The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-17
Vol. 4.

All iiuorHeo, WHO advocate tnat project III us
present form and without amendment but there
are some who profess to favor it with some
vague, underlined notifications, because they
assume that we cannot obtain any thing better,
and that to demand more, might result in the
destruction of the Union.
Now, ! cannot concur in the business of this
reasoning, because it is obvious, it may be EN-
ployed with equal force to Justify submission to
the greatest enormity. 1t may always be said
it is better to submit; resistance involves a
dissolution of the Union" And when we yield
to the force of the suggestion we establish the
degrading doctrine of "passive obedience and
non-resistance." five sdemand nothing but what
is right and submit to nothing that is wrong
we cannot be responsible for the consequences
if our adversaries, the Abolitionists and Free
soilers, deny us our rights, and dissolution Of
the Union should ensue.-We ask nothing which
Is not ours under a just administration of fed.
erative compact. They demand that we shall
surrender our rights-they are the aggressors
and are justly and obviously responsible for the
consequences. | am, therefore, at loss to nc.
count for the avidty with which some Southern
gentlemen seek to bring the odium of dissolution
on such of their fellow citizens, as express wish
to defend and maintain Southern rights, and
submit, that a suspicious mind might ascribe to
them strong sympathy with the Aboltionists
or readiness to embrace the degrading doc
trine of "passive obedience and non-resstance y
Not deeming it indicate or improper to ex-
anime the merits or dement's of the compromise
measure, and holding that a decent respect for
the opinion of mankind, might require that we
should publish the reasoning which had con-
Quoted us to the conclusions reached in our re-
solutions, voted for the address with the
great body Of the convention, and it was
adopted by the unanimous vote of all the dele
cations Of the States--though there were ten
individuals who expressed their dissent--one
from Virginia, one from Florida, and eight from
Alabama. am happy in the assurance that
these ten gentlemen, whilst they held it inexpe-
dent to introduce the topic of the compromise,
are faithful in their devotion to Southern rights
and in patriotic determination to maintain
them, at all hazards and to the last extremity.
And especially do express this opinion, with
pleasure and confidence, as to my own enlight-
ened and distinguished colleague, who dissented
from the address,
Occupying responsible position, in which it
became my duty to form an opinion on the COM
promise proposed by Mr.. Clay, / have endea-
vored to bestow candid examination on its
principles and tendencies. ! have accordingly
formed decided opinion, which trust is not
the result OF caprice, but of thought And in
stating the reasons which have controlled my
Judgment, disavow every disposition to con-
denim or to censure those of my Southern
brerhren, who have evinced disposition to IA
yor the project. 1t is natural should desire to
support my position, especially as believe it
to involve the true interest of my country; and
propose to state as briefly as can, the con-
,xx,l,,o
MIR. Clays compromise embraces five topics
First, the admission of California with her pro-
posed constitution excluding slavery; with her
present enormous boundaries, and with all the
Irregularities attendant on the formation of that
constitution.
Second-The formation of Territorial gov
ernments for Utah and New Mexico, without
the application of the principle of the ordinance
Of 1887, but without, in any manner, negatiyinp
that principle; and also with the distinct enun-
citation, that in his opinion and in the opinion OF
a large proportion Of American jurists, which he
assumes to be large majority, slavery is already
excluded from those territories, by virtue OF
Mexican laws in force in those conquered prov
inces before the date of their conquest by the
American arms.
Thrd.-Certain propositions to the State of
Texas, growing out of the alleged necessity of
removing pretended uncertainty as to her true
boundaries.
Fourth.--A bill on the subject of fugitive
slaves
Fifth-A bill to abolish the slave trade in the
District Of Columbia
propose to reverse the order, and to COM
mence with the last proposition, which declares,
+" That, from and after the ~ day of .-- next.
it shall not be lawful to bring into the District
of Columbia any slave whatever, for the purpose
of being sold, or for the purpose of being placed
in depot, to be subsequently transported to any
other State or place. And if any slave shall be
brought into the said District by its owner, or
by the authority or consent of its owner, con-
trary to the provisions of this act, such slave
shall thereupon become liberated and free"
deem this provision obnoxious to vital OBJ
jections, and regard it as an alarming exercise
Of usurped power Little more than twelve
months have passed since our General Assembly
adopted resolution, declaring that, in the
event of the passage by Congress of the Wilmot
Proviso, or any law abolishing slavery, or The
Stare trade in the District of Columbia the Gov
ernor of this Commonwealth is requested i'm
mediately to convene the Legislature of this
State, to consider the mode and measure of
redress" This resolve, though not re-asserted
in the series of last winter in respect to the Stare
trade, remains on the statute book unrescinded,
and prescribing a rule to the Executive, in the
event of the passage of the Clay compromise ;
which openly processes to enact the suppression
of the slave trade, and which clearly asserts the
right to abolish slavery in the District and ac-
tually exercises that right, so far as relates to
class of slaves, whenever any slave belonging to
that class shall be found within its limits. After
the passage of this act, any slave who shall be
found in the District, and who was carried there
for sale by the owner is actually free; made
free by virtue and operation of this act of Con-
gress. He derives his freedom from this act of
Congress, which destroys and fdfcibly dvests
the title of the owner, against his consent and in
defiance of his power, and gives the slave right
to recover against his owner, in a suit for free
dom. Therefore in his person, and as to him,
slavery is actually abolished by this act of Con-
gress.
Now, if Congress may abolish slavery in the
District on one state of facts, it may in another
state of facts, and there comes to be no limita-
ton but its own discretion. If, in delcacy to re-
fined Sensibility of fanaft.isu and Ahol;t;on;on,