The primitive Republican., 1851-10-09

ests of that State, and of the Union, rcquir- (
ed that it should be made and accepted, and (
that the exercise by Texas of her undoubted
right, could not authorize the interference of,
or give any just cause Of offence to,- anyoth-
er State. That is certainly not a perfect
right which cannot be exercised independents
ly and free from the control of any other
State, seeking to dispute it on the ground of
It's supposed interference with her interests
We, in Georgia, would have realized the
truth Of this proposition, if any other State
had attempted to interfere between us, in the
cession made by Georgia to the United States
of the territory which now constitutes the |
States of Alabama and Mississippi. It has,
moreover, appeared to me strange, that those
who claim this sright Of interference by 9th
er States, in the adjustment between Texas
and the United States, do not perceive how
directly such claim conflicts with their own
denial of like right Of interference in the
case of state Withdrawing from the Union,
for causes which she may determine to be
Just.
4. considered that this adjustment was
eminently conducive to the interests of the
slaveholding States. Texas is a sparsely
populated State, of great territorial extent,
containing within her limits large bodies of
of rich lands yet uncultivated. New States,
/ in which slavery shall be allowed, may, by
/ the resolution of annexation, be carved out
of that portion of her territory lying south of
thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north lati-
tude, and admitted into the Union. 1t is
important to US that these States should be
created as soon as practicable. Two, four or
six Senators, added to those now represent
ing slaveholding States, would essentially
change our condition in that body, and this
can only be accomplished by the speedy set
tlement Of Texas. That has hitherto ad-
vanced slowly, owing to the great amount Of
her public debt. Men of property have been
!, unwilling to remove to State where the
alternative would be presented to them, of a
) Reputation of the public debt, or heavy
taxation to discharge it. The adjustment
: removes this obstruction, by enabling Texas
: to discharge her debts, and its effects are al
: ready visible in the increased emigration t.
G that State. The admission into the Unior
of these new States, whose institutions anC
n interests would be identified with our own
: seemed to me to be consideration of para
: mount importance to the South-incalcula
# bly, more important than that of withdraw
a ing from the jurisdiction of Texas, and sub
n iecting to the legislation of Congress, a sli
h Of land lying cast and west between the Ri
= Grande, and the meridian of one hundre
e and three degrees west from Greenwich, an
Is north and south, between thirty-two degree
l. and thirty-six degrees thirty minutes, mort
< latitude. For these and other reasons, vC
Sc tedfor the adjustment with Texas.
e, In common withmy colleagues, I oppose
le the bill to abolish the slave trade in the Di
" trict of Columbia, after an Intellectual a
D. tempt had been made to substitute pecun
to airy penalty for the emancipation of the slav,
s. and with them l voted for the fugitive slav
e. bill
These are the several measures constitutin
n what is familialy known as the Compromis
IS My votes on each of them, and the reason
n. given for those votes, arc on the records
Us the Senate, have been published to the coul
is try, and are, trust, expressed with suficiel
he clearness to exclude any "serious doubts I
m to my opinions concerning any of them.
"a Thus far, then, | have, | hope shewn tn
of the accusations of the Richmond Conventio
ly whether direct or indirect, ARE equally groun
of less. On my return to the State, | found {
on unusual degree of excitement prevailing
on The Governor, acting upon his constructic
al of the legislative mandate, had called co
er- vention. There were three different OPT
"a ions on this subject. There were those WI
as thought and contended that the conventic
in ought to meet and instantly adjourn, in {
let der to mark, in manner not to be mistake
its their disapprobation of the act of calling
ew Others, indignant at the wrongs whi
i'll they imputed to the Compromise, and at t
is repeated aggressions of which they complai
ga ed, advocated the adoption Of strong me;
we ures of resistance. There was third cla
st who opposed themselves to all violence,
ur- who, nevertheless, thought that Georgia, h
cause of complaint-that the assembling
rn- the convention would afford fit occasi
m for a calm, deliberate consideration of tho
The causes-and who advocated frank, mar
nts remonstrance to our sister states.
ent For myself, I thought that the call of t
an convention by the constituted authorities
the State, ought to be treated with respe
lial and that we had causes of complaint viii
tie oughtto be considered by that body, bu
md did not think that these should lead to {
ing union. On the contrary, in all my pub
out addresses and private conversations, as "
before. as after the meeting of the Cow
/ of ton, / repeated the opinion which Ihad
Is a pressed in the Senate, and uniformly rel
) in led the idea that disunion was the pro
sed remedy for our grievances. think no
ter will deny this, or will venture to say that
had opinions were expressed in terms which wo
lyer admit of any, the slightest doubt.
and The Convention met. Those who had
: IN vocated the propriety of its instant adjor
OF tment, if they still retained their opinit
not were disappointed. Those who were in
t OF vor of extreme measures of resistance,
], or there were such, were also overruled.
IN 81 Convention proceeded to deliberate cal
Ious and seriously on the several matters be-
ace them, and adopted a report and resolutil
which they published, with d journal Of t
New proceedings Repudiating secession a
ust- remedy, they declared that, although G.
1een gia found matter for objection in, and
very not s'wholly approve the compromise,
the would nevertheless abide by it, siml
o. ed BY an earnest desire to perpetuate
,ipal American Union, and to restore that p
and and harmony upon which It's value to her
been her confederatas and mankind, essenti
xico depends be convention did more.
ip pof complained Of ie aggressive spiritof I
ID of resentatIYe of tlIe nonss slaVeholdina Stat