Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-02-12
REEg. CAN4EEssUN'S ADDRESS.

On the 18th nltimo Mr.. CALHOUN, from
the Committee Of fifteen, appointed at a
meeting Of the Southern members Of Com
gTess, reported the following Address,
which was read by the Secretary, and a.
dopted by a vote Of ~ to II.
We whose names are hereunto annexed address
you in discharge of what we believe to be sol
cnn duty. OH the most important subject ever
presented for your consideration. We allude to
siie conflict between the two great sections Of the
Union, growing out Of difference of4eeling and
opinion in reference to the relation existing be-
tween the .wo races, the European and African,
which inlabt the southern section, and the acts
of aggression and eneroachments to which it has
led.
The conflict commenced not long after the &C
acknowledgements If our independence, and has
gradually increased until it has arrayed the great
body of the North against the South on this most
vital question. In the progress of this conflict,
aggression has followed aggression, and encroach-
ment entertainment, until they have reached a
point when the regard for your peace and safety
will not permit us to remain longer SILENT The
object Of this address is to give you clear, cor
rect and brief account of the whole series of ag-
gressIons and eacroachlnents on your rights, with
statement Of tbs. dangers to which they expose
yon. Oar object,in making it is-not to cause ex-
element but to put you in full possession of all
the facts aud circumstances necessary to full
and just conception Of deep seated disease which
threatens great danger to you and the whole body
polite. We act on the impression that, in a pop
uar government like ours, true conception of the
actual character and state of a disease is indspen-
sable to eiiecing cure.
We have made it q, Joint address, because we
believe that the magnitude Of the subject required
sthat it should assume the most impressive and SOL
emn form.
Not to go further back, the difference Of opin-
ion and feeling in reference to the relation be-
tween the two races disclosed itself in the Con-
vention that framed the Constitution, and const-
tuted one Of the greatest difficulties in forming it,
After many efforts it was overcome by compro-
mise, which provided. in the first place, that rep
resenatves aud direct taxes shall be apportoned
among the States according to their respective
numbers; and that, in ascertaining the number of
each, five slaves shall be estimated as three. In
the next. that slaves escaping into States where
slavery does not exist shall not be discharged from
servitude, but shall be delivered up on claim of
the party to whom their labor or service is due
In the third place. that Congress shall not prohibit
the importation OF slaves before the year 1908 but
"a tax not exceeding ten dullars may be imposed
OIL each imported. And finally that no capitation
or direct tax shall be laid but in proportion to fed
teIdl HulHDeTs--diu ifldl no amendment OF The
Constitution prior to 1908 shall affect this provis-
;ion nor that relating to the importation Of slaves.
So satisfactory We're these provisions, that the
second, relative TO the delivering up Of fugitive
slaves, was adopted unanimously, and all
1he rest, except the third, relative to the importa
stion of slaves until 1868, with almost equal una
snimity. They recognize the existence Of slavery,
zand made specific provision for its protection
where it was supposed to be the most exposed.-
They go further, and incorporate it, as impor-
tant element, iii determining the relative weight
Of the several States in the government of the
Union and the respective burdens they should
bear in laying capitation and direct taxes. 1t
was well understood 1T the time that, without them
the Constitution would not have been adopted by
the Southern States, and, Of course, that they
constitute elements so essential to the system that
it never could have existed without them The
Northern States, knowing all this, ratified the
Constitution, thereby pledgng their faith in the
most solemn manner, sacredly to observe them.
How that faith has been kept and that pledge re-
deemed we shall next proceed to shoW
With few exceptions Of no great importance,
the South had no cause to complain prior to the
year lSl9-a year, ii is to be feared, destined to
mark train of events, bringing with them many,
and great, and fatal disasters, on the country and
It's institutions. With it commenced the agita
ting debate on the question Of the admission Of Mis-
souri, into the Union. We shall pass by for the
present this question, and others of the same kind
directly growing cut Of it, and shall proceed to
consider the effect Of that spirit Of dscurd, which
j reused up betw con the Two sections II first