The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-15
No. II.


Representatives from the North may answer it
thus: First, We have gained California That
vast empire, with all its riches and its power has
been added TO our portion OF the Confederacy.
The South has been forever excluded from that
domain, and no STAKEHOLDER shall ever dwell here
after on the shores of the Pacific. Although we
failed ON former occasion to obtain the aid of the
Legislature department of the Government to apply
the Wilmot Proviso 10 California, yet now by the
aid of the erecuiipe department, we have triumphed
on this question, and the Proviso stands vindi-
Gated and maintained California, then, is ours;
the contract has been executed, the deed has been
signed sealed, and delivered ''.a ~ .# e q"
Secondly; Texas, '.vast illimitabe Texas, has
been dismemberedl Net only the disputed terri
tory, but large portion of that which is itndis-
lpaed is to be annexed to New Mexico, and must
inevitably become Free-Soil. This, 10 us, is
signal triumph, and whatever pecuniary compen-
saton has been paid for it, is but dust in the bal
ance. Texas claims to extend her boundary to
40 north latitude. We have reduced her to n
line running from $40, (oblquely,) down to 1901
Thus second time have we crossed the Missouri
Compromise line and driven back the South far
bbelow poRtssy fhie, ~ FtAss accom-
plished - placed beyond hie reach OF future con-
tingencies In the third place. we have abolished
the slave trade in the District Of Columbia That
property in which the wealth Of the whole South
consists, shall never again be sold within the limits
OF territory which belongs to all in common
For this measure we have been struggling for
many years, and although our demands have now
risen much higher, and we require that slavery
itself should be abolished within the limits of the
District, still we must not underrate the value of
this concession. Ii is step forward We have
brought the Government into alliance with us, the
outer works beng carried, we may soon hope Ia
carry the citadel itself
! In the fourth place, we have imposed new and
more restrictive terms on the shareholders in rea-
ton to the recapture of their fugitive slaves. We
hav riyan Nor, lnuy 10, l,R
which they complain--the abduction Of their
slaves. We have promised them no aid on our
part no indemnity for their losses, no sguards
for their future security" We have compelled
the STAKEHOLDER formally to bind himself to i'm
plead his runaway slave, who has rebelled against
his authority and defed his power, and this too
in the courts of his own State, in the hearing and
in the presence of his own acknowledged slaves
So may speak the Northern Representatives.
Let us now turn and inquire what will be the re-
Spouse Of the Southern Representatives In the
first place, they will say, we have obtained con-
struction in the report of the committee mark
you, in the report not in the biH,) that the Texas
annexation resolutions mean what they say. But
this is act of Legislation, grants nothing, but
is the mere expression OF the opinion of respect
able committee, it is without authority and with
our value. 1t binds no one and different con-
struction may at any time hereafter be given, and
from the increasing hostility to our institutions,
we may entertain u well grounded expectation that
the present construction will soon be repudiated.
In the second place, it has been conceded to us
that as there is " no OCCASION, in respect to the
Territories of Utah and New Mexico for the
passage of the Wilmot Proviso, territorial gov
ernmens shall be established for therp, and their
legislatures shall be inhibited from passing any
law " respecting African slavery" This consti-
tues the great concession to the South This is
the settlement of the great question of the consti-
tutional power Of Congress to exclude slavehol-
ders from the common territory OF the United
, States This is the acknowledgement of our
equality, the security 10 our property the recog
milton Of our rights
! Such, will suppose, Mr.. Chairman, would be
answers which may fairly be giv-a by the Repre-
sentatives of the North and Of the South to their
r constituents. And now, let me ask, what does
e the South gain by this compromise What is the
present substantial concession made TO her, in
change for the present substantial concession made
by..her to the North What, if may be pardon
S ed the homely phrase, has the South received
" in hand ~ What has she to show her ac-
qu isitons under this COMPROMISED
That which is conceded to the North is per-
: formed; the little that is conceded to the South
, is promised only. Her rights are left in doubt
d Mexican laws are said by high authority, to ex-
q, clude her as eifectually as the Wimot Proviso
= Justice would require fair and equal division OF
all our territory, if we cannot consent to enjoy ii
r together But no; expelled from California by
: positive law, we are not permitted to go into Utah
: or New MEXICO, without having our rights dis
: puted and our property exposed.
When we look around us, and behold the vast
domains which have been acquired from Mexico,
: by equal contribution of Southern blood and
!. Southern treasure, and ask ourselves what por-
ton of it is ours, the us in the face
not an acre. And this is the compromise which
is to terminate the war against slavery, and all
agitation, and bring repose to this distracted
country. ..... .' ....."" - ".|
For one, repudnte and reject it, Weak
i already, | feel that we should become weaker If
the Constitution cunnot protect us, no compromise
can. If il be true that 'the world is in arms -
against US, then now is the time, above all Others
when we should be firm, united and resolved No
people ever had higher duty to perform than we
have. | know adversares calculate upon our
divisions, but they are deceived An inexorable
law binds us together and however we may differ
, for time questions OF minor Importance we
must be united on the ultimate question of seizure
|, serpation We never will consent that this Gov
eminent shall destroy our property, and degrade
us from our equality. Come what may, we must
resist this pretension, whatever form it may
assume you resolved to make this a cues
ton of subiugation or separation, we will not
hesitate which to choose and if our Union shall
be dissolved, upon you, and not upon us, must
rest the responsibility.
! INDIAN WAR-General Brooke has issued an
order for vigorous campaign against the Indians
on the Texas frontier. All the United States dis
. ,,o,ohla with fhreaf coponapiao 90 rraxo.