The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-27


The following letter from this distinguished
gentleman was not originally intended for pub
LEGATION, but the gentlemen to whom it was
written, requested and obtaiued his consent that
it should be- We extract it from the Augusta
Republic. 1t breathes the spirit of the patriot
statesman.
ATHENS, August 3, 1850.
Drs. Henry Freeman and p. "A. White tp
GENTLEMES;-I trust you will not consider
me assuming when | announce to you, and
through YOU, to our fellow-citizens, who were
associated with you at Gainesville, on the add
ult for the purpose of ratifying the proceedings
OF the Nashville Convention, that the principles,
the spirit, and the conclusions of your meeting,
as set forth in your proceedings, have my I'M
qualified concurrence Your resolutions carry
on their face, the spontaneous, honest fearless,
and patriotic feelings Of men devoted to liberty
aud equal constitutional rights--of men who
will never become the dupes OF corrupt press,
or aspirants for Office.
The Southern Banner Of this place accuses
me Of emerging from the tomb of my years of
solitude, to take the lead in meetings designed
to sustain Southern Rights, and intimates that
am fond Of being 10 the lead Be assured my
friends, retirement and social friendship bound
the extent of my personal ambition. | am
ready 10 follow tho lead Of my Franklin friends,
such as ratified the proceedings of your meet
ing.
Our hearts are in the right place on the side
Of the tax payers, the burthen bearers, our
homes, our wives and children. M
President seekers and other aspirants for high
offices, may make compromises 10 unite sectional
party views, and secure TO themselves the gov
eminent OF the country-but we are not cattle
to be thus sold in the market. Under Mr. Claws
compromise neither he himself, nor any other
sensible man believes that single slavehoding
State will ever come into the Union out Of the
whole of our immense acquisitions from Mexico.
But for the Abolition, Free-so excitement, this
territory, as was the practice in the better days
of our Republic, would have been framed into
territorial governments of suitable size for
States, and the larger portion of it, doubt not,
would have become slave States. For, notwith-
standing all the mystical doctrines now advanced
upon the subject of non-intervention, consider
it clearly the duty of Congress to open al the
territories Of the Union, to the citizens of the
whole Union, and to protect them in their pro-
perty, (slaves MS well as any Other property
while these territories are under the control Of
Congress. When the territories are ripe for
admission as States, then, and not till then, the
people who inhabit these territories, have a
right to claim the doctrine of non intervention,
and in forming their State constitution to admit
or prohibit slavery as they may think proper.
TO sustain the opinion have expressed, that
the larger portion of our Mexican territory would
have become slave States but for Northern ag-
gresslon, it is only necessary to state the fact,
that labor in California is worth from five to ten
times as much rs it is in Georgia. At this time,
a negro man would hire in California for at least
$500 per year. Property naturally seeks the
place where it is in highest demand
The attempts of the Southern Banner to in
timidate myself and others by detraction, from
exercising the common right of citizens to form
and express our opinions on subjects of COM
mon and prevailing interest to ourselves and
the country, must plead my apology for this in
tlusion.
have no disposition to lead-Ilove quetude,
but can never condescend to be the mere eats
paw, the man Friday, of any political trickster-
or combination of mere otlice-seekers | am
not to be tied down to party names, or party pur-
poses, unless the principles for which contend
are respected and adhered to. Gentlemen, love
the Union, would lay down my life to preserve
it, in its constitutional form. But remember,
nothing can save the Union but a strict adher-
ence to the Constitution. Our rights have been
invaded--our entreaties have been disregarded
We are at the door OF degradation. In life and
death, am identified with Georgia Her fate
will be my fate. But my single heart says, ask
for nothing but what is right, submit to nothing
wrong.
81 Very truly yours,
WILSON LUNfpKIN.
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