The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-06-25
LETTER FROM THE HON. JET
FERSON DAVIS.
To tie Washington Union.

/ ask the use of your columns, 50 that the
reply and the correspondence to which it
relates, may go to the public through the
same channel / refer to the letter of the
Hon. Robert J. Walker, whose name and
fame are closely and honorably associated
with the constituency represent, and
whose opinions are of high authority
throughout our whole country
To all that is said-beautifully and forci-
blv said in favor of our constitutional Un-
io1.-to every appeal to fraternal feeling, to
islu<nal forbearance and colcession-no
heart responds more promptly aad fully than
my own. But my judgment halts at the
point where he commences the application
Of fhese patriotic sentiments to the social
sconpromise bilr' now under discussion in
the United States Senate The constitu-
ton of the United States. and the will! ofmy
constituents, are lights by which | endeav-
orsoberly and conscientiously to examine
every political subject upon which it be-
comes my duty to act. These are concen-
trated to burning brilliancy upon the ques-
ton of the equal rights of the South as of
The North to possess and enjoy the terrific
NJ belonging to the States of the Union,
and with every species of property to mi
crate to it, without any discrimination inu.
rious to the one, or favorable to the other.
Has this been enjoyed in California is it
now secured? If not, in what consists the
compromise, which, 1T is said, characterizes
the Union, and is marked on our constitu-
ton, from the appeal of franklin in favor of
conference and concession, to the close of
Madisons record of the debates Of the con-
vention which formed the constitution of
our Union?
am told that the Union is in danger,
and am called to the rescue. That snm-
mons has been long since received from 9TH
er quarters, and answered in the spirit of
sself-sacrifice, of fraternal forbearance, and
mutual concession. Time and again have
announced, that to close this conflict of
irreconcilable opinion, l was willing to ad-
here to the compromise line which, ac-
quiescence Of the States, had acquired
validity Congress could not give and lea.
wing TO each all Which price of opinion
could not yield--to divide the territory be-
tween the rival claimants, by extending the
old line of the Missouri and Texas compro-
mise to the Pacific ocean. Heretofore this
eompronise had unequivocally operated
against the South: now, for the first time
it is two sided question, and lo! ! the North
reject it, Who, then, displays uncompro-
missing, ultra, or selfish temper in this con-
tfoversy? Who, if this Union rests upon
the constitution, with all its compromises,
Limitations, and guarantees, best conduces
to its perpetuity--he who resolutely main-
tains the equality of the State and of the
rights and privileges, and immunties of all
The citizens thereof, or he who surrenders
10 the aggressive spirit ola section.
Together with other Southern Senators,
lhave sought to amend the bill, and strip
itof those features which are violatlve of
that constitutional equality. Ihave not found
any evidence of that much Landed spirit of
connpromise in the provisions of the bill,
and, if it passes without material amend
ments, can anticipate only evil as its ulti-
mate result. Under sucr convictions, and
Wien, as one of a minority, was struggling
f0fNwhat believed to be essential to the
Unon, and necessary to those whom l i'm
au&diately represent, it was with no common
rckret that saw one, so long respected and
somuch admired, throw his name into the
scale against us, coming forward as vol
ft15Ieer to support, by his potential influence,
fhe bill as tits. Nay, more: he invokes to
III aid the name of our lamented FRIEND the
lafe President of the United States. In an
svfer tothe supposition that Mr.. Polk would
have given this "compromise" his cordial
support, Twill quote from the special mes
s1ge Of that statesman in relation to the Or.
egon territorial bill.
After referring to the Missouri compro-
mise and the happy consequences whichre-
suited from it, and the renewal of the COM
promise as applied to Texas. he says:
The territory of Oregon lies far north of
thlrty-six degrees thirty minutes--the Mis-
souri, and Texas compromise line. Its
southern boundaries is the parallel of 42 de-
grees, leaving the intermediate distance to
be three hundred and thirty geographical
miles. And it is because the provisions of
this bill are not inconsistent with the laws
Of the Missouri compromise, If extended
from the Rio GraRde 20 the Pacific ocean,
that I have not felt at liberty to withhold
my sanction. Had it embraced Territories
south Of that compromise, the question pre-
sented for my consideration would have
been of far different character, and my ac-
<ion upon it must have conesponded with
my convictions.
The people Of Oregon, without authority
rom Congress, organized provisional gov
ernment. and in their fundamental law ex-
eluded slavery, Congress organized terrific
al government out Of this provisional gov.
ernment, and gave validity to their laws
aus. indirectly. through the agency of the
provisional government of Oregon, prohibit
ing slavery in that territory. This received
the executive sanction, as will be seen by
the extract above. and from other parts o
the same message, because it did not violate