The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-12-06
CORRESPONDENCE.

The following are the letters addressed by
Senators Cass, Clay and Downes, to the Union
Committee at jackson, to which we referred in
our last number.
DETROIT, Nov. 1st, 1850.
GENTLEMEE:--While thanking you for the
invitation ouhave been good enough to give me,
to attend the Mass Meeting to be held at Jackson
by the friends Of the Union, am yet obliged to
decline it. cannot be with you upon that oc-
casion, though no one feels deeper interest in
the result ofits proceedings than do, nor is any
one more anxious than am, that its voice should
speak loudly and firmly FOR t!Iat Union, which
has given us all people can desire; which was
the work of our Fathers, and has been crowned
by the blessings of our Fathers God. How
strange is the spectacle we now exhibit to the
world Possessed Of a greater measure oil free-
dom than ever before fell to the lot OF nation,
enjoying unexampled public and private prosper
ity through the vast region, committed by Pro-
vidence to our government, and with "a future
where we have nothing to fear but cur own crimes
and foiies and the just judgment OF God, still
society is stirred from its foundation, the ele-
ments of trouble are every where in operation,
and men begin TO talk as lightly of dividing this
Confederation, as they talk of dividing county
Oh township in those portions of the country
where settlements are rapidly extending And
in two States ofthe Union, representative bodies
legally constituted, are about 10 convene, with
the avowed purpose of deciding npon PROPOSE
tions to be submitted to the people for the aban-
donment Of this Confederacy, and for the estab-
lishment of another. For others might we'll
say, aor who can tell what new combinations
will arise, shonld this work of destruetlan 60 on
or into how many fragments, hostile N feelings
and interests, this glorious Unionm be broken!
He, who undertakes to manage the political ~
ture, and to designate the boundaries OF lndepen'
dent communities, which are TO arise out oil this
contest, would be more wisely employed IN build
| ing wall of sand to resist the waves OF the
ocean, when the tempest is the hercest. There
| is but one thing certain in such future, and
that is as certain as anything In the past, the
States TO be established would be always rivals
often enemies, and we may read their history II
! the history of the world from the earliest periGd
down to tie very moment We are setting a
naugbt the fearful lessons of experience.
And what is all this for? What sectiona
grievance exists to awaken sectional ielings ant
action? The great question, which agitated US
as to the power of Congress to act upon the sub
ieet of slavery in the new acquisitions. has beer
settled by a refusal to exercise it. Non inter
| vention has takentheplace OF action, and crcum
stances independent Of the General Government
the will ofthe people to be affected BY the meas
ure and the operation of natural causes, hav'
settled and are settling this question in way I
give no sectional offence and in conformity wit
the Fundamentally principles of our institutions
which recognize the right of every political com
munity to act for themselves upon all subject
of internal and domestic concerns, This mod
Of adjustment removes all cause of difficulty, an
furnishes no local or party triumph. The tn
umph is one Of principle and not Of politics; o
fensiye to none, and should be acceptable TO al
That it is not, is deeply to be deplored, an
North and South, it is but too evident, that
great struggle is before US, and that ifthose VIII
vet love the Constitution Of our country, DO NJ
rally in its support, it may soon become llk
many other lessons of history, q warning to
ter times of the facility with which the blessing
| Of self government are sacrificed ln periods