The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-07-04
LETTER FROM THE HON. JET
FERSON DAVIS.

GENTLEMEN: lnsyOur paper OF this
morning find letter which, because
of Its special reference to myself, and
still more because Of the source from
which it emanates, claims from me
notice. For this purpose lask the use of
your columns, SO that the reply and the
correspondence to which iii elates, may
go the public through the same channel.
4 refer To the letter Of the Hon. Rob
ert j. Walker whose name and fame
are cl osely and honorable associated
with the constituency | represent and
whose opinions are ofhigh authority
throughout our whole country,
To all that is said beautifully and
forcibly said in favor of our constitution
al Union Ito every appeal to frater-
nal feeling, to mutual forbearance and
condescension no heart responds more
promptly and fully than my own. But
my judgement halls at the point where
he commences the application of these
patriotic sentiments TO the social COM
promi Sc bill now under discussion in
the United States Senate. The con-
stitution of the United States, and The
will Of my constituents, are lights by
which tendeavor soberly and cOnsc len
tiously to examine every political SUBJ
iect upon which it becomes my duty to
act. These are concentrated to burn
ing brillianCy upon the question of the
equal rights Of the south as Of tho north
to possess and enjoy the territory be-
lonylng to the State of the Uion, and
with every species Of property to mi
CRATE to ii, without any discrimination
injurious to the one, oHfavorable tothe
other. Has this been enjoyed In Cal
formal is it now securedl If not, in
what consists the compromise, which,
it is said, characterizes the Union aud
is marked on our constitution, from the
: appeal of franklin, in favor of confer
ence aud concession, to the close of
Madson's record of the debates of the
! convention which formed the constitu-
: ton of our Union.
am told that the Union is in danger
and | am called to the rescue. That
summons has been long since received
from other quarters, and ans wered in
the spirit of self,s Cri6ce, of fraternal
forbearance and mutual concesslon.--
} Time and again have | announced,
that to close this conflict of irreconcll-
able opinion, | was willing to adhere
to the compromise line which, acquie.
} scence of the States, had acquired a
} validity Congress could not give, and
leaving to each all which price of
opinion could not yeld-to divide the
territory between the rival claimants,
by extending he old line of the Mis-,
sourl and Texas compromise to the
Pacific ocean. Heretofore this COM
promise had unequivocally operated
against The south: now, for the first
time, it is two sided question and 10!
: the north reject 1t. Who then. displays
uncompromising, ultra or selfish tenn
per in this CONTROVERSY Who if this
T Union rests upon the constitutions,
with all It's compromises, limitations,
and guarantees best conduces to its
perpetu ity-he who resolutely main
tains the equality of the State, and OF
the rights and privileges, and immuni-
ties of all the citizens thereof, or he
who surrenders to the aggressive sPirS
/ itOf a section.
Together with other southern Sena-
, tors | have sought to amend the bill,
and strip 1t Of those features which are
: violative ofthat constitutional equality.
f have not found any evidence of that
, much lauded spirit of compromise in
the provisions Of the bill, and if it pas
ses without material amendments, can
anticipate only evil as its ultimate re
suit Under such convictions, and
when as one Of minority, | was strug.
, Cling for what l believed to be essen
lial to the Upion, and necessary tothoSe
| whom | Immediately represent it was
} with no common regret that saw one,
} so long respected and so much admired
, throw his name into the scale against
! US coming forward as volunteer to
support, by his potential influence, the
bin asst is. Nay, more; he invokes to
his aid the name Of our lamented friend
the late President Of the United States
in answer to the suppositlon that Mr..
} Polk would have given this compro-
mise his cordial support, will quote
from the special message Of that states
man in relation TO the Oregon terrific
| rial bill.
j After referring to the Missouri com
promise and the happy consequences
which resulted from Il and the renewal
Ofthe compromise and the happy con-
sequences which resulted from it, and
the renewal Of the compromise as ap-
piled to Texas he says;
The territorv of OreUon lies far north