The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-12-01
SOUTHERN

The Alabama Journal, published in Mont
gomery, speaking of the proposed Southern
Convention, says:
We trust that our Legislature will make
provisions for an able representation to this
Convention, shRtthe delegates may 60 not al
the representatives Of local and scattered meet
ings, but with the dignity and authority Of a
sovereign State and empowered to act decideds
ly for the whole people and of all parties.
The resolutions Of local Conventions con-
troled BY p%artizans Of which we have had thou
sands, have not been productive Of much bene-
tit either to create union at home or produce
the impression abroad that the South was in
earnest in her assertions to mointain her rights,
Party feelings and party motives have been
allowed to mingle too freely as elements in,
this movement-and both parties perhaps havo
endeavored to make this important question
available for their personal and party purposes,
The effect has been to distract, and abate the
zeal Of the people.
For instance, in this State, two years since,
all men Of all parties were unanimous and de-
te,mined In their Insertion Of the constitutional
rights Of the South, and all were equally firm
and decided in the solemn and unanimous
declaration of our Legislature that Congress
had no right by the constitution to legislate
to restrict slavery in any Of the territories
that it was a great and sacred principle reserved
to the people Of tho several States and terrific
ries, and that its attempted exercise by Con-
gress was not only an uncomfortable assumption
Of the plain provisions Of the constitution, but
an outrage Of the most c~auseIess nature. I'm
fortunately, when Mr.. Polk surrendered to
Congress the constitutional right to legislate on
this subject in the Oregon bill, party considera4
tons caused men to forget their pledged integ-
rity to their country and their interests, and
the Southern Polk men abandoned their duty.
broke the compact front presented BY the
whole South, and justified his sursender and
agreed with him in conceding the constitution
al right to Congress to ~legislate to restrict
slavery. The party screws we're put in requi-
sition and Mr.. Polk, instead Of being rebuked
was received by his Southern friends with the
highest applause and laudations for tile act.
The effect on the Southern public was deeply
injurious. The people reasoned that the con-
stltutional principle was neither OF Importance
or its assertion Of validity, and that its conces4
sion to Congress was no injury to the South.
They further reasoned that il a loco President
was TO be commended and justified for tho con-
c%ession Of the constitutional principle, it would
be miserable humbug 10 contend that a wing
President could not do the same without viO-
lating his constitutional Obligations and his
duty to tho South. Many Wings as well as
Locos gave up in despair believing that the
question was settled and the great principle.
was lost forever. This surrender for party
purposes has been Of unbelievable damage to,
the South. 1t is claimed as a pfeeedenl, and
like all precedenls evincing lack Of sincerity
and determination to maintain tights, weakens
tho moral power successfully 70 reassert aud
attain them.