The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-22

WEEKLY, -- go
Letter from Joha a. Campbell to his Ex-
ceIiency, III. w. Collier. sEs
SIN: IT was my purpose to have addressed
you upon my return from Nashville, relative to
the proceedings Of the Convention held at that
place. The ready, spontaneous, and almost
unanimous approval by the people of this State
of its conduct, and the rare and isolated cases
of dissent made such a course unnecessary. As
the period for the re-assembling of that body Is
approaching, Il have thought it incumbent upon
me to direct the attention Of our people TO those
measures which will be brought before it.
The principles declared by the Convention in
June last were, that the territories OF the United
States belong to the people of the several States
composing the Union as their common property;
that the citizens of the different States have
equql rights to migrate to them with their pro-
perry: That protection from the Federal Govern
ment is due to property of every description,
which may be owned by its citizens, and that no
discrimination in the degree quality OF the pro-
lection should be employed That it is the duty
of the Federal Government plainly to recognize,
and firmly to maintain these rights, and to pro-
vide for the enactment ofthe laws necessary and
proper TO give to the citizen their full benefit.
She Convention affirmed the rights Of Texas
to all the lands included within her boundaries
before her annexation to the United States and
of the people Of the save-holding States to their
property in slaves, and to exemption from all
legislation or debate in Congress, by which their
title could be impaired or affected.
These claims of the people of the several
States and their citizens were not asserted as
concessions to be derived either from the favor
or fear of Congress, but rs springing from the
80 hinh Ind fhn afa fn-
psther-and the refusal of which involved its
papable violation. v.1.,o4s@ T@a &a2t
The Convention, to manifest its sense Of the
alarming condition of the country, went beyon.
n mere declaration of rights We found the
two great sections Of the confederacy arrayedin
collision and divided in sentiment upon their re-
spective powers and relative claims and, as q
consequence Of this collision, the functionares
Of the Federal Government were hardly free
aeents in determining the articles of an adjust
ment. The Convention, therefore, rendered
terms so moderate and self-sacrifcing on the be-
half of their constituents tina. it required hard-
hood of injustice to reject them. The resolu-
ton Of the Convention is in these words: ..
"Resolred, That in the event a dominant ma
iorty shall refuse to recognize the great consti-
tutiona rights we assert, and shall continue to
deny the obligations of the Federal Government
Ii,
ton that the territories should be treated as
property, and divided between the sections of
the Union, so that the rights Of both sections be
adequately secured in their respective s ares
That we are aware that this course is open to
grave objections, but we are ready to acquiesce
in the adoption of the line OF SO deg. 80 min.
north latitude, extending to the Pacific ocean, as
an extreme concession, upon consideration OF
what is due to the stability of our institutions
NV support of this resolution was due to the
past history of our State. The Missouri Com
promise, though disapproved by the leading
Southern States, received the votes of the Sena-
tors and Representatives of Alabama. The
Texas Compromise was passed by the same
votes; and upon three or more occasions during
the tendency of the present controversy, has
the same unanimous vote been given for the
compromise rendered in this resolution. Grave
and substantial as the objections are 10 any con-
cession of constitutional rights did not doubt
the people of this State would "acquiesce" in the
settlement here proposed
The declaration of rights made by the con-
vention was comfortable to the opinions and
principles which have been Incorporated by the
public authorities in the acts of this State. In
lS4S, after protracted discussion of the rela-
ton of the Federal Government with slavery,
the General Assembly adopted a series of reso-
lutions, some Of which propose to bring to
your notice The General Assembly resolved,
SThat the territory of the United States does
not (like the territories of the States respec-
tively,) belong to a sovereignty separate from
the State of Alabama, but is the COMMON GROUND
of all the United States; each one Of which
sends Senators and Representatives, apd partici-
pates in the election of President, to constitute
the Federal Government; that this Government
has no other powers than those which are dele
gated to it by the Constitution, which, in this
rerard, authorizes Congress to dispose of and
make all needful rules and regulations respect
ing the territory or other property Of the United
States: but does not authorize IL 10 deprive, or 10
enpo,oer others 10 deprive citizen Of any Of the
said States of his property, achateper anaay be- in
any such territory, except for public use,' and
upon making Just compensation therefor that
If it be the duty of the Federal Government to
protect such property from seizure or confscaion
upo,, the ocean, which is common to all nations,
much stronger is The duty 10 afford that PRoTEc-
TON in territory which is the COMMON GROUND OF
all the States; and that any act of the said Gov
eminent to prevent citizens of slaveholding
States from going into such territory with their
slaves. or from holding them there as such, would
be destructive of the equal rights of the citizens
of such States, and subversive of the objects be-
fore recited, for which the Constitution was
formed.
"Resotped, That the State of Alabama will
act in concert and make common cause with the
other slaveholding States, for the defence in any
manner that may be necessary Of the institution
aforesaid, which is peculiar and common to them
and us.
" Resolved That as one means of protecting
the institutions of the South we will support no
man for the Presidency or Vice-Presidency who
is not opposed to the principles of the Wilmot
Proviso, and whose known political opinions do
not give assurance that he will exercise te
poncers of his office to protect and maintain the
Constitutional rights Of the Shareholders; nor will
we in this crisis support any one for the Presi-
dency or Vice-Presidency who is in favor of the
acquisition of only such territory as is not
adapted to the institution of slavery" '...
These resolutions were passed with unexam.
pied unanimity. They embodied opinions to
,yh;ch avarv nuhlic man in the State was then