The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-11
Mr.. Conrad TO his late Constituents.
To The Citizens of The Second Congressional District
of lhe SiaLe Of louisiana.

To the Citizens Of The Second Congressional District
of The State Of louisiana.
FElIow-cIrlzsSs The President of the United
States having done me the honor to appoint me a
member of his Cabinet, have resigned my scat rs
your representative in Congress.
IL is proper that, in surrendering the trust whc h
you coniided 20 me, should render you an account
of the manner in which | have discharged its dU-
ties. The present session of Congress bas been
usually protracted and laborious, but am sorry 10
say that the country has derived thus far but little
benefit from its labors. The time and attention Of
Congress have been 80 completely cngrossed by the
questions growing out Of the territory acquired
from Mexico connected with the institution Of
slavery, that all other subjects have been entirely
overlooked.
Believing, Us have always DONE thst no egis-
lation could permanently introduce slavery into
this territory. have always considered these qucs-
tons (as applicable 10 it) rather OF specula-
tive than practical character, and have therefore
not fully participated in the heat and excitement
which their discussion has occasioned
Opinions ia regard to these questions may be
classified follows:
LIST There arc those who seek, through the d-
rect agency of the Federal Government, 10 intro
duce slavery into this territory.
>. Those who wish by the same means to pre-
vent this introduction.
q. Those who resist any interference with a. .
question by the Federal Government, and would
leave to the inhabitants of the country the cxcu-
sivc right to decide il.
To the latter class belong. ! have always
the States or in the Territories, should bc abso-
lutcly excluded from the halls Of the National L.
gislaturc. This is the only principle on which the
South can in all time and under all circumstances
ga ely rely. Even If ! were satisfied, therefore,
(Which ain far from bcing,) that Congress could
by interfering in the present case, introduce and
permanently establish slavery in portion Of this
territory, ] question much whether this partial
benefit would compensate the South for the sban-
Comment Of principle essential 10 its security
and 10 the repose and harmony Of the Union.
These my individual views But belonging,
as / did to a delibcrative body in which no one
had right TO expect that his own opinion should
exclusively prevail, have, therefore. always de-
clarcd my readiness 10 modify those views 80 as 10
suit those Of others, and vote for almost any
plan Of settlement (not involving manifest vio-
lstion Of principle) which held out reasonable
prospect OF success.
Farther than this could not 20. | could not
consent to adopt any particular scheme ss sine
qua | would not proclaim that the adoption
OF this or that geographical line "a measure Of
doubtful constitutionaty and still more doubtful
cxpcdiency) was the ultmatum Of the South.
The Union 10 too great blessing TO be staked on
any ssch game Of hazard, and was not commits
stoned by my constituents to play IT, ! consider,
too that the proOngaton Of this discussion IL, in it
self, calamity. IL alarms the South and agitatcs
the North; il alienatcs each from the other, and
augments the number and influence OF those who
wage an endless war against slavery, and whom
this discussion has raised 10 political importance
which, without IL, they never could have attained.
i ne dcDatcs on tlls SUBJECT nave 80 CoUptttlJ
cholcd up the channel Of legislation, that scarcely
! any thing has yet been done. Few bills Of public
character have yet passed the two Houses, and OF
many hundred bills on the private calendar, not a
dozen have yet become laws. lam afraid therefore
that the reasonable expectations If those among
you who desire some amendments TO the present
tariff law whereby il would be rendered less EN-
barrassing Co commerce, and more beneficial TO the
productive industry Of the country, are destined TO
be again disappointed.
The Committee on Commerce (of which was
mcmber) have reported bill providing, anon 9
other things, for survey Of the mouth OF the Mis-
sissppi, preparatory 10 deepening its channel; Tor
a typographical and photographed survey OF its
banks, with n view 90 the prevention Of Vycrfows,
and iOr the removal Of certain distractions in the
Bayou laiourche, which not only impairs its nav-
CATION, but may, in part, occasion the overfiows
which have lately proved 20 disastrous.
The want Of a more regular and rapid commpni-
cation then that which exists between New Or
| leans aud the Mexican ports the Gulf has Ion g
been scnsibly felt by the commercial community
| TO remedy this inconvenience, the same commit
/ tee reported bill providing for the transportation
| OF the mail in steamers between New Orleans and
/ Tampico aud Vera Cruz. II Congress should ever
again resume its appropriate functions. there ~
every reason 10 believe that this bill will become
law.
The irregulariiy Of the southern mail has long
been a source Of we'll grounded complaint 10 th,
citizens Of New Orleans. have had several inter.