The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-17

"OuiN NC iuutSu ~ Oiuoi vi Dtctititf AIM wv
that forced Union which il is sought now TO
establish and maintain by coercing sovereign
States at the point of the bayonet and redac-
ing the free spirit of the people to submission
by the terror of marching armies. BY virtue, BY
confidence, by the unpurchasable affection of the
people, by adherence TO fundamental principles.
and under the direction of the letter of compact
and Union, this republic has grown TO its present
grandeur, has illustrated the blessings laugh. TO
mankind, the advantages, of representative liner
~. As nation, it is, though yet in the fresh
ness Of youth among the first Powers of the
glsbe, and casts the shadow of its protection
over its citizens, on whatever sea or shore, aud
however far they may wander. When we see
departure in administration Of the Gov
eminent from the fundamental principles on
which this Union was founded, and by adherence
to which it has thus prospered, we have reason
to believe the , irtue and wisdom Of our fathers
have departed from the people, or that their
agents are un's orthy of those whom they repre-
sent.
We stand on the verge of an act which is to
form an era in the history of our country Now,
for the first time, about permanently to de-
stroy the balance Of power between the sections
Of the Union, by securing majority to one in
both Houses Of Congress this, too, when sec
tional spirit is rife over the land and when those
who are TO have the control in both houses of
Congress will also have the Executive power in
their hands, and by unmistakabe indications
have shown disposition to disregard that con-
stitution which made us equals in rights, privi-
leges, and immunities. When that barrier for
the protection of the minority is about to be OBJ
literated, / feel we have reached the point at
which the decline of our Government has COM
.<.l tk<.r, ~,
which have preserved it, the bonds which have
held it together, are to be broken by ruthless
majority, when the next step may lead us to the
point at which aggression will assume such
form as will require the minority to rise in forc-
BILE resistance.
Such are the momentuOus consequences
which is foreseen as possibly flowing from this
event; nor are these forebodings, in any degree
reduced or these injuries at all tempered by the
spirit in which it is done. They are rather ag-
grayated by the concurrent declarations which
are made; the SOOTHING superiority assumed to-
wards those who are your equals in every con
stitntional sense the foretaste which has been
given us ofthe arrogance of political supremacy.
II 10 This which has served to create, and which
has fully justified the extreme opposition exhibit
ed by Southern Senators. | was prepared to
GO 10 any possible limit in opposition to this
measure, because | felt and feel that the fate of
my country might depend upon if, and therefore,
rs patriot, rs one devoted to the Union, here
as readily rs elsewhere, was and am ready to
sacrafiee myselfin such cause. 1t is not there
fore, for want of WILL but for the want of power,
that have not offered further opposition than
have.
In that temper to which | have alluded, as
manifested on this occasion, we are forewarned
Of the fate of the minority when the South be-
comes such permanently in both Houses of
Congress. In that spirit of aggression and
reckless disregard of the rights of the minority
when the power is possessed to execute its
will ! believe We may see, like the handwriting
on the wall, the downfall of this Confederacy
The occasion. therefore, to my mind, is one
which may well justify all the feeling which has
been exhibited, and claims of the patriot what
ever sacrifice may be demanded For myself,
actuated by such motives, and controlled by
such opinions, ] required nothing to prompt,
nothing to justify, nothing TO direct me to the
opposition ! have made. But il ! had needed
any or all OF these they were at hand in the ex-
pressious OF popular viii, by primary meetings
aud lexi-iscve action. TIE legislptuss a m
State have Instructed me 10 resist this bill for
the admission OF California, under the circum-
stsnces OF the Ease, by all proper and honorable
means. The slime Legislature made nm appro-
pration Of money to enable the Governor to
offer proper resistance TO the Wilmot Proviso,
IL ii should be passed by Congress and approved
by the President And in this bin, as it is pro-
posed, see nothing In any essential degree diff
fering from the Wilmot Proyiso What mat
tiers it 10 me whether Congress has declared
that within certain limits of the old territory of
California slavery shall be prohibited, or whether
Congress shall give validity TO an act of an
unauthorized people within that territory. and
thus exclude us from il II there be any diff
ference, il would be in favor of the action r
Congress; because the injustice and oppress1 ID
would be the same--certainly no greater-Wih-
out having added thereto the outrage of a. bvo-
lutionary seizure OF public domain, und8 the
expectation Of finding favor BY declaring ~ nifty
against the extension Of the limits of sl a pro
perry, il would bethe fraud or usurpation T. an
agent, by which we would be deprived insf9bd
OF the seizure OF another subsequently sustained
and justified by the agent ~
But the effect OF an act of Congress would
be less permanent: II might be repealed. and
might more probably than the provision Of a
State Constitution, be reversed by the decision
Of the inhabitants Of the territory. II can bring
no soothing TO me TO say the act is that of the
Peopir. lhere Nas 10 organized permanent
body Of persons, such as constitute people
Those who acted but registered the well known
will Of the majority Of Congress on the subject
of slave property, and IL their unauthorized acts
are approved, breaihed into life by this govern
ment, it will be because they have served its pur
pose in excluding the South from equal partici-
patton in the territory.
There is great difference between the organ
lied inhabitants Of territory, political COM
munity authorized by Legislative action, and the
assemblage, however large and respectable, Of an
unorganized mass Of adyenturcrs The former
could not, without the consent Of the United
States, erect a State out Of the territory of
which they were the people, and, unauthorized,
assume TO themselves sovereign power over H.
But il this be doubtful, Il cannot he claimed
that, without any such organization. without any
evidence MS TO numbers or qualifications, an un-
organized band Of adventures can set at nougit
the sovereignty Of the United States, convert
the public domain TO their own use, and claim
therefrom the right 10 be admitted rs a State
into the Union that gold hunters or fur traders,
fishermen or trappers, may rush on 10 newly nc
quired domain, and for purposes general or spe-
cial, temporary or permasent appropriate the
territory which belongs to the United States TO
THAR ntvn axcluaiya hona6t or 20 that 80 -.