The southern press., 1850-09-09
LEWIS LECONTE, President
w. l.. WALTnoUR, SecretarV.
From the augusta Republic.

MEETING IN CHAWroRDvILLE.-- CrautordriNe,
Ga, Sent 3, lS5O-The Hon. a. II. Stephens
| having consented to address the people publicly
| on this day in Crawtvrdville, the asscmblnge
was organized bX calling john Chapman to the
Chair, and rr.,ucAing Felix &. Moore to act rs
Secrctrv The object Of the meeting having
been rA i!ainr d. the Hon. A. ii. Stephens was
conducted to the stard amidst long and anma-
ted applause. lie cnchaincd the attention of the
audience (there being full II thousand) for an
| hour and half, by argument and eloquencc, IL
Iustrntng and enforcing the principles set forth
in the following resolutions, which were adopted
by the meeting without dissenting voice, viz:
lst Resolred, That the territories acquired
by the United States by the late war with Mex
leo, so tar rs they were ungranted and unarpro-
prited ut The time of their acquisition, constitute
a public domain which, of right, belongs equally
to all the citizens of the several States OF this
| Union ms common property and that while they
remain in territorial condition !! is the duty Of
Congress. the common agent upon whom de-
wolves the power, to make suitable regulations
for the enjoyment Of the common property, to
pass all laws that may be necessary for an equal
and just participation in it hv all the parties in
tcrestcd in it, And so far from Congress hav-
ing any right to exclude n portion Of the people
or their property of any kind, which Is rcco@-
nized by the laws of the States in which they re-
side, or to make distinctions to their dsadvan-
tage'' in the enjoyment of the public domain; it
is the duty of Congress to open the etirc coun-
try, BY the removal Of all distractions, whether
they be existing laws or anything else, and TO
declare the same free for entry, settlement and
colonization, by all who may avail themselves
Of their right to useit
9 Resolred, That We do not hold it to be the
duty Of Congress to establish slavery by law
Slavery does not depend upon positive law, nor
does it require positive law for its establishment.
Bv common consent and the usages of nations,
in all ares of the world, slavery has been recog-
nizcd and allowed in all places where it is not
prohibihFd by law Upon this principle African
slavery was introduced into the American colo
ncs before the Revolution in l776. What We
insist upon is, that all laws prohibiting slavery
in these territories shall be declared null and
void, or that some other code be substituted in
their stead, which has no such prohibition. And
VIC approve of the position assumed by the
Southern members of Congress, in asking that
the English Common Law on this subject as il
existed in the colonies at the time of the dccla-
ration Of independence, with the Constitution
and laws Of the United States, be made the
fundamental law of the tcrritorircs.
3. RcSoIrrd, TT at if Congress should refuse
to open the entire country M above set forth,
then, in our opinion, upon the principle Of JUS
tce and right, they should make M equitable
and fair division of it between the sIavchodng
and non -slaveholding States, either upon the ex-
tension OF the Missouri Compromise line, or
some other suitable line that may be agreed
| upon.
! 1. Resolred, That when the people Of any of
| the territories Of the United States form con-
stitution for n State government, and apply to
Congress for admission into the Union as a State
it is matter Of discretion for Congress 20 admit
tnem or rot, provided their constitution be of
republican form. Congress, by the Coisttn.
| ton Of the United States, has the distinct and
clear power to admit new States into the Union.
Aud, while we are opposed to the admission OF
California n State for many reasons, which
need not be- enumerated here, yet we do not be-
lievc that her admission would be violation of
the Constitution
! 9th. Resnir"d, That the boundary of Texas
20 the Rio Grandc, from its mouth 10 its source
annot in our opinion, at this time be questioned
by the General Government, without Il manifest
breach Of good faith and gross outrag. upon
the rights of Texas, which should not be toler-
ated by that State. The General Government
stands estopped BY its own acts from question
ing that boundary. The late war, whether
rightfully or wrongfully begun, was waged in
vindication of the rights Of Texas to the extent
of her claim. And if the question should re-
main unsettled, and the President of the United