The southern press., 1851-08-09

4 lnTce Oills were lnuOduceu, Que OF u pCIftoTldl
character, one Of Judicial, and one brought in
by Benton. These bills were opposed by South
ern men, because they were calculated to be an
injury and wrong to the South. Acommittee
was formed to modify the bills, and to give the
South what she was entitled to; but when that
committee met, two men claiming to represent
the slaveholding States (Clay and BelD were
present. and Mr.. Clay was made the chairman.
| The evil to the South was admitted, but finally
the policy prevailed that it was best to take a
| lesser evil, ani make great compromise out of
the whole. He opposed the bills singly, because
they were an evil, and he opposed them when
taken in their compromising form, because he
could not see how, by tackng them together,
the evil was lessened but the bills were passed.
And how were they passed? Simply through
the Southern deserters. Somehow, whenever
desertions took place, they were from the weaker
side. In an army they never heard OF desertions
by the men when victory crowned the troops
with laurels; but when misfortune, defeat, weak
ness, sad and heavy arrived, then they could al
ways hear Of d 'sertions. Thus it was with
voters in reference to the compromise bills.
The North had majorty-it had its ofiices-its
emolumeEts to bestow-and the smiles and ia
vors of the powerful were courted by dishonest
politicians, to the injury of the South, and to
the loss, inequality, and injustice of her people.
| These same deserters-the very men that
sacrificed and bartered away their rights now
come forward to the people of the South, and
asked, for what! asked to be justified to be sup
ported in their unholy acts /; and sought to be
again niade leaders of the people and holders of
the confidence of the constituents. Would the
people reward such infamy and disgrace? Would
they heap honors on the wrong-doers and de-
ceivers, and pass unheeded by, those who strugg-
led for Southern rights, and justice? If they
did, few in future would be willing to do battle
for them few indeed would there be who hav-
ing done their best in preserving Southern in.
stitutions and Southern honor, would be willing
again 10 represent them, if on return to their
constituents they were met with reproaches and
condemnation. Oh what evils would they thus
be shoverng on their best friends. He did not
expect, after serving them in the best manner
that he could, after arguing, discussing and
reasoning with their enemies abroad, to return
home to the people of Mississippi, and have to
feel it necessary to come before them and argue
the very questions that he had discussed with
the Northern free-soilers and opponents of
Southern institutions. He did not expect that
for fighting his best for the South he should be
reprQached and it was really painful for him to
stand in the position he then did. He was will
ling rs he had done previously, to sacrifice
every tie of friendship and private regard for his
country, and to make his affections of domestic
character subseryient to the great principle of
his life yet what were his feelings when he
found that instead of obtaining appreciation he
might see by some of his constituents that his
conduct was reproached, and that his opponents
were favored merely because they went to Con-
gress and sacrificed the South, whilst he had
endeavored to serve and protect her interests
But he would not believe that Mississippi could
so far stultify her own principle appause)
The first great object in the formation of the
government, was to give community of protec-
ton in all the departments, and thus to gain the
desirable end of joining by common interest
union and constitution. And hence arose the
first great question how should the government
be formed to prevent one section of the country
from gaining preponderance over another Sec
ton, W lere the interests were so diversified and
the country so wide spread Mr.. Madison there.
fore worked to secure one House of Congress
to represent one section, and the other-the
Senate-to represent another section, and hence,
after long labor, the present Constitution was
adopted with its checks and balances Undue
pressure upon one portion of the country, and
unfair fayors to another, portion, were by no
means not anticipated, and in reference to
equality of protection Mr. Madison, in his Ran
dOph letter, evidently anticipated greater power
by the North than the South, and endeavored to
prevent transgressions. Scarcely, however, had
the Constitution gone fairly to work, ere some
jealousy of disposition arose between tho two
great sections Of the country-North and South
Thus il was that the State Of New York gave
Vermont to secure q balance of power on the
introduction of the State of Kentucky. And
when Missouri was brought into the Union,
/ NJ i r.
which was made the State of Maine. So great
was the fear of undue preference, that the States
generally were brought in by pairs to the Union
each side gaining an addition. but, at the same
time, both preserving their balance Of power
and maintaining that equilibrium which had been
established in the first instance. All along the
same principle had been observed, until, by de-
grees, the North triiled with the Constitution,
and, at the present time, had secured the ma
| iorities in all the departments of the govern
ment The introduction Of the last new State
| was an a0t for which there was no justification,
and the result was secured through the timidity
or the faithessness of those who ought TO have
been true to the South.
| He himself might have been untrue; faithcss
to and regardless Of the interests of the South ;
reckless Of their instructions If he had irsued
any such plan as assisted to give an increase TO
| Northernpower, but when he turned to the sew
eral counties 10 Mississippi, and f. und that de-
cided opposition was raised TO the introduction
of California; when no found the legislature
equally opposed to the same measure; when he
found that Jefferson county equally called upon
him TO support the Constitution; how could he
violate the pledge TO serve them. Jefferson
county told him the feelings Of its citizens in
| these terms:
! ReSolUed, That in the formation Of consti-
tuition on the part Of California, and her applica.
ton for admission into the Union, the usual
formality Of passing through territorial gov
eminent, as heretofore required Of territories,
has not been observed, yet, notwithstanding this
uon.con 'ormance TO precedent, we refer her ap.
| pication to Congress, and would cheerfully con.
sent to her admission, f with il is connected such
a settlement Of the slavery question as will be
entirely satisfactory to the South but that un-
less The rights OF the South are fully secured, we
deem IL her right and duty TO oppose the admls.
| sion of California and nil free States that we