The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-09
Or the other nseds Of sssaestion NAV Be proposed

ar the other mode Of rssihcxticn NAV be PROPOSED
BY the Congress. Here you have the plan by
which any alteration or amendment of the Com
sttution can be made, and I ask, how long before
il is To be accomplished Look at Oregon, Calf
fornia, Utah, and New Mexico, and tell me how 3
many anti-slsvery States are 10 be carved out OF
them to aid in amending the Constitution, and CIV
ing Congress the power 20 abolish slavery m the
Statesl But IL may be said, the requisite majority
IN the House OF Representatives cannot be Obtained
for this purpose. No mistake is greater II is
inevitable Il must and will come Some of the
present slaveholding border States are preparing
for the crisis they rapidly diminishing the
number OF their slaves, in ew of the dangers that
bese them, and will WELD to the pre- sure of anti
slavery feeling. Look TO the thousands aud hus,-
dreds of thousands of foreigners annually filing
up the Northwest, all opposed to slavery look
TO the present majority IN Congress from the non
snveholding States, with the increase that the
census taking will give, aud will any reason
able man doubt that the time is "a. hand when
the non-saveholding States will have the reqnsiie
number 10 change the Constitution, so MS TO give
Congress the express power of abolishing slavery
in the S,atesi And is there any thing in The cha
racter Of the people of those States, in The history
Of the FIR e-soil or Abolition parry, that author
ICES us believe they will not exercise this power
Of amending the Constitution, the moment they
have the strength What, then, is the South 10
do? Is she 10 live on faith, on hope, without ru-
tIonal ground for either? Will she take the pro-
mise that the late of Congress will store har-
mony and perpetual amiiy and good will between
the Two sertio9s' Whoever thus reasons, deceIv,s
no one bur himself. For season there may lie
truce. IL would be strange If il were not so, for
the North has obtained ull she desires for the pre-
sent. In due season. Utah and New Mexico Il Ill
be admitted into the Unlor, wilh constitutions pr
hibitDg slavery, and then, the spirit Of NJ gressIon
will throw off all disguise, and prepare L. march
directly up 10 IT. work. What thea ~ 10 lie dom.
Are we 10 fight for our proper y, oar still hold on
to the UnIon and give il ups II becomes the
South calmly to look TO coming events fir we
cannot avoid them by shutting our eyes or seaiine
our lips, and determine with unalierabIe p,irpose
upon that line Of policy which our honor and :
curIty demand. In This connection, will venture
an additional observation: IL is well known that
in the non-sl veholdng States, that while the great
body Of the people, if not all, are opposed to sla-
very, and would " rejoice" to see il abolished in
the States, there are those who are opposed any
immediate action, With the view accomplish that
object, because they consider our right to properly
in our slaves guaranteed To us by the Federal Cor
sttution. So long, therefore, rs the Constitution
remains as 1t is, they will not aid in the abolition
of slavery in The States but this portion Of the
Northern population is prepared, the moment the
constitutional objection is removed--and they are
ready to aid in removing it--and Congress is
clothed with the power to abolish slavery in the
States, to give it their support Decided and
prompt action, therefore, by the united South at
this time, in demanding permanent settlement of
this question, will, most likely. secure the coop
Grafton of this portion of the Northern people;
consideration, IN my opinion, not 10 be entirely
disregarded whereas, by delay, we shall assur-
eddy have to encounter this additional opposition.
. Fully aware, gentlemen, of having trespassed
upon your kindness, my only apology is TO be
found IN the deep interest feel in the honor and
prosperity OF the South. believe that Congress,
by the admission OF California into the Union,
with the Wilmot Proviso contained in her consti-
tution, under the circumstances, has for every
N truf al anI
reason, made the act of the people of California in
adopting their constitution, the act of Congress-
and for which Congress is alone answera6le to
the country for all the consequences that may grow
out Of II. l regard this act more atrocious, in
sulting, and dangerous than direct application of
the provso to a territorial government; because,
in the case of territory, the act done would be
avowed, open, direct, and undisgused while in
the case OF California it is equally the of Con-
gress, and equally unjust and unconstitutional,
and yet so disguised as designedy to deceive and
mislead the people. Having given you my opin-
ION that the character of the act admitting Califr-
MIA is nothing more nor less than the Wmot
Proviso IN it's most odous form, have in conci,I-
sion to add that entertain the same opinions now
that expressed To the people of the State in let
ter addressed to Col. Jos. Day and Others on the
18th August, lS49. beg leave to refer to the
question and the answer thereto " In the event
of the passage by Congress of the Wilnot Pro-
viso, its interference with the subject Gf slavery
be adopted by the South;" '
'My answer is-first TO look to ourselves rather
than our oppressorsto take counsel together with
out distinction of party, and upon altar offer
up all recolecilons of minor and past differences,
and resolve that if neither remonstrance, reason,
nor argument will arrest the brutal fanaticism that
is sweeping over the land, threatening Il dsrIp-
ton of our social and political union, TINT we as B
shareholders, regarding the passage of the Winot
Proviso AS the prelude to the abolition of Everv
n m nj wall a,f
u settled policy on the part of the free States TO
continue to disregard the constitutional provision
for our protection in reference TO fugitive slaves,
will hencefor ward ook alone the Justice Of our
cause, tn the protection of that Providence who is
able to direct our footsteps in the midst of the "
greatest peril, To our own union of all the means,
physical and moral, to establish for ourselves, our
wives and children, freedom, equality and liberty,
or perish in the attempt Let the watchword be
the constitution as it s-,he Union us it was
drwn with all odious and unconstitutional dis
ordinations between the citizens, or the property
Of the citizens Of the different States by the Fed
era Government or that every patriot son of the
South, having first ex hausted all pacific and honor
able means TO redress his wrongs, will rally 10 his
post and resolve to die or maintain his rights
These IRE my honest feelings, and the result OF
my deliberate Judgment as To the course the slave
States should pursue in the last resort .....
These opinions were known by the people of, .
this State when elect by them TO the Office of
ness, that they have been deceived or mised by
me. And it remains for such of the Democratic
party then endorsed these sentiments by their
v ties, to reconcile their consistency with their
present opposition 10 them -''"". .t
Now, as then, would feign imrlore the whole
people of the State, to calm and impartial inves-
LEGATION of the SUI ject. Now, as then, would
commend moderation, frmness, decision Now,
as then, would warn and caution them against
such, il there lie any, rs would seek TO make
mari al of n1rH ,uici he,
remedy Tor existing evils, as their worst enemies.
Now, as then, would have the neople to confer
and counsel together, brothers of the same
household, with an eye single to their duty. to
themselves, and their country and above all
would invoke fraterna feelings among ourselves
remembering that it is but the lot OF man to err,
and that we should learn TO he indulgent to each
other for any difference Of opinion among our
selves. Entertaining the opinions do, of the
character of the aggressIons of the North on the
South, and foreseeng, as think do, the danger
with which we are encompassed on every sds,
have spoken freely aud iInreservedIy Il NAV he