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

SENATE CHAMbER, maTch 20, looO.
GEsrLEmEs: AS you have published the corre-
spondence between Governor Brown and the Sena-
tors and Representative from Florida, ask that
you will publish py reply to Governor b. which is
enclosed herewith.
] am. very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JACKSON MORTON.
Editors Of the "Republic,"
Washington City. 4
wAsHIsaroS crrr, March 10, 1850.
To his excellency THOMAS BRowS,
Governor Of the State Of Florida:
Sir. Your remarkable communication Of the 22d
ultimo, In printed form, and through the puplic
prints, has been received and read with surprise,
and with such feelings as II was well calculated 70
awaken. You have italicized portions OF the letter
of the senators and Representative from Florida,
without noting II was your act, and not fhssrs.
Whatever may have been your intention, the en1ct
Of your letter has been to infct pain upon south
and the integrity of the Constitution and the Union
whilst il has given said and comfort to their ad-
versares The drift of your letter is 10 mingle the
slavery question with party politics. 70 emoolaen
private individual, your communication might fall
still born and harmless; but being the executive
head Of savehoding State, your position gives II
upon my individual responsibility. In the first
place, permit me TO say, believe your letter ex.
presses the opinion Of neither of the great parties OF
Florida, and if the time should ever come when
either party of the South can, upon this vital cues
ton, be made TO affiliate with the North, they viii be-
come impoten and as harmless as were the tories
Of the Revolution. Whatever construction you
may place upon single sentence, yet taken IN
connection with the succeeding one, utterly dis
claim the intention OF rejecting upon the President
of the United States; and fairly construed It does
motif il in these words: eve are satisfied that no
effectual or enduring check upon this aggressive
and injurious tendency in the action of the Fed
eral Government can or will be applied by any Of
the departments which administer its powers
We advance this proposition, without reference
TO the dispositions of those who now or may here
after, administer the Government, but as result
ing from the inherent character Of our political
system, which must in all its departments even
tually bend to the influence Of the dominant Sec
ton"
l, as you well know, voted for and sustained
General Taylor in the last presidential canvass with
all my humble abilities. now believe ne would
veto both the Wilmot provso and the abolition OF
slavery in the District of Columbia, and the docks,
arsenals, &C.; yet it is too manifest that this ques
ton has become sectional; that northern sentiment
has so embodied ITSELF that there ID every reason 10
believe with an ascendency 30 soon 70 be obtained
in both houses of Congress, and also in the electoral
college, there will be "no e1ectual or enduring
check upon this aggressive and injurious tendency
but that "al its departments must eventually bend
TO the influence of the dominant section, unless the
North becomes satisfied 1t Is the DISCRIMINATION OF
the South TO resist eat every hazard and 10 the last
extremity" Whenever the North becomes salts
fed Of this, there will be found enough
among its people not to hazard their peace, udn-
qiillify and interesf however regardless they may
be OF ours.
You would lull the South by the assurance tnat'
'more than nifty years ago, abolition peutions were
presented to and debated in Congress-; whist IN
in the same sentence you admit "that thirty years
ago we witnessed an agitation brought about py
this identical Wimo proriso question, In more OIL
fensive shape, which convused this Government TO
its centre" Was that agitation brought about by
southern or northern men! Are we to understand
that, in your opinion, resistance to unconstitu,
onal Legislation is cupable agitation on the part OF
those determined to vindicate their rights!
You say " from the time the slave question nrst
made its appearance In the North, when 1t was a
little cloud like a mans hand, until the present
time, when II became black cloud OF tnick dark
meas impending over this Union, and casting deep
gloom over the prospects, OF the future 1t has been
one continual CONNECT OF words between .ne Apo
litionists and agiators OF the North, and the poll
ucians OF the South. lime mas brought iortn ho
wisdom-experience has brought no knowieoge.
The northern politician, gaining confidence In this
wordy conflict, assumes a more threatening Tone
and the southern poifician, 10 keep even pace
must become more violent In his manner OF resist.
ance, and threaten SILL louder; until, In TINS war o.
words, we shall come to sredr as terribly as uncle
Toby says the army did in Flanders. And still
believe that this glorious Union will hrmly and
safely weather this storm"
In this do you not seek TO ridicule the defenders
Of southern rights in your own State, in Congress
and in the nation? Truly mayit be said that, IL
high quarters, time has brought no wisdom, e1
perience no knowledge" You admit, the little
cloud, like mans hand, has become black cloud
Of thick darkness impending over the Union anc
still you characterize it a mere " conflict o.
words between the Abotionsts and agitators OF the
North, and the politicians Of the South" You be-
lieve " that this glorious Union will firmly ano
safely weather the storm" hope 80, in spite o.
the Abolitionists OF the North and their animated
friends at the South To the South, (whatever may
be the case with soms,) " time has brought wisdom
and experience knowledge" That /" wisdom" anc
"experience" have taught her this truth-upon hei
stout heart and firm nerves she has TO rely Tor hei
defence and security.
Bot you are opposed TO Southern convention, a
IL should be intended to do more than the States
already have done by resolutions II more Is IN
tended, you consider IL a Revolutionary BODY
This is gratuitous. The southern States have
through their Legislatures, frequently and earnes
ly protested and demonstrated against the assaults
Of the northern States upon the institution OF STA
very. Their resolutions have been UNDECIDED, or
II not, have been received In an unfriendly snc
hostile spirit. The s.litte cloud like mans hand
has become '.black cloud OF thick darkness i'm
pending over this Union" This you admit. Wha
more natural than that those who are exposed Y
-. - H. l. 49, .IaEI ~.