Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-11-28

The ship of our State is now ploughing the sea
With high swelling hosoms we echo the voice,
For our own dearest nation forever is free!
FINAL ACTION OF THE NULLIFIERs.
Nashville Convention.
The following, as reported for the Missouri Re.
publican, is important episode in the history Of
our country. The Preamble, or Address, is cor
rected copy of the production first introduced by
Gov. CLAY, of Alabama. 1t sets forth grievances
which never would have been considered such,
had the south retained its supremacy as majority.
These gricv ances, in opinion, are more imasi-
nary than real, inasmuch as the north will never
take dishonorable advantage Of its position. The
north has always respectedthe rights ofminorites.
The pos ition of the South grows out Of the very
framework Of our government. The glory Of that
has been its republican principle-th acquiescence
in the will Of the majority. Every State that entered
the compact originally acted in full view OF this.
Every State that has since been admitted into the
Union was not only required to give its assent to
this principle, but was also constiutionally bound
to present republican Constitution as the basis of
its own government. II ii did this, the Constitu-
tion the admis of all such applicants
without the prescription of any other terms. Cali
fornia presented such Constitution, and the only
wonder was, that her request was not sooner COM
piled with. Her domestic and Sta'e-Iight pol
icy was her own concern and not ofany other State
or of the General Government Attempts were
made-some of them too Of a very questionable
character-to show that extraneous influences had
been used to incline her to exclude slaves from
her soil, but they all proved to be futile and
without any foundation. The course of these
Southern Hotspurs. then, is santi-republican-ifnot
reasonable. We glad to know that their action
is not the sentiment of the masses among their
constituency. We are glad also to see that the
Tennessee delegation are about sending out pro-
test against their action 1t is also an encouraging
feature in their proceedings that they withdrew the
proposition to meet at given time and place in a
Congress Of their own. This very indefiniteness
exhibits wavering in the carrying out Of their de-
sisns which speaks loud for Illustration Of their
scheme. The following is the result Of their Con-
vention:-
we,the delegates assembled from portion Of the
States Of this confederacy, make this exposition OF
the causes which have brought us together; and Of
the rights which the States represent entit-
| led to under the compact Of the Union. We have
amongst us two races, marked by such distinctions
of color, physical and moral qualities, as forever
forbid their living together on terms OF social
and political equality. The black race have been
| slaves from the earliest settlement OF our coun-
| try, and our relations of master and slave
| have grown up from that time. A change in the sc
! relations must end in convulsion and the en-
! tire ruin OF one or both races. When the consti
tuition adopted this relation Of master and slave
as it exists was expressly recognized and guarded
in that instrument.
1t was great and vital interest, involving ou
very existence as separate people then as we'll al
now. The States of this confederacy acceded I.
| ~ ono for sell nd Cd
States. II the slaveholding States who par
ties to that compact disregard its provisions, an
endanger our peace and existence by united am
| deliberate action, we have right as States, ther
: being common arbiter, to sccede.
The object Of those who are urging the Fedora
Government in its aggressive policy upon our do
mcstic institutions, is beyond all doubt, finally
overthrow them, and abolish the existing relatio
(, between master and slave. We feel authorized
assert this from their declarations, and fror
the history Of events IN this country for the las
few years.
To abolish slavery, or the slave trade IN the Dis
trict of Columbia to regulate the sale and transe
of slaves between the States; to exclude siaveholt
ers with their property, from the Territories; I
admit California, under the circumstances OF tt
case, we hold to he all parts Of the same system
measures, and subordinate to the end they have !
view, which is openly avowed to be the total ovei
> throw of the institution. We make no aggressiv
move. We stand upon the defensive. We invok
the spirit of the Constitution, and claim its guarar
tees. Our rights, our independence, the peace an
existence of our families, depend upon the issu.
The Federal Government has, within few year
acquired by treaty and by triumphant war. vast tel
ritories. This has been done by the counses an
the arms of all, and the benefits and rights belon
alike ard equally to al the States. The Feder
Government is but the common agent OF the State
united. and repre- scnts their conjoined sovereign,
over the subject matter granted and defined in tn
compact. The authority it exercises over all at
Quiz ed territory, must in good faith be exercise
r N,.u &nr,h tsnc To, oh il,
our citizens from settling there with the most va
liable part Of our property, is not only degrading
us as equals, but violates our highest constitution
al rights. Restrictions and prohibitions againsttf
savehodng states 1t would appear are 10 be the ~
ed and settled policy OF the Government, and thos
States that are hereafter to be admitted into u
Federal Union, from their extensive territorie
. will but confirm and increase the power OF the m
y ioritv, and he knows little of history who cann
read our destiny in the future II we fail to do OF
duty now as a free people. We have been haras
cd and insulted by those who ought to have bee
our brethren, in their constant agitation OF su
iect vital to us and the peace of our families.
= have been outraged by their gross misrepresent
tions Of our moral and sacial habits, and by Il
manner in which they have denounced us befo
the world. We have had our property enticed o
= and the means of recovery denied us by our c
: States in the Confederacy. We have been deni'
" our rights in the Territories of the Union; whi
we were entitled to as political equals under q
Constitution. Our peace has been endangered
n incenaiary appeals. The Union, instead Of bel
y considered a fraternal bond. has been used as q
f. means Of striking at our vital interests. The a
mission of California under the circumstances
the case, confirms unauthorized and rev olutio
ary seizure Of the public domain and the exclus
OF nearly half the States of the Confeaeracy from
aua rights therein; destroys the line OF s6 30,whi
was originally acqutesced in as matter of compr
mise and peace. and appropriations to the Sout
ern States Of one hundred and twenty thousa
square miles below that line, and is SO gross a
palpahc violation of the principles Of justice
equality as to shake our entire confidence in a
security to be given by that majority who arc nc
clothed with power to govern the future destiny
!" this Confederacy. The recent purchase ofterrit
: ry by Congress from Texas. as low down as thrt
two degrees on the Rio Grande, also indicates II
the boundaries Of the slaveholding States are iix
and our doom prescribed so far as it depends up
:. the will Of dominant majority, and nothing nc
: can save US from degraded destiny but the spi
of freemen who know their rights and are resolv
tornaintain them, be the consequences what tn
NAV. We have no powers that are binding up
]. the states we represent, but In order to prodn
/, system and concerted action we recommend
following resolutions, viz: