The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-16


The following letter of the Hon. A., B. Moore,
of Perry county, lale Speaker Of the House Of
Representatives, of the Alabama Legislature, will
be read WITH interest III is from cool head and
warm and sound Southern heart. When we
hear such men Andy b. Moore telling us that
something should be done, we feel like we have
heard at dead of night the report Of the gun of a
faithful and sentinel, not likely to be deceived
or mistaken, as regards the approach and the pur-
poses of the enemy;
$50 - q 81 MAmos. Oct. 23d, 1850.
GEN. c. M. JAcKsoN-Dear Sir LIN your let
ter TO me- bearing date Oc.. l4th, 1850, you say
you should like to have your (my) views upon
the condition Of our public affairs !" and you far
Their ask, "what do you think ought to be done,
and how can il be best accomplished ~ The pres
sure OF business will not permit me, at this time,
to do more than give yon mere synopsis of my
opinions on the subject of your inquiries.
! am not satisfied with the action Of Congress on
the bills which are usually denorninated the Cali
fornia, Utah, New Mexico and Texas bills, and the
bill abolishng the slave trade, and, under certain
circumstances, slavery in the District OF Columbia
was opposed to the Wilmot Proviso, because it
tory acquired from Mexico, both north and
south Of IS. 80 Tam now opposed to the bills re-
Gently passed by Congress in regard to this terri
tory, because the object of the Wilmot Proviso
has been carried ont by those bills, in manner
most odious and degrading to the South. What
uutlrIS II W w, IL hluVefy ID tXCfuueQ from the
territory acquired from Mexico, whether il be
done by a bill called the Wilmot Proviso, or the
California, Utah, or New Mexico billsl 1t was
not the name Of the measure we objected TO, but
its effects. Then Task, if all the unjust and dis
astrous consequences to the South, have, been
caused BY the latter, that would have been by the
former, ought we, can we, look upon one with
more favor than the otheri If we can, then it is
most shamefully true, that we have been quarrel
ling over q mere name. To me, those measures
are equally odious, as their consequences are the
same TO the slave States. rftsiaa@ \
cannot look upon the bill abolishing the slave
trade, and slavery, under certain contingencies in
the District of Columbia, with the least degree of
allowance. In this measure, Congress has as
serted the right to legislate on the subject of sa
very, and 10 abolish il in the District. "
! These are positions the South has been warning
against for years. l am sure you have not for
gotten the excitement created among the Southern
members OF Congress, without distinction Of
party, and how the same feeling, like an electric
shock, was communicated to every true Southern
man In the slave States, on the passage of Colts
resolution, instructing committee to report bill
abolishing the slave trade in the District of Co
lumba. aIe sGaHsi3 SI
Now, when bill has actually passed, and has
become the law of the land, doing not only this
very thing, but has abolished slavery in the Dis
itrict, to a certain extent, shall we be told that
there is no cause for complaint 1t must be true
ment and dissatisfaction, that prevailed on the
passage OF Colts resolutions, or,we have much
greater reason for excitement and dissatisfaction
now, when the object Of that resolution has been
effected, in more dangerous form to the South,
than was therein proposed. The Colt resolution
was the mere shadow of a coming event, which
produced perfect political tornado in the South.
Now, whenthe event thus foreshadowed, has ac-
tualy come upon us, with more direful conse-
quences than were then seen, is it to be expected
that we shall, like lambs, dumb before their
shenerS, open not our mouths. 1t must not, il
cannot, it shall not be SO. speak for one ut
least.3 ,'isg4a h!a <gf t.E %
As to the Texan boundary bill, my opinion is
that it was passed in bad faith 10 the slayehold-
ing States. The South has been weakened to the
extent oftwo States at least by that bill, if Texas
accept the profered bride. The South was mainly
instrumental in effecting the annexation of Texas
to the United States, and thrust she will spurn a
proposition calculated to do such serious mischief
to her neighdors and real friends. That the South
should be taxed, to pay her part Of ten millions of
dollars, to purchase slave territory, the real object
OF which is doubtless to make two additional Free
soil States, in forcing her to that extent, TO pur
chase her own destruction. fht ,sS
You now have, in short, my views on these va
rious iniquitous measures. az tlt
The next question is, what shall we DO, under
the circumstances' This is more difficult TO de-
termine than to fix the character of the measures
= w 4
ton be held, composed Of experienced, patriotic
and prudent men, avoiding tame and eowardy
submissionists on the one hand, and reckless ul-
traists on the other, Let the convention thus
composed, look at past injuries inflicted by Con-
gress, and the dark and threatening future, and af
ter full and calm deliberation, determine upon
some course to remedy existing evils, so far as it
can be done, and to- secure us for the future. am
prepared to abide the action Of such convention,
even to secession, x.H4hiaGt
| would also say, let the legislature be called to-
gether, and law be passed prohibiting the intro
duction of slaves into our State for sale, II fear
the prospect of things, will cause the border
States to empty their slaves down upon US, until
we shall be overrun with them, and make these
border States free soil Let US make them keep
their negroes, then they will have interest that
will make them stand by us in, the approaching
crisis. IWould have the legislature to take every
constitutional step in their power to bring about
between the slave and free States
Again; Let every Southern man, so far as he
can, encourage by action, and not mere words,
non-intercourse. nsthis way, we will make the
Northern people feel, if we cannot make them
think; for fear, 1t is true, that they in
fuenced by impressions made upon their pockets
than their heads. &HEigs3 y eiGsstsn5 $3.50 %a
One other, idea, and am done. Let us hear no
more of party, until this vital question is put to
rest. Let us regard the man who would raise the
cry Of party, at this perilous hour, as one who
have said all that time win permit.
Respectfully, A. B. MOORE.
PRAIRIE INcIDENT.-At place called Yellow
Creek, about half way between Salt Lake and the
junction of the Oregon and California roads, we
were the unwilling witnesses of an Indian massa-
ere. On the evening previous, we had crossed
the creek, and encamped about mile and half
beyond. Near the creek some Snake Indians,
thirteen in all, had erected their wigwams. Be
fore dark, had endeavored, but in vain, to trade
with the chief for a pony, but " no swap" was
the word, though, all the while, some one Of the
party kept exhibiting the good qualities and speed
of the different animals. The young squaws ex
ceed their lords in horsemanship, or horse
womanship. One young creature assumed every
attitude Of the best circus rider. She would pick
her whip from the ground under full speed check
her pony in his mad career, IL he had been shot;
wheel him at full speed by an inclination Of her
body, throw the lasso successfully at whatever OBJ
ect she pleased. She rode like "a man, yet '7s
can antelope, ~
In the suspended impulse of its lghtness, e
Were less ethereally light" ...' ~