The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-16
From the Iparsn,on Flag Of '9S.
peoossiings Of the Mason aud Hunter
Dinner.

From the Iparsn.on Flag Of '9S.
Proceedings Of the Mason and Hunter
Dinner.
fcoNcLuDEp.
WAsHINGroN, Sept. 2Sth, 1850.
G.,,Ismen IL have had the honor to receive
vour letter of the 23d inst, inviting me to attend
a public dinner, rendered to our senators, Messrs
Hunter and Mason, by their friends in the county
of Fauauier us a ''manfestation ofther approval
of the course of those gentlemen in the Senate,
upon those great measures recently passed into a
law, in which were involved the integrity Of the
Unon, and the interests, safety and honor of the
South" Concurring, as most cordially do, in
the sentiments which have prompted this tribute
% the able and faithful senators Of Virginia, it
would afford me much pleasure TO be with you on
the occasion referred to. ! am, however, under
the necessity of returning home Immediately upon
the adjournment Of Congress, and am constrained
therefore to decline your very kind invitation I
beg you to accept my sincere acknowledge
nents for the appreciation you have been pleased
to express, Of my course IN Congress, upon the
measures alluded to. In determining upon this
course, was not unmndful of the serious respon-
slbes Of my position, and Of the duty owed
To the country and to my own conscience. so to
act, as not to leopard tine safety Of the Union,
and the peace and welfare Of the people, by in
dulging in prejudice or passion. could not how
ever, after long continued and even painful re-
fecton, bring myself to believe that the so-called
total surrender not only Of the whole country
upon which the North and the South had been d.
vded for the last two three years, but OF other
most important rights and interests also, which
before the commencement of the present session OF
Congress, had never been seriously assailed.
| came to Washington last December in the
hope that we might be able to effect satisfactory
settlement of the only sectional dispute, which was
then pending, rs my constituents and myself sup
posed ; and that was, as to the disposition To be
made Of the territory acquired from Mexico. The
Northern States had insisted that slavery should
be prohibited in the whole of this territory; while
we demanded that at least portion Of 1t should
be open to the emigration OF Southern citizens,
without injury to any Of those rights OF property
or relations Of persons, which were recognized by
their own laws. This was the controversy which
had agitated our people-whlch had been the
theme Of so much discussion during the President
ial canvass, eshd which had given rise to the reso-
lutons Of our own legislature and the legislatures
ofother Southern States. 1t was this controversy
and this alone, as it was supposed, which was re-
ferred for adjustment to the Senate Committee o!
Thirteen. The report Of that committee, presented
as the result of their labors, these propositions
first, that as to the only dispute of which we had
been apprised, the decision should be altogether
against US; it being proposed to make Stale, to
be called the State California with constitution
prohibiting slavery and to establish two territorial
governments in the residue in which it was declared
that slavery was already prohibited by a Mexican
law:-Secondly, as it was probably thought that
there ought to hare been dispute between the Uni
ted States and Texas, rs to the boundaries OF that
State, and some disappointment was perhaps
felt at the conclusion to which the two parties t.
the constoversy had already come 1T was proposed
to get up quarrel upon that subject, and to com
promise it by adding to New Mexico, a large por
ton Of the territory Of Texas, and by purchasing
the consent Of that State to the surrencer Of he
claim, with millions Of dollars of which, ofcourse
we were to pay our full share :-Thrdly, il wa
proposed, in consideration perhaps, ofthe earnes
desire OF the Aboitionsts to abolish slavery in tn.
District Of Columbia, that we should relax our op
position to their designs, and compromise with them
nv aboshing what was called the siape trade
Lastly, it was proposed that u new law shosid be
passed providing for the recovery Of fugitive
slaves, and which was apparently framed upon
the idea that if new hlndrances were thrown IN the
way of the master by legislation, he would en-
counter fewer difficulties from the opposition o
the Northern people, as they would by very muc'
pleased by such u concession to their preludlces.
This law, as it afterwards, passed, free
from its Objectionable features, but the other nlea
sures passed as have described them California
with her anti-slavery Constitution extending owe
the whole of the territory in which slavery woul
probably have been attempted to be introduced-
Utah and New Mexico, with no positive prohibit
ton Of slavery, but after repeated refus Ills to remov
the unprecedented bar Of the Mexican law;--an
the Texas bill with charge OF ten millions o
dollars upon the people, for the annexation to New
Mexico Of about 10000 square miles Of the terri
tory of that Stale.
Ii was soon evident that Southern senators and
representatives were expected not only to acqules
ce in these arrangements, but even to vote for them
and speak for them too. They did it to restore
peace and harmony No doubt tins one me
thod Of restoring peace and harmony. Where The
peace Of the country is threatened by expressed
determination to resist certain designs, harmony
will very probably be restored by willingness t.
concur in them. But if it was proper so to concur
perhaps it would have been more so, never to hav,
proclaimed disposition to resist.
But it is supposed the South Las gained some
thing (though no one can say whaD because the
AboIitionists would not votefor the offs t
Element. Yes, gentlemen the Abotonis,s have
been cruelty disappointed. Much as they have
got, they wanted siIl more. They wanted more
Of Texas than they have obtained, and they wan
ted it free Of cost. Southern liberaty has contras-
ted finely with Northern parsimony. VIZ have
consented to give for the privilege of losing what
they were not willing to pay for the opportunity Of
acquiring. Over such settlement this, let those
rejoice who can. | could not vote for it, and
cannot exult over it. II there be those among us
who deem il fit occasion for raising demonstra
tons Of satisfaction, can only envy the buoyan
and sanguihe Constitution which mistakes defea
for triumph.
have the honor to be gentlemen,
Your most obt servant,
JOHN S. MILLSON.
To R. H. Foote, Geo. w. Brent, and VIM. w
Payne, Esqrs., Committee.
House. OF REPRESENTATIVES,