The southern press., 1850-09-30
ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE.
From the 7tras STATE Gazette.

meet again on the third Monday in November
The space occupied by the usual report of their
proceedings leaves us no opportunity at present
Ia notice at length the results of their delibero-
tons TO review the causes which contributed
60 produce them
Previous, and up to the time Of their coming
together IN pursuance Of the call of the Cover
nor, to devise the ways and meaus of preserving
the honor and interests of the State, the people
in almost every ncighborhood had in their pri-
mary assemblies, pronounced with singular una
nnity and determination, in favor Of the course
OF their Chief Magistrate, and for the most via
orous and decided measures for resisting the
attempted tlagrant usurpations and despotic pre-
tensions of the General Government. The
shameless and outrageous conduct of that Gov
ernment towards this State, was such as to in
spire the people with that hatred which men
born free and understanding the blessings of
liberty must ever entertain for arbitrary and
tvrannical power The menaces, insults and
encroachments upon our feelings and rights,
We're too palpable to be overlooked and too
grievons to be tamely endured. Hence the deep
Indignation and the warm resolution everywhere
expressed by the popular voice; and hence the
fervent hope that our Representatives would
provide the means and define the measure of
redress which these circumstances seemed so i'm
pcriously to demand
At the commencement of the session, and for
nearly three weeks thereafter, but few believed
that any alternative would arise which could
change the course of Legislation then in pro-
gress, and defeat what seemed to be 50 essen
tally necessary to proper vindication Of the
character Of the State from the degrading effects
which must follow submission to the wrongs
and Injuries about to be inflicted upon her rights
and dignity by the Government If the Union.
But nevertheless, the introduction Of a definitive
proposition into the Congress for the settlement
by purchase of the claim set up by the United
States to portion Of our territory, and its pas
sage through the Senate, had the effect to arrest
and finally to defeat the measures which had
been partially matured by the Legislature, for
carrying out to the fullest extent possible the
manifest will Of the people. The hope of OBJ
tanning satisfactory, or at least more liberal
line of boundary by the efforts of our Repre-
sentatiyes in Congress- during the passage of
the bill through the House. had it's full effect
also we doubt not, in lettering the Legislature
from what few days before they would have
deemed it among their most sacred and solemn
obligations to do. If the facts shall hereafter
prove that Congress have dealt with common
fairness and honesty towards us, and given us
the 34th instead of the 32d parallel of latitude,
We shall he content, and ready to approve the
forecast and wisdom OF the Legislature. But if,
on the other hand, the line of 80 degrees should
be adhered to, bringing with it permanent inse-
cnrity and perpetual injury to the slave interests
OF the State, rs we are convinced it would ne-
gitably do, we would choose all the ills which
might flow from open war rather than submit
To if. il crushed in such conflict and sub.
jected to the hardest terms which the con1neror
would even then dare to impose, we could not we
believe, be dismembcred in any way more dsas-
irons TO our peace and prosperity.-Ths we
t,:ink will be the popular judgment whenever il
ever, the boundary prescribed by pearce's bill is
submitted for adoption or rejection by the vote
of our people.
Before the reassembling of the Legislature il
November, any proposition emanatng from Con
gress really or ostensibly for the settlement o
the pending difficulty, will be thoroughly discus
sed and considered by the people, so that til
members of the Legislature when they agai
meet, will be prepared to act without any hes
t,ncy or doubt. If, however, the prorostio
should come to us in the form that it passed tn
Senate, requiring the assent of the Legislator
on or before the first day of December, and
should be found that that branch of our Stat
government has not the constitutional power t,
transfer the sovereignty or jurisdiction of any
portion of our territory, and consequently
direct vote of the people should be required, il
is plain that, without the Intervention of tho
Governor, the whole fabric would fall to tn,
ground, until another act, or an amendment t,
the one submitted, should be passed by Congress
1t seems to us that the friends Of the presen
proposition, if any there were in the Legislature
shonld have provided against the contingenc
which may after all prove fatal to the attain
snent Of their wishes. This might have beer
done by authorizing the Executive to take til,
sense Of the people upon the proposition in TIL,
manner of ordinary elections, by which the pop
nlar sanction or disapproval could have been hat
in season for the final action of the State gov
ernment thereon. But as the matter has beer
left, we look forward to 4 failure of the pro-
position, however favorable it might be, unless
indeed the Governor shall take it on himself
to ascertain the will of the people. If he should
fail or refuse to do so, which we do not antic
pate, we shall lose all the advantages Of prompt
action in defence of our territory, if it should
become necessary to defend it,-as the Terrific
rial government established by Congress will g,
into operation, and troops will be marched t,
sustain the usurpation against the authority an,
power Of the State. On this important point
we think there has been an omission to do wha
was required by the circumstances of the cas-,
growing out of the known hostility and aggres
sive disposition of the Fillmore government
That they will<ake advantage Of our non-actior
in this respect, ifthey have m opportunity, does
not admit of doubt And as we cannot bring
ourselves to the belief that any proposition is al
all likely to be made which the people shoult
or would accept, we cannot but regret the oms
sion to provide, contingcntly at least, for TIN
consequences of such n result. Without ques
ton, the State should have been placed in cor
dition to defend herself, whenever it should be
come necessary, against all her enemies in what
ever guise they might present themselves. Sue
a course may yet be forced upon us, in order t
preserve our rights and vindicate our honor
The probability of such an alternative was &c
tanly sufficient reason for adopting the mo-
efficient precautionary measures. But tn
has not been done, we must rely upon kir
Providence and the patriotism of the people,
secure us happy issue ont OF the gloom WIKI
still enshrouds the destiny of our State.
Ii is however, no more than justice to curse
= II, G Al,.a