The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-22
nr. csSS's Reply 70 tns Macon Csn'~.i'''s'

,m from The lower part Of the State about me nIst OF
ibs present month. and have not therefore, eped 10
a. have received communications from other parts Of
,hs S,se ON the same and kindred Subjects have de-
,.insd in this reply consider the questions involved
~ snme length AZ desire that il may be considered as
re sponsive 10 the various communications to which
have referred. . -
is ..Do you believe that a State, by virtue of her
sovereignty. has The right peaceably 10 secede IRON he
has the constitutional authority to coerce her 10 remain IN
the Union And should call be made upon The militia
aid in attempting to coerce seeding Stale would YOU
If in the executive office, obey such requlsition!
cd "Do you believe that the late acts OF Congress,
termed the Compromise, were constitutional JUST and
equitable"
which you have proposed them
In order that may be distinctly understood IN refer
ence to the late acts OF Congress termed The Compro-
mise" consider proper TO make bret reference TO
each of the six bills which composed that Compromise,
and shall in that way be enabled to give the most SANS
factory answer TO your second interrogatory
The bills establishing territorial governments for Utah
and New Mexico rest upon great constitutional prlnci,
ple which has always received the warm and cordial
support of southern men, and by none advocated with
yourselves That principle is, the right OF the people
to determine for themselves whether or not sayerFha
constitute part of their social system" In these bulls
the slavery question is found this provisions " Ana
said Territories shall be received into the Union WIN or
without slavery, as their constitution may prescribe al
the time Of their admission II this important principle
by the North be repudaed by the South then these
bills obnoxious 10 the objections urged against mem
by the disunionss but if the South be content to abide
the operation OF her own cherished doctrines this sub
iect then these bills in strict conformity with the re-
quirements of the South, and should be entirely salts
factory to u.s. II is too late talk about the repeal OF the
Mexican laws, after the almost unanimous support by
the representatives of the South OF the Clayton compTo
mise bill, which more repeats those laws IMAM the
bills are now consderng nor were our representa-,
tives in their advocacy Of the Clayton compromise bill
united than their constituents IN their approval
of the votes Of these representatives. The eight south
ern representatives who voted against That bill on the
ground that they required the repeal OF the Mexican laws
were denounced traitors to the South tor making the
demand BY those who are now most NOISY IN ,helr com
the repeal of the Mexican laws voted Tor the Clayton
compromise BILL and was universally sustained in
Georgia in that vote. Why is i that | am now con-
then approved OF my course
The Clayton compromise bill contained no express
guarantee for the admission OF slave States, the peo
PIE desired 1T whilst these bills pledge the faith OF The
government TO admit these territories States with or
without slavery, as the people may determine when they
come To organize their State constitution These bills
received the support OF majority OF the representatives
Of the South. Your representatives from Georgia
were unanimous upon the subject The only violent and
decided opposition made 10 them proceeded from the abo
loRiss and reesoileIs. who saw, IN the provisions TO
which have referred, the Reputation OF Their favorte
doctrine Of congressional introduction OF slavery IN the
territories and the recognition Of own avorie doc
rns OF leaving TO the people the decision OF The ques
ton whether not they would have slavery among
them.
The bill 10 settle the disputed boundary between the
United States and Texas rests upon equally sound and
constitutional principles. Its provisions simply contain
Texas 10 settle the boundary between the territory OF the
Unied States and the Stale OF Texas by adopting GER
tam line as tina, boundary and, in nsderaon that
Texas will yield the claim which she had made TO The
ceded territory the United States agrees TO pay her the
sum OF ten millions OF dollars. There threat
NO coercion, the part OF Congress compel acques
Ger in thp m n VIVA ma
and patriotic judgment of the people OF Texas to deter
mine; and the terms were agreed TO BY her with I'M
paralleed unanimy Ii is equally untrue and unjust 10
the brave and patriotic people OF Texas 10 impuie their
action on this subject TO the lear OF federal power or Inc
equally offensive consideration OF bribery and corruption
A would not tolerate such impuation upon the c
zens of our States under similar circumstances,
will not indulge in the and unounded refec
ton upon the honesty and integrity OF our young and
This disputed boundary was thus settled between the
United States and Texas in the only mode in my udg-
ment in which such an issue could be determined be
tween the government and sovereign State OF this
Union. / am aware that the charge is sometimes made
that this bill seized the slave territory OF Texas and
appropriated to free soul Nothing could Dc turtle, me.
measure upon the slavery question was TO remove We
prohibition upon slavery in that portion OF the ceoed
territory being above 80 deg. 30 min, which was put
upon il in the articles of annexation when Texas was
admitted into the Union THIS bill removes that pro-
hibton, and submits TO the decision OF the people
Of the territory, when they come TO organize their
State government, the question whether not slavery
shall constitute part of thels social system This BILL
like the others which | have considered, received
the and cordial support of majority OF southern
and encountered it's billees opposition
from the free soil representatives OF the North.
The only remaining bill affecting territorial acqui
sition the for the admission OF California
Stale into the Union. This measure Objectionable
10 southern men, though it finally received the SUI port
of nearly onshd OF the representatives OF the South.
In common with majority OF the South, entertained OBJ
ectons TO this bill preferred that territorial govern
ment should have been provided Tor California,
done for Utah and New Mexico Ii would have been a
more regular and appropriate mode of disposng OF that
portion OF the territory but the failure 10 do so do not
regard a violation oil the constitution the rights OF
the South. In the admission OF California, Congress ex
ercised power expressly conferred upon II by the con-
stitulion, ,.,o admit new States into the Union !" and
though our judgments do not wholly approve OF the ex
ercise OF that discretionary power this instance II con-
sttuies such OF complaint against the govern
meDt would justify the resistance which has been in
dcated by the enemies OF the Compromise and the advo
Gates of disunion.
The principle upon which California admitted into
the Union with her constitution prohibiting slavery, has
received the sanction of southern statesmen. The
principle denies TO Congress the right to look into the
constitution of a State asking for admission into the
Union, further than to that is republican in its form
OF government Whether slavery shall exist there is
question for the consideration OF Congress- but 10 be
determined by the people when they frame their State
constitution.
This doctrine clearly expressed in the following
resolution introduced by MIR Calhoun 10 the Senate OF
the United States in 1s47. II the annunciaton OF
sound constitutional principle, and prepared main.
tain its correctness.
R'opsd That as Fundamental principle in po-
ticai creed, people, in forming constitution have The
unconditional right to form adopt the