The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-20
SOUTHERN PRESS.
" ASHINGTON CITY.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1850.
Georgia Convention.

presented to this body by committee of 80,
and which, it seems have been adopted by
vote of 237 to %. The report is skilful and
plausible. 1t was case THAT required the ut
most amount of skill and plausbity. The
great body of the members were elected on
forgone conclusion, and it is significant, that it
was found expedient to present yet another
apology, or defence for the conclusion.
1t is true that the Report does not propose
at this time to reopen the exhausted argument
upon the merits of these questions, severally or
collectively" But the report does reopen the
argument 1t re opens the argument by its
statement of the questions. And all reasoners
know the aptitude of advocates to interpolate
the argument in the statemcnt-an aptitude
which becomes almost necessity where the
cause is bad.
Thus the report begins:
The people of Geogia, responding to pro-
clamatoH-of their Chief Magistrate, have met in
convention for the immediate purpose Of DELHI
Grating upon n law enacted by the Congress of
the United States, entitled An act for the ad-
mission of California into the Union" Were
ton of that act, It's duty would be easily dis
charged But more extended survey of con-
pressioual legislation and of our Federal posi-
ton, is not only allowable, but necessary to n
lust conclusion. We regard the act under con-
sideraton as one in series of measures, each
capable Of an Independent existence, but all di-
rectly or indirectly affecting the institution of
slavery; each deriving from that circumstance
its cardinal interest and ALL in crisis of fearful
import, connected in Il scheme of pacific adjust
ment.
This is equivalent to confession that the act
admitting California, could not stand on its own
merits. or could not stand 50 veH on its own
merits Since, as the convention was called by
law to consider that act alone, if it had been
justfable or excusable, there would have been
10 use in ranging over the others to find argu-
ments to support it.
But on what is the assumption founded, that
the admission of California was some in a series
of measures" "a connected scheme of pacific
adjustment! On nothing but the fact that the
slavery question was connected with all, and the
attempt of the Committee of Thirteen to con-
meet theul-an attempt which failed The Sc
ries of meas -res--the Compromise-was rejected
in the Senate, and was not even presented in the
House The separate votes on the separate
measures, showed only seventeen members of
the Senate in favor of the series, and in the
House the proportion was still less. This Is
fatal to the assumption that there was com
promise A compromise binds the faith Of the
anal
mise not only binds their conduct in law whilst
the law stands, but pledges them to preserve
the law as it stands
Now, how are the States or eren their re-
on the statute book, against which they voted,
or for which they did not vote? The Fugitive
slave law is the principal alledged consideration
for the enormous sacrifice of Southern rights
made by the other bills. 1t was adopted by the
unanimous vote Of the South, and n very few
struggling Northern votes-whole States in both
branches voting against it. What obligation
express or implied, have they incurred By The late
proceedings Of Congress to resist the repeal OF
that law? None whatever. T!ey acknowledge
none-and never will.
But " 18th what propriety can it be said that Il
law for the protection of an unquestioned and
unquestionable right, is consideration, by way
of compromise, for the surrender even of the
most doubtful or insignificant right, much less
the right to power, to wealth, to commerce =
The idea is absurd. Hence there was not either
in fact or form any compromise made at the last
session of Congress- either on the slavery ques-
ton or the territorial question. And the at
tempt to assume it, only betrays the want Of an
argument instead of the existence of one
The report proceeds:
Two of the acts in the series had for their
object the organization of territorial govern
ments for portions of the vast domain recently
acquired from Mexico. With them the slavery
question became connected by two opposite
movcments-the one proposing to prohibit, the
other to establish slavery in those territories by
express enactment the advocates OF these en-
IRENE measures being alike reluctant to leave
the result dependent upon the future adjudica-
ton of the courts. A distinct phase of the sub
ject was presented by the application Of the peo-
pie inhabitng one Of those territories to be adj
United into the Union as n State, under con-
sitution formed by themselves, in which, for
themselves, they had assumed the settlement Of
the slavery question. The acquisition of this
territory, moreover, had involved the Govern
ment Of the United States in controversy cf
boundary, pre-. existing between Mexico and the
State of Texas, with which also the slavery
question was unhappily complicated. Thus far,
it will be perceived, no one of the pending
measures was wantonly or gratui .ously obtruded
upon the National Legislature for the purpose
of agitation. They resulted inevitably from an.
tecedent measures, in which both the North and
the South were participant
Here is another attempt to co vert statement
into argument-to substitute for premises the
inference which was indispensable to justify the
convention in what it had determined to do
There never was any attempt made by " the adj
yocates of extreme measures" "to establish sla-
rery' in the territories by express enactment
At the time when these alleged attempts were
,n,do Inst session to establish slavery in the ter