The organizer., 1850-04-20

i You next alluue to the MlsslSSlpp
: Convention, and after setting out It's
resolutions. say, "these resolutions
certainly, upon no sufficient ground In
I their averments, the essential part oi
which, CONTAINED in the second reso.
luton none but political fanatics
; (and hardly they) would be found to
dispute, but family outline the pur-
/ pose. of which late discussions in and
: out of Congress hardly leave doubt,
l through the instrumentality OF the
proposed convention, to unsettle the
foundations of the Government ofthe
/ United States. They set out, indeed,
! with protesting devoted and cher
ished attachment 10 the Union, but
they beg the question of aggression by
the nOn-siaUehOlding States, in order TO
suggest the idea that they (the people
of Mississippi desire to have it only
such as they DESIRE" Here is a direct
charge of design to unsettle the
foundation of the Government. II is
utterly denied that any such purpose
was designed. 1t is denied that any
member of the Mississippi Convention
had any such object inview; and il is
asserted that every member there as
sembled is a friend TO tho Union
The great, the leading object in call
ing it was TO preserve the Union. 1t
is asserted by you that the resolutions
but family outline the purpose to un-
settle the foundations of the Govern
ment, but the picture is filled out by
the aid of a perverted Imagination
on the evidences furnished by "discus-
sions in and out of Congress-" Why
did you not Judge the Hartford Con-
vention by discussions in and out of
Congressp The Mississippi Conven-
ton also asks to be judged by its own
acts and by its own acts only.
But in the foregoing extract it is al
so asserted that the essential part of
the resolutions is contained in the se>
cond, which you say none but politi-
cal fanatics would be found to dis.
pute." This is not true; the third
resolution is far more important. 1t
denies to Congress the power to legs-
late on the subject of slavery in the /
District of Columbia, or prohibit the
slave trade between the several I
States, or TO prohibit the Introduction
of slavery in the Territories Of the .
United states" This is the very gist
OF the dispute, and yet it is passed
over as Of no importance. This is
the controvcrted question of right, as
serted on one side, and denied on the
other, out of which all the danger TO
the Union has arisen. On this ground
the Convention is charged with hav-
ing "begged the question of agrees
sion by the non -sIavehoiding States,
| wish the South to mark your Ian
guage,] for this is the immediate
cause Of quarrel. We conscientious.
" believed, and still believe the
North claimed too much; that Con {
gre5s has no power over the subject :
Of slavery in the Territories, the COM {
non property OF all the States. We
believe that the exercise OF such pow i
sr would endanger The Union aud TO \
prevent this catastrophe we met. III
ve have begged the question Of ag c
yreSsion, we shall continue in that Q
alegOry. We were sincere in our d
OF attachment 10 the 10, =
on. believe the whole South is at. G
ached to il, and no secret designs c
ire entertained against il in that a
uarter. You, aud others like YOU. n
% most 10 unscttle the foundations of "
he Government, by claiming for it h
ower which it does not possess-.by il
rying 10 build up a consolidated fab, \
io on the ruins of State sovereignty. 5,
nd ofthe constitution. And il, un- 81
1rtunately. the future historian hall Il
e compelled to deplore the ruin of e.
he Government and 10 trace its y
ause, You and your class of politi. \
ians will stand conspicuous in the m
DregrOund on the Canvass which 1
hall represent the great drama. Il
But your greatest alarm for the b,
lfety OF the Union be-. arisen from a if
ortion Of the address prepared under Ia
Ie direction Of the cOuven ION. That th
regarded BY you AZ a fall devc'ope- st
ont Of the object southern con- ca
.deracy. The language alluded to re
this "Besides. aud beyond a popu- CO
y convention Of the Southern States oh
ith the view and the hope Of arres- "
ng the course OF aggression, and, il il.
Il practicable, then to concentrate
.e South in will. understanding and ar
;tion, the convention OF Mississippi Of
-noesIs. as the nn-s-h he nhnrnaln | ID