The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-13
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
SPEECH OF
HONORABLE PIERRE SoULE

Am. Cr.a, Democratic Mass Meeting, al the
~ Touis Ball Room, in The city 0f NeW Or
leans. SAN day Euen'ng, Nor. 30M, 1850.
FELLOW CITIZENS II come not to court your
.,rlouse, to ask your pardon, or 10 entreat your
;n5cment in my favor, for any opinion | may
have uttered, or vote may have given on the
moment0us questions that arose in the memor
able debate which occupied nearly the whole
tine of the late session OF Congress The OPT
Mons then uttered, the votes then gave, are
before the country. If they have failed to meet
yoLr appreciation, do not know that ought to
deprvcate your celisurc by appealing to your
magnanimity and forgiveness, IN lam determined
to stand or to fall by them. (G:eat applause)
feel conscious that | have but done what your
interests, your dignity, your honor required OF
me; and shall not degrade myself and suppl
cate your indulgence, by dis'vowal of the
part have acted or n disclaimer Of the motives
which impelled me to its adoption. tmc not
here rs an humble suppliant, pleading pardon
for past SINS and rendering acquiescence in OPT
Mons, and submission to wrongs which my
heart repudiates md my mind revolts against.
come as Il freeman in the midst Of freeInen, to
speak ont my sentiments despite the prejudces
or opposition, they may excite, and fearless of
all the consequences they may produce.
The great contest which had so fearfully agi-
tated the country these twelve months past, is
said to have been adjusted by the measures
Gently passed by Congress. Let us examine the
truth Of this pretenson. But to d. 50 effect
ually, We must go back little farther.
Let us recall to mind what has occurred but
few months ago, during the last Presidential
campaign. 1t was then proclaimed by our po-
litcul opponents that the South would not be
safe, in the event of the election of Gen. Cass,
and that Gen Taylor alone could protect us in
the full enjoyment Of our share in the acquisi
tons Of the Mexican war. These acquisitions
were obtained by the joint valor and sacrifices
of the North and South-tWo-thirds of the cost
would fall upon the South, and therefore il was
thea warmly commended by all parties, that we
should take care that the rights of the South on
this new territory should be fully secured. In
this contest both parties struggled warmly for
the supremacy, in avowals of devotion to the
rights Of the South, and when the contest was
determined, tho principles upon which the South
-tood were definitely settled
1t was ut this time, when public opinion was
unanimous in this State in regard to the rights
Of the South to a participation in the benefits Of
the Mexican acquisitions, that | was honored
with tho Office of Senator Of this State Then
there were no doubts or divisions in the South.
A bold front was then presented and a single
voice demanded an equal share Ct the results OF
equal efforts and sacrifices The South then
had no hesitation in declaring that she would
stand by her constitutional rights, her honor,
and her dignity. (Cheers.) Under these i'm
Pressions OF public opinion, | commenced my
career in the late session of Congress, not doubt
ing but that was faithfully carrying out til,
views Of my constituents. The two great Vues
tions which speedily came up before Congress
for settlement, We're the Territorial and Fug
tive slave bills. To solve all the difficulties
growing out of them scheme of compromise
was proposed.
1t was then first discovered by us of the
South, that it was actually necessary for US IL
ask for participation in the acqui>i ions OF the
Mexican war, IN for the execution of the con
sttutional provision in regard TO rcclAiming
fugitive slaves. We had to petition for on
lghts,-to sue for the protection of interests
guaranteed by the Constitution! How hav
these matters been settled! 1t is said that Il"
plan OF their adjustment is so wise and com
plete, that TO hesitate before submission is trr
son. The Compromise, rs it is styled, branchc
out into five distinct measures. They are
First the admission Of California; Second, Il,
formation of territorial government, for Uta
and New Mexico; Third, the Fugitive sIav
bill Fourth, the abolition o. the slave trade j.
the District Of Columbia; md Fifth, the deter
mination of the boundary Of Texas
Let us glance at these several measures
war--a war, the great demerit of which con
sisted in the fact that it was conducted will
singular ability and energy by Democratic
Administr 'tion,-a war opposed by the fanatic
OF the North as mot netar Gus and un usi
And yet, fellow citizens, when that war had ter
minated in adding vastly to the territory an(
wealth If the Union, these fanatics claimed TIN
lions share Of the spos; and what is worse
they succeeded in maintain that claim. With
out regarding the great sacrifices and noble OK
ertiDns Of the South, on the many batte-Geld>
which rendered that war so glorious, let us con.
template the share Of pecuniary sacrifices which
we are called on to make in that bel alt. The
cost Of the war was seventy millions of dollars
We bound ourselves in the treaty TO pay Mexico
fifteen Millions and FIVE millions to our own
misunderstanding in ALL which the people of the
Union have to pay in the next ten years. on nc
count of the Mexican war, ninety millions Out
Of this, according to the ratio of taxation by the
tariff adopted 10y the General Government, the
South will have to pay twothirds, or sixty mil
lions. And to mercantile community the
statement of these facts and figures ought not
to be without their just weight.
But, tellow-citizens, their demands stop not
here. The exhaustion of our pockets, of our
means, does not safe the ambition of our oppres-
sors; if it ended here, we might congratulate
ourstl Ives II we were only called on to pay
two thirds,-the whole amount, or double, three
four, or a hundred-fold Of the expenses of this
war, should counsel submission, rather thar
endanger the Integrity of this Union, the har
mony of our people, or the peace of the country
] would say, submit, submit if such abnegatior
does not involve also the surrender of you
rights as freemen, of your honor rs men, and o
your equality in this confederacy of sovcreigns
Will counsel you to submit to that last in
dignity! No never. Loud cheers
Under this so-called compromise, California
with boundaries extended over one hundred an,
ffty-three thousand square niles of tcrritor,
not one-tenth of which had ever been seen b
her inhabitants, was admitted into the Unio
with the Wimot Proviso embodied in her cor
stltution. On what grounds were these errc
neous pretensions based To answcrthis qucs
ton, let US consult the friends, not the oppc
nents Of the compromise. 1t was with tn
North, California sided it was to The demand
of that section her people hearkened, and it wa
by their permission and power that she wa
brought into the Union, because of the claus