The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-19
To the Editors ofthe Southern Press

MANY ClIILENS.
To the Editors Of the Southern Press: .... ..Y
They say wise men never wonder at any thing,
and if so, certainly am not wise, for have won
dered at many things Of late Among other strange
matters, have wondered at seeing the holy hor-
ror with which the people of New England and
their representatives in Congress, contemplate the
resistance of the South to the attempt to deprive
il of those nestimable rights, which if not actually
and specifically conceded, or rather guaranteed by
the Constitution, are embodied in its very essence
and may he seen in all and every one OF Its pro-
visions | challenge Mr.. Webster, or any other
great expounder, to adduce single phrase, word
or idea in that instrument, which affords the slight
est ground on which to base the inequality OF the
States as members of this confederation, enjoy
ing equal rights and owing equal duties to each
other. r,."..l' IT.. ,. 49,.
From the first, whenever they acted in concert,
they were equal. When the colonies Of New
England associated together for mutual defence
against the French, the Dutch and the Indians, it
was on terms Of perfect equality, although, owing
to the difference in population, there was dispar-
ity in the quota Of men and money contributed for
that purpose. When the deputies Of the respect
i've colonies assembled at Albany for the purpose
Of carrying out the plan of Franklin for forming
common union for common defence, they met and
parted as equals. When the Congress of the
Unit 81 Colonies, then aspiring to become indepen-
dent States, met for the purpose of forming con-
federation, the case was still the same. They
met as equals, each one having a sins lie vote, and
no more. in the decision ofall questions. So with
the Convention which framed the Constitution.
Rhode Island was equal to Virginia the vote
was taken by States without regard to numbers or
extent and perfect system Of equality was re-
cognized and practised.
Gan anv man in his senses believe that this
equality was voluntarily renqushedby the adop-
ton of the Constitution, or that any State would
have designed to come into the Union without
full recognition Of that equality it enjoyed under
the confederation? The suppostion is alike at
war with the facts Of the and repugnant to all
experience of the motives which govern mankind,
both in public and private affairs. Is 1t then a
matter OF surprise, or should it be subject of re-
proach and obloquy, that the States Of the South,
or any other section of the Union, should revolt
at any attempt to degrade them from that common
level of equality which they had heretofore always
occupied, and which they cannot reinqush with
out sacrifice of their inter ests, their safety, and
their honor' But though this subject naturally con-
meets itself with the holy horror of New England at
the idea of secession, must reserve it, perhaps
for some future occasion, the object of this letter
being chiefly to enquire by what RIG ht the New
England States set themselves up the great con-
SENATORS of the Union.
Everybody remembers the famous Hartford
Convention, and every body knows that it repre-
scented the sentiments and spoke the language of
great majority of the people Of New England dur
ing that ardent Struggle with Great Britain,
which, more than all other causes combined,
contributed to establish the interests and vindcate
the honour of our common country. 1t was al
that moment when the coasts and harbors, and
cities of the United States were exposed to the
ravages Of an arrogant, unfeeling enemy ; when
the country was struggling with every difficulty
and bleeding at evey pore, that that body, acting
in behalf of the peop pie of New England, actually
&C. ;GadD hat, the
Constitution which authorizes the President or the
United States to call out and command the militia
Of the States in defence Of the Union. Governor
Strong, still honored in his memory in New Eng.
land as n great and patriotic magistrate, indeed
called out the militia of Massachusetts, but refused
to place them at the disposal Of the General Gov
eminent; and what well deserves to be remem-
bered, when the war was over, and time had some
what rusted the memory Of the past. the good
State of Massachusetts, had the modesty to apply
to Congress for the payment of that very militia
which It had refused to permit to be employed
in the general defence Nay, what is still more
remarkable, this just and righteous claim was fin
ally sanctioned BY Congress. How much fur
Their this patriotic resistance to the authority of the
Constitution might have been carried, and to what
extremities the convention might have gone, had
not the peace of Client arrested its career is mat
ter for conjecture.
I well remember the mission Of Messrs Otis,
Perkins, Smith, and think, Sullivan, to Wash
ington, deputed by that Convention to proffer
to President Madison the alternative Of a dishon-
orable peace, or dissolution OF the Union by the
secession of New England. 1t so happened that
they put up at the house where | boarded at that
time, and so far from concealing, boosted of what
tney would do if the President rejected their mod
crate modest and reasonable demands. Unforu-
nately, however, for the missionaries, they were
overtaken OH their way by the news Of peace, and
Mr.. Madison has since told me that they cour-
teously congratulated him OH that event, without
saving word about the alternative. They re-
turned home incog., and if they passed through
New York, certainly did not stop at their old quar-
tiers.
The injuries sustained by New England in con-
sequence of war, which it denounced as unjust
and UNNATURAL" were nothing compared with
those which have been practsed against the South,
or which are meditated in future, as is distinctly
avowed. Their Southern neighbors did not steal
their property at the same time they called them
men-stealers; neither did they send emlssarles
among them to incite their aboring people to IN
surrection, or midnight robbery and assassination;
neither did they PROFOUND and inculcate prlnci-
pies which directly tended to the dissolution OF
their entire frame Of social organization, and rem
dered their peace, their property, and their lives
nsecure and still less did they attemptto deprive
them of their lust share Of any advantages that
might result from contest, in which they had re-
fused TO take part except against their own coun-
try. The people oil New England unquestlonaoly
suffered some Inconvenience in their commerce
and fisheries, but made themselves amends by
priyateerng, by trading under British licences,
and smuggling by the way of Canada. This was
all they suffered; and yet for this, they resorted to
notification of laws providing for " the common
defence, and actually organized convention, the
avowed object of which was to coerce the Govern
ment into crouching at the foot Of England, by
threats Of dissolution Of the Union.
Again disunion was threatened, in the event of
the United States acquiring an empire at little more
cost than the sum appropriated to bride Texas
and again the threat was reiterated on the pros
pect Of the annexation Of that State. There is no
section of the United States so notorious for its