The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-16
RIGHTS MEETINGS

SOUTHERN RIGHTS MEETINGS.
PUBLIC MEETING In CLARK COUNTY, Miss
Pursuant to previous notice, large meeting of
the citizens of Clark county, irrespective of
party, met at the Court House in Quitman, on
Monday the 9th day of August and for the
purpose of ratifying the proceedings of the late
Nashville Convention, held in the city of Nash
vile, in the State of Tennessee, on the first
Monday in June, 1850.
On motion, Col w. A. Ward was called to
the Chair, and on motion of Col. McRae, Chas
w. Moody was requested to act as Secretary.
The Chairman explained the object of the
meeting in a few chaste and appropriate re-
marks ia#.
Upon motion of Geo. Evans, a committee Of
fifteen were appointed to draft resolutions ex-
pressive of the sense of the meeting; where
upon the Chair appointed Hon. Henry Hailes,
Geo. Evans, esq, Hon. Isham Moody, Capt.
Thos. Woolverton, Hon. John l.. Sansom, Maj.
Jas. M. Hand, Thos. f. Howe, esq, s. A. ID.
Steele, esq, Col w. H. West, A. G. Horn, esq,
r.. A. Hundley, esq, Jesse Haynes, esq, DIR.
John H. Ogburn, Capt J. A. Lyerly and DR..
Jno. A. Hodges. ~
On motion, the resolutions adopted by the
Nashville Convention were read by the Secre-
tary.
Col. John ]. McRae then addressed the meet
ing at length, with great force of argument and
commanding eloquence He reviewed the his
tory of the Nashville Convention in clear, sue
cinct manner, and showed wherein the South
had been aggrieved, and how, by the united nc
ton of her sons, she might be constitutionally
redressed. At the conclusion of Col. McRaes
very eloquent remarks, the Committee returned,
and through their Chairman reported the follow
ing resolutions, which passed unanimously, with
the exception of the 9th and 9th, to which a mi
nority of four of the ComEs;ttee objected, ia q
brief report.
l. Resolped, That this meeting fully approves
and afirms the Resolutions and Adore! adopted
by the Southern Convention at Nashville.
2. Resolred, In the language of the distin
guished senator from Georgia (Mr. Berrien,) thai
the States of the Union entered into the bono
which untes them as equals-that the Constitu
ton of the Uuited States recognizes that equality
as existing between the States, not only by it
grants, but also by its reservations of power
and that the equality of right, which results from
the sovereignty and equality of the States at tn
time the Constitution was formed, isan elementa
ry principle of the Government, which lies at TIN
foundation of the Constitution
3. Resoired, That this equality of right, ex
listing between the several States, guarantees t.
each Of them an equal participation in the terri
| tory, which is the common property of tn
/ United States and that neither Congress, b,
the Wilmot Proviso, nor the people Of the ter
ritory, acting without authority from the United
States, have the power, under the Constitution
to exclude the South with her property from the
territory acquired from Mexico; nor has Con
gress the consti 'utional power to give validity
to any unauthorized act of the people of this
territory, providing forthe exclusion of the South
with her property from it, in violation of this
equality of her rights. aa
A. Resolred, That we adopt the sentiment of
an eloquent Representative in Congress from
Georgia (Mr. Toombs)-'I stand upon the great
equal participation in the territories of the United
States claim the right for her to enter there
with her property, and securely to enjoysit, but
the right to enter all or divide, will never
surrender" And that we will maintain this POI
sition.
g. Resolred, That Texas was admitted MS q
State into the Union with the boundaries pre-
scribed by herin her constitution--that the com
| pact of annexation guaranteed to her these boun-
! daries, leaving to the United States only the
question of the adjustment Of them with Mexico
that Mexico, by treaty with the United States,
yielded her claims to any territory within the
limits Of Texas, and the boundaries of Texas
became complete as prescribed by her consti-
tuition.
] g. ReSolued, That the maintenance Of military
governments over the territories of the United
States in time of peace, is contrary to the Con-
stitution and against the spirit of our instltu-
tions--that the establishment of military gov
ernment within the limits of the State Of Texas
| is unauthorized by the Constitution, aud any
resistance by the military authority of the United
States there, to the exercise by Texas of her
civil jurisdiction within her constitutional limits,
would be an act of military usurpation and
tyrannical power which should call to the and
of Texas every Southern State
T. Resolued, That until the slavery question
is settled, we will act upon the principle that
the controversy involved is one on which it is
| impossible that any party differences, in this
State, should exist-that the great question OF
| maintaining Southern rights is paramount to all
| mere party considerations, and we desire to
meet all Southern men as brothers on the
| Southern platform and that the hne OF $3.50
! to the Pacific as recommended by the Nashville
Convention, furnishes such platform, broad
enough for all Southern men, of all parties, to
stand upon. ry a.e
s. Resotued, That the right to recapture fugi-
tive slaves, escaping into other States where
slavery does not exist, is plain, positive, con-
stitutional right to be exercised without hin.
drance, embarrassment or delay, which does not
admit of being compromised, and which We viii
not consent shall be made subject of com
promise for any purpose.
g. Resolped, That the equality of right, result
ing from the elementary principle Of the equality
of the States, gives to the South equal rights
with the other portions Of the confederacy IN
the District Of Columbia, and guarantees 10 her
citizens the right TO enter the District with their