The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-20

uVOu the siu oi opposing tuctt VtcWcy uuu hnoes
who resist them are now being called fanatics
themselves. Who does moi know that no man cal
be elected President who will avow his sentiment,
in opposition TO them' And | mean by Abolition
lists, all those who vote with them, and aid them II
accomplishing their object. Who does not know
that both the last candidates published such letters
as were used by their friends THE North in favor
Of abolition, and at the South against il thought
| saw it at the time, and refused to espouse the
cause Of either. thank my God that did.
would support no southern man who would not
pledge himself TO carry out the principles of the
Constitution in favor of slavery, no north
ern man who would publish such platform as
would better suit, in my Judgment, Delphan
oracle in olden times, than an American states
man. ! have said to my friends for the last sew
eral years, that the object Of the North was to
abolish slavery in the entire South; and still be-
lieve il, even though il be at the sacrifice OF the
life blood of her white population. l have said
that the object was TO cast around the slave States
AN abolition girdle, and then carry on regular
progression, systematic and certain an object
could be accomplished. But did not suppose the
plan would be so soon disclosed on this floor as it
has been, by gentlemen during this session. The
programme already is committed to type. have
in my possession three several pats and pam
phlets, sent me during the winter, in which this
whole thing is regularly marked out; the transition
States are clearly deIineated, in which the slaves
are TO be put on equality with the whites, or sold
further South; and the little State from which
come is the first on the East at which rest is to
be made, or the general massacre to commence in
this unhallowed work, in which the black race are
to light the midnight torch of assassination, and
battle themselves in the blood of the men, the
women, and babes of the whites. As to their
liberation and equality with the whites of the
South, it is a purpose for which God never de-
signed them, and a condition they never have at
tanned a single spot of the habitable globe; and
until the North change their hypocrisy into works,
for one will not cirque this subject with them.
But the grave question presents itself now to
fourteen sovereign States Of this Confederacy,
equal in intelligence, in their rights, and the means
Of MISREPRESENTATION and defence-with any people
on earh,--whelher, in the face of all these facts,
they are prepared to submit to such degradation,
cravenly allow it to be cast on their postertyi
Will they allow chain to be'forged around them,
out Of territory OF which they are entitled to
their proportion, to be contracted like the crushings
of the anaconda, until their shall be forgotteni
invoke Heaven and the spirits of their ancestors
to forbid it,
The vast and valuable territory now to be
settled was obtained by our common blood and
common treasure In its acqusition--l would
draw no invdous distinctions, though do not
conceive it immodest in me, to saythe little State
from whence come bore her equal part, and her
citizens feel they are entitled to their proportion.
l VIII nOt uWeIl upon the mOuVeS, OF WtdDS, ny
which il was obtained. IL was done by the people
of the American States, and it is immateria to
me, as think il should be to every patriot, who
were or were not most active in obtaining 1t. Ii
is obtained; it is ours; il cost us not only blood,
but $50, 900 900 of our common treasure. Who
shall enjoy itpossesson and advantages? This is
the matter we have to settle. Have any of the
S,ates or their agents here, the right to exclude
the others? IL they have, l am sure l have yet
n ri n N la 4.
or honesty, by which joint owners can be deprived
Of their fair proportion. There can be no reason,
unless this Government is to be converted into
machine to be controlled by fanaticsm or sckly
religious sentiment; and even then have been
educated in school freigion, by which brothers
should be robbed OF their rights by brothers.
But there are people occupying this territory,
and they demand government for the safety OF
their property and lives. And at this point false
issue, in character with the whole conduct of the
North, is sedulously attempted to be kept before
the world. 1t is said that the South have demand
ed legislative action to extend slavery over these
territories, and that the North simply deny them
that right. This is not the truth; and every honest
man who knows the history of this whole contro-
versy, knows il. The North are the actors in
lhia whole issue, and the South but resist their
efforts 1t is very well known that near the close
Of the last session Of Congress every southern
member on this floor voted to give California q
j
every northern man, except very few whose
hearts were on the side Of justice, voted to defeat
that measure, unless the bill should exclude the
South from every foot Of the territory; and that
too, notwithstanding about 81 900 900, necessary
to carry out the purpose of the Government, were
suspended upon il. Then the South agreed that
the people of the Territory required government
better than that of the pistol and bowle-knife.
Then we agreed that the citizens of the United
States, wherever they were, deserved our protec-
ton and should not be neglected; but the North
rallied to prevent II; and at one time during the
last memorable night of the session, when there
seemed to be some prospect of the passage Of the
bill, witnessed the first practical operation of the
yeas and nays, on this floor, at the hands of the
North; and those brothers, now 80 much beloved
in Cafornia-blood of our blood and flesh of ouI
hesh-were left under the law Of the bowieknife
and revolver, horrible at this time to the seIis
bilitics of northern gentlemen.
The inhabitants--I beg pardon-the floating
population, of every color and nation, who hap
pened in California, have, since that time, clothed
themselves in the habments Of sovereignty, and
demand admission one of the States of this
Confederacy, upon equal terms with the others
and the very men who refused and prevented a
government for her, as have already sad are 10
man her most jealous advocates; and it is anna
zing to witness the zeal of those gentlemen to
complish their purpose and consummate meas
no parallel; but the reason is manifest and cannot
be disguised. A great fraud had been practiced
in the election Of President, and to avoid the con-
sequences Of the Wimot proviso, upon the strength
and influence of party, this measure was devised
to suit the Abolitionists whilst the South is to be
insuited and degraded, and the Administration
sustained upon the popular clamor of the sovereign
rights Of the people. aa.
But will this Government give its sanction to
such usurpaton' The question cannot be too
often asked, Whence came the sovereignty to
these people' Did it exist with the Mexicans,
Indians, and negroes, who lived upon our land
Did the officers Of the army possess il in their
own rghti Could The President, without the
authority from Congress, confer it upon them 7
Did those who went there to speculate or dig gold
carry it with them Those who remained on the
SOIL after the treaty, could only be citizens of the
United States, after the expiration of five years,
by the law of Congress. The officers of the army
were the mere agents of the people of the United
States, and could not as such become s,vereigns
against the rights Of the States. The President
has no right to confer sovereignty on any one;
nor can it be said, with truth, that mere visitors
in the country have the right to make constitu-
lion for it, and claim domain equal in extent to
one-half of Europe, to the exclusion Of the rights
ic =. a IN