The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-06

JAMES EDMONSON,
j. NJ SPULOCK,
A, d SHACKELFORD,
ISAAC NJ CULBERTSON,
JOHN c. WENTWORTH,
CHARLES A. HEARD,
Gov. MeDonals Acceptance Of his appointment as Del
egate 10 The Nashoine Contention.
KENsEsAw HAIL. February is. 1850
On my return home recently, received yours Of The
sth inst, informing Of my election by the general as
semby OF the delegates TO represent the State at
large In the Nashville Convention 10 meet in June next
and requesting my acceptance accept with thanks Tor
the confidence manifested by the appointment the import
ant trust committed to me; and IN executing II snail en-
deayor as far as my poor abilities will admit, to carry
out the public will and maintain The rights Of the people
whom shall represent:
ment is truly grave one No patriot who looks 10 the
FUTURE but feel apprehension at the prospect which
rises to his view But it belongs to the present genera
ton to meet its difficulties If the constitution OF
the Union were administered according to it's letter and
spirit the southern States would not complain II It is
not and the fundamental rights of the South are essen
tally violated by inconsderate majority in Congress,
the aggeved States must consult and adopt
OF safety for themselves We all devoted 10 the con-
sttuon wiser plan for securing the peace and union
and happiness Of neghboring independent nations could
not have been devised by man Independent soveregnes
met and surrendered TO common government many oil
the powers which belonged to them as such the treaty
making power; the power Of declaring war and making
peace, as among themselves and between themselves
and foreign nations, at the same time securing to them.
selves ministers penpotentiary, in their senators and
to take care o. the II nj w q
the faculty OF legislation, too within speclhed limits to
guard and enforce the rights Of the whole with no pur
pose as or s o.
ed and equals they accepted constitution, securing
in express terms, by necessary implication all rights
to each State which, as an independent sovereignty
might rghtully or reasonably have demanded OF any
ali OF the States by treaty The paramount interest oil
the South to be protected by treaty or otherwise at the
time OF the formation OF the constitution, was the interest
OF the people in their slaves The constitution provides
for the protection OF this interest in the most express and
empathc language, and in manner at the time sans-
factory to the southern people, who felt that they had
double guaranty OF the security oil this and all Diner IN
eresis in that provision which requires the Legislators
and the executive and judicial officers OF the several
States to be bound by oath or affirmation TO support the
constitution That the rights OF the South in respect to
their slaves, are, Notwithstanding this. every day vo-
lated, is notorious The act OF Congress to enable the
10 his property which may escape and be
saveholdng States, far from respecting the consu
ton have enacted laws 10 obstruct remedies under IL
and TO impede the legal efforts OF the slavehoder TO re;
these States have refused fugves from justice
charged with the larceny OF slaves, TO be delivered up on
the mpuden preience that the States in which slaveB
the enactment OF criminal laws Hence the constitution
in regard this matter has become dead letter lhs
is one branch Of the attack upon the institution Of
Another sfound in the policy attempted 10 be fixed
the country BY which the people Of The South are BY
direct means, through the inslrumentaty Of others
to be prohibited from settling on ne public territory WIN
to be accomplished by the unconstitutional measure
known the Wilmot Provso are hoped TO be enecled
by the admission OF California with constitution pro-
hibiiing slavery, into the Union State, embracing
within It's boundary the immense territory bearing Us
name. II cannot be questioned that the consummston
OF this measure will be as fatal TO the South as the WI
mot Proviso The argument based upon the assumption
that the people who have gone there have the right 70
form a government for themselves, and TO claim 10 be
admitted into the Union, is more specious than sold
The right qualified one and Is subject TO the con
don that in exercising il they violate no rights oil the
people OF the States. people without government
have the right erect II is necessary TO selipro
lection. But to form government 70 prevent the eys
OF anarchy is one thing and TO raft that govern
ment measures affecting the rights oil the people by whose
federation they occupy the soil on which they 1--we,
saoaer o~rnS p no SU a. anu sas hsr cond
ZION and circumstances. But people who remove TO
country in which they do not the soil, and assume
jurisdiction can acquire ~ the nsSarpaon no RoSe,
thereon the rights % the OF the so The PEG,
pie of California have gone beyond the necessities Of
their condition. and have incorporated IN her organic Jaw
provision affecting most njuriously the rights on lha'
territory OF the people OF the South. Whether this was
done from great desire 10 be admitted a member OF ne
federal Union, and belief that her object could not %
accomplished without IL, will not pretend toay; put
not improbable tina, many were influenced by such
consideration.
The country claimed 10 be within her boundary, anu
in which the rights of the people oil the South have been
abrogated OF sufficient extent Tor many
States OF the hrs magnitude Her government has been
hastily erected under circumstances ana eelose M
country was well open the ingrcss OF our people
is claimed that the whole procedure may De sancuoned
and ratified By vote OF Congress admitting the olae
into the Union Such vote under Inc circumstance
would violate the spirit OF the constitution, Congress
nav admit new State. There Is no compulslon Con'
NAV REJECT the application; and IL Is its duty 10 DO IT,
when State erected on public territory offers itself for
with constitution not only offensive 10 some
~ ,he sser States OF the Union, but containing prvvs
,ons INJURIOUS 10 their interest. To admit State under
snch circumstances is volave OF the fundamental prn.
cpes OF the compact OF union, expressed in the st
sentence of the constitution.
Whatever a State may do. with population settled
and established acquainted with the wants oil its cnate
and whose territory has been long free TO the ngres
the people from all the States with their property, and
which has been admitted under such circumstances, into
the Union, repeat IL that the people who happen TO De
first common territory have right 10 erect govern.
nen thereon, with provisions infringing the rights o.
the people OF the States II not the intention OF inc
people Of the States in adopting the federal constitution,
to place themselves in worse condition in respect 70
their territorial rights than they had retained their en-
tire sovereignty Had the Union never been formed y y
probable that the western and southern country AZ aI
as the Pacific and south OF the Missouri compromse
parallel OF north latitude, would have eventually come
under the dominion OF the savehoding States or some
OF them tits probable that the conquests which have
been recently made would have been the conquess o.