The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-12-05
30 Lsrr.ln,ura "a 1890 Toete.

the TeSotullOnS sOl tue Legislature F
at the late extra Session, approving the
course Of Senator Davis and our members
10 the House Of Representatives, and CEN
surfing that Of Senator Foote. The first
resolution was adopted, in the lower branch
of the Legislature by yeas so, nays So;
and the second was adopted BY yeas As,
nays IS. In the Senate, they were adopt
ed by yeas 81 nays 9.
IN these resolutions, the Legislature Of
Mississippi 10 which Gen. FooIe owes
his place in the United States Senate, has
put the seal OF its disapprobation on the
course, which he thought proper 10 pursue
at the last session Of Congress. Not only
so; but this body Of men, fresh from their
constituents, and having every iaducement
TO reflect the will Of the people, has SOL
emmy declared that il "does not consider
the interests Of Mississippi, committed TO
his hands, safe 10 his keeping" And this
decision has been pronounced on his con-
duct, NOT understanding the most active and
extraordinary cxerions Of himself and
friends to produce a different result.
Never was a more righteous verdict pro-
nouuced on the conduct oG a public func-
%tionary. He had himself, in conjunction
with the other members of the Mississippi
delegation in Congress, by a letter adj
dressed 10 the Gov. on the 21st Of January
last. asked the Legislature for instructions.
In this communication, ne and his associ.
ates. said: "We regard the proposition 10
admit California as a State, under all the
circumstances OF her application, as an at
temptto adopt the 'WiImot Proyiso' in an
other FORM" The State of Mississippi, at
the October Convention 1849, composed OF
both political parties, had declared with
perfect unanimity that Congress had no
constitutional power to ingralt the "Wll-
mot Provison upon a territorial bill and
49, E=rL"H.
she had solemnly asserted that such IN
authorized act of legislation would justify
resistance at all hazards and TO the las
extremity. Gen, Foote not only knew this
10 be the sentiment of the State he wa
representing; but he had, time and again
proclaimed ii as his own opinion, both up
on the stump aud 10 The Senate chamber
Ia accordance with the request, contain
ed in the letter to the Governor, the sub
iect matter OF It was brought before tn
Legislature last Winter; and that body al
most unanimously instructed our delega
ton in Congress 10 resist the admission o
California "by all honorable and constitu
tional means" 1t was further declared
that its admission, under The circumstan
ces, would "efrect indirectly the cherished
object Of the ahoIitionists, which could no
be accomplished by direct Legislation, with
out a plain aud palpable violation OF tn
Constitution" and that it "would be an &C
of fraud and oppression on the people ofth'
slaveholdlng States"
Such was the response Of the LegisIa
ture to the call made by Gen. Foole for in
structions /; and how did the senator de
port hi self in regard 10 this clearly ex
messed will OF his constituents lnstea'
Of yielding a ready obedience, and opposing
the admission of California BY "alkhonor
able and constitutional means;" instead q
repeating, in the Senate, the language
his letter to Governor Quitman, that
would be "the Wilmot Proviso in anothe
form Y instead Of proelaiming, as a repre-
/, sentative of Mississippi, thatit would b
"an act Of fraud and oppression on the pei
pie Of the sIaveholding Slates"-instea
Of doing all this OF any Of it, he suddenI
~fancies that he can secure "a national leI
utation" and immortaiize himself by "a
. h6aorable and patriotic schemeq ddjas
ment."
And what was this Honorable and pa
: riotic scheme Of adjustment, for whic
e Gen. Foote labored with such assldui
in the Senate, and which was lo be q y
nacea for all the ills Of the body politics
1t may be stated'in a few plain words, al
. ~nIoiner propositions: fh
. 1st. 1t introduced California into Il
Union with "the Wilmut Proviso ia q
other iormy' and thereby prevented Il
people Of The South from emigrating to
:. with their property. t' gas
= I'd. II established territorial governmeD
. for Utah and New Mexico, but refused
repeal the Mexican laws, which,accordir
to the opinion Of the dominant Mort
would keep slavery out OF lheirlimits.
" Sd. II dismtmbered Texas and tbl
!. cut of a large portion Of a slaveholdir
!. State, to be converted to "~lreesoil pu