Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-02-10
THE SOUTHERN PLATFORM.

|
meeting of Southern Members of Congress, on
| Friday evening last:
heSolred, That the South, having an equal in.
terest IN the Territories of New-Mexico and Cal
nornla IS willing, principle of equity to
| accept the terms of the Compromise Act of 80
80. ~
Resoloed. That the South is willing tha, 81 ID
lerr'torles shall be admitted into the Union as
states, upon the presentation of Constitutions, 10
"hlch the subject of Slavery is referred. upon
appeal to the decision of the Supreme Court of
'he United States, such question to be omitted in
sald Constitution, until the deciscn as aforesa i'd
is awarded.
ResoLUed. That the South will l,uccept of bill.
for Territorial Governments, upon the PRINCIPLES
OF the act OF last Session, introducod by Senator
John Nj. Cla yton.
Resoired, That the South viii accent of the act
introduced the present Session, by Senator Doug
lass with certain notifications, relative 10 appeals
as in the second resolution.
ReSOIred, That The South prefers separati
OF the Union 10 that OF accepting the Wilnot
ProVIso. and the faith of each State is pledged to
protect her interests in 50 id Territories, ct the
point Of the 5a vonet.
Resolred That this is the unanimous sense Of
this meeting, representing the South.
THE SOUTHERN CAUCUS.
The Washington Correspondent of the PhHd.
Inquirer gives the following as the spirit of Mr..
BayIy's resolutions which were referred to the
Committee of Fifteen,
The resolutions declare, first. tha, the deep at
tachment of the South to the Union of these
States second that in case of the violation of the
constitutional rights of any portion of the confed.
eracy, II Is the privilege and the duty of the States
aggrleved thereby, themselves TO devise the mode
and measure of redress thirdly, that in case the
aggressons on the rights Of the South. threatened
by the recent action of the House OF Representa-
tives on the subject of Slavery, shall be consum-
mated, 1t shall be the right and tho duty of the
Slavehodng States to devise proper measures to
redress their wrongs.
The same correspondent also gives the following
as. substantially the remarks of Mr.. Calhoun at
the caucus
" The resolutions of the gentleman from Vir-
gna (Mr. .BayIy) are gooi and considering the
length OF time which he has bad to prepare them
do him great credit. But they are not perfect.
They defective in several particulars | am
therefore less unwilling agree to the motion of
the gentleman from Georgia. (Nr Stephens
Another consideration strongly impeIs me to the
same course ! am thoroughly impressed with
the necessity of harmonious and united action
both on our part and on the part of the Southern
community. ! am opposed however 10 too great
delay. and consequently would prefer that the
committee should report 10 n meeting to be held
on the 10Th instead of the 18th Of January
50 The Legislatures of several of the Southern
States now in session, and il would be well
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 slavehoding
States. If the Constitution be violated and their
rights encroached upon, is for them to determine
the mode and measure OF redress. We can only
sugges. and advise
- " g are in the theatre of action, the witnesses
OF the alarming encroacnments which have been
going upon The rights of the slaveholding part
of the confeder racy. We see them plainIy-we
feel them deeply. They re rapid and alarming;
for who would have believed. even three wears
ago, that prepa rations which have, within a few
days past, commanded the support Of minority
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 Of less
import than those of our Revolutionary era. The
question IS, are we holding our position in this
Contederacy upon the ground of equals, or are
we 10 content ourselves with the condition of
ColociaI dependence Sir, it will be worse than
Colonial dependence. For who would not prefer
to be taxed and governed without pretence of rep
resentatlon, than under the forms Of representa-
ton TO be grlevousl y oppressed by measures over
which we have no control. and against which our
remOnstrances are unavailing.. -..
- 1t is undenIabe that the encroachments upon
our rights have been rapid and alarming. They
must be met. | conceive that no Southern man
can entertain for moment the idea of tame
submission. The action of the South should be
united. temperate, but decided. Our position
must be taken deliberately, but held at every
hazard We wage no of aggression. We
ask only for the constitution and un.cn and gov
ernment OF, our fathers. We ask of our Northern
brethren to leave US those rights and privileges
which fathers held, and without securing
which for their children all knew they would moi
have entered this Union. These we must maintain.
s. 1t appears to me proper that we, who are on
the theatre of action, should address our consttu-
ents Of the sIavehoding States, briefly and accu-
raleIy portray the progress of usurpation and ag-
gression, vivdy exhibit the dangers which threat
en-, and leave it in their hands to mark out the
proper line of action. What that should be. it is
needless here to discuss. Whatever il is, it should
be temperate, united and decided.
80" Having expressed these viows, have to say
that make no objection to the motion of the
gentleman from Georgia Mr.. Stephens) to refer
the whole matter to select Committee, TO consider
maturely. and report to a future meeting; but