The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1849-10-19
charge, and make the following report, as ex-
pressiye of the voice of MississiDDi.

an unlimited power of legislation over all the
territories belonging in common TO the people of
these United States-that it, consequently, has
power to prohibit slavery in these territories
that the exercise of such power is expedientand
necessary, inasmuch as slavery is an evil which
must be eradcated from the land With few
patriotic and honored exceptions, the people of
the Northern States seem determined 70 adopt
the Wmot proyiso, or the principle it contains
Every succeeding year brings forth new expedi-
ents for the accomplishment 0! the object. The
press, the pulpit and the ballot-box, have all be-
come tributary to the fanatical hostility to the
South. 1t is vain to hope for an abandonment
of this settled design. Submission 10 our
wrongs, proVokes perseverance on the part OF
our aggressors, and it is wise in States, as it is
in individuals, to resist encroachment. Unfor-
tuna:ely, We have been but too passive under
former encroachments. Our opponents exut
in the passage of the Oregon Bill, as full ac-
acknowledgement OF the principle, and build their
hopes Of further success on that. In this unfor-
tunate controversy there are but two alterna-
tives-the one is submission, and the other re-
sstance. To the one we cannot-we will not
consent; the other, we are reluctant to adopt.
In the name of our constituents, we solemnly
deny the existence Of the power claimed, and
protest against its exercise. We assert that it
viii violate the constitution and dissolve the
Union.
We have not met to discuss the question of
power or expediency. They have been argued
and e.argued, in and out of Congress, by our
statesmen and BY our people. We have rea-
soned and remonstratedin terms of cancellation
with our Northern brethren, until forbearance
has ceased to be virtue. We have warned
them of the consequences of perseverance.
They have disregarded our remonstrances, and
our warnings; they have disregarded the most
solemn compromises, ID which we yielded too
much. They have refused to submit to judicial
determination, preierriTg to decide by the force
of numbers: There is no common arbiter; and
we, too, must decide for ourselves. That de-
cision is made. We take our stand on the plain
principles of the constitution, and intend to
maintain it, or sink in the effort.
We assert that Congress has no power over
| the subject of slavery within the States, or in
| the territories. That dlese States by the revo-
luton, by the declaration of independence, and
| by the treaty of peace became separate and in
dependent sovereigntifs, with all the political
power of separate anddistinct nations; that they
are still so; except so lar as they may have ex-
pressly delegated part of their power to the
general governmentthat they have not delega-
ted their sovereignty the federal government is
not sovereignty, btt limited lederative sys-
tenn, possessing only such powers as have been
expressly granted tot by the Constitution, with
such implied powers as may be ind;spensably
necessary as incident TO the express grant. 1t
follows that it can legislate only on the subjects
confded to it; and, on them, only in strict sub
ordination to every principle OF the constitution.
AS power is constantly tending to the legislative
department. it is inexpedient that congress should
encroach on the people and the sovereignty OF
the States by exercising doubtful powers.
We maintain that the system OF slavery was
recognized bv tie sonstitution-slaves were re-
cognized as property, the full enjoyment OF
which was guardedand protected-guaranteed
by that compact. That congress has no power
over properly The right Of property preceded
the constitutional is coeva with the history o
man; it exists by paramount law of nature. Il
is the subject Of control by State sovereignty
only. This Union never would have been form
ed, without the full and entire recognition o
slavery, and property in slaves, and the guaran
ty to the owner which is contained in the con
stituton.
We assert that the territories acquired BY
the late war with Mexico, are the common pro
|
they have a right TO move in, and enjoy it, t
take with them property, their religion and thei
liberty. Congress did not create property il
slaves, nor can it say they shall cease to b.
property. To abolish slavery in the territories
is TO diminish their value, and limit their useful
, ness in the States. Il is approprating the who'll
of the territory to the use Of one portion of th
people Of the United States TO the exclusion O
another. The power Of congress to legislat'
for the territories is power to protect the citi
zen and his property, not to declare what
, property: Therefore
/. ReSOtCed, Thatiihe institution OF slavery il
the Southern States is left, by the constitution
exclusively under tie control of the States u
which exists, as part of their domestic policy
which they, and they only, have the right Z
. regulate, abolish OF perpetuate, as they ma
severally judge expedient; end that all attempt;
on the part OF congress, or others, to interior
with the subject, either directly or indirectly, ar
. in violation of the Constitution, dangerous
n the rights and safety Of the South, and ought I
be promptly resisted
!. 2. That congressha has no power to pass an
. law ab0lishing slavery in the District Of Colun
bia or to prohibit the slave trade between th
/. several States, or toprohibit the introduction {
slavery into the territories of the United States
/. and that the passage by congress OF any sue
!. law, would not only be a dangerous violation {
;. the constitution, but would afford evidence of
i. fixed and deliberate design, on the part of thu
body, to interfere with the institution of SLAYER
r in the States.
i 8. That we would regard the passage
d Congress. Of the FiImot 2roviso," (whic
would, in effect, deprive the citizens Of ii
n sIaye-hoiding States Of an equal participation
tae territories acquired mainly by their bloc
d and treasure) an unjust and insulting discrim
e nation-to which these States cannot, withol
political degradation, submit; and to which th
K convention, representing the feelings and opi
ions of the people Of Mississippi, solemnly d
o clare they will not submit.
y A. That the passage Of the Wilmot proyis
/ or of any law abolishIng slavery in the Distri
|. Of Columbia, by the congress of the Unite
States, would, Of itself. be such breach of Il
o federal compact as, in that event, viii make
f. the duty, as it is the right of the slaVe-holdn
e States, to take care of their own safety, and
treat the non,saveholding States as enemies
4 the slave-holding States and their domestic Il
sttutions.
5. That the right TO organize States in Il
territories OF the United States, is limited to Il
Is citizens of the United States, and that the a
tempt now in progress, by the present occupan
of California--most Of whom are Mexican
Indians, negroes, and renegades from every E