Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-01-04

and ex-President of the United States. Herr
was tine opening to test the strength Of TIT
apolilionlsts whom You seem so E.uc!, to fea.
and what did proyes Why, that they were
| unable to secure single electoral vote io1
their candidate in the United States. Does
this look as if The people of the North were
disposed to wage war with the South? Lock
at the present Administration. Mr. Fillmore,
| who so ably fills the chair but lately vacated by
The death OF one of the purcst patriots that
ever defended his country, is like yourself q
| Northerner by birth and education. But he is
the President Of the whole country. lie
points the North to his home, his firesidc, ard
| to the high Offices he has filled as evidences of
fidelity to'it. To the South he gives assuran-
ces that the laws which protect the institution
OF slavery, shall be faithfully executed. His
Cabinet, who are his advisers, and majority Of
whom are from the Southern States, are eyi
dence OF his sincerity.
bnt, Sir, let us goa little farther, and inquire
VINO, IN the last session Of Congress, were our
most able advocates, and where did they re-
side! Men who, ikyou are correct in opinion
staked their political hopes in maintaining our
constitutional rights! will not speak Of the
committee of public safety--the venerable
sage OF Ashland-nor Of the talented andeser.
to-be honored Foote, but | will refersv6n 10
such giant spirits as Webster, Cass ar1HDick-
lnson. Now what think you Of such ei.emi,s
rs these! 10 you not exclaim as did the
prophet of old, "Would to God that liz land
was fu / of them? But, sir, l W illnetiec one
other fact before leave this part of Your mes
sage. What have you to say of the fugitive
slave bill, which enables us to recover our
slaves, no matter where they nay be found,
even though it be at the table of the Rev. Thee
dore Parker at Boston? This bill you remetn-
Der was passed by Northern majority in Con.
gress, and rs think offers every satisfaction
and security to the South that reason can re-
quire.
Having, as believe, cited evidences sufficient
to satisfy any unprejudiced mind, that the pso-
pie of the North have manifested every dispo-
sition to convince. Us of their friendship and
love Of Union, dismiss this part of your mes
sage, and will proceed te notice briefly your
ties to the South. You are kind enough to in
form us that you are q father and property
holder--that You have been honored by tho
people of your State, &c. Well sir, | too have
a family and property in Louisiana. But have
a tie that binds me to the South, which YOU can
never feel-"H is my oacn, my natare lond."
And with all the feelings and interests of H
Southerner, can but view the principles you
advance in your message as ruinous to the
South, to constitutional liberty, and, in spirit,
reasonable to the Government that has foster
ed and protected you, your children and proper
tY. Nor is it the first time that you have urged
upon the people the right to break assunder The
bonds Of their constitutional liberty Indeed.
you seem to have sort Of mania for political
change and revolutionary strife, as iucompati-
BILE with American liberty us it is with the char
acter of a true patriot and good citizen.
But before closing this communication,
will briefly notice that part of the message,
that relates to the abolition of the slave trade in
the District Of Columbia.-You will not deny
that the Constitution of the United States gives
to Congress the exclusive jurisdiction over tina,
District, Why then may not the peepls Of the
District ask Congress, as their sole legislature.
to abate what they consider nuisance among
them! 1t is nothing more than every slayehol-s
ding State in the Union has substantially done
thro its Legislature; but Governor, if it appears
to your dilated eye such monstrous affair.",
now, to prohibit few traders from making the
District depot to sell slaves in, why did you
not SO consider it in 1892, when you advocated
a constitutional prohibition Of precisely the
same character in your own STATED And you
then told us that you were sincere in your con-
victions and honest in your vote, and doubtless
you were so. Your opponents, however, did
not clamor for secession separate confedera-2
cy, or committee of safety. But they reme-
died what they afterwards considered nm evil,
at the ballot-box. aGo ye, and do likewise!"
In my next communication. I will notice that
portion of your message, which relates to the
admission Of California, &c. must, however,
embrace this opportunity 70 congratulate you
upon the prospect Of the early completion Of
he Insane Asylum of Mississippi. Press for-5
rard, my dear sir the good work, for it is, fear
much needed in your State. Respectfully, s
RICH'D A. STEWART.
To his Ercellencs, s,@1
JoHH A OuIruAY