Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-03-23
0pssoh Of Mr.. Douglas L. Rivers,
OF noNCDRDtA.

Resolutions. to send Detegates 10 The
Nosho,ue Convention.
/ Mn. CHAtamar-lt Is seldom | tres
pass On the time of this House. and | shall
do so on this occasion only for n brief
space. The importance If this subject
ad'nonisbes me it should be approached
with caution, hit al the same time, dis.
e'issed with all that Freedom compatible
with dignifed sobtiety and temperance
Tor 1t Is a subject abons which no one ran
tail to feel. and ietl dreply, coming bpne
as IL does nj dnet ~ The hea fts and hearth.
STONES Ut every gentleman IN The Honse.
Had 1t been in my power | should have
been era'iied To have given my views IN
these resolutions at sp,ne length but up-
expected and severe indisposilion has ds4
pt'ved me Of this privilege and afforded
the an opportunity 10 give only d s,ncine,
exposition Of my position on this question.
As q representative II this State. II has
been my 0eslre 10 discharge the obligations
devolying on me. alier mature reflection,
in q spirit Of c%almness, candot. and ip1e.
Ppndehce: and IN earnest wish 10 meet
the es'gpncies Of the case.
Had | known that this subject wonld
have engaged the attention If this Jpuis.
lature. II would have been my pride and
pr asnre 10 have obtained aD ptpfe ssion If
the wishes and opinions of those iy whose
gene,pns eonfi ,nce aud Partially | have
beer honored with Il sen, IN this l,pdy.
But as no such opportunity had been oi-
fred me, am ready to decIats, that 7yhi .
| All unwilling To shrink ffotn any proper
responsibility. | ain nevertheless opposed
to all rash aud incopsilp rate acts. So far
rs Louisiana Is concerned, ! would have
her ready al The proper time. and Al III
times, 10 stand on the defensive. where az.
z e'sion is threatened ; prompt as She has
l,een, aud always will be. 10 assert her
rights and redress her wrongs in that eli
%valro'is spirit Of daring and %intrppidity
Which has always characterized her.
The Union 10 the is too sacred a bonn
TO be rasbly 'ampprrd with. BIT when |
attn convinced that .,,t,t Northern brethren
arp determined 10 sample IN our sarrpd
rights and ptiviIrgss-that neither contes.
sion nor the plea Jings Of An outrgged
constitution MI our part can appease. nor
lis strung compromises ran restrain them
III Their reckless war tpon Southern fights
and Southern institutions. then | shall be
as ready 10 advise as | shall be pronp, to
enforce ertreme measures.
But, b. fore any ore thinks Of. disnDiop,
mas ~, 4, mill IN, eIt IL, ff,..I ,,I....,, e.a. -t...IJ
he able to point ~ snine oeett net commit.
ted-io som reof,n not i,naginaty or threat.
enrd violation If filth, rs n ,easoS for
ibis e"nrsS, Ikis isf,peessary to o ornre
respect for ourselves as well as the SYM
patty aud counlenanre oi indspe ndent
n%u'iats.
! admit thai the Soutl, is not without
gooI ground Of complaint in grievances
sustained al the ha IDS of iadipiduol States,
urged ON by n mad and reckless spirit Of ia.
naticism. Yes, | cannot bot believe the
compromises Of The Constitution. 10 where
as yet seriously tunchsd upon by Cons
gress. are q greater and more stlre pro-
%ieciion than any powers that nigh, he
obtained by us As al deprndenttSoutEsrt
cont detacy. II IL for Ibis nai,se that I
would cling to the Union. No, with ITS
principles violatsd-bui with it, strong
defences pnbrekeu as left u. by the FL.
theirs Of the Revolution.
feel ! Should BE- behind M one in resist
ing oppression but | Wsuld not idly or
ihorgltlessly even advocate acts and lnea-
sures, or irfeyerently sl11nde 10 them, that
would involve the horrors rH civil Val or The
desituGiiotf Of this great nation. II we have
suffered t8fongs, ress1n tesSbes that is. better
to bsar the ills that be, with a hope Of repair
ing them. than rush to those we know not Of
Tne Constitution IT these great states is al
aehieremant Of wisdom. forneatance. and con-
ce sion, unsurpss ed in The anp#ls Of the
void. 1t is coDsscrated e. our affections BY
%felnjnls, ences ST. sacred and 81 holy as IL b d
us "a well beware with whFr itte,,t we touch
hat ,saored hing"
TO + rtify ourselves against fl,e 'ontingen-
cies That the tanatitism Of The North may
make extreme action necesss Y. lot as ~ The
interim prepare to BET otne irdepe ndent Of the
Northern Slaies. by fostering and encourae.
ing every species Of bsna indus ~ this
will en.bts lis ~ 6 ,tnpete with them wblls
In The Union, and prrpaie US to become indie
pendent of them if the eeDfedstafy were
destroyed. Dsnunciatory speeches will not
affect The North 30 much rs A d~sterninati n
to manufacture our own shoes, htts, and
clothing. The threat If .yd,saniou will not
alarm her patriotism half so much as the loss
Of our own pat ronage will affect her pockets |
the only seat of her sensibiIity.
hope gentlemen will moi understand by
these remarks that ! am opposed to the NASH
vile Convention. SO far irons ii, ~ matters |
now stand, / shall rost cheeTfully vote for
the resolutions invitiag the people to send
delegates for | am unwilling to appear to do |
any thing that looks like opposition 10 Sou
thern interests-and | will do so without
pausing 10 inquire into the utility of such a
convention. | hope Louisiana will on this
subject present an unbroken, undivided front,
in favor Of such a measure, and thereby bring
all her moral influence, now so important ut
This crisis, to favor d calm but firm assertion
Of Southern rights In that body. ] will vote
for IL also1bscause | would not appear to be
disrespocfful 10 the suggestions Of the present,
and Just retired Chief Magistrate. have
ureat confidence In Gen. Walker~his age
his firm patriotism-his cool jndgment-bis
confidence in his strength Of ihs Union, so
beautifully d~lspIayed'in bis Inaugural. com-
me md bis views and his recommendation on
this subiect TO the respectful consideration
of this House.
These assurances and these hopes make
me feel satisfied that Louisiana will be repre-
scented in that Convention worthy Of her right
conservative position. She will present a finn
front to Northern fanaticism, and, 1T the same
tine, give tone to c%oupsels dedicated to Sou
thern rlghts-conslitutIonsl rights, and rights
belonging TO the whole Of this glorious con.