The southern press., 1851-04-11

will fall back from ultimstum to uitimstum, q
they have fallen back from the Constitution "a
compromises. Their loquacity revealsit. Their
platforms prove it, Their bIuster Is idle. The
| North sees it, and knows it--and feels invited
to make further aggression
| If the legislature had simply passed the reso-
| luton appealing to South Carolina not 10 se'
cede, we should have been satisfied. We hold
that South Carolina will be treating her sister
Southern States with gross disrespect it she
separately sccede from the Union for evils which
affect all Of them as much and many of them
moro, than they do her. II she is pledged to Sc
cession, as some s,y. she is equally pledged to
act in concert with us on this question; and as
Ia out Of Is slave States are not for secession
account of the past, she should yield her views
to theirs. IL she does not, she will justly de-
prive herself Of their sympathy. If she does Sc
cede, there is some danger that the tederasts
who now administer the general government,
will attempt to coerce her into the Union Ii
so, new question will be sprung, which in its
| Importance will swallow up the slavery ques-
ton. 1t will be none other than the question
OF consolidated government on the one hand,
and Stale rights and sovereignty on the other
| When that question is raised, South Carolina
will not be suffered to decide it single handed
and it is question which if not yielded by the
general government, will inevitably split this
Union. We are sorry to see that some Of the
writer's of South Carolina presume upon this
fact, and hope thereby to coerce the other South
ern States into disunion. TO accomplish an aim
by indirection is unworthy of the Palmetto
State We cannot believe that her high-minded
citizens can thus act the part of intriguing dis
organizers and mischef-makers.
STATE CONVENTION in OpposIrIos TO THE
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAw.-Pursuant to a call
which had been extensively circulated, con-
vention Of those in favor Of the unconditional
repeal of the Fugitive slave law was held in
TremqSt Temple yesterday. The convention
was called to order in the forenoon, by Dr. G.
Howe, and temporarily organized by the choice
of Hon. John q. Palfrey as chairman, pro tenn.
Prayer was then made by Rev. Mr.. Dexter of
Pine st. church. The following list of officers
for the convention was agreed upon:
For President-Hon Horace Mann.
For Vice Presidenls-Dist No. ], Sydney
Homer; 2, Frederick Robinson; 3, ]. W.
Graves 4, Samuel Hoar; s, r. b. Bigelow ;
g. Erastus Hopkins; 7, Geo. K. Russell; 8,
Caleb Stetson; 9, Rodney French; 10, Charles
Sedgwick.
Secretaries-Seth Webb, Jr, Thomas Rus.
sell, Chas. NJ. Ellis.
Mr.. MANN, upon taking the chair, addressed
the convention at length in condemnation of the
Fugitive slave law, and made an appeal for
the continuation of agitation until the law shall
have been repealed. Mr.. PALFREY next spoke
in favor OF opposition to the law, but against
organized and forcibe resistance to it, He was
for using all political powers to obtain the final
and unconditional repeal of the laws of 1850
and 1888. Mr.. HANcoMRs, (reporter of the
Commonwealth upon Mr. PaIfreys taking his
seat, arose, and in a very excited manner de.
tailed the manner in which he had ascertained
that Sims was to be carried away According
to his story, he is to be taken by armed force,
and marched to the brig Acorn, at long warf,
ard sent back by water. 1t is the intention of
the United States marshal to parade his troops,
form them in hollow square, and place the man
in the midst, and march him to the vessel. He
concluded what he had to say with some inhaln-
matory remarks His remarks were received
with evident signs of dissatisfaction by a large
portion of those present
Letters were then read from Hon. WILLIAM
II. SEWARD and Hon. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
The letter of Mr. ADAMS was moderate in lam
guage, and urged that the peoples efforts be
directed to the ballot box, and encouraged "a
steady and patient and Jealous industry in the
peaceful pursuit Of the object of the Free-soilers
The following is the letter from Gov. SEWARD:
AUBURN, April 9th. 1851.
DEAR Sin: Your letter inviting me to attend
convention of the people of Massachusetts OPP
posed to the Fugitive slave law, and to commu-
nicate in writing my opinion on that statute if
should be unable to attend the convention, has
been received
While offering the pressure of duties here too
long deferred as an apology for non-attendance,
pray you to assure the committee in whose
behalf you act, Of my profound sense of their
courtesy and kindness. 1t would be an honor
to be invited to address the people of Massachu.
setts on any subject, but It might well satisfy
generous ambition to be called upon to speak TO
that great and enlightened Commonwealth, on
a question of human rights and civil liberty.
confess, sir, that have earnestly desired not
to mingle in the popular discussions of the
measures of the last Congress. The issue ne
cessarily involves the claims of their advocates
and adversares in the public councils, to the
confidence of the country. Some of those ad-
vocates have entered the popular arena crimi-
mating those from whom they had differed,
while Others have endeavored, by extraordinary
means, either TO control discussion, or to sup
press it altogether and thus they have shown
tleuiStNcS uisuuiIiltu Nv PreJuuice OF interest,
for practising that mpartiality and candor which
the occasion demanded
| am unwilling even to seem imply, by reit-
Grating arguments already before the public,
either any dstrust Of the position of those with
whom ] stood in Congress, or impatience for
that favorable popular verdict which believe
to be near, and know TO be ultimately certain.
Nevertheless, there can be no impropretv in
my declaring, when thus questioned the opinions
which will govern my vote upon alv occasion
when the Fugitive slave law shall come up for
review, in the national Legislature think the
act singularly unwse, because it is an attempt
by purely federative government to extend the
economy of slave States, throughout States
which repudiate slavery as moral, social and
Folitcal evil. Any despotic government would
awaken from its profoundest slumbers by such
an attempt
The attempt by this government has aroused
constitutional resistance, which will not cease
until the effort shall be relinquished He who
teaches another faith than this, whether self de-
ceved or not, msleads. | think, also, that the
attempt was unnecess ssary that political ends