The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-19
ATLANTA, Nov. 10, 1850.

ATLANTA, Nov. 10, 1850.
DEAR SIR: On my arrival here to-day, hat
the honor to receive your communication a.
Chairman Of the Union Southern Rights Party
of Chatham, announcing to me my nomination
by that portion of my fellow citizens, as a can.
didate to represent the County of Chatham, in
the approaching Convention, and seize the earliest
moment to offer to them, through you, my res
pectfnl acknowledgements for this manifestion
of their confidence. beg you, my dear sir, to
make these acknowledgements acceptable to
that with opinions and feelings unchanged, with
an unfatering conviction of our wrongs, which
reflection only serves to confirm, and lively ap,
prehcnsion of further aggression, which each
days intelligence but tends to strengthen
would willingly have shared in the lab0rs of the
Convention, it such had been the desire of nv
felow-citizens of Chatham, but for the reason
which | will proceed to state.
Before | left Washington, in communication
from highly valued friend, it was suggested to
me that ought to be a member of that Conven-
ton. The subject having been thus presented
to me, the deep interest which | feel in the re-
suit of its deliberations induced me to reflect
seriousl on the propriety of accepting nom-
nation, if it should be rendered to me. And first
it seemed to me that, rs the acts Of the last Con-
gress will constitute an important portion of the
subjects on which the Convention will deliberate,
1t would be more appropriate for the members
of that Congress to leave to others the Judgment
to be pronounced on their conduct This, how
ever, is consideration of mere personal feeling,
involving no question of right, and no conflict of
duty, and which therefore might be overcome
but there is difficulty which | presume must
have been overlooked in nominating me, which
cannot be so easily surnounted.
My official duty will require me to be at WASH
ington during the sitting Of the Convention
This is a duty mhich o,ce 10 the schole people of
Georgia, and the daily intelligence which we re-
ceive. of the agitation in the non-slaveholding
States, and especially Of the disposition which
they evince to evade, or if that be impractcable,
to resist the enforcement of the Fugitive slave
law, seems to me, to render it proper that South
ern representatives should be early and steadily
in their seats in the approaching session of Con.
gross. It's true that it is not usual in that body
to transact much business before Christmas, but
this is peculiar crisis, in which it would not be
quite prudent TO Judge of coming events by the
recollection of past usage, and the rule some
time since adopted, by which the unfinished bu-
siness Of one session is continued to the next
session of the same Congress, may furnish a
motive for proceeding at once to its consdera-
If any measure hostile to the interests Of
Georgia, should be brought before the Senate,
while was absent from my seat by any act of
my own, would feel that | had neglected duty
which owed to my constituents the whole
people of Georgia. have already declined to
allow my name to be presented for nomination
in one county, and have refused nomination
actually made in another--and my sincere belief
is, that will best fulfill the obligation which
owe to my fellow citizens of Chatham, by de-
cning the nomination with which they also have
honored me, and by repairing to my post in the
Senate of the United States ! ask you to make
known to them this determination, which, ex-
GLIDING every consideration personal to myself,
n regard to their interests has induced me to
adopt. In assigning these reasons for declining
this nomination, desire not to be understood
as expressing any opinion of the propriety of
contrary course, if any of my colleagues, taking
different view of the subject, should think
proper to pursue it. They are simply stated as
the motives Of my own conduct
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your fe low Citizen
JOHN MACPHERSON BERIEN.
To DR.. JAMES p. ScREvEN, Chairman Union
Southern Rights Party Chatham,