The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-06-27
CANTON MISSISSIPPI THURSDAY MORNING JUNE - 1850

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wrested from their exclusive contro
and instead Of that projection which is
the great object of an governments, and
which the Constitution Of the United
States guarantees to all the States and
institutions, the northern States and
Congress under their control. combin~
led together, to assail and destroy slave
ry in the South. The southern States
didnothing to vindicate their rights and
arrest this course Of things.-The Mex
ican war broke out; and instead Of that
patriotic cooperation of all seGtious
ofthe union, which would have taken
place in the better days of the Repnb-
lie to bring tito just and honorable
conclusion, in the very first appropri-
alton bill to carry it on, the North en-
deavored to thTustathe subject of slave
ry. Throughout the war, they kept up
the agitation; thus clearly manifesting
their determination that the general
government, in none of its operations,
internal or external, shall be exempt
from the introduction of this danger.
Gus subject. The war closed with
honor; and immense territory was .ad-
ded to the United States. Their pres
vious threats were realized: and the
non-slaveholding States Immediately
claim the right to exclude the people
of the southern States from all the ter
ritory acquired, and to appropriate it
to themselves. If this pretension a,
rose from a mere lust Of power, it
would be hard to bear the superiority
and mastery it implies. 1t would de-
grade the southern States from being
the equals of the northern States, to a
position of colonial inferlouty. But
when your exclusion is not from amere
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
uonoslaveholding States in the Union,
the pretension is seen to be as alarms
ing as it is insulting. The southern
States, in their legislatures, set forth
with greet dnanimity tho rights IN our
territories belonging to them In COM
mon with the northern States and de-
termination TO maintain them; and find
Ing in the northern States no DISPOSE
tion to abate their demands the cons
vention in which we are assembled,
has been brough ghttogether to take coun-
sci as to The course the southern States
should pursue, for the maintenance of
theirerights, liberty and honor.
Such is abrief, but imperfec: state,
ment Of past transactions: aud they
force upon as the question, in what
condition do they place the southern
Statesl Aud first, what is their con-
dition in Congressl The time was
when our representatives in Congress
were neither offered nor would they en-
dure, reproacA in your behalf. But for
many years past they have heard you
in Congress habitually required by the
most opproblious epithets on account
of the institution of slavery. lftheir
spirits are yet unbroken, they must be
chilled by sense of humiliation at the
insults they daily receive as your rep
resentatives. You are arraigned as
criminals. Slavery is dragged into
every debate, and Congress has be-
come little else, than a grand instru>
ments in the hands Of aboltiOnist to
degrade and ruin the south. Instead of
peace aud protection, aggression, and
insult on the south characterize Its
proceedings and councils. And what
is your condition with respect to your
sister Statesl Where is that respect
and comfy, which (due from all nations
toward each other) is more especially
due from States bound together IN a
confederacy and which was once disN
PLAYED IN all their intercourse In
stead of respect and sympathy--den
unciation and hostility, on account Of
your institution Of slavery, have for
years past characterized the communi-
cations addressed to you by the north
ern States. And what is your condi-
ton in the Unionl The non-slave'
holding Statds stand combined, not on
ly to wresL from you your common
but to place upon your front
the brand Of inferiority. You are not
to extend, on account Of your instltu
tions, but they are to increase and
multiply, that the shame and sin of
slavery, may by their philanthropic a.
gency, be extinguished from amongst
you. But the worst feature of your
condition il, that it is progressive.
AS low an humilating as it now may be
it is destined, ifnot arrested to "a lower
deep" Every effect is cause; and
the spirit of fanaticism brooks no delay
in the progress it creates. you were
to yield everything the north now re-
uuires-abolish slavery in the destrIct
of Columbia-submit to be legislated
nirates for conveying slaves from one