The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-13

time the constitution was adopted there twelve
OF power enabled the slave States TO obtain repre-
sena,ion in Congressn addition TO their white popu-
laonfo hreskiths of all their slaves. irrespective OF
should be delivered up claim Of the party 10 whom
their services were due, any law OF any State to the con-
trary notwithstanding These are important provisions
for the savehoding States and afforded all the proec-
tion that was desired by anybody until very recent
period
and was specially intended 10 protect their great and pre-
dominant interest II was, in fact, southern coniede
racy II constitution framed under such auspices will
not protect our rights, what have we 10 expect from
convention to be assembled from majority OF free
States N
There are two modes Of am ending the constitution :
Congress- whenever two.thirds OF both houses shall
deem necessary may propose amendments Or on the
application OF the Legislature OF twothrds OF the several
States, Congress may call convention for proposing
intenis and purposes when ratified BY three fourhs OF
the several States, or by conventions IN three ourhs
thereof. ~ III. u A. s@s N Nj
pose 10 the sixteen free States toshod convention 10
amend the constitution, and the proposition should be
copied and the convention held is not clear to any obser
that the free States would have the majority in the con
yentQn and that instead OF proposing further protection to
the slave States, they would Immediately propose 10
strike from the constitution its present provisions in our
favor and thus we should only escape destruction BY
the refusal of three fouhs OF the States to rafy the
proposed amendments The proposition, therefore. to
amend the constitution in this respect il at all desirable
Our present troubles are the result of defects in
the constitutions but have arisen chiefly out OF the great
q population in the Tree States and ne
Corrupt politicians have taken advantage OF this state of
things. and brought us to the vergeof ruin.
The great difficulty have heretofore labored under
has been want OF unanimty and of action be-
tween all southern While have been discussing
party politics, the North has taken the oyster. and left the
southern wings and democrats with each an empty
shell in their hands In consequence Of this division
have been haassed and tortured in Congress and out OF
ardentIy hope that the people Of Mississippi in con-
mon with all the slavehohing States. will be able to
unite band OF brothers upon basis Of self defence
that will prevent all further encroachments upon our
In my judgment the basis agreed upon by the Mssis
sppl State convention OF October 1s49 is best calculated
to effect this object. II was there unanimously
sssoved That Congress has no power pass any law
aboshiug slavery in Inc Disct oi Columbia. pro-
hbi the slave trade between the States to prohibit the
States That we would regard the passage by Congress
the Wimot Provso' as an unjust and insulting dtscrim
political degradation, submit and which 1h
on representing the feelings and opinions of the people
The passage q The WiImot Psovi.o Or any law aboshas
slavery District OF Coumbs, by the Congress of The
eai compact as in that event. win make il the duty,
is the right, Of the savehoding take Of their
Safely and treat the States as ene-
lions"
From this II will be seen that the admission Of Cafor-
MIA az State has not been made of resistance,
Our representatives were requested to vote against it,
nothing more
This basis was agreed upon by the wings and demo.
Gratis equal numbers, in solemn conventions assembled
from all quarters of the State and the succeeding legsa
following in the wake OF the people, readopted the
esas,s snS soarowsa ss
enor They constitute therefore, all the ingredients OF
solemn law o the land. which the governor and all the
Ss 0 as Ss index Of popular senmea,
in this State, and should be firmly adhered to.
These resolutions, and others Of similar nature were
presented and read in the United States Senate and House
OF Representatives The discussion thereon long,
dent exaspeied, and terribeeven threatening dlsrup
ton OF the governmenbut finally resulted in irium
we in common with the whole South. be proud Of the
gallant bate-against fearful oddsought by our sena-
tors and representatives in that deadly struggle. II is
true they differed somewhat in their modes OF warfare
but they all pared the blows Of the enemy and thrust
Consss. passed no law abolishing slavery the Dis
rct OF Columbiano law prohibiting the slave trade be-
tween the Saiesno law prohibiting the introduction o
slavery in the Territories OF the United Stalesno Will
ces have arisen wherein We had resolved to take care Of
our own safety and treat the savehodng States
enemies to the ssvehodng States and their domestic in
stitutions
Il is thought however. by some Of our citizens that
Congress has passed other equally offensive to
the South. and that the people of Mississippi ought to
meet them with open resistance.
These offensive measures are:
1st A law to prevent the introduction Of slaves into
the District OF Columbia for sale a. merchandise.
/ I'd. The admission OF California as a State.
| 30. The territorial laws for Utah and New Mexico.
4th The proposition made to Texas 10 purchase por-
ton of tie territory for ten millions OF dollars
II will be perceived that neither OF these laws
have any direct bearing upon the State OF Mississippi
nor upon any southern Stale except Texas How we are
oder any practical resistance 10 these laws within our
own borders, the resistance do not inform us but
they very modesy tell that the mode and OF
resistance left to the people and where mississippi
makes her mark, THERE THEY WILL BE-"
They seem 10 have forgotten that Mississippi has
already made her markthat by her State convention
points Of resistance and that Congress has disturbed
single plank OF her platform Our constitutional land
marks have been avoided with care that IL highly com
pmentary the intelligence and chivalry OF people
short review Of the offered measures will show this to
4 be true
By the constitution Of the United States Congress has
power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases what
soever over the District Of Columbia subordinate, oi
course, TO the constitution In the exercise Of this power
brought into that District for sale merchandise. but
Otherwise interfering with the institution II is not dis
puted that Congress bad the power TO pass this law and
II the people OF the District desired its passage il
their duty 10 Jass IT, II s the duty OF Congress to con-
suit the wishes Of the people Of that District, and proec
4 them in the same manner that the State governments
egsate for the people OF the States Many OF the slave
holding States have similar laws with regard to slaves
The constitution OF Mississippi contains this clause
"The introduction OF slaves into this State merchan
disc for sale shall be prohibited from and after the rs
day Of May. eighteen hundred and thirty yahree."
i This provision was amended in ls45-46, and slaves
not permitted 10 be introduced There is there
fore, no cause Of offence to the South IN this measure