The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-06-25


iute and recovery Of fugitive slaves congess
can DO but little 10 enforce them. The bill
providing for the cooperation OF the few 1fh-
GERS OF the United States Government n a
State, is practically quite insufficient Il ac-
complish IL aim What can they do in such
a State as PENNSYLVANIA V recover fugitive
slaves Yet II Congress does all that il cm do
by Legislation, 70 enforce the constitution, il
only does is duty 10 the South. There Gan be
no concession or favor 10 The south, in giving
her only what she has night 10 have under
4 the cOnstituton--unless indeed, the constitu-
| ton for her has no existence The bill then,
is, in the first place quite inadequate TO restore
10 us our fugitive slaves and in the second
place gives the south nothing but what she is
entitled to. II this was all there would be
nothing in the bill for which we should con
cede any thing TO the north. But il is not all.
Under the pretext Of bestowingon us benefit,
II pepetrates a usurpation on the reserved
nights Of the States. Il provides that slave
may anaign his master, by the authority OF
laws made by Congress, before the courts Of
the States and of the United States 10 try
his right TO his freedom. II Congress can
legislaie at all between the master and
slave in a State, where can its power be
dayedl IL can abolish slavery in the
States. Thus power is assumed in the bill,
which virtually extends the Jurisdiction OF
Congress over slavery in the States And this
is benefit to the South Under a guise of a
benefit, the bill is useless-and worse than
useless in its usurpations. Such are the va
rions measures which constitute this COM
promise.
We do not believethas rsa1y Of those In flc
South, who at an early day, expressed a will
lingness to support it. had well considered its
import, or ever contemplated supporting it
without material amendments. We fully APP
preciate and honor the motives of those who
would restore tranquility to the country, nor
shall we fmpugn in any form those who have
assisted to frame or who have yielded sup
port to the measures. Why the non-slave
holding States do not support these measures
we are unable to understand, unless it be- that
naughty fanaticism, inflated with success,
disdaiDs accomplishing its objects by ndirec-
ton. Ifthese measures, however, were really
a compromise in which the South had equal
gains with the North, it would be of doubtful
expediency for the South to propose il. Three
times in Congress during this controversy, the
South has proposed the Missouri compromise,
which has been rejected three times by the
North Twice she has proposed compromise,
by which she consented to leave it to the
courts of the United States to determine her
rights Instead of requiring sternly their re-
cognition by Congress, fifteen sovereign States
have consented to be carried into the courts
OF the country, and there to submit their SOW
ereign rights in territory belonging to them,
to their final arbitrament. Their humiliation
did not Yin the respect Or confidence of the
North and the proposition was twice rejected.
The South, in our opinion might except one
other compromise not because it is coexten-
sive with our rights, but because ii has been
twice sanctioned by those who have gone be-
fore us. II the North offers the Missouri COM
PROMISE to extend to the Pacific Ocean, the
South cannot reject it provided that dis
tinct recognition of our right to en-
ter the territory south of SO go north lati- |
tude is expressed in the compromise. We
should take this line as partition line be- |
tween the two sections of the Union; and be- |
side this, nothing but what the Constitution |
bestows. Although the Northern States would |
acquire by this compromise, three-fourths of
our vacant territory, they will have renounced |
the insutlerable pretension of restricting and
the extension at the South, whilst |
they should extend indeiHrteIy.
No. - ts.as, Ts15ws aid bef6fe you
a statement Of your condifion--your rights
and the remedy which, under present circum-
stances. you should accept we leave you for
brief space OF time. 1t Is proper TO stale 10
YOU, that while we are unanimous in approving
the resolutions accompanying this address, the |
Delegates to this Convention are not entirely |
unanimous in approving all the arguments
contained in it, particularly such as relate to
the compromise bill pending in the United
States Senate, though none are in favor of that |
bill unless it be amended in conformity with |
our resolutions, or in such manner as shall sub
stantially secure to the South the right asserted
in them. Until Congress adjouns, we cannot
know what it will do, or fail TO do We must,
therefore, meet again after its adjournment to
consider the final condition in which it will
leave YOU We recommend to you, and ex-
hort you to send Delegates from every county
and district in the Southern States, to meet us
when we again assemble 1t is no ordinary
occasion which mas assembled us together.
The Constitution and the Union it created, 50
long dear to your hearts, are to be preserved,
and your liberties and your institutions main
tanned.