The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-21


Ohio AEotionsts. He has returned TO this city
impressed with profound contempt for Ohio Alb
otlonsts-says that they are "mighty mean
white folks''-decares he can raise more money
in Memphis than in all Ohio, and is working away
IN the belief that Abolitloniss " talk considerable
when it amt g'wine to cost nothing" very
sensible conclusion for a negro.
Gov. McDoNALD's REMARKs.--We are indebted
to the Nashville American for the following copy
of Gov. McDonald's remarks made to the con-
vention, on assuming the chair:
Gentlemen of the Convention circumstances
have devolyed on me the unexpected duty of pre-
siding over your deliberations. bring no expe-
rience to its performance, but, IN undertaking to
discharge it, console myself with the reflection,
that l have before me wisdom, intelligence, and
generosity, capable of aiding me in its execution,
and ready to make allowance for any errors may
| commit.
| 1t may not be unsuitable to the occasion for me
| to add, that when went hence in June last, we
departed with the ardent hope, that the claims
which we spread before the country for the States
represented by us, being just and reasonable,
would have been met by the public authorities IN
a spirit of Cancellation and peace, and that they,
by giving them effect, would have restored conf
dence between the different sections of the coun-
try Had that been the case, should now have
had the agreeable duty to perform of congratulate
Of sending forth our greetings TO men OF the East,
the North, and the West, for so happy consum-
nation, and OF proclaiming to them that we held
them, now, as brethren, not in name merely, but
in affection and truth; that we esteem them, like
ourselves, as loving justice, the public tranquility,
and the Union; and ais being disposed, equally
with ourselves, to maintain all, by sustaining the
Constitution, the only means of preserving them.
But how fatally has this pleasing hope been disap-
pointed II ow different the duty before us The
,li,f to rh
we are entitled as citizens of this great Confeder-
acy, has been disregarded, by the admission of a
Stale into the Union, embracing almost the whole
of it, with hasty, unusual, and usurped organi-
cation, excluding our property therefrom. But
this wrong, grievous it is, bears no proper ION
in the enormous iniquity mediated against the
slaveholdng States, Of changing the Constitution,
and with jurisdiction acquired in this manner, to
destroy an institution which constitutes, in prin-
cipal degree, their wealth, and bring to those
whom it's detractors pleased to call It's victims,
comforts, and happiness unknown to any other
portion of their race. 1t must not be expected
that men who have the spirit and patriotism which
ought to belong to freemen will silently contem-
plate the impending danger and not prepare to
meet it. The Constitution must be preserved un-
changed and unbroken. Every thing depends on
this. Its fruits, when faithfully administered, at
> test its value. What is it which has attracted to
our government the admiration of the world Not
: to be sure, the mere cooperation of the States
through their representatives IN matters OF gov
eminent.
The great principle of right, justice and liberty
which pervade the Constitution, and its wise pro-
visions for their wholesome administration, have
commanded this admiration. These are the attrl-
butes which drew to its adoption the several States
which form the confederacy. If we look at our
unparalleled growth in agriculture, commerce ana
manufactures, and ask the cause, it Is the effect OF
+; the Constitution. If we see the people of this
broad land, in every part Of it, worsh,pping the
Most High according to the dictates of their con
science If prosperity is to be seen every where
S and our commerce moves upon the bosom of every
a ocean if we have grown in power and strength
: commanding the respect of the most powerful ma
tions-a--all is the great work of our admirable
Constitution. If we look around and find eaci
State moving quietly in its appropriate sphere
with no erratic motions to bring into collision
with the rest any ofthem, it is the track marked
out for it by the Constitution. lfCongress, con
, fnng itself in all it's measures within the hml
prescribed for it, doing nothing unjusty, consult
ing right, sustaining from the sembance of wrong
fulfs the letter and spirit of the Constitution, it
action will truly promote the general welfare.
The Constitution, then, is the great temple q
our religious, political and individual liberty. The
sacred rights Of millions Of freemen intimately
interviewer with its structure. If it be destroyed
they must perish with il, unless they can be other
: wise preserved: The political and poIluting hand
of Il wicked fanaticism and sectional ambition have
already shaken its foundation stone. 1t is in ex-
IRENE peril. Unless it be rescued from the
> Vaccinations and violence of evil men, it must
fall. Every breeze that comes from the Moth
watts to our ears the intelligence OF fresh wrongs
and injustice of tumults and instructions against
the Constitution and the laws 1t may be that
while now speak, the LIES blood of citizens
of Georgia, crimsons the streets of Boston, and
that for the prosecution Of their rights under
that Constitution and those laws Can it be the
settled purpose of infatuated and maddened tana-
tics to drive the States of the South to the last
measure Of safety short of revolution, secession
from the Union--a measure that shou d be resored
to only in cases Of extreme necessity, and af.
ter all other measuers have failed. do not speak
thus to excite resentment, to exasperate. No. 1t
requires wisdom, camness, moderation, courage, to
meet the crisis. Those who will contemplate the
immense blessings which have flown from the
Constitution, when faithfully administered, cannot
! fail to the finger Of God in its wonderful con-
struction. Let then set to work earnestly to
preserve it, trusting in him to direct us in the
means
Shall we rest quietly seeing the approaching dis
solution and make no eXertion to avert II ana
adopt no measures Of safety if it must come? No!
MOI! Ifthe Constitution be doomed to perish, we
must nerve our arms to the rights 1t was
intended to guarantee, relying on the guidance
and aid of the Omnipotent in so just cause.
| From the Southern columbus, Ga.) Sentinel.