Southern patriot. (Houston, Chickasaw County, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-08-08

have now repealed all the charges /
intended TO shake your confidence in
my fidelity to you, in reference to the
most vital Of all subjects TO the South /
| have shown that they all rest either
on statemets that are utterly false, or
conclusions that are entirely crrone- |
GUS or inconclusive. | have all
so shown, that Col Benton has
involved himselfat every step, in false
statements, contradictions, inconsis-
tency and absurdities. | will not
say that he made his charges know
ing them to be false; for that would
brand him as a base calumniatoI and
slandeler; but | will say he ought TO
have known they were. 1t may be,
however, that he YVES too much bin
ded by his passion and prejudice, or
lacked the discrimination 10 perceive
they were.
lhave passed over all that was di-
rected against ne personally, andnot
intended toimpeach my fidelity TO you
and your cause, because it did not
fall within the reasons, which induced
Inc to notice him at all. have also
passed over the torrent of abuse he
has poured out against me; not only
for the same reason, but because |
deem it beneath my notice. He
doubtless thinks differently, and re-
CARDS it as the finest portion Of his
speech; for he has used expressions
which pretty clearly indicate that he
antici, .ates ii will raise him to the
level of the great Athenian orator, for
indignant denmciaticn. He mis-
takes his fate. lie will be fortunate
should he escape sinking TO the level
ofThersitcs. He seems not to appre
bend that the difference is wide be-
tween the indignant eloquence Of pa
triotism and truth and scurrilous de.
iamation. | also pass over his attack
on the Southern Address; because il
has been to generally read, and is toe
well understood by YOU, for him tc
do any mischief by assailing it, The
wonder is, G4at he should venture tC
make an attack in open daylight
The remote twilight region OF the
past, lying between truth and fiction
best suits his taste and genius,
Passing all these by | am brough
10 where he throws of his disguise
and enters the camp Of the enemy
and openly proclaiming himself al
Abolitionist, endorses all their doc
trines; and steps forth as their cham
pion. In that character, he assumes
a EDITORIAL air, and pronounccs that
is absurd to deny the power OF Con
gress to legislatc as it pleases, on TN
subject Of slavery in the territories
that it has exercised the power from
the foundation without being que'
toned, until | introduced my rcsolu
lions; that slavery is local in its char
acter; that it must be created by law
and cannot be carried an inch beyon
The limits of the State that enacted il
that slaves cannot be carried into tn
territories of New Mexico or Cali
,fornia because the Mexican law
abolished slavery there, and are stl
in force; and concludes that 1t IS
mere abstract question Of no impo
tance, because tie people there. an
especially the foreigners, are oppose
to it, and will not permit you to en-
igrate into the territory with you
slaves.
J do not propose 10 entorin to form
al petition Of assertions SO ostent
tiously pronounced. 1t is not uece
sary. They were the same that wei
put forth and relied on by those o.
posed to you in the discussion on Il
Oregon territorial bill, during Il
session preceding the last; and whiC
were then fully met and reluted
me and others, who took your side
the question. What now propose
a very summary and brief notice
these several assertions.
Ibegin with lhat which asserts tn
Congress has the power to do as
jpleases upon the subject Of slave
IN the territories. deny the ass
tion and maintain that Congress b
no, such power over slavery there
elsewhere; or over any other suble
] deny that Congress has any abSol'
power whatever or that it has any
any description, except such as
specifically delegated, or that are
cessary and proper to carry them u
execution. | naintaiH, that all
powers are delegated and trust p'
ers, and not positive and absolute;
that all Of the latter description