The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-17
From he yMoDile Tribune.

the Union with her present boundaries, excluding
Southern property the abolition of the slave trade
in the District Of Columbia, &c. large and en-
thusastic assemblage convened at the Market
house, when upon the motion Of COL DAME
Chandler, Coils. Jas. s. Deas and p Phillips, wer.
called to preside, and G. g. Henry and II. d
Blair appointed Secretaries.
On taking the char, Col. Phillips, in explana
ton of the of the meeting, in very eloquent
and impressive manner, glanced at the wrongs 70
, which the South had been subjected, and clearly
exhibited that in the adoption of the SO called
''peace measures, at the last session of Congress
there is nothing calling for the demonstrations and
the rejocings about to be made here from any
I who properly appreciate the rights Of the South.
4 Col. b. Boykin was then loudly called for, and
he assembled the stand greeted by the hearty cheers
Of the audience. Having in powerful and spirit
stirring speech, addressed the meeting on the grave
questions which had brought them together, he
The Constitution Of the United States is based
upon the equality of the States which compose the
| Union. Er@-ss3, WI
II was adopted to promote domestic tranquility
and the secure enjoyment of property.
The people Of the Southern States, therefore,
claim under the Constitution, not only the right
to hold their property of whatever description,
but to hold il in peace, free from all aggressons
from Congress, the non-slaveholding States, or
| the citizens thereof. 49,
! In the midst of the great excitement produced
throughout the land by the threatened exclusion
of the South from all participation in the terrific
ries, to acquire which she had been most lavish
with her treasure and the best blood of her cit-
zens the eyes Of our citizens were turned TO Con-
gress, the great council Of this vast confederacy
| of States, in the hope that it would so execute
justice as to preserve unimpared those great prin-
ciples out of which the Union sprung, and with
the extinction of which the Union itself must er-
pire.
This just expectation of the Southern people has
l ca,. ntoA hair 10 hava
been unheeded, their circumstances heard with in
difference, their offers of compromise treated with
contempt
| The citizens of Mobile here assemble, freely to
discuss the questions which so deeply affect their
interests, and to assure their fellow citizens Of
other portions Of Alabama, that there is sent-
ment in the commercial emporium of the largest
cotton growing State which is true to the "great
section with which this city is identified, and
which in any and every emergency may be relied
upon for the vindication Of its rights.
Be it therefore Resolved That the act Of Con-
gress admitting California as State, sanctions
the usurpaton by which few spectators seized
upon the whole Pacific coast, from the boundary
of Oregon down to the 32d deg. That this act is
without precedent and against constitutional right,
monstrous fraud by which the South has been for
ever excluded from four-ffths in value of all the
territory acquired from Mexico.
RESOLVED, That the successful usurpation of the
Californians has become la,c to the NewMexicans;
then haze paid the same consideration and now de-
mand the same privilege and immunity, and with
a constitution already formed, excluding the
South, the days Of her Introduction may now be
counted.
Resolved, That Congress has no power to abol-
ish to establish slavery, but it has power, and
is bound to exercise it for the protection Of such
property as is recognized by the laws ofthe seve-
raj States. The opinion entertained and promul-
gated by majority of Congress, that the emf
grafton of Southern men, with their property to
the Territories, is forbidden by the Mexican laws
still in force, and the refusal by that majority to
repeal those laws, and thus throw open this com
mon property to the common use and occupation
Of the people of the different States, at once ex-
poses thu rank hypocrisy which turks in the cry
of L" compromise and harmony"
Resolred, That the boundary Of Texas as she
has defined it, and as Congress has frequently ad-
mitted it to be, is well defined and free from doubt
To defend the integrity Of this boundary, Congress
declared war against Mexico, and the release by
Mexico in the treaty Of peace of all her rights, left
Texas free from every pretence of claim.
The South is therefore justly startled by the
proposition on the part of the North to take from
this territory area enough for two large States,
to increase the preponderance Of power now exist
ing against the South, and thus strengthen the
hands of those who seek her political degradation
Resolved, That the abolition Of the slave trade,
Cat this particular uncture,) in the District of CO.
|
fanaticsm.
On the 2lst December, 1S48, Mr.. Gott, Of New
York, introduced in the House of Representatives
the following resolution:
| Whereas, the traffic now prosecuted in this
metropolis of the Republic, in human beings as
chattels, is contrary to natural justice and to the
fundamental principles Of our political system,
and is VIGOROUSLY a reproach to our country
throughout chrstendom, and serious hindrance to
the progress Of republican liberty among the ma
tons of the earth. Therefore,
Resolved, That the Committee Of the District of
Columbia be instructed to report u bill, as
practicable, prohibiting the slave trade in said Dis
| trict"
Mr. Colt moved the previous question, which
was sanctioned, and the resolution was adopted
by n vote Of yeas SO, to nays 81.
This led to great excitement a convention of
the Southern members Immediately assembled and
published an address. The majority alarmed at
the consequences of the act repealed their instruc
tons.
What can mark the rapid course of events so
well the fact that in less than two years, Colts
resolution is carried into an enactment by an over
whelming majority, and is now the law Of the
land.
Resolved, That the act for the recovery of Flu
gtive slaves" passed Immediately after the adop-
ton of the Constitution, was sufficiently effective,
as long public sentiment at the North remained
true to constitutional obligations.
The South can see nothing in the passage of the
late bill which will operate favorably that pub
lie sentiment, the records show that half Of
the Northern representatives voted against the
bill, while large portion Of the remainder refused
to vote at all but three wing representatives north
Of Mason and Dixon's line voting for the bill.
Resolved, That we cannot acquiesce, much less
can we rejoice in this consummaton. Still the
mode and measure of resistance we leave to the
people Of Alabama in convention assembled. Each
State in convention must judge for itself; but We
now distinctly express the opinion, that if any of
the Southern States, acting through convention,
should, for these aggresslons, secede from the
Union, it would become the duty of this State, as
Of all the other Southern States, sternly to resist
the application to such State of any physical
coercion, should such be attempted by the Gov
eminent Of the United States.
John A. Campbell, ESQ.,, followed in speech Of
more than his usual commanding eloquence,
which was received with profound attention, and
which was repeatedly interrupted by bursts of
i ting the following resolutions: