Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-11-11
Circular Of Hon. II. III. Bayly
(CoNHINUEb.l

trlne deliberately recognized as the true doctrine
during Mr.. Jefferson's administration. referred
in detail to the imposing circumstances under
which it was done in the speech made in the
House of Representatives on the 10th Of May,
l848. 1t is the doctrine always maintained BY
Mr. Calhoun, and which was advocated in the
address of the southern members of Congress
His celebrated resolution of 1847 declares
"That it is fundamental principle in our po-
litical creed that people, in forming a con
stitution, have the unconditional right to form
tand adopt the government which they NAV
think best calculated to secure their liberty,
prosperity and happiness and that IN coufor-
nifty thereto, no other condition is imposed by
the Federal Constitution on State, in order to
be admitted into this Union, except that its
constitution shall be republican and that the
imposition of any other by Congress would not
only be in violation of the Constitution, but in
direct conflict with the principle Oh which our
political system rests"
In his speech supporting this resolution, Mr..
Calhoun said:
"Sir, hold it to be fundamental principle of
our political system, that the people have a
right to establish what government they may
think proper for themselves; that every State
about to become member of this Union has a
right to form its own government as it pleases
and that, in order to be admitted, there is but
one qualification, and that is, that the govern
ment shall be republican"
1t will be recollected that prior to the meeting
of the southern members of Congress in 1s49, |
was requested to draft aud present the resolu-
lions which were the basis OF its action. | was
upon the committee of thirteen which reported
the Address and also upon the sub committee
of five which framed it.; and know personally
ahat no provision Of that Address was more fully
considered than the following:
"What we propose in this connection it, to
snake few remarks on what the North alleges.
enormously, 10 be the issue between US and
tthem.
$50 far from maintaining the doctrine which
4 the issue implies, we hold that the Federal Gov
eminent has no right to extend OR restrict
slavery, no more than TO establieh or abolish it,
snor has it any right whatever to distinguish be-
ttweeu the domestic institutions of one State or
section and another AS The federal repre-
Sentative of each and all the States. it is bound
Ito deal out, within the sphere of It's powers
sequal and exact Justice and favor to all. To
tact otherwise, to attempt TO discriminate be-
ttween the domestic Institutions of one and
tano:har, would he to act i'll total s9bversien of
4 tbs en-: for Whoh it establish ei--te be
{ The common protector and guardian of all
Entertaining these opinions, ask not AS the
North alleges we da, of the extension OF slave.
cry. That would make discrimination in our
4 favor unjust and anconsi itutoiial the dis
tcriInilaton they ask against us in th'ir favor.
{ 1t is not for them nor for the Federal Govern.
tment 10 determine whether our domestic iils,i-
4 uions are good or ,hal or whether it should
'be repressed or p1 Vel. 1t belongs to Us.
tand 10 us only, to decile such questions What, |
9 then, we do Insist on is, not to extend slavery,
sbut that we shall not be prohibited from emf
'grating, with our property, Into the Territories
Of the United States, because we are slave
sholders or, in other words that we shall not |
4 on that account be DISTINGUISHED OF privilege
possessed by all others. citizens and foreigners,
Awithout discrimination as TO character, pro-
& fessien OR color. All,whelher savage, harlan
( or civilized may freely enter and remain, We
Aonly being excluded"
That paragraph was inserted in the address at
my suggestion. l said to Mr.. Calhoun that
nothing was weakening ts so much at the North
as the constant assertion, which was believed |
by many, that we invoked the power of this
Government to extend slavery, s. that we ought
TO disavow it in the most emphatic terms. He
entirely agreed with me, and he drew the para
graph Just quoted. When we reported the Ad-
dress to the Southern members, that portion of it
was assailed, as they will recollect, and l de-
Tended it for the reasons had suggesteAin favor
of its insertion. The Southern members, by an
overwhelming majority, sustained it. The
Southern Address was extensively circulated in
any district, and warmly approved by vast
majority Of you. The territorial bills are in ex-
act accordance with the principles laid down in
it and if, therefore, had any doubt as to my
what regard as virtual instructions from you =
But had no doubt. | have not changed any
of the views which have formerly expressed
.on this subject, and which you have approved.
For these reasons am of the opinion that the
adoption of the measures under consideration
was right in itself. Bat let US look to the al
ternatipes which were before US. 1t was well
al orf
ut the head of whom, in the House, vas Mr..
vINroN and Mr. ScHENcx, Of Chic, opposed the
Texan boundary bill with the territorial gov
eminent for New Mexico, such as | have de-
scribed, with the purpose OF carrying through
che Texan proposal as separate measure, of de-
feating the territorial bills, and bringing in New
Mexico as State, with her constitution prohibit
ing African slavery. Their votes on the occa-
sion sufficiently establish this. The scheme of
bringing in New Mexico as State was cher
ished one of General Taylor and his party. In
speech made OH the 18th of July, copy OF
which will accompany this, ! expressed my
views fully concerning it; and viii moi TGre;
ihem here. Although the present Admirislra-
tion preferred the establishment o. territorial
governments to the admission of New Mexico
as State, yet did OF doubt that If the Texan
and New Mexican bills failed, all of its power
would have been exerted to carry the Texan
bill as separate measure. and then have admit.
ted New Mexico as State. Theirs were ele-
gnents enough which could have been combined
70 effect this purpose. Aud | have no doubt
whatever that it would have been effected in
the contingency have mentioned.
The only other alternative was the adjourn
ment of Congress about doing anything, Aud
this considered equivalent > civil war, as
few words will show.
There was co troyersy between the Admin
isration all Texas, ds to the boundary of New
Mexico Texas was raising troops to enforce
h-r iurs LECTION in Santa Fe. The President had
expressed his dteGAi uatlon TO resist it with The
army of the United States. hus civil war Was
inevitable if the dispute was not composed-a
civil war which would Loot have been confined
10 Texas, but would have extended To all the
rolihar, 4 h., &c