The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-06-25
LETTER FROM THE HON. JET
FERSON DAVIS.
To the Washings0n Union.

10 He WaShtHgt0n Un1O7s.
GENTLEMEN: In your paper of this NOR
ming find letter which, because of il
special reference to myself, aud still more be
cause ofthe source from which it enianates
claims from me notice. For this purpose
ask the use of your columns, so that the
reply and the correspondence to which il
relates, may go to the public through the
same channel. | refer to the letter Of the
Hon. Robert j. Walker, whose name and
fame, are closely and honorabIy associated
with the constituency l represent and
whose opinions are Of high authority
throughout our whole country.
To all that is said-beautifully and forci-
bly, said in favor of our constitutional Un-
ion-to every appeal TO fraternal feeling, to
mutual forbearance and concession-no
heart responds more promptly and fully than
my own. But my judgment halts at the
point where he commences the application
OF these patriotic sentiments to the social
compromise bill" now under discussion in
the United States Senate. The constittt.
ton OF the United States, and the will Of my
constituents, are lights by which | eiideav.
or soberly and conscientiousy to examine
every politica! subject upon which it be-
comes my duty to act These are concen-
trated to burning brilliancy upon the ques-
ton OF the equal rights Of the South as of
the North to possess and enjoy the terrific,
ry belonging to the States of the Union,
and with every species of property to mi
CRATE to it, without any discrimination inlu-
rlous to the one, or favorable to the other.
Has this been enjoyed in California is it
now secured If not, in what consists the
compromise, which, it is said, characterizes
the Union, and is marked on our constitu-
ton, from the appeal of franklin in favor of
conference and concession, to the close of
Madison's record Of the debates of the con- |
vention which formed the constitution of |
our Union!
| am told that the Union is in danger,
and am called to the rescue. That sum-
mons has been long since received from 9TH
er quarters, and answered in the spirit of
self-sacrifice, of fraternal forbearance, and
mutual concession. Time and again have
announced, that to close this conflict of
irreconcilable opinion, was willing to adj
here to the compromise line which, ac-
lquiescence of the States, had acquired a
salidity Congress could not give. and lea.
wing to each all which price of opinion
conld not yield-to divide the territory be-
tween the rival claimants, by extending the
old line of the Missouri and Texas compro-
mise to the Pacific ocean Heretofore this
compromise had unequivocally operated
against the South: now, fog the first time
it is two sided question, and To- the North
reject it. Who, then, displays uncompro-
missing, ultra, or selfish temper in this con-
troversy? Who, if this Union rests upon
the constitution, with all its compromises,
limitations, and guarantees, best conduces
to its perpetuity--he who resolutely main-
tains the equality of the State, and of the
rights and privileges, and immunities of all
the citizens thereof, or he who surrenders
to the aggressive spirit of a section.
Together with other Southern Senators,
/ have sought to amend the BILL and strip
it of those features which are violative of
that constitutional equality. Ihave not found
any evidence Of that much lauded spirit of
compromise in the provisions of the bill, /
and, if it passes without material amend
ments, can anticipate only evil as its ulti-
mate result. Under such convictions, and
when. as one of minority, was struggling
for what believed to be essential to the
Union, and necessary to those whom i'm !
mediately represent it was with no common s
regret that saw one, so long respected and
so much admired, throw his name into the
scale against us, coming forward as vols
unteer to support, by his potential influence,
the bill as it is. Nay, more: he invokes to
his aid the name of our lamented friend, the
late President of the United States. In an I
swer to the supposition that Mr. Polk would {
have given this compromise" his cordial ,
support, Twill quote from the special mes Z
sage Of that statesman in relation to the Or \
egon territorial bill. Is
After referring to the Missouri compro- {
mise and the happy consequences which re- i
promise as applied to Texas, he says: II
The territory Of Oregon lies far north of n
'hirty-six degrees thirty minutes-the Mis- \
;ouri and Texas compromise line. Its If
'outhern boundaries is the parallel of 42 de-
yrees, leaving the intermediate distance to a
be three hundred and thirty geographical d
miles. And it is because the provisions of S
his bill are not inconsistent with the laws f
1f the Missouri compromise, if extended t
Ifom the Rio Grande to the Pacific ocean, b
hat have not felt at liberty to withhold O
my sanction. Had it embraced Territories t
south Of that compromise, the question pre-. b
'ented for my consideration would have I
been of a far different character, and my ac- c
lion upon it must have corresponded with 1
my convictions. Ii
The people Of Oregon, without authority 4
rom Congress, organized a provisional gov a
smmeni. and in their fundamental law ex- Ii
slnded slavery, Congress organized terrific b
tiaI governments on Of this provisional gov 4
eminent, and gave validity TO their laws, II
has, indirectly, through the agency of the la
provisional government Of Oregon, prohibit Is
ING slavery in that territory This received IL
he executive sanction. as viii be seen BY II
be extract above, and from other parts Of ia
he same message, because it did not violate Ia
he Missouri and Texas compromise. II