The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-16

of the dear bought adjustment, which we wer.
promised would restore peace and fraternity tc
, our councils, we have seen in both Houses, active
} measures of renewed aggression and agitation
and in this House particularly, one Of the largest
votes ever given for the Immediate abolition oil
slavery in the District.
The conviction is well nigh universal in the
Northern mind Of the sinfulness and moral enorm-
| ity of our institutions, and of their incompati-
bilty with republican principles and social pro-
gress. This feeling has entered into and largely
controlled political organizations, and the action OF
| Northern Legislatures in popular government
| like ours, is next to impossible to remove from
| the arena Of politics and parties, an element of
such potency in its adoption to the sympathies
and prejudices Of the people II must grow and
| expand ill il fills the breadth of the land, and
levels all the buwarks of our rights, unless il Gu
be encountered by feelings and interests even deep
| or and more permanent. These can only be found
| IN the momentous interests and feelings bound up
| IN our slave institutions, and in the intelligence
resources and indomitable spirit Of the Southern
people, which may be enlisted in their defence
We may mot trust our safety or our honor, to
Northern Justice or Northern fraternity. Our
| selves must be .he yigilant guardians, and stern
defenders of our institutions and our peace. pre-
sumo not to advise or urge the adoption OF any
particular course of action or system OF defensive
measures. That high duty devoIves on the peo-
pie in their primary meetings. or in their sovereign
capacity. | may however, be pardoned for say
ing, that in my humble opinion, ut least ceaseless
vigilance, an active Southern organization, and
the determination to hold the preservation of their
institutions and peace, of obligation paramount to
all political ties, are Indispensable to the peo-
pie OF the South, if they mean to maintain their
property, and their social organization at their own
will and not in craven subservience to the fanat-
csm of the North.
rendering to you individually, Gentlemen, as
surance of Ugh respect and esteem, remain col
diallv yours. JAMES A. seldom.
Messrs. Richard H. Foote, G. w. Brent, w.
w. Payne.
WAsHINGroN, Sept. 29Ih, 1850
Gentlemen II have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your kind letter inviting me to
dinner to be given to Senators Mason and Hunter
MS a manifestation Of your approval OF their course
in the Senate, the measures passed at this SEES
sion OF Congress, IN which you believe were IN
VOWED the integrity OF the Union, and the inter-
ests, safety and honor Of the South.
The short recess which intervenes between this
and the next session of Congress- and the remote
ness Of residence, compel me TO decline the plea
sure you offer. But in replying to your courtesy
excuse me for awaiting myself of the occasion to
| offer nv congratulations to your senators ana to
YOU. To YOU for good fortune in having, at a
time like this, such faithful and able representa-
tives to them because OF the evidence thus al
forled that their devotion and conspicuous labors
receive in the approval Of their constituents the
only reward all honest representative expects or
desires IL any new proof had been required,
rour action would give assurance that will adhere
to and maintain the princp Piles Of your revolution
AIRY sres, that Virg mia will hereafter as hereto
fore, exhibit the spirit which has illustrated her
history and made her name glorious am ong the
States, from the hour when the foundations OF the
Union were laid.
| Accept my sincere thanks for the commentator
you bestow upon my own course, which, without
the merit your kindness confers, has been guided
by the motives you approve. with the heartfelt
desire to preserve the Union Of the States esab-
shed by the Constitution, was united as Kindred
feeling the determination not to surrender the rights
nor to compromise the honor, nor to hazard the
: safety or security of the South. line OF conduct
thus directed has drawn upon me, as upon the Sen
, ators nf Va. with whom have been associated II
these efforts, the revilings of Il class to whom
leave the people of the South to give an apRropr
: ate name now only refer to it that you may the
better appreciate the qualification with which al
thus situated must receive the approval OF those IN
whose cause they have unsuccessfully struggled,
and to whom they return with the painful tldlngs
Of defeat.
Again, gentlemen, | thank you for your consid.
. Grafton, and the grateful manner in which 1t has
been extended to me. For common cause, the
+ cause of Justice and the Constitution, hope Vlr
ginia from shore TO mountain will be vocal of such
sentiments rs you enertan and that III all fu'ur'
d contests she r,ay have such men as Mason ant
i Hunter - $<'et in her behalf.
!, Very sincerely your friend,
r JEFFERSON DAVIS.
d To w. W. Payne, G. w. Brent, r. II. Foote
= Committee.
i Warrington, Sept IS, 1850.
e GENTLEMEN: Your invitation to partake of the
q dinner which the friends of Hon. James NJ. Ma
y son and r. NJ. II. Hunter IN the County of Eau
quier, have rendered to them us manifestation OF
their approval Of the course by them pursued in
the Senute Of the United States, upon those great
meas ,res lAte'y passed into laws, has just reached
me; and hasten to express to you my deep re-
greet that it will not be in my power TO comply
with it. soDd shoulder to shoulder and heart
to heart by your senators during the whole ofthat
, memorable struggle, in which, prominent among
the more ardent champions Of Southern rights and
Southern dignity they so eminenily distinguished
themselves Ivy the unremittlng zeal which they
> displayed, by their manly and resolute resist
ance to the wanton grievances and deep wrongs
sought to be inflicted on their native South, and
through the bright talents and noble patriotism
which signalised their effort throughout the con-
test; and, to lin in any tribute Of respect which
utn T., i,%' t!tizens may deem proper to aw r
them, would have cen truly responsive to my
sentiments, and highly gratifying TO my feelings.
But must deny myself that great pleasure, as am
left with scarcely sufficient time to visit my own
constituency, and a. have made arrangements for
my own immediate departure, upon the adjourn
ment of Congress. You will, however, allow me
to say, that my whole soul Will I've with You IN
the occasion. | am rejoiced to see the Old Do
mninn bestowing such marks OF approval upon
;, those who have SO nobly stood by her and SO
, s,ou,ly defended her interes, and her honor
through all disasters and in every emergency
1t well BELTS an enlightened and grateful common
wealth to crown the labor Of her public servants
with such gratifying tokens Of her appreciation
pray you, accept my unfeigned iha'ks for the
: honor you have done me. by associnting my name
with the names of the distinguished individuals,
who are to be your special guests; and grant me
leave to offer you my acknow Judgments for your
generous hospitality, in a sentiment which have
worn in my heart for many years, and which EN-.
bodies and expounds all its political predictions
and principles:
The Old Dominion, and her men If '76, and her
men Of 80! They first taught fyranis hor freedom
l.. ..Ia I'll