Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-07-19

through what was known as the desert, yng be.
tween the Nueces aud the Rio Grande. That
treaty was rejected by the Senate. At sub.
seqlen, session, the resolution which passed au.
thorrinE the admission Of TEXAS, expressly re.
served the right Of this government to FIX by
negotiation with Mexico her western boundary
nothing was said sbou, the Rio Grande-and
thus Texas came into the Union her western
boundary unsettled. The efforts to settle ii By
negEation having failed, Gen. Taylor vas di
reced TO take position on the east bank II the
river-he removed from Point Isabel AMI en-,
cAmped opposite MAlamoas The bate Of
/ Palo Alto and Resaca DC Ia Palma ioow,d.-
| What was then said BY Mr. Calhoun, the bold,
/ fearless and incorporating advocate and De.
! fender of southern rights, and southern nlet-
/ ests He denounced 10 most Indignant terms,
| the Administration of Col. Polk for having in.
/ yOlved The country in an unjust, and unneces
| ssry war by the invasion of Mexican territory.
Texas, then State OF the Union, had not, in the
| pinlOn OF that distinguished man. any well foun.
ded claim to any territory bordering on the Rio
Grande, and in tha, opinion he was sustained ~
many who now den0unce as hith0ss to ,he
South. all those who aided in securing to Texas
the undspured possession of territory large
enough for two States, the right of which they
had strongly denied TO her. No territory has
been surrendered to free,soil unless the people
Of Utah and New Mexico when they form con,
slitution, and apply for admission as States,
think proper to prohibit slayery--and for the
unrestricted exercise of this right. we Of the
south have Away. commended Governments were
established for these territories in strict accor>
dance with all the territorial acts heretofore pass.
ed, with the exception Of that Cor Oregon There
is no restriction as to slavery aud the ahlest
statesman, and most distinguished urists Of the
souhentrrtan no doubt that the owners Of slaves
may with perfect security take them to either
of these territories, regardless Of the Mexican
law Had the southern senators and represent
taves entertained any donbt on this subject, do
You suppose that they, one aud all, would have
voted Tor the bill known as the CLAYTON
| bill; which left the question as TO the validity
of the Mexican law TO be decided by the
Supreme court satisfied as we all we're, thai
that decision could not fail to sustain the
rights Of the south Yet then, as now, the
advocate for restriction commended that the law
OF Mexico excluded slavery. That they did not
themselves believe what they so roundIy essert.
cd, is apparent from the fact that they voted
against the amendment TO the appropriation bill
oil the same session, which auharzed the Presi.
den! to establish territorial governments. and so
urgent were they for a positive restriction, that
they 'ery nsar defeating the passage ef ,Gs
civil and diplomatic appropriation bill, to which,
after the REJECTION Of the Clayton bill, we had at
tached the provision.
My only reason for voting in favor Of the prop
osition to repeal the Mexican law, when made at
the last session, was, that know property to be
sensitive, and feared that many persons might be
deferred from removing with their slaves to those
territories even should the discovery of valuable
mines render their Iabour profitable, after The
opinions of such men as Clay and Webster were
given in fav.r Of the validity ofthe Mexican law
aboIishing slavery. For that reason, and that
alone, would again vote for its repeal.
You say that am claimed BY the Union sub
mission party Of your county. II the claim set
up rests upon the supposiIion that am an ali.
vocate for the formation of third party, either
STATE or federal, il is most erroneous. Whea
attempted at washington, during the last SEES.
sion, think may sitaly say, that no one con-
tributed more to defeat the movement than
did. | have always considered the good old
democratic party as the true Union party; and
that nohiog more is required to pat down sec.
tona divisions, aud preserve peace and harmony
than to have the government administered in
s'rct conformity with democratic principles. |
| have ever been a state rights man Of the JET, |
ferson school, and can fearessIy appeal to my
whole public life in proof OF the assertion. lam |
not however prepared to admit that the states
possess either the constitutional or the reserved /
right TO seCede from the Union | consider il |
to be paramount right, inherent in every PEG.
pie, to free themselves from oppression, when
The action ofthe government violates their essen.
ta rights, and becomes too grievous to be borne
aud that from the nature Of our federative system
it would be the most etfcctual mode to ACCOMPLISH
that object.
| have heretofore given publicity to my views
as to the position which conceive the slave.
holding states should occupy in reference to the
action ofthe last Congress; and will not eK.
tend this long Ietsr by recapiluIating hem, dul
refer YOU to my answer to the nvertation Of the
citizens Of Tuscaloosa, in the month Of October
last. Nothing has since occurred to induce me
to change The opinions therein expressed. It
will at all times afford me pleasure to comrnu-
nicate with you freely upon all subjects Of pub.
lie interest.
Faithfully | am
Your friend and obi serv't,
nYNR