The organizer., 1850-06-29

formed to carry off slaves from the
South, and to protect them by violence
from recapture. Although the Con-
stitution requires that fugitive slaves,
like fugiiives from justice. should be
rendered by the States to which they
may have fed, the legislatures of al
most every Northern State, faithless to
this treaty stipulation between the
States. passed laws designed and cal,
culated entirely TO defeat this provis.
ion Of the Constitution, without which
The Union would have never existed,
and by these laws virtually nullified
the act of 1894. passed by Congress
to aid its enforcement. Not on
tent with the agitation of slavery in
political circles, the Northern people
forced it also into the religious associ.
atoms extending over the Union, and
produced separation of the Metho>
dist and Baptist churches. The re.
suit Ofall these various merhods ofas-
sailing slavery in the Southern States,
was, that it became the grand topic of
interest and discussion in Congress
and out of Congress, and one of the
most important elements of politics in
the Union. Thus An institution be>
longing to the Southern States exclu-
sively, was wrPsted from their exclu-
Sive control; and instead of that pro-.
lection which is the great object of
all governments, aud which the Con-
stitution Of the United States guaran.
tees to all the States and their insti.
tutions, the Northern States and Con.
gress under their control, combined
together, to assail and destroy slavery
in the South. The Southern s ates
did nothing 10 vindicate their rights
and arrest this course of things. The
Mexican war broke out and instead
of that cooperation of all sections Of
the Union, which would have taken
place in the better days of the Repub>
lie, to bring it to a just and honorable
conolUSinn. in the very first appropri-
alton bill to carry it on, the North en-
deavOred to thrust the subject ofslav>
ery.-Throughout the war, they kept
up the agitation; thus clearly mani.
testing their determination that the
General Government in none of its OPP
erations, internal or external, shall
be exempted from the introduction Of
this dangerous subject. The war
closed with honor; and an immenSe
territory was added to the United
States. Their previous threats were
realized: and the non.slaveholding
States Immediately claimed the right
to exclude the people of the Southern
States from all the territory acquired,
and to appropriate it to themselves.
lf this pretention arose from mere
lust Of power, it would be hard to
hear the superiority and mastery it
implies. Il would degrade the South
ern States from being the equals Of
the Northern States, to position OF
colonial inferiority. But when your
exclusion is not from n mere lust Of
power, but is only a further step in
the progress of things, aiming at the
abolition Of Slavery in the States, by
the extension and multiplication Of
non slaveholding States in the Union,
the prrtention is seen to be as alarm
ing as il 10 insulting. The Southern
States in their Legislatures, set forth
with great unanimity the rights in our
territories belonging to them in CON-
mon with the Northern States, and de-
clared their determination TO main
tain them; and finding in the North.
prn States no disposition to abate
their demands, tie Convention in
which we are assembled, has been
brought together to take counsel as
10 the course the Southern States
should pursue, for the maintenance
Of their rights. liberty aud honor.
Such is brief but imperfect slate
ment of past transactions and they
force upon rs the question, IN what
condition do they place the Southern
Statesl And first, what is their con-
dition in Congre,si The time was
when your Representatives in Cons
grrss. were neither offered, nor would
tley endure, reproach in your behalf.
Bot for many years past. they have
heard you in Congress habtually re-
viled 5y the most opprObious ePithe's
in regard 10 the institution OF slavery.
If their spirits are yet unbroken, they
must be chilled by sense Of humiiia>
tion Al The insults they daily receive
as your Representatives. You are ar
raiqped as criminals. Slavery i drag
ed into every debate, and Congress
IL =. Fkau a Grand