The southern press., 1850-09-05

"Strike till the last armed foe expires?"
1t is my ardent desire that your deliberations
may be characterised by the calmness and deli
beration which becomes so solemn and 80 i'm
portant an occasion. Every one who attends it
should awaken his affection for the Union, but
be firm in his resolve to break it into fragments,
sooner than submit to worse than Eastern op-
pres ion.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
G. w. GAYLE.
Messrs. R. c. Shorter, jr, and Others, Committee.
MOBILE, August l3, 1850.
Gentlemen: Your letter inviting me to Mass
Meeting at Montgomery, the 18th inst, held for
"the free discussion of such questions as are of
interest to the people Of the South, and at pre-
sent agitated in the Legislative councils of the
nation" has been received. At no period with
in the history Of the United States, have there
been so many questions involving the peace of
the country and the fame and Constitution of
the Government rs Mt the present. The South
ern States, for several years past, have been
vainly contending for a recognition from Con-
gress of the rights of their citizens to migrate
with their property to the territories, won by the
blood and treasure Of all the States, and held as
was undecided, and the people of the South left
in painful suspense, whether their claims to
equality would be recognized, Senators repre-
senting Southern constituencies have risen in
their places in the Senate, and threatened to use
the military arm of the Government against the
people Of those States, who might refuse to sub
init to terms or settlement which they might
deem to be ignominious and disgraceful. Before
the country has had time to recover from the
shock produced by menaces, insolent, and ifexe-
cuted, observation-disclosures rendered more
revolving as their authors were self-appointed
ministers of peace and conclation, and who de-
nounced ntcrnecne war and boodshed with
the crucifx in their hands-the Presidential
message, claiming the power to use the army
and navy of the United States, was sent in to
Congress.
1t is we'll known that General Washington
| slowly consented to those measures which re-
suited in the overthrow of the British authol hy
in the colonies. When however, the Colonial
Governors had resorted to an armed force, and
assniled, at Concord and Lexington the citizens
of Mass lchusetts, he addressed friend in these
words: "Unhappy it is to reflect that broth
ers sword has been sheathed in brothers
breast, and that the once peaceful and happy
plains of America are either to be drenchcc
with blood or inhabited by slaves Sad alter
native But can virtuous man hesitate in hi.
choice 2"
trust voice will 60 forth from your discus
sions to the authorities at Washington, that the
pursuit of such counses, at once infatuated anG
lawless, will leave to the citizens of the South
only the alternatives contained in the letter OF
Washington. trust that there is not a living
being between the Chesapeake and Rio Grande
when the alternatives are thus presented, who
will not adopt the choi.c Of the Father of his
Country.
Whenever the Federal Government, and
much more, when single department of the
Federal Government, upon such question:
question of a disputed title to property-shal
venture to employ the army and navy of the
Confederacy to subduc one of its members, it is
clear that the very foundations of the Union are
at once subverted.
In this case, the pretension is the more intol-
lerable as former administration recognized the
claims of Texas the disputed territory, and it is
but lately that the Executive Department has
thought fit to question it. One cannot but feel
that the same adverse influences that have as
sented in Congress to the denial Of the rights of
the South to equality in the Union now ope rate
upon the Executive Department to insure the
Acknowledgement of Texas
For one, should prefer to see every soldier
discharged from the service, and every ship rot
ten at the wharves, than to see either employed
upon mission so destructive of the peace of
the Union, and in violation of the Constitution
Of the United States
trust also gentlemen, that in your discus
sions, the noble, patriotic, might say, heroic
conduct Of the Senators and Representatives
of the Southern States, who have opposed the
unequal and injurious Compromise bill reported
by the committee of Thirteen, and who are now
eloquently and nobly contending for the rights
of the Southern States in the territories, will
attract your notice.
Their conduct in this great crisis places them
in the ranks Of the Hamdens, Eliotts, Pyms,
Vanes and st. Johns, of Great Britain and Pat
rick Henry, James Otis, Samuel Adams, and
the Rutledges and Gadsdens of the anti-revolu-
tionary times in this country
Their struggle in Congress may be in vain,
but while it is going on, let their hands be
strengthed and their hearts fortified by the ap-
probation of the people of those States whose
rights they are maintaining
regret that | am not able to participate with
you on the important and interesting occasion.
I am, gentlemen, with respect,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN A. CAMPBELL.
Messrs. r. C.. Shorter B. F. Noble, &c. Com