Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-21
Eccen,ricities of III. Pickens.

The Charleston Mercury has recently publish
ed in two instalments speech delivered at
Edgefeld Courthouse, on the 9TH of July, by
Hon. Francis w. Pckens, lately member of
the Nashville Convention, and formerly for some
years Representative of the same district in
| Congress. The National Intelligeneer notices
the latter division as follows;
This part of the speech begins with lamentation
that Virginia did not take the lead in this matter" and
that Georgia also stunned the which was set for
her, well Us Virginia '"Those two States acting
together then" says Mr.. Pickens, "coud have con-
trotted the South and dictated terms" They neg
lected the glorious opportunity that offered first TO
one and then to the other, by South Carolina; and
hence says Mr. Pickens, eve must make our own lib
erty" That "liberty" he argues, has been wrested
from South Carolina by the admission into the Union
of California upon the principle of the right o! any
State coming into the Union, to do so upon the basis
of its own CONSTITUTIONS principle which was first dis
instance OF the bright and God-ke spirit as he is
called in article in the same number OF the "Mer-
curry" to whom has been decreed by his native State
statue honor of this and other of his services du-
ring long public life. The effect of the admission of
the State OF California into the Union upon this prn-
cple Mr.. Pickens describes and comments upon in thu
following TERMS
"If they put the citizens holding slaves in certain
States under the ban OF the Conederacy they can put
the States themselves by name, and the citizens cti
Zens. The Constitution declares that the citizens of
each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and inn
muues OF citizens OF the several States.' And vet
the Government openly asserts that the citizens of near
halt the States OF this Union shall not be allowed to 90
above certain line with the privileges of their proper
ty, but shall disposses themselves of the most valuable
part OF that property before they claim equality in
privileges with the citizens of Ohio or Massachuses
They make compromise line OF 36 deg, 30 min when
it suits them to seize halt the territory of Louisiana
and them instead OF carrying out that line in COED faith
as it was Intended in spirit and substance, the Pac-
c when it suits them to seize territory below it thew do
SO without remorse and without shame.
"Whe1e is their compromise? Where is their plieh-
ted faith Are we to be crcumscrbed at their pleasure
Are we to be enclrcled IN great pentenary walls by
our masters and our keepers?
"Merclul God! Are we born slaves, or are we born
ieemen* Are the descendants of cavaliers to let the
swords other toreathers hang around them the halls
TO rust forever! Do they dread draw them because
forsooth nation OF Yankee shoemakers may let drive
at them with their avis, or nation OF may
| threaten to raise their shues and spindles?"
After this explosion, which, itno characteristic ofthe
eoquence of its AUTHORITY whom is evident that this
speech has been carefully written out for publication
not without precedent the distinguished orator goes
on with an elaborate argument OF several columns in-
tended to impress upon his hearers the truth of the to
! lowing proposition:
"Mr. Chairman, the final result Of all these measures
is to abolish slavery in the States, to render value
less and thus to force those who them to aban.
don the country or perish in its ruins
| Upon proposition directly in the teeth not only
| OF the certan'ies which in his mind every man
must adm-such, tor example, as that slave property
within the Union has never from the year f776 to this
day been fully protected tnow is, and the mpro-
liability that can ever be securely protected as at
| present by any form OF separate State Governmental
hardly worth while 10 pursue fer the benefit Of our
readers, (who well understand the whole matter0 the
train OF argument by which it is attempted to be sup
ported
*Mr. Pickens is famous for his reflections upon the
| condition in which men are born. He once said, in
Congress, that he was "bon insensble to fear" He
seems to be doubtful now whether he was born free.
man or slave. II the question is to be settled by
South Cardinals seeding or remaining in the Union,
the decision is quite likely be unfavovrable to his
early Liberty.