The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-14
ETTER FROM Gov. BAGBY.
MONTGOMERY, May 2, %

GEHTLEMEN-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your favor of the 18th ult.,
inviting me, in behalf of the citizens of Central
Mississippi, to attend a barbecue at Jackson on
the l4th inst, in honor of your distinguished fel
low-citizen, Gen. John A. Quitman.
The intimate relations so long existing be-
tween the States of Mississippi and Alabaina--
the deep and common interest they have in the
great question that overhangs and clouds the
future-render the fame and services of their
public men common property and every move-
ment made by one in reference to public affairs,
is a subject of real and abiding interest to the
other. Cherishing these Impressions, and en-
tertaing the highest respect for the character of
Gen. Quitman, it would afford me much plea
sure to accept the invitation you have been
pleased to tender me, and participate in the fes-
tivities Of which he is the honored object
But on the present occasion il is impossible.
Unless mistake or greatly overrate the indi-
cations Of the times, the period is not distant
in the future when the people in the Southern
States will not only find it necessary to meet
and talk together, but to act together.
The operation and effect of the series Of
measures mis-caled the compromise, passed by
Congress at the session before the last, must, in
my opinion, result in reducing our portion of
the Union TO state Of degradation and ruin. or
finally, in dissolution Of the Union. IL is not
to the principle alone involved in these measures,
oiious and unjust as that principle is at which
| look, but TO the consequences and effects which
must, in my judgment, inevitably flow from
them. One (and TO the Southern States the
most fatal,) of these consequences is, that IL
confines the institution of slavery forever 10
the limits within which II is at present included
Nothing, in my opinion, Is more clearly writ
ten in the book of fate, than that there never
will be another State admitted by Congress
into the Union without an express prohibition
in relation TO slavery This, Of itself. would be
an intolerable and, in time, an insuffersble evil
1t is TO guard against this evil that i oppose
the compromise, and not for the purpose Of as
sailing, with parricidal hands, the Federal Union
If the Union can be preserved according to the
principles of the Constitution, my prayer with
resrect TO II is este Perpetua. ! candidly admit,
however, that do not perceive how the Union
can be preserved, and the vital principle of the
Constitution, the equality Of the States, and Of
the citizens of the States evaded, perverted
violated, destroyed. The Constitution gave
life to the Union--formed the Unions the
Union, and how one can exist without the other,
Is, TO me, utterly ncomprebensibIe
There is another thing ! am equally incapa-
bic Of understanding and that is, how, by what
right and upon what principle il Is that they who
have disregarded the spirit Of the Consultation,
and the rights Of the Sonthern people under the
Constitution should undertake 10 arrocate TO
themselves the title Of preservers, defenders and
sayiors Of the Constitution.
When the compromise measures were first
introduced, ninsteen- twentieth of the Southern
members in both houses of Congress were. OPP
posed 10 them--each, and believe 10 all of
them. do not, Of course, include the Fugitive
slave law. That as you we'll know, was no
part Of the compromise originally, but came
from a different quarter. And yet, some of
those who, in the beginning, denounced these
measures in the severest terms, have come for
ward and insist that the support and approval Of
these very. measures thus denounced by them
shall be made the great test Of political ortho-
doxy, and the true standard Of attachment and
devotion TO the Union.
BY what process in legislation or political
chemistry that which Is said to wrong in all its
elements and all it's facts became right ~
,choie, is beyond my powers of comprehension.
But, gentlemen you and the patriotic and In
telgent community by which you are sur
rounded ,fand Of which you constitute part, no
doubt are deeply sensible Of your rights and Of
your wrongs and so far as remedies are con-
cerned or may become necessary, are much more
capable of Judging than | am. For one, how
ever. have great confidence In the efficacy and
efficiency Of Democratic principles. They lie at
the foundation Of the Constitution.--Theyc con-
stitute the great main pillars of the Union. They
have been, and must continue to be, the sources
Of all our prosperity and greatness, glory and
renown as a people. Democratic principles, the
Constitution and the Union must flourish and
triumph together, or they must fall and perish