The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-23

patriots 10 this and other States, who HAYS essur.
ed the people thst the ~ustuent iciH DC adhered TO-
From the Hunisvitis (-ala.) Democrat, the lead
ing Democratic paper in North Alabama, we take
the following interesting correspondence, prefaced
by few pungent editorial remarks.
EDITORIAL INcoNsisTTNcY.--We insert below,
the well-writtsn communication from Messrs. II.
Williams and Vincent Parks, to the editor OF the
Washington Union--Thonas Richie, esq. The
style Of the letter is courteous and respectful while
the truths il sets forth are scathing and humiat-
ing to Mr.. Richie, and other editors, who, like
him. first denounced the interference OF the Fed
era Executive in California affairs, as :" danger
GUS departure from all recognized precedents -
and, when commenting on Henry Clay = resolu-
tons Of compromise, which constituted the bases
Of the Omnibus bills, which subsequently passed
Congress, characterized his " scheme" as having
hardly the out,card form Of cancellations, cowpro-
mise, aud mutual concession; for, (saId he) one
parfy Che North) is called upon 10 give up the
shadotc, the other (the South) tho substance, Sc-
and who are now denouncng those who followed
his lead. and shave maintained their CONSISTENCY,
as ultras, disunionists, and re-eaters. II we are
not much at fault in our judgment, the time will
come, when the people Of the South will denounce
as their worst enemies those conductors OF the
public press who have pursued the course oil Mr.
Richie. Practically considered, those amongst
us who have used their talents and influence 70
bring about tame submission to the very measures
they once condemned; those who have censured
and abused Southern patriots for talking of resist
ance to Northern aggression; those who have
contributed to divide, instead of inducing the
South to present united front against Northern
fanaticism and "vulgar tyranny" are more po-
tent for evil than our worst enemies, the nom
slavehoIding States.
NoxBu Co., Miss, Dec. 9, 1850
THos. RICHIE, xso.
Sir: la requesting you to discontinue the
Union, we shall use the occasion to express our
reasons therefor; and ask you to give or commu-
nication place in the columns ofyour paper.
In the first place, then, when you commenced
following the lead of Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster, you deserted the principles which you
at the time we became subscribers to
the Union, and with which you undermined US
until last spring. If you will contrast the senti-
ments contained in the following extracts, taken
from your editorial, in the issues of the 18th
January and the 18th February last, with your
present position, you will find ample proof of,
your change. The editorial contained in the for
mer is headed q California and the message, and
you there say: "The interference OF the Federal
Government in California was dangerous depar-
ture from all recognised precedents-one which
was entirely inconsistent with the nature of our
institutions, and with the relations which the
Federal Government bears to the territories OF the
Union. The inhabitants Of the public domain,
have never been regarded people possessing
the sovereign rights of body polite; nor has it
ever teen admitted that portion Of the national
domain not even erected into territory could ex-
ercise the rights and the responsibilities of
a sovereign State, &c, &c.
When commenting on Mr.. Clay's resolutions
of compromise, in an editorial headed "Mr. Clay's
pretended Compromise, you say: GA mere hand
Oh 81 ha ao od IN ann iata
TO themselves vast extent Of territory; and in no
case should State be erected OF such dimensions
as to command overwhelming influence in the
Confederacy."
"The chief objection to his (Mr. Clay 81 scheme
is, that it is no compromise at all Of the great
questions of slavery in the territories. Indeed, it
hardly has the outward form of Cancellation, COM
promise or mutual concession; for one party is
called upon to give up shadow, the other the
substance; one party must surrender name, the
other principle, &c.
\ We hailed these sentiments, at the time Of their
PRONUNCIATION true, and we still regard them so;
but, strange to say, we are now denounced, in ev-
cry issue Of your paper, for striving to maintain
the very principles which you taught US few
months ago to cherish as birthrIght!
Weare aware that you opposed the admission
of California separate measure, but have been
unable to see how a fraud can be lessened by be-
ing grouped with other bills, two Of which were
this position without any proof beyond assertion,
until the " Omnibus overset and fell in FIVE pieces,
when you varied the music TO suit the occasion,
and played string until the five bills
passed. and we are still left in profound ignor.nc
as to the reasons which induced you, to urge up
on Congress, the passage Of measures, which you
regarded as dangerous in precedent, and ncon-
sistent with the nature Of our institutions, and the
relations which the Federal Government bears to
the territories" You have continually asserted
that peace and union was your object. But we
ask, how can peace and harmony be established
by tie passage, by Congress, OF bills which you
have declared were Dangerous, inconsistent" and
destructive of the relations which these very bills
were intended to heal' And how could you ex-
pect the people Of the South to follow Mr. Clay,
after you had denounced "hs scheme no compro-
mise at all Of the great question of slavery in the
territories" And where is the consistency or
justice, in asking Congress to give force and va
lidity to measures, and the people to receive them
as boon, which you declared were destitute of
Cancellation, compromise or mutual concessionf"
The passage Of these measures has clearly de-
monstrated that the position which you occupied
in January and February last, was the true ground
Peace and harmony could not be produced by
fraudulent and discordant legislation. The Cali
fornia, District Of Columbia and Texas boundary
bills, were all n compromise between the consti-
tutiona rights and equality of the Southern States
and the abolition higher-law sentiments Of the
Northern States, in which the latter gained all.
The territorial bill for Utah and New Mexico is
shallow deception--the Mexican law ,inhibiting
slavery in their territories, being covery substI-
tuted for the Wilmot Provso. Here the South
looses again. The only bill then, in the whole
catalogue, in which the South obtained simple
justice, the recognition Of plain provision Of
the Constitution, by the passage of a law to en-
force it; and this has met with more opposition,
and has created more disturbance in the .Naiionai
North, than all the other measures combined, have
produced in the South. When, therefore, the
Northern States resist with greater violence the
execution of one of the plainest provisions Of the
federal compact, than the People of the Southern
States, do those measures which you character
lied as dangerous and inconsistent with the ma
ture -four federal relations, 1" and, therefore, ng
gression; with what sort Of justice can you class
those in the South, who oppose these unjust mea-
sures, with Aboli,ionists and Free-soilers The
people OF the South only ask strict adherence to
the Constitution--believing it the only safe and
certain mode of mantanng and perpetuating the
Union-and are ready to resist aggression upon
any Of their rights, under that sacred instrument
The South has made no assault upon the Consti-
tuton and therefore, no effort at disunion; being