The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-11

convention of the people, to deliberate upon the
issue involved in the frequent aggressions made
upon the institutions OF the Southern States.
And whereas, the said contingency has happened,
and the Governor has called upon the people TO
elect delegates TO said convention; and bellev-
ing, rs We solemnly do, that we have been ufi-
justly and unconstitutionally deprived OF our
just rights in all the territory OF California, ny
the action OF the General Government, and that
such action has been induced by fanatical and
abolition influences in the Northern States, and
| that the same influences are threatening still
further and more serious agyressiOns in the fu-
ture, upon our rights,
| We, therefore, the citizens of Harris county,
feel imperiously called upon to recommend the
adoption Of such efficient measures as will Sc
cure to us and to those who may come after US,
such rights as are now left to US under the Con-
stitution.
| Therefore, be ii Resolred, That we believe with
the last Legislature Of the State, that the adms-
sion of California ~ State into the Union, with
| its boundaries and constitution, rs adopted by
her, with all the anomalous circumstances AZ
tending the formation of their State government,
was M act of such deep and alarming aggres-
sion upon our rights as to sanction the solemn
act of convoking the sovereign people Of the
State in convention to take counsel together in
order to provide for their future safety.
| Resaloed, That the magnificent territory OF
California. with all its glittering treasures, was
purchased with the common blood aud treasure
of all the States: and that we had an equal right
with all the other States to go into said territory
with all our property, and that we have been de-
prived of that right by the action Of the General
Government, and that action was induced by the
influence of abolition pressed upon the Govern
ment-and that the same Influences threaten still
further and more alarming aggressions in the
| future upon our rights and our liberties
! Resolved, That we commend the wisdom and
foresight Of the Legislature in providing for said
Convention, and the Governor for the prompt
discharge Of his duty in converting the same
And that in view of past nyasions Of our rights,
and threatened aggressions in the future, it is the
| Judgment Of this meeting that the Sovereign
People about to meet in convention, should
adopt such vigorous and efficient measures as
will bring back the General Government to an
observance of the guarantees of the Constitu-
ton in protecting our rights Of property, and in
securing to us |" the enjoyment of life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness"
RESOLVED, That our warfare is urged against
a sectional abolition crusade against our proper
ty, our Liberty, and our Equality as State Of
the Union: and for the present and for the pur-
pose of securing the cooperation Of all our fell
low-citize,is in prompt, vigorous and efficient
movement in this political, legal and constitu-
tional warfare, we declare our intention and eff
fort, to be, to make one more united struggle
under the Constitution and in The Union, to pro-
tcct and perpetuate our rights.
Resolved, That to this end and for this purpose
we invite all of the citizens of Harris county to
unite together in forming a Southern Rights
Association, the object Of which shall be to main.
tain and perpetuate our rights and our equality
in the Union; and should we at length fail in
that, then to leave it to time and circumstances
and the Sovereign People to determine upon the
mode and measure Of redress.
Col. Ingram made short and appropriate
speech in support of the resolutions, after which
he suggested that u committee of five be APP
pointed to take into consideration the action of
the last Grand Jury.-Messrs. George A. B.
Dozier, VIM r. Crawford, Osborn Crook,
Fleming b. Nance and A. G. Gordon, COM
mttee who reported as follows
Prese,,tmcnls by the Petit Jury Of Harris
County.
The advocates Of Southern rights, having as
sembled for the purpose OF taking into consi-
deration the evils under which the courtry is
laboring, and suggesting to the consideration OF
their fellow citizens such measures az they deem
best calculated TO repair the same, would respect
fully suggest-that an enlightened public OPT
Mon is the only channel through which they
can with confidence hope to staythe nggressons
of an unprincpled majority in Congress, which
aggressions unless checked, must eventually sub
vet the foundations of our social system, or
force us to dissolve Il connection with our
Northern brethren, an alternative that we desire
to avoid, if our rights can be secured without
severance thereof.
We congratulate ourselves upon the evil
dences of general prosperity manifest through
out the country, as they concusively show, that
the elements Of success are inherent in the
South, and are not dependent upon the aid of
the General Government
In the midst of this prosperity we cannot cease
to regret the constant exhibition on the part of
some of our fellow citizens penetrating even to
the halls of Justice and extending throughout
the Northern States, of extreme political vio-
lence looking rs they do to the Abolition Of
slavery on forcing upon the South secession as
remedy.
This body is constrained to believe that no
existing wrong in our socalorganzation justities
the North to force us to this disagreeable alter
native as our only palladium of safety-and in
this connection this body feels imperously cal
led upon to deprecate in the most unqualified
terms the publication in the Washington Union,
Nat. Intclligencer, Columbus Enquirer, Athens
Banner and other Southern newspapers of a Ger
tain description, of documents the circulation and
publication of which would doubtless be made
penal, capitally so by our code, but that the
Freedom of the Press must be guaranteed, even
at the risk Of its occasional liceatious abuse.
While we can acquit those in our community
and State engaged in this fearful work of the
criminal intent calculated to be effected by such
publications, the evil is not less to be deplored,
as they cannot be unmindfm of the avowed de-
termination of large portion of the North to
destroy institutions necessary to our existence,
and we are constrained to believe that these
persons in blind partisan zeal, are careless Of
the vital wrongs to which their course may lead.
Having nothing to conceal least we may be
obscure or misunderstood we allude to such
publications rs announce the triumph of the
abolitonists and free soilers in the passage of
the following Bills
The admission of California-Bills for organiz-
ing the Territories of Utah and New Mexico
The Dismemberment of Texas-The abolition
of the slave Trade and other kindred m. ssnroo