The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-30

They formed il " 70 estsblish justice, inss dsm<s
tic tranquility, provide for the common defence,
promote the general welfare, and secure the
sty.' But when its objects are forgotten and dis
REGARDED, and the South u TO be dtOaJed aAd hum-
bled. and dishoaored, and ensIaced In the name OF
the Constitution, they will value Il AZ they should
s00yss than . scerfbess thing
You ask, "when the southern convention meets,
who can tell what it's members may not attempt
TO accomplish, not thought of by those who sent
them theref" II they attempt that not thought
of by their constituents, and condemned by them,
their acts will be repudiated. There will be no
final, definite, decisive action. II will be, as 1t Is
only intended to be, grand council Of advisement,
and report to their nsttuents, TO be approved
rejected, as they may deem wise. You say "these
9 are times OF excitement, and men remarkable for
wisdom, honesty, and discretion, are rarely, II
ever, conspicuous in promoting schemes OF agi-
This language would better suit the meridian of
Buffalo than that of Florida. The southern men are
agitators, in your agitators without cause,
suppose. Our fathers In rs were agitators, and
King Georges governors thought they agitated
without cause. Those were "times Of excitement"
and the King, and Parliament, and royal gov
ernors, thought the Congress Of the colonies was
"conspicuous in promoting schemes Of agitation"
and no doubt, in their opinion, not remarkable
for wisdom, honesty, and discretion" No, sir, the
excitement in the South is not without nor beyond
the cause; they have drank deep from the wells Of
our revolutionary nlbtOTyj ney nave iuueTlteu Ip-
crty, and they mean to preserve it perish in the
struggle. They have "wisdom, honesty, and dis
cretion," and the bels of northern southern men
will fall harmless at their feet or only be remem-
oppression would make you an "agitator'" should
be glad for the people of Florida TO understand
your position. Would the passage Of the Wilmot
proviso the abolition Of slavery in the District Of
Columbia, in the forts, dock yards, and arsenals,
and the prohibition of the transportation of slaves
from one slave State to anotherf Would either of
them, or all, make you an "agitator?" IL not,
would the abolition Of slavery in the States BY Com
of these wicked measures make you, as southern
man, calculate the value of the Union?
But to return to our own State, of which you
Governor and Senator. expressed the opinion,
in the beginning of this communication, that your
letter expressed the sentiments Of neither OF the
great parties of Florida. Now for the proof
Among the resolutions of our State, passed by the
legislature, of date 18th of January l849, is this
!" Rssolued That knowing no party names, or po-
htical divisions, on questions involving in their
settlement and consequences the character, pro-
perty, and lives of those whom we represent we
are ready, heart and soul, with united front, to
Join Virginia. the Carolnas, and the other south
ern States, in taking such measures for the de-
fence of our rights, and the preservation of our
selves and those we hold dear, as the highest wis
dom Of all may, whether through a southern con-
vention or otherwise, suggest and devise"
Am not authorized from the unanimous vote by
which this resolution was adopted in both branches
to ''party names or political divisions" in saying
that both Wings and Democrats in Florida are in
conflict with your opinion! You say, "n by these
resolutions it was intended to endorse this southern
convention scheme, and that the executive should
take part in securing representation, it is unfor
tunate that the legislature entirely omitted to en-
power me to this end" &c.
From this clause, although you do not say 90, the
inference is inevitable, that you think or wish TO
convey the idea that the legislature did not intend
'to endorse this southern convention scheme" 1t
is little strange that gentleman of your intelli
gence-onc who fills the executive chair of Florida
cannot comprehend" what call who may
read" "None SO blind those who will not see;
none 30 deaf az those who will not hear" Not Sen
dorse this southern convention scheme" Why,
what is the language of the resolution above rccitcd
| The legislature declares in 90 many words, their
willingness "to join Virginia, the Carolinas, and
other southern States, whether through southern
convention or otherwise" in adopting "such mea-
sures" for the defence of every thing sacred and
| suggest and devise" II this il not endorsing a
"southern convention scheme, !" what would amount
TO it, Yea, more the legislature was willing "to
| Join Virginia. the Carolinas, and other southern
States, not coldly, indifuently, rsluctantly, but
with shearf and soul" Would it have been any
stretch of executive power for you, when Virginia
and other southern States were moving in favor OF
ca southern convention" to haze advised the peo-
pie of Florida to redeem the pledge of their legsla
ture, TO elicit "the highest wisdom Of ALP II
you had approved these resolutions; If your "heart
and sou' had felt the prpetrated and contemplated
outrages upon southern rights, peace and happi-
meas, would you not have suggested the propricty
| of some plan by which these resolutions could be
carried into effect? Were the sessions of legs-
lature annual instead Of biennial, the letter adj
| dressed to you would never have been written.
| The counsel In the last paragraph of your COM
| municaton TO "the members in both halls OF Con-
gress," to the performance Of their duties, which
| will enable them 10 return TO their constituents
with a clear conscience" will receive from all
| that consideration and respect to which II is
titled from the high source from which il springs.
/ ! mean "to return with n clear conscience" and,
| however ] may differ with you, ] anticipate no
| difference with the people OF Florida as to the
| means by which "tbe honor, liberty, and welfare
4 Of our beloved State has and will be defended
/ am not willing to return and tell them, we have
been "drvcn 70 the last trench, and beat down by
brute force;" that call the barriers and defcnces OF
4 the Constitution beaten down, and the South
| deprived Of her equal rights" am not willing 10
do this, for the poor consolation that may say 10
them, that "those who brought about this state OF
things have incurred the guilt and shame, and up
| on their heads will rest the curse" No, sir; no.
! trust ] have nobler aspirations and higher pur-
poses. ] wish TO be the bearer Of no such doleful
tidings. Mo- let me tell them that the breaches in
the Constitution have been repaired; that southern
rights and State equality have at last been respect
ed at least in action by the free States, and this In
spite Of fanatical sgitstors and selfish dcmsgogues
at the North, and cold friends at the South II
otherwise, "tbe curse will be upon the North and
| still more concentrated upon the South-bccause
she has not the spirit 10 preserve her freedom.
In conclusion, sir, will initiate example OF
yours in sending this in printed form and through
| the public prints.
lam, with high respect, your felow-citizen.
JACKSON MORTON.