The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-09
MrELEpGsvuIE, GA, Oct. 8, 1850.

MTELEDGEvuLE, GA, Oct. 8, 1850.
Gentlemen: The answer to your letter of Goth
MT has been unavoidably delayed longer than
could have desired. In the demand shall make
upon Your time, would be plcaced not to tran
scend the limits prescribed by the magnitude of
ne subject to which yon have invited my atten-
ton. In comforting with any portion of my tel-
lowcitizens upon the agitating questions OF the
day, in which their honor and interest are iden-
lcal with my own, you have guarantee that
viii speak with the frankness and freedom be.
coming the occasion.
In the performance Of this obligation to you,
| should have been pleased to have omitted
much that regard to truth would not allow me
/" suppress.
IL my opinions shall be found of interest or
profit to you, shall be rewarded for the labor
in the preparation ifnot, shall still have the
qualification to know, that if it was your privi-
l'ge TO ask my opinions upon these grave ques-
lions, it was mine to give them. If | correctly
comprehend your wishes, it is not merely ne
gatiye or affirmative answer to the questions in
The form they are proposed you desire, but Il
general view of the grounds of difference be-
tween the South and the North, ard the motives
by which the people of the two sections are gov
erned, which are producing such widespread
discontent at this time in the former. To do
Ills fairly, feel myself constrained to notice
what regard as important facts, having direct
hearing upon the subject, and which. / am free
'o admit, | would most gladly avoid if | felt N.Y.
SET at liberty to do so but regard it due to
truth, to clear and distinct understanding Of
the character and fixed purposes of the people
with whom we have to contend, to bring them in
review, though sensible shall thereby draw
Gown upon myself the denunciatons Of those
who can see no virtue or patriotism in warning
the South Of its danger, and urging upon its
people to take wise and efficient steps to resist
i, BE this as it may, with heart truly South
cyr, devotion to her social organization, her
laws, customs and habits, and never yet having
ne, ertcd her standard, knowingly, or Quailed be-
Heath the frowns of the threatening hosts that
lave been arrayed against her equal rights in
tails confederacv should feel that had made a
poor requital for the many honrrs conferred up
on me by the people of my native State, if, in
this the hour of her extremity, there was any
danger too great for me to hazard to preserve
he, constitutional rights and equality in this
rontederacy. O.. --....,.
You have directed my attention mainly to two
questions .....
ist. "Does the act of the last Legislature au-
thorizing call ola Convention, admit of n rea-
4onable doubt as to my duty upon the admission
81 California alone"
california, virtually enact the Wimot Proviso
or can Congress constiutionally do that ind-
r"ctly which il cannot do directly?"
In my answer, will reverse the order in
itch they are stated, promising, however, that
~ .oubt did exist in my own mind that by the
art OF the Legislature, it was made my impera-
1--WE duty to call Convention of the people in
tEc event of the admission into the Union of
ifornia with her present constitution. | have
fore remarked, that it would be my duty to
ADVERT TO some unwelcome facts Illustrative of
~" character of the people of the slave and non
sla,cholding States before / entered upon n
.'ply TO your last question, and which, in my
Judgment, have n most important and intimate
connection with the subject under consideration.
In The ordinary transactions of human affairs, as
'Tci! rs the Investigations which are Of daily oc-
rurrence, involving private rights, experience
has shown that there are often apparently re-
mote and disconnected circumstances, without |
the hid of which neither the truth could be at
lined nor justice awarded and so, in the pre-
60, most unhappy difficulty between the two
sections of the Union, it becomes necessary to
VI nine into the relative conduct Of the two
-""'io ions towards each other as sections of the
saHc contederacy; as, also, what acts Of oppres.
ION or Injustice have been perpetrated by the
l~oDe or their Representatives in Congress bv |
TO one against the other. This will readily
"@r:lr TO you as obviously proper, from the con-
Ill ration that the very superstructure of this
fv'terative Government of ours, this glorious
I"ion, of which you have heard something of
ai. from strange lips, rests solely upon public |
crnfdence and the affection of The people.
Diycst it of the pillars of strength, and this Gov
- ment with the Union, is like the edifce
huiit upon sand You may prop it up by your
"l'isted soldiery, and tho shifting evolutons of
Var sliding politicians for season, but the
goat and immutabc principles of justice and
quality are too deeply implanted in every true
Southern bosom, whether native or adopted, for
the terror of the one or the devices of the other
ar the combined power of both, to stand long
oeiore the whitening indignation OF an outraged
people. Ii this be true, let rs see whetle. the
Federal Government is, at this day, administered
upon the principles of equality and justice which
entities it to the confidence and affection Of the
people; and if it is not, would feign call upon
all of every section of the Union, and especially
in the South, to rally upon these great and fun
damental principles Of governmental equality
between all the parts, without which there can
be no good Government, in order to preserve
and save q the Union" that glorious Union of
our fathers, which rested upon equality of pri-
vieges, equality of rights, and equality of bur-
thens. T aa
And may not add, without giving offence to
ny true Georgian, that they who daily in this
conflict and fold their arms, or shut their eyes,
when the veiy pillars of the Government are I'M
dermining, are, themselves, the worst enemies to
the Union. The Union" is not senseless
word for party hacks or heartless politicians to
sport with. As applied to our Government it
means that vital element which diffuses itself
throughout the Constitution in the form of
equality and Justice That instrument embraces
the great principles OF individual rights in the
associated form Of Government It's beauty, its
perfection and its strength consist mainly il, the
tass that the citizen " deprived, or rather re-