The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-15
From me E,,ta,o { .4lubama) Domocrut.

SouruERS MEETING Avery large and respect
able portion of the citizens Of Jefferson county
assembled in the Court House on the 18th inst.
for the purpose Of expressing their opinions upon
the present questions which are ag'tating the
country Gen. NJ. Kelly was called to the Chair,
and Mortimer Jordan was chosen Vice President.
VIM 8. Earnest, esq, was requested TO explain
the objects of the meeting, which he did in very
clear and satisfactory manner. On his motion, a
committee Of five, consisting of DR.. 5. 3. Earle,
James McAdory, John Martin, Zach. Haygood,
and James McWilliams were appointed to pre-
sent suitable resolutions. After short retire
ment, the committee presented the following:
.tsNHEREAs, in the protracted sectional contro-
yersy, which, has for the last eight months, ex-
listed in the Halls of our National Legislature, to
the exclusion Of ordna y business of the country,
We, the people of Jefferson, could not but feel q
deep AID painful solicitude. Devoiedly attached
d 10 the Union, as formed and maintained by our
fathers; unwilling to contribute to the excitement
already pervading the country; and still cherish
ing a hope that majority of Congress would
mete out to us that justice due to kindred and
brethren: we have hitherto RETAINED from public
EXPRESSION Of our opinions. We Lelieve. that
great majority of the South have teen influenced
Iy The same motives. Z But their silence has been
8 naisconstrurd into apathy, and their devotion to
+ the Union as the sanction of aggression.
The time has arrived when we must speak out;
and regardless Of party ties unite for the protec-
tioa Of the rights and honor of the South, if we
do not desire to return TO colonial vassalage
more CALLING than our fathers resisted. The
ries of n ensures once combined in the Compro-
pro,nise bill have been separated and passed the
The Senate, and, it is reported, have passed the
House Of Representatives. The territories
ou;red by the common blood and common treas-
ures of the count y, have been wholly appropri-
ated l,y the free States; leaving not one foot Of
soil upon which Southern man with his proper
~ NAV dare to go, without molestation.. The
right to recove our fugitive saves-a right guar
,nteed4 by the Constitution, and without which
the Constitution never would have been formed
il now held out To us as a boon for which we are
expected to acquiesce in every aggression. At
tacks upon the South are not even yelled by the
sembance Of regard for the Constitution; but
senator ayows in his pl ice that che is responsible
Tn - higher power" and absolves himself for
violation Of the instrument he has sworn to sup
mort. II the California bill has passed Cnngress,
as renorted, without any curtailmeut OF her limits,
we cannot regard it as u compromise, but as a TO
tai denial Of justice to the South and 1t will
be necessary for us to look to ourselves for pro-
tec,ion from further wrongs. 1t remains for us to
NV. that we have not degenerated; and that the
rights and liberties so hardly won by our fathers
and beoueathed to us, We ready to maintain at
the hazard Of 'our lives, our fortunes, and our
sacred honor ! - ,'', g.. '''
Rssolped therefore, That in the great sectional
contest we are Of the South, and with the South
from choice and convictions Of their rights u
Resolved, That our attachment to the Union is
deem and ardent, vet a union without equality Is
but name to lulI, while it binds the chains that
Resolved, That if our rights are not respected
we shall unite with the South in such measures,
as may be necessary 70 secure our interests anu
our rights. =. .
y Resolved, That the delegates to any convention
which NAV hereafter assemble, shall be elected by
the peop of the county, after due notice.
; Resolred, That the proceedings OF this meeting,
he published IN some of the newspapers of the
neighboring towns. "'
On the submission ofthis preamble and resou
tons. Col. VIM. s. Mudd offered the following as
an amendments:
:" Pssoiped, That although we cannot consent to
the const,tuonalityo of the mode in which the con-
yention which framed the constitution Of CaiIfor-
,,a. and protest against it, dangerous prece-
dpnt: vet we cannot regard her admission as
STATE ns so valuable violation of the Constitution
of the United States of itself to justify resort
to secession, dissolution, or any revolutionary
measure. ....
Mexico shall be divided and admitted into the
IJnion| as free States, and any attempt shall be
made l,y means Of this accession of free States, To
change the Constitution Of the United States, IN
a,,v wny interfere with the institution Of slavery,
we hold il to be the duty Of the Southern people
to resis, all such attempts, at every hazard and
last extremity. g"% '',|., =. '"f"'
~ Cot Nludd supported his amendment with
warmth and ability. ."'..'S ".,T.r"1
", y Col. Earnest replied in speech of some length
= in f,yor ,,f the original resolutions. t.'a
Judge Phelan, .hy previous request Of numerous
friends, and being loudly called for by the meet
i,g. mate an exposition of his views upon the
a 1rstion in very able and explicit manner. His
views were highly gratifying and acceptable to the
meeting, and all previous differences OF sentiment
seem ed at once to agree. q" ,'.-s ,..t'' d. u.
,Cul. Mudd's amendment was laid on the table,
and the original resolutions adopted with scarce
dissenting voice. .7' -
The meeting then adjourned sine die:
- MOSES KELLY, President.
Mortimer JoRpoN, Vice President.
Fe,NcIs NJ. GRACE, c.,..:,a