeply. They
are rapid and alarming; for who would
have believed, even three years ago, that
Preparations, which have within few days
past commanded the support of majority
of the lower house of Congress, would have
been tolerated by any respectable portion Of
either house?
We are in the midst Of events scarcely o.
less import than those of our revolutionary
era. The question is, are we to hold oul
position this confederacy upon the grounC
of equals, or are we to content ourselves
with the position of colonial dependence p
Sir, it would he worse than colonial dc
pendencc. For who would not prefer t.
be taxed and governed without pretence O
representation, than under the forms of re
presentation 10 be grlevou,ly oppressed b,
measures over which we have no control
and against which our circumstances arr
unayailing!
1t is undeniable that the encroachment
upon our rights have been rapid and alarm
ing They must be met. conceive tina
no Southern man can entertain, for on
moment, the idea of tame submission. The
action of the South should be united, TEN
perate, but decided. Our position must b
taken deliberately, but held at every hazard
We wage no war of aggression. We asl
only for the Constitution, and Union, ant
government of our fathers. We ask gu
I Northern brethren to leave us those right
and privileges which our fathers held, an,
without securing which for their children
all know they would not have entered int
this Union These we must maintain.
1t appears to me proper that we, who ar
on the theatre of action, should address on
constituents of the slaveholding States
briefly and accurately portray the progress
= ofusurpaton and aggression, wildly exhbi
the dangers which threaten, and leave it i
their hands to mark out the proper line G
action. What that should be, it is needles
here to discuss. Whatever it is, it Shout
be temperate, united and decided,