The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-17

- - an dnJuSs Qesuano, anu accompanied by yio-
4e8eSan1 bribery, has been ratified by the ac
qaisscsues Of that State, and our complaint 4 due
now, rather to our fraii sister, than to tbs I'M
psfionp purchaser OF her severed territory
ThA sstabljshmGntp OF territorial governments
Ia Utak and New Mexico, was in CONFORMITY
with the forms Of the Constitution, though the
eoatsmpos.neons declarations Of ali the eminrnt
statesmen Of the North, and few of the smaller
ones Of the South, thai the institutions of slavery
remained prohibited by the operation Of the Laws
AZ Mexico, accomplished our exclusion ~ e.
etnslly a. il il had been promulgated BY law.
The suppression Of The slave trade ia the Dis
trIct or Columbia was undonbtsdIy an act Of the
Legitimate power o. Cengrsss. owes the local egis-
lAtion Of the District, though W. regard i,s exer-
cise uncalIsd for concession to the insatiate
demands Of a constantly encroaching fanatcism
The fugitive slave bill. the only ono Of the COM
promise measures which assumes 70 be boon TO
the South, was but simple enactment to carry
into effect the existing obligations OF the North
ern States under the proyislons Of the Consttu-
tntion---a tardy and reluctant payment OF deb.
or long standing, and yet claimed az an Offset to
new and unjust extortions.
But while the committee are not prepared to
recommend accession or revolution, on account Of
the enactment Of the compromise measures, they
vet regard the spirit which prompted them. illus
Lated and developed by thousand other an,-sla-
very demonstrations, AZ 80 malignant in its de-
signs, and obdurate in its purposes, as to leave
but little hope that its aggressons, unless resisted
will stop short Of the ruin into which it is seek
ing TO drive The clamor at the North for the
repeal Of The Fugitive slave bill-the late free soil
uiumphs in Ohio and Massach useits--the open
defiance Of the law in the city Of Boston and else
where, and its formal qualification by the State Of
Vermont, are the chill and dark shadows thrown
before by the coming events which they portend
For these coming events, It becomes US TO pre-
pare with dignity and determination. Concession
/ - ~. t1n~ - IL IT.
been made to the very verge Of dishonor, and eve
nv Southern heart revolts at submission to further
Injustice. This is the common ground upon
which all Southern men meet, and, laying aside
all differences that have hitherto divided them,
pledge 10 each other their mutual vows to recede
no farther. For her love Of the Union, the South
may proudly appeal to the past--for her greater
love Of liberty, let her now appeal to the future.
The committee cordially respond to the noble
sentiment Of our chief magistrate in his annual
message, Z" that there is no treason so ignomnious
as acquiescence in violated Constitution" and
they recommend without reserve, in anticipation
81 the threatened inractions OF constitutional
rights, that provision be made for the interposi-
ton, il such event, Of the State sovereignty.
Should the continued agitation Of the slavery
question at the North eventuate in the repeal of
the Fugitive slave law, either by positive enact
ment in Congress, or its practical abrogation, by
the Intervention Of the State or municipal authori-
ties such result should be regarded as deci-
siye Of determination to hold at naught all the
sanctions Of the Constitution, and to PROSTATE at
the feet Of their arrogant masters the bleeding and
helpless South, as pensioner upon their bounty
and forbeafance. Such determination, thus
no.nifested, would leave us to choose only be-
tween disgrace or resistance. The former alter
native admits not of contemplation, and the mode
and time in which the Inter is to be interposed
ynnst be left to be determined by the people, when
thew meet in convention. This much. however,
NAV be said, that, when the time and occasion
come for the resistance of which we have spoken,
the period will have gone by, when the breach
NAV be healed by efforts at Cancellation, and APP
meals to our ancient and long cherished devotion
TO the Union.
There will be then no Union to love, for its
spirit and its life will have past away, when the
weaker party have to resort to separation escape
the tyranny Of the stronger. He who acts under
such necessity, is not separating himself from a
bnnd Of brothers, but lis flying from den oil
rohbers The patriot who hits his arm in sue,
struggle strikes not for dis,nion, but for indie
pemdencs.
ments ferred to them embracing sundry resoIu-
lions from conventions, but anticipating the re.
ceipt of others before the termination Of the SEES
eion. thew will ask leave to report again.
The committee conclude by presenting and re-
commenting for adoption sundry resolutions as
serting the right Of secession, and others relating
to the late action Of Congress. and to the appre-
hended interference with that action and also O
bill providing for the calling convention Of the
people of Florida in certain contingencies.
WALKER ANDERSON,
Chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations
Resolved by the Senate and Hon.e IF Representa-
fires Of the STATE Of Florida IN General Assembly
rcnp,nsd. That the compact by whicn the sev era
States OF this Confederacy formed themselves I'M
der United Government, was the act of sover-
eion States, and that the rights and powers no,
surrendered by that compact, yet belong to the
States. and may be exercised by them at their
own uncontrolled will and pleasure.
Cd Resolped, That among the rights and O w.
.rs thus reserved and capable of being exercised
bv the States, is the right for each State TO Judge
Gbere being no common arbter between soyer-
e;onties.) whether the other parties to this COM
nsct have broken it, and to decide whether such
violation by the other parties absolvss the rest OF
the States from the obligations of the said COM
pact.
withdraw from the Union, when the obligations
Of the mutual compact are broken by the other
pnrties. and when such State may deem such
withdrawal necessary to her honor essential to
her well being. and therefore that any attempt on
the mart of the General Government to resist H. e
necefu accession from the Union Of any State,
would be gross usurpation of power, subversive
of the rights of the States and destructive of the
principles Of liberty.
5th' Resolved, That while the State of Florida
ecou;esces in the enactment Of the called com
nrnmse measures, she regards herself having
for the sake of harmony approached point,
a single step beyond which in yielding to The ex-
actions Of the anti-slavery spirit. would be incon
sistent with her safety and her honor
9Th. Resolved, That the devotion Of the people
Of Florida to the Union Of the States is not a
b,nd dolatry TO mere name, but is founded up
on the conviction that il designed by our
fathers, and if its mutual obligations observed
will prove, to be the best and surest means Of pro-
noting and securing the safety, honor and liberty
of The confederated States, and that when it fails
TO accomplish the ends for which it was formed,
and becomes in the hands Of an INSCRIPTIONS ma
iorty, an esgine Of oppression and Injustice, it
will have lost the attributes which entitled it to
our love.
7th. Resoired, That in spite of all the injustice
Of the past, we will adhere to this Union, if The
Northsrn States cease from further aggression on
our peculiar rights, and observe the other oblga-
lions of the federal compact.
9Th Resolved, Tbat on the preservation on the
.,s,ute book of the Fugitive slave bill and its
C.;.hf,l execution by the federal authorities de-