Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-02-21
MIR. BERRIEN'S ADDRESS.

The following is copy of the address which
Mr. Berrien prepared for the adoption of the South
ern members, and which, as stated yesterday, was
recommended by the select committee offiftcen, in
stead Of tho one prepared by Mr.. Calhoun, though
the general meeting adopted the lattor:
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE U. STATES.
| tslio1, citizens: We are DESTROYS Of communing
with You a subject which is, in our judgment,
Intimately connected with the peace and harmony
OF the Union. We mako no APOLOGY FOR doing so
our justification will be found in the motive which
Induces this address, and in the obec. which il seeks
to accomplish. That motive is. 90 preserve in lis
original freshness and vigor the fIaternal feeling
which animated our Na,hers-that prompted them
20 'ordair and establish" constitution, which, u
nlung us as one people, has enabled us TO advance
with rapidity uneXampled in the history of man
TO our present eminent rank among the nations of
the world. The ohjec, which we seek to accom-
plish, is TO obtain from you calm, dispassonate,
and patriotic consideration of series of measures
calculated, we fear 10 ALLEVIATE that feeling, and to
beget animostes alike unfriendly TO individual and
TO national prosperity. We make no sectional APP
peal. We address ourselves to the whole Ameri
! can people, as to those who have common and an
| equal interest in preserving and perpetusng the
friendly relations which happily subsis between the
different States Of the Union. II our right thus to
present ourselves 10 your notice be questioned, we
answer that 1t is the privilege of free men TO con
fer with their fellows matters Of public
If ii be asked why has the present moment been
chosen for this address, Gas it is said9 decisive
measure has been perfected, the is that the
moment most proptious TO Cancellation is that which
prccedes, not that which follows, decisive action
the subjec in controversy. IT, again, it be asked
what are our qualifications for the task in which
are engaged, it obvious to reply that the pro-
lOnged attendance at the seat Of government, which
our official duties demand, and tho part which we
ptaI, Of
afaiIs, necessarily make us familiar with the course
OF political events. But we invoke no aid from of
fetal station. We do not address you in our repre-
sentative character. We speak to you as American
freenen, and ask to lie heard in the spirit in which
we address you.
I'hc subject 10 which we would cali your atten-
ton, is the controversy unhappily existing between
portions of our fellow citizens in the two great sec
tons or the Union, resulting from diversity of
feeling and Ofopinion, concerning the relation which
exists between the European and African races
who dwell in its southern section. We invite Your
attention to brief narrative Of this controversy its
origin and progress, and TO that series of measures
10 which it has given rse which by large portion of
! the American people are deemed injurious TO the
interests OF the South aggressive upon their rights
and alike inconsistent with the true spirit, intent
and purpose of constitutional compact This
controversy had its origin at an early period of
| history. 1t began shortly after the acknowledge
|
creased until it has arrayed in opposite ranks two
great portions OF the American people and that or
q SUBJECT which Is, rs to one, an opinion senti-
msnt or, at most, question OF political power in
the councils of the nation while to the other, il ia
contessedy Of all subjects Of policy the most vital
In It's progress it has given rise to series Of meas
Ures, which have been recently multiplied
with degrees of rapijity that manifests the deter
mined purpose and extraordinary activity OF those
with whom they originate. These measures are
all tending TO the same result. II carried into
cution, we think their certain effect would be to in
tic injury, the extent OF which it is difficult To
estimate, the southern States of the confederacy
to unsette the political relations between the sever
al United States, as these were adjusted by the con-
sttuon TO destroy the fraterhal feeling which now
untes us more firmly than the paper bands Of that
instrument; and necessarily therefore, to disturb
the peace and harmony of tho Union.
Our purpose in making the statement which we
propose, is not 10 excite but rather TO allay tho APP
pTehenslonS which existing circumstances are cal
culated to create TO confront the dangers which
threaten to disturb our peace, and to avert them Gf
by the blessing of God, it may be SOY by JUST tenn
perate, and united counsels, conceived and executed
in the spirit of patriotism. In the moment of appre-
hended peril it is the part of prudence to ascertain
the nature and extent Of the danger which threat
ems US, with view TO provide and call into action
our means of defence If the body polite is aftlict-
cd by disease, true conception Of its character can
alone enable us TO effect its cure.
We have called your attention 70 the origin of
this controversy. and ask you TO keep in mind the
fact that existed for length oftime before the CON
stltution formed that those who framed that
instrument were thoroughly aroused TO the fact of
the existence of domestic slavery in several States
of the conTedoracy, had well considered IFS charac-
ter, and were aware of the determination Of those
States TO continue the use OF slave labor, in the new
position which they were about to assume as MEM
barC m no fnIo lT,,ir ho ~ H.,
constitution were thoroughly advised Of the people
OF these States to enter into no compact which
would leopard this their peculiar interest, reduce
them, because of the existence Of slavery among
them, to an equality with their co-Statcs Not
withstandlng this, the controversy was introduced
into the convention. and formed one OF its greatesi
difficulties In framing the constitution. After MA
ny efforts it was overcome by an agreement, which
provided, in substance
l. That representatives and direct taxes shall be
appoTioned among the States according to theiI
respective numbers and that, in asceriaining the
number Of each, FIVE slaves shall be estimated q;
three
2. That slaves escaping into States where slave
ry does not exist, shall not be discharged from ser
vtude in consequence of any law or regulation o
such States bat shall be delivered up on claim O
the party to whom their labor or service is due;
3. That Congress shall prohibi, the importation
Of slaves before the year 1903 but tax Of ten dol
lars may be imposed on each one imported
4. That no capitatiou or direct tax shall be laid
, but in proportion TO federal numbers and.
s. That no amendment Of the constitution which
may be made prior to 1903, shall effect the last pre-
ceding provision, that relating to tho importation
Of slaves.
So satisfactory we're these provisions, to the fra
meTs of the constitution, that the second, rcativ
10 the delivery offugijye slaves was adopted unan
imously, while the rest except the third. relativ
to the importation OF slaves and not TO proloog tn