The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-27

From TIE Correspondent # tie afoSil. Register 7
VrcxsBupuc, Julvi 10 1870

some surprise, What the Washington correspond
ent OF the Picayune has engaged in the nefarious
attempt TO write down such Of our Senators and
Representatives are unwilling to support Mr.
Clays plan Of Compromise. In several of his
recent letters, Senator Davis, Of this State, has
come in for more than an ordinary share of denun-
ciation and opprobrium. Without furnishing any
data IN support Of his assertions, this Hippant
scrbbler proceeds 10 charge, that Col. Davis, in
opposing The so-called compromise, is misrepre
sehtng Inc will OF his constituents, and is iniu-
enced by the hope, that by defeating the pro-
posed mode of adjustment, and keeping alive the
present abolition agitation and excitement, the
bonds OF union between the North and South will
be still further weakened, and thus dissolution
% 'ne coniederac y-which he and other " South
ern ultras are alleged to be aiming atAbe more
readily attained In other words, Senator Davis
Is arralgned for treason to the generous people who
have placed him in his present high position, and
recreancy to his solemn oath TO support the Const-
tuition of the United States which has for one of its
main objects, the preservation " of a more perfect
union. These are accusations Off very grave char
acter, and such as aproper sense Of proprety and
justice would forbid to be made, unless upon full and
Irrefutable evidences other truth Now, venture
to say, that neither the Pcayune 'scorrespondent,
nor any other person, can point to a single cir
cumstance which would in the remotest degree,
tend TO warrant reasonable belief, that there is
any foundation for these charges. A simple re-
ference to wel-known facts will show the con-
trary, beyond all question.
First, then--Does Senator Davis i'm opposing
the adjustment" as it is called misrepresent the
popular will in Mississippi' In the absence Of
State, were designedly postponed till after the
Nashville Convention, and which, since then, we
have not had time to hold } that will can be most
accurately gathered from the action of the Legis-
latnre and the tone Of the public press. What do
they indicator AT the last session of our Legisla-
ture the Following resolution was adopted, by
overwhelming mnjorities in both branches in
fact, no opposition would have been made to it,
had it been disconnected from other matters
which, were considered objectionable by few in
dividuals Er |4 MI
Resolved, That the admission of California
into the Union as sovereign State, with its present
constitution, the result Of the aforesaid false and
unjust policy the part of the government Of the
United States, would be an act of fraud and OPP
preston on the rights of the people Of the slave
holding States and it is the sense OF this Legisa-
ure, that our Senators and Representatives should
to the extent other ability, resist it, by all honor
able and constitutional Means -t4aa
BY a subsequent resolution, the admission of
California, with the circumstances which had in
duced her hasty application for admissio into the
Union, was referred to the Nashville Conventions
to be considered with other causes of complaint
against the non-savehoding States.
In such strong language was expressed the
the main feature Of the Clay Comprehensive
admission of California. Until the people shall
have clearly spoken to the contrary these resolves
Of her representatives to be regarded as indi-
cative of their will, and must stand as instructions,
which our Senator's cannot disobey without viola
ting well recognized principle Of their political
creed Senator Davis, therefore, in speaking and
voting against the Compromise bill, acts not only
in accordance with his own convictions of duty,
but under the control of an authority which, as
Democrat, ne recognizes as leaving him no alter
native but obedience or resignation.
And with reference to the public press Of the
State--an exponent Of public sentiment, if not so
authoritative as the Legislature, yet perhaps more
rellable-what position has it taken upon this com
promise measured The concurrence of views
among the Democratic papers, in opposition to all
the features Of adjustment" has been most re-
marketable II may safely be affirmed, that not
single paper OF that party, in this State, has taken
sides with Mr.. Clay and his coadjutorain the SEN
ate, while, on the other hand, every one that has
fallen under my notice, (and have seen all but
two or three,) has repudiated the compromise
propositions without exception, and in the strong
est terms. The Mississippian, Vcksburg, Senti-
mel, Natchez Free Trader, Yazoo Democrat.
Equal Rights, Eastern Clarion, Fulton Democrat
Pilot and Sentinel, Carrollton Democrat, and
others, have simultaneously denounced the pro-
posed mode Of settlement as, in effect, surrender
at discretion to the fanatics Of the North--an
abandonment Of constitutional right, which the
South could not make, without present dishonor
and prospective ruin. WhsGAer these views are
well or ill-founded, is is not important to inquire
my object at present being merely to show what
public sentiment in Mississippi really is, and that
Col Davis is faithfully rejecting it, in the course
he is pursuing upon the slavery question.
Thus far, but few popular meetings have been
lie opinion upon the different plans which have
been suggested for the settlement Of the existing
controversy between the North and the South
Where they have been convened, the resolutions
have been emphatic in condemnation of Mr.
Clay 8 Compromise, and approbatory OF the
sequence, generally, in express terms, have fully
endorsed the position Of Col. Davis. There can
be but little doubt that similar views will be every
where expressed by our people.
In view of these facts, the truth OF which can
not be questioned, how can it be pretended that
Col. Davis, in resisting the passage Of the Clay
Compromise. has arrayed himself in opposition to
the public sentiment of his State? Must not every
candid and truth-loving man regard the accusa-
hon as manfestly gratuitous and false, if not will
fully calumnious,
AS to the other branch of this libel, that COL
Davis is perjuring himself by plotting disunon, it
may safely be treated with contempt 1t is at best
but mere inference, as shallow as it is malig-
nant, from his opposition to the Clay compromise;
and even if that opposition were not made his I'M
perative duty, by the causes to which have re-
ferred, such conclusion would be wholly un-
warranted. Before the opponents of the pending
bill can be convicted of treason, it must be clearly
shown that the proposed plan is the only one
which can be honoraby adopted, and that dis
union would be the certain consequence of its de-
feat. Until these points established, the hire
ling letter writers from Washington may rest as
sured that the country is not to be frightened from
its propriety by sweeping denunciations of all
Southern who do chOnse In hacopoa be
satellites of Mr.. Clay, and endorse his Free-soil
as the only true peace offerings to
the country, and the best guarantees for the per-
of the Union. Especially will these
prostituted scrbbers fall far short of their mark
if they fatter themselves that the outpourings of
their maIignity can impair the high standing of the
gallant and accomplished Davis, with the people
of Mississippi. Without rival in their con-
fdepce, devotion and admiration, his fair fame at
home rests upon rock, against which it may be
not irreverently said, the gates of hell shall not
prevail MlSSlSSlPPIAN.
CAPT. TAGGART's PATENT FLYING MACHINE
Lowell on the 4th Captain