The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-03
The Messages.

We publish to-day the Messages Of the Gov
ernor Of Mississippi and the President Of the
United States. naA a. ~ o. SIS.
The Message of Governor QUITMAS is one
of the most able, dignifed, and triumphant ex-
positions Of the late measures of Congress that
We have seen. 1t also evinces high and noble
spirit, well worthy of the position he holds as
Chief Magistrate of an injured State. ,.....'...
He announces that Mississippi will not sub
mit-and proposes that unless the wrong which
has been perpetrated by the Federal Govern
ment is redressed, the State shall renounce all
political connection with the aggressors. .'''
If such had been--if such We're even yet
the sentiment of the other Southern States, or
even of majority of them-the Union would
be preserved: for justice would be done. And
if it should be destroyed, the event will be due
almost as much to Southern submission as to
Northern arrogance.
The Message of the President is, in the main,
a very clear and elegant statement of the condi-
ton of the several departments Of Federal af-
fairs. So far as any principles are set forth, it
is done in very general terms, and the measures
it recommends, except the alteration Of the tariff
are of little consequence. The doctrine of non
Intervention in the affairs Of foreign States,
though trite, is well and aptly set forth.
The announcement that the laws shall be
faithfully executed with all the power of the
Executive, is, after their recent successful def
ance in Boston, and their continued disregard In
the occupancy and waste Of the public lands in
California, piece of humor, or of irony rather
too frivolous for the gravity of such paper.
We learn, however, that some companies Of
troops and sloop-of-war have been sent to
Charleston, and presume that this part of the
Message may be designed for a Southern lati-
tude.
The Message passes over as smoothly as pos
sible the late measures of Congress, and is re-
markably unconscious of the discomfort with
which some of them have been received in both
sections Of the Union
The Message treats the recent measures as a
compromise, and regards hostility to it as exist
ing only among men Of extreme opinions.
lIeTc are SOul6 tuuL pC
missed. Such things rs honor equality and
right, can neither be divided nor abated. A
Constitution cannot be compromised-for it is
itself compromise-and to compromise CON-
promise is to violate and destroy it.
But the late measures were not 4 compro-
mise. A compromise implies the concurrence
of both parties in the controversy. The late
pretended compromise has received no such
concurrence The admission of California,
which is regarded on the one hand as the most
clearly right and on the other as the most foully
wrong, and is considered by both as the most
important measure of all, was carried by the I'M
divided vote Of one party against almost the I'M
divided vote of the other. It was naked ex-
,ercise Of power-of the power of numbers. Nor
was there any equivalent or any concession
whatever given for it. The right to recapture
fugitives was not even questioned, could not be
questioned, and therefore was not in dispute.
1t could not therefore, be regarded as conces-
aon to the South, or Us the price Of any thing
wruny from the South. The only one of the
measures that bore the aspect even of COM
promise was the purchase from Texas, and
the Utah territorial bills. The South asserted
the common right Of coonizing Utah with the
North, and this the North disputed. And to
secure this right, majority Of Southern mem
Nbers in the House at late hour, and after pro-
testing to the contrary, voted with Northern
members to transfer territorial right of Texas
to New Mexico, and thereby interposing free
soil State between the South and Utah, pra cti-
cally surrendered at the instant it was bought,
and cxtravagantly paid for the concession OF the
right to enter Utah.
The late measures were no compromise-and
ifahey were, it has been practically violated al
reaaiy, in the only thing that is even pretended
to be consideration to the South, for the power,
the domain, the gold, the commerce, the honor,
The equality which have been wrung from her
weakness and infatuation. All that is left to
her of the mighty interest, she lately had in COLI
troversy, is--the abstract declaration of dse Ex-
ccutive, that the laws shall be faithfully executed
the pity of her friends--the derision of her
enemies.
Since writing the above we find the following
! in the Charleston Mercury:
THE TRoops.-It is said that the troops landed
here the other day, are on their way to Texas,
whether to help the Texans, or the New Mex
jeans, or the Camanches, we are not informed.
BY the way, a telegraphic despatch in Northern
paper states that the rumor of this movement
ON Charleston" produced great excitement in
Savannah We are not so eXcitable here and
Mr.. Fillmore might send the whole of his dis
possible ferces without raising much anxiety.
give find in the WoodsiAs (Miss) Repud-
liran, the following letter to Senator DAVIS,
with two whole newspaper columns of sigma
aures
To Hon. Jefferson Davis.
DEAR SLR:-Wc, the undersigned citizens of
Wilkinson, hold it to be our duty under the cir
cnmstances, as we'll as it is our highest pleasure,
to assure You of the great appreciation and adj
mration with (which your course in the recent
struggle between Northern might and Southern
vieit, has been viewed by US.