The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-02


lieve 1t will be Millions for justice 10 Icrasilot
one cent for tribute to the frenzied fanatcism of the
abolitionists."
Resolved, That the bill for the abolishing of
the slave trade, as tits called, in the District of
Columbia as another feature in the plan OF Ad-
iustment, is highly objectionable concession TO
Northern fanaticisnn--uncalled for and alarming
AS constituting another step in that march Of
aggression upon the institution of slavery, which
the tranquility and safety OF the Union require
should be arrested, instead of being encouraged
and promoted. .... ,........
Resolved, therefore, That the plan of Adjust
ment now pending in the Senate of the United
States is wholly inadmissible Ii does not deserve
the name of compromise, under which captivating
title, we believe, many were inclined TO favor II,
until they became aware of its real character.
It's concessions are so manifestly one-sided, that
even its patrons have ceased TO call it n compro-
mise, if from consciousness that 1t deserved
no such appeation Ii is in reality nothing
more nor less than I" surrender +" to Northern
fanaticism, and to the increase of Northern poti-
cal power, of the entire ect Of real and fair
ct of claim, that is to say, the disposition of the
newly-acquired territory between the Northern and
Southern States. For while California, with her
unwleldy dimensions, presenting herself in such "a
questionable shape, and under such illegal aus
pices, is to be admitted just as she is, with all her
imperfectons on her head-New Mexico, though
nominay postponed in her claims TO similar
favor, stands ready, even now, (under the encour-
agement of the ill-starred energy of military
government, which although impotent for good,
seems endowed with remarkable activity and
power for purposes Of mischief,) to come into the
Union with less vast, but yet immense bounda-
res, in the wake of its predecessor; which was TO
be admitted in consideration, in part, that New
Mexico, at least, was to be put under territorial
pupilage without the "Wilmot proyso," and
with a chance for the settlement of it by slave
hold npff ha Ia1p
under which the South was to be won over to the
support of the Adjustment, being thus falsfed
even while the plan is yet pending where it origi-
mated. This startling development should, we
think, show those who have been disposed to
support the Adjustment, how hollow and decep-
tive are it's promises of benefit to the South
Resolved, That we have seen with proud salts
faction, the frmness and moderation, the calm en-
ergy and dignihed forbearance, the wise determ-
nations and able and conclusive reasoning eXhib-
tied in the proceedings, the resolutions, and the
address to their constituents, of the Nashville
Convention. They have falsiied the apprehen-
sions of the enemies and revilers of that assem-
blage and its purposes, and have vindicated the
expedency of the Convention, by the wisdom Of
its conduct. We hope and believe they will re-
ceive rich reward in seeing valuable fruits spring
from the counsels and their admonitions
Resolved, That, concurring with that Conven-
ton, we should heartily acquiesce in real fair
PROMISE in reasonable division Of the new ter
ritories, including California, between the slave
holding and non acknowledging States. This would
be, and is, in estimation, the only fair basis
of compromise, and the only one which the South
ought to be satisfied with Such AN adjustment,
we still hope, that sense of justice in the peo-
pie of the North, and their love of the Union,
which they 50 loudly profess, and we believe
sincerely entertain, will induce them to the
necessity of making.
Resolved, That we sincerely trust the time may
never come when the dreadful issue will be forced
upon the Southern States Of seeding from the
Union or Of submitting to injustice and oppres-
sion, to palbabe, dangerous, and deliberate
violations of the Constitution. But we calmly
and deliberately echo the unanimous sentiment Of
the Legislature Of Virginia, which we trust will
be found to be the sentiment OF every Southern
State, "That all territory acquired by the arms of
the United States or yielded by treaty with any for
eign power, belongs 0 the several States of this
Union their joint and common property, in
which each and all have equal rights, and that the
enactment Of any law which should directly, or
by its effects, prevent the citizens of any State
from emigrating with their property, of whatever
description, into such territory would make
discrimination unwarranted by, aud in violation
Of, the Constitution and the rights Of the States
from which such citizens emigrated, and in dero
CATION Of that perfect equality that belongs to the
several States, and would tend dir ectly to subvcrt
the Union ITSELF and
"That if in disregard of the spirit and prnci-
pies of the ace of Congress the admission of
Missouri into the Union, and of every consdera-
ton of Justice of constitutional right, and Of fra
ternal feeling, the fearful issue shall be forced
upon the country, which must result from the
adoption and attempted enforcement of the pro-
vso Excluding slavery from such territory as an
act OF the General Government, the people of
Virginia can have no difficulty in choosing be-
al, IL.
OF abject submission to aggression and outrage on
the one hand, or determined resistance on the
other, at all hazards and to the last extremity /"
And further that we hod it it to be the duty of ev
ry man in every section of the confedracy, if the
Union is dear to him, to oppose the passage Of
any law, for whatever purpose, by which terrific
ry soacquired may be subject to such restric-
ton. -
Resolrcd, That we can make no discrimination
between the passage Of an act of Congress by the
name of the "Wmot Proviso and such ac-
ton by Congress and the Executive together as
produces the same practical effect excluding the
saveholding States from all possibility Of parci-
patton in the enjoyment OF the benefits Of the
newly acquired territory effectually as if such
restriction had been directly imposed by direct
law Of Congress.
But for the fact that California by her constu-
ton excludes savery-it is believed none of
those who advocate her admission would listen
without the previous sanction Of Congress, with
out any law providing for ratio Of representa-
tion-wth TERRITORY more than twice as large
as that Of New York, and without any definite
knowledge of her actual resident pc uation.
And when there is reason to believe that the peo-
pie Of California south of sc 30 wore DESTROYS of
forming separate community and probably favor
able to the admission of the institution of slavery
therein- is little less than fraudulent evasion of
the equal tights and constitutional claims of the
Southern States, to just participation in her
ritory for the purpose Of settlement and emgra-
ton, to bring California into the Union under
proceedings of so irregular character, and car
ried through with such indecent haste--for no
other reason than that her constitution deprives
the South Of such participation.
We therefore oppose the admission Of Califor-
MIA, unless her boundaries are mcd-with fair
and just regsrd to the equal and constitutional
rights of all the States under an equitable COM
promise and adjustment.
Resolved, That we disdain to guard ourselves
against unjust imputations of disloyalty to the
Union, by indulging in eulogums upon its value
and its blessings. Great as these may be and
undoubtedly are, there are worse evils than dis
~ Il.