The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-17
(yERBATIM.l
COLUMBUS GA Oct 10th 1850

VERBATIM "a.|..s
COLUMBUS GA Oct 10th 1850
MEssRs EDITORS My attention was but
few hours since called to the publication in tn,
. Southern Press" Of the proceedings of a meet
ing of the citizens of Eufaula Ala on the l0tl
last month wherein they gave me "Jesse'
for taking the aNational Era" and for writing
what they are pleased to denominate Seditioul
and incendiary letter, Their own proceeding
show that in consequence of those proceedings
am driven from my home and am now poo
Exile dependant upon the cold charities of 1
Heartless word" .@.'. "g 80.
Now have relatives and friends in my native
State (Va) and else where in this "Gloriou.
Union" who | suppose will be as much sup
prised when they see or hear of these charges
as was myself when heard of them, and
know they grately surprised me my object il
to make known why took the National Err;
why wrote the letter so much complained o.
by Said meeting, and get you to publish sale
letter, that my relatives and friends, and the
publick generally may the better judge of my
motives in doing what did. 49,. .....
About the time the "Southern Press" was tt
be established one or two of my near neigh
bors (ire eaters of course) said they were going
to take the "Southern Press" which under
stood was to be an Ultra Southern paper, Sc
partly to Stump the Boys, but more particularly
that we might read both sides relative to the
desputed questions of the day, and thereby be
inabled to come to more just conclusions,
thought would take the National Era, which
paper had seen spoken of by the Washington
Ietter-writers as being the best reading paper
published at Washington City of course had
to write to the editor and forward the subscrip
ton price of the paper, in expressing what
did in said letter, had no seditious, incendiary
or abolition motives, nor do think fair con.
struction of them authorize such an interpreta.
ton and was it not for the present excitement
of the times, they would not or could not have
been considered either new or Singular, but ]
had no idea of the letter being published, never
expected to hear of it again, therefor was no.
ways particular as to what I wrote, / am no
Scholar, had no idea of writing letters to be pub
ished, and am truly sorry Gas my neighbors
seem to be so mnch agrieved about it) that
ever took the paper or wrote the letter, but as
to my motive, 1 fater myself that no one who
is we'll acquainted with me can believe for one
moment, that intended harm to my country or
community in any way.
AS to my political creed-I have acted with
the Wing party, voted for Taylor & Fillmore
and for Mr. Hiard against Phew. / have from
the first been in favour of Mr.. Clay's compro-
misses Gas they are called) and the Union as it is,
do not suppose it would be best to Dissolve
the Union for existing causes.
| will write to the Editor Of the National
Era to furnish you with the original or copy
of the letter above alluded to, which hope you
will do me the justice to publish together with
this letter, and you will much oblige your obi
Seyt
ELISHA BELTS
To the Editors of the Southern Press
Washington City DC
In accordance with the request in this letter,
we publish the one he wrote to the editors of
the Era, and published in that paper of the 29th
August last, as follows:
ANTI.sLAvERYn VIEWS IN SLAVE STATES.
Near Eutaula, Barbour Co., Alabama,
July II, 1850.
DEAR SIR Il have received the National
Era of the 18th instant, and after carefully en-
aiming its contents like it well, and therefore
enclose to you two dollars, agreeable to its
terms of subscription for one year. Having been
born and raised (being now in the 62d year OF
my age) amidst slavery, certainly have had
fair opportunity to judge of the effect of the
system on society in this country. There is no
doubt but it has tendency to vitiate and demon
alize those who own them, and to degrade those
who do not. | am well pleased with the Hon.
Charles Durkees speech on the California ques-
ton; and what he said respecting slavery was
well said But he did not attempt to portray
the evils this unjust institution produces on and
among the fee white population of the slave
holding States, nor do suppose he could do it
for the want of information. If some of the
Southern members in Congress were disposed
to do it, they could tell all about it but if they
were to do it, they would Immediately be de-
nounced as traitors to their country by lTge
majority of the slaveholders-not all. thank
God that have yet reason to hope that there
are some owners of slaves whose sensibilities
are not So blunted and benumed by what we are
told are our highest interests, as to admire the
institution of slavery; nevertheless we submit
to the laws and customs of the land we live in,
not knowing how to rid ourselves of the evil
But the introduction Of slavery into the newly
acquired territories is quite another question:
It seems to me that the people who inhabit
these territories are altogether right in endeavor-
ing to exclude the evil, and that every Christian,
yea, every good man, yea, every one who be-
leves in equality and justice, ought to sanction
and encourage these praiseworthy efforts.
And to give Mr.. Belts entire defence, we
publish at the request of the National Era, what
that paper yesterday published from him, al
though he has not requested us to publish it.
The Era says:
Lately, we have received from him commu-
nication, in which he says
"ln the first place, am opposed to extreme
measures, both North and South. was, and
am still, in favor of Clay's Compromise. think
the ultras, both North and South, have done
Messrs. Clay, Cass, and Webster, and those who
acted with them, great injustice. .,
consider the course Of the Compromise or
peace party in Congress, as being patriotic and
for whose exertions every patriot
and lover Of this Union should feel profoundly
grateful. ."."." ,-s. r.-
am Wing. l supported the election Of
Taylor and Fillmore, and supporter Mr.: Hill
lard against Pew. / am warmly in favor of pre-
serving our present United States Constitution
and Government am utterly opposed to the