Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-07-19
Remarks Of Hon. j. HI. Adams.
Before the Conuention of Southern Rights Assoc;-
atoms IN Charleston

uien0u Ooha'oi, NouuSe ouuer) III tnlS gfeal
debate, whose patriotism all of us unhesitatingly
admit, and who is far better qualified, by superior
wisdom and experience, to guide and direct our
counsels; but feel that we have reached point
IN this great controversy, whenmere personal con-
slderations should not be allowed, for single
moment, to conflict with an honest and fearless dis
charge of our duty to our country.
Although we have been invited to meet here for
the purpose of consultation it is not to be disgus-
ed, that the result of our deliberations, be they
what they may, will exert powerful influence
over the action of that higher body, to whose as
sembling, at no distant day, the whole country is
now looking with such intense interest and in GER
tain quarters, with such fearful anxiety Nor it
to be disguised, that but feeling pervades our
whole confederacy, and this is, that so far as ..
er"r'Aia anu VIZ n 1~1 %, are concern
ed, matters are coming to a serious crisis Under
such circumstances, whether wisely or unwisely
called together, now too late to enquire, we owe
1t to ourselves, we owe 1t to our constituents that
we deal with each other in plain English; that we do
notseparate without thoroughly understanding each
other; that we indulge free and frank interchange
OF opinions and feelings the grave issue before
us. While we should studiously avoid the use of
epithets and nsinuations calculated or designed to
lrrtate and embitter, let us have no conceaments
no fatering, no quibblng, resort to phraseology
that will admit here or elsewhere of double or
doubtful construction. Let us, In word, endea-
to prove ourselves equal to the crisis in which
we find ourselves, and dscarding all considerations
of SELF rising superior to all unworthy struggle
for individual mastery, let our high and sole pur-
pose be, to pursue such course, to indicate such
a policy, shall, under the solemn sanction of
that high tribunal whose interpositon has been in
voked, fully vindicate our honor, and restore, if
possible, security to deeply insulted and wrong
ed people.
With these general remarks, l shall proceed at
once to submit my views upon this great question
before us. L shall state my positions briefly, with
out arguing them at length, which neither my own
inclination or the time of the meeting would Justify
me in attempting. l shall begin by announcing
certain fundamental propositions which will not
be disputed by any member of this convention,
and which | shall assume points on which we
are all agreed:
First, we all agree that any State of the confed-
eracy has right peaceably to withdraw from it
whenever she thinks proper SO to do.
Second we all agree that the general govern
ment has deliberately legslated us out of our share
of the common property of the country and we
feel that the effect of this legislation has been to
degrade us from the rank of an equal to that
of an inferior member of common confederacy.
Third, That under vile pretext of regard
for the right of petition Congress has usurped
authority the institution of slavery, and
under forced and unwarranted construction of
the words exclusive jurisdiction has already
egisated the subject in the District of Column
bia,
Fourth, That the northern States have not only
failed to comply with plain provision of the Con-
stltutiOn, expressly inserted for our especial pro-
lection, but by vexatious legislation, have render
ed it worse than useless. These propositions |
shall not attempt to fortify By argument before
this body. And fortunately for our cause, there
exists little or no division of opinion in relation
tl,FO1Ir rhN11t
ders who are ready to controvert them, or defend
the past acts of the general government, in num-
bers scarcely constitute a corporaPs guard and
thank God, they never have had, and / trust new
er may have place in the confidence and affections
of our people. The next proposition l shall an
nounce, is to my mind equally clear with the
foregoing, and L shall be disappointed if it does
not meet with ready assent from this body, viz:
that settled purpose pervades large portion of
the North to destroy our property, and ultimately
degrade and ruin us, and that this purpose is
destined speedily to become the fixed feeling of
whole section OF the confederacy, which by mere
force OF numbers can control the action of the gov
ernment Does any one doubt the truth of this
position Does any one ask for proof of this as
serton? Let him 90 to New York the great En-
pire State, and behold our political destinies under
the absolute dominion, of one who desecrated the
forum, and shocked the moral sense of the nation,
by proclaiming for himself and his followers ga
higher law as the rule of civil conduct" The WI
thering scorn and contempt which this declara-
ton drew down upon him from an indignant and
outraged senate, have fallen harmless at the pride
of victory, the master spirit in the most powerful
State in this confederacy. Look at Ohio, the great
State of the West under the lead of Giddings 6
Co., passing laws securing to your stolen slaves
the writ of habeas corpus, and making it felony
to aid in their restitution. So to Massachusetts,
and ask yourself how and by whom was Sumner
the abolitionist elected to the senate. Visit Bos-
ton and ponder over the ominious fact, that the
constituted authorities of this misnamed modern
Athens, have actually closed the doors of old Fa-
E neuil Hall upon their own Demosthenes. Turn
to the public press and see these great arteries
steadily infusing the deadly poison into the public
mind Approach the altar, and hear the terrors
of He'll preached against all who will not join in
mockery Of the trial and surrender of Sims, the
delivery of runaway in New York, and another
in Philadelphia-are these forced, costly and haz
ardous vindications of the fugitive act to be held
f up to us as evidence of returning sense of Jus
tice on the part of the north, in opposition to the
startling fact that three of the most powerful
States of this Union are, politically governed by
men who publicly declare the law to be unconst
tutional, and boldly ayow their purpose to pro
cure its repeal?
Are these fimsy cobwebs to blind our eyes tt
the fact that both of the great political parties
q the North court the influence and obey the man
: dates of abolitionists !? Six months ago it wa
proclaimed in the Senate, and by high authority