The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-04

cal communities, having distinct interests, and AZ
States united under the compact of the cOnstitl-
ton. Thus far Mississipp 10 bouad 70 70 and take
her stand and thus far we think her sister States
side. fthe North shall act in the spirit Of good
faith and justice corresponding to the momentous
questions involved, by redressing our grievances,
great result will have been accomplished, peace
and fraternal kindness restored, and guarantee
afforded Of the perpetuity of the Union.
II the North shall refuse to accede to our just
demands, then will come up for decision the ques-
ton whether we shall submit to grievous wrongs,
and take the position Of inferonty assigned to US
in the Union or look 10 ourselves for the protection
OF our rights and our institutions out OF it. The
evidence Of hostility on their part will be COM
pete-the cup OF submission on ours will be full.
Non action, beyond that point, will be uncondi-
uonal submission. If we would remain a free
people, we must then resort to such remedies, as,
under existing circumstances, should then promise
to be most effectual.
The federal Union is formed Of equal indepen-
dent sovereignties The constitution is the bond
of Union. When that is violated, the Union is
broken II is the right of the States to judge, in
the last resort, OF infractions OF the constitution.
The Union must rest on the consent of the parties
10 the compact AS each State acceded to the
constitution, and became member Of the Union
voluntarily, each one may, in the exercise of its
high sovereign right, withdraw from the Union,
without any violation Of obligation to those which
remain; and if justice and good faith shall govern
tbVh thciC SuA NC nv oSSooiou ioi Ho5r
tile collision
This is the doctrine of the fathers of the consti-
tuition. Mr.. Madison says: " II appears TO be
PLAIN principle, that when resort can be had to no
tribunal superior 10 the authority of the parties the
parties themselves must be the rightful judges in
the last resort, whether the bargain has been pre-
served or violated"
Mr.. Jefferson says -" In this, as in other cases
of compact among parties having no common judge,
each party has equal right to Judge for ITSELF as
well of infractions as the mode and measure Of
redress" Several of the States, at the time OF the
adoption OF the constitution also expressly claimed
he night to resume the power granted under the
constitution Hence il follows that the right to
cede belongs TO every member of the Union, and
that ii is right that is never given up But the
expediency Of the exercise of this right is quite
different que stiOn. We are by no means prepared
10 recommend TO the people Of Mississippi, at this
time, to take this step in advance of her sister
States, even should our complaints go unheeeded ;
but as measure of precaution, it will become the
duty of the convention TO act with reference to the
conse quences of refusal, on the part of the GO
vernment of the United States, to redress these
protection and safety and TO that end to provide for
the appointment Of delegates, whose duty it shall
be, in Of such REFUSAL TO meet the delegates of
the other Southern States in convention, and
jointly to consider Of the grievances and the mode
and measure of redress-the plan of aclion thus
TO be devised by their united wisdom, to be laid
before the people of the States therein represented
for their final adoption or rejection.
If that convention, with all the lights which
may be thrown upon this subject by the events of
the past, a. well as those which may have tran
spired in the interval, shall then come to the
Tenn conclusion that the safety of the South, the
political liberty Of the southern Sates the exist
ence of their institutions and the honor of their
people, can only be preserved by secession from
the Union, and the formation of a Southern con-
federacy, and should recommend that course, we
know no power but that of the people in these
States, who would have right 10 question the JUS
tice or proprety Of adopting the recommendation.
In hta Ia. 1snlo fAA kVrt
trues wisdom, and by the most exalted patriotism.
the intere sis and policy of the States composing
such a confederacy, would be Identical Their
ability to sustain their position and maintain their
rights, cannot be doubted With annual products
OF the value Of one hundred and fifty millions of
dollar, and with nearly million OF lighting men,
the South has the capacity TO maintain national
Independence against all external pressure. Such
a people, with all The elements of power, cannot
be expected TO surrender their rights
We have no desire for a severance OF this Z MON.
Long may it survive, If II can be brought back TO
It's pristine purity to dispense equal justice, and in-
cure domestic tranquility TO free, united, and
happy people. We are ready TO surrender much TO
preserve it, But could not get rid OF slavery, ii
we would We have not the means of sending
them away, if we were willing to part with them
without compensation. And let 1t be borne in
mind, that 1t payment to US OF anything ike the
value Of cur slaves be made The condition. OF Their
removal, il is simply impracticable-a II is evil
dent upon The least reflection, that the approp.ia-
ton Of sufficient amount OF capital TO this object,
end its consequent abstrac tion from the commerce
OF the world, would derange every branch of busi-
ness, agricultural, commercial, and manufacu-
raj, throughout chrstendom. There can be no
equality Of The races. They cannot live anong1
us, except as our slaves, or as our masters.
The whole history Of the past proves thus. one or
the other must have the ascendancy. We must
either maintain our superiority, or surrender the
land Of our fathers. Between these two alterna.
lives no one would hesitate. The past success of
the abolitionists only makes them more keen for
future victories IL they are not stayed, poet after
post will be carried, until they are ready 10 make
the final attack upon the Institution in the States.
Northern fanaticism ueads no step backwards.
A few more onward steps will brush the cses
from all eyes. We trust il may not then be too
late.
Fellow citizers! we have thus endeavored TO
place facts plainly before you. When your minds
become convinced OF these truths, there will no
longer be di.sensons among ourselves IL the
people Of the whole South become united,
the crisis will be passed. DIVIDE and conquer, has
been the policy Of opponents II TO this policy
you oppose a united front Of tirmness and OF patriot
ism, the country may yet he safe. In our opinion
twill But If in this contlic the constitution shall
perish, we may appeal 10 the civilized world TO
bear witness To the truth, that II fell not by the
hands Of the South but that true TO its instincts Of
freedom, the South gave up the Union only when
IL no longer secured 10 us the blessings of a ration
al liberty. fSignsd J. M Clayton. J. / Guion,
Roger Barton, L. Jones Stewart. J J. McRae, G.
X Clifton, & Z. Smith. J. A. Quitman, 10. Bell,
on behalf Of the Committee.
Jackson, Dec 10, 1850.
The Commsr.ia, aspect or the slavery
Agitation in the United states
90 a.. 49,. A.