The primitive Republican., 1851-10-09
Editor & Proprietor.
NEW SERIES, VOL. 2 NO %.

which prompted the suggestion, not from any
merely personal consideration for ! retain the
power Of placing myself beyond the ftaeh Of
and viii eheerfully do so, rather
than unite in perpetratingeeit, or fail to fulfil
my duty to you, which demands frank ex-
preston of opinion in a crisis Ike the pres
ent.
But arc these sentiments inconsistent with
an ardent devotion to the Union? Nay, do
they not spring from it? Does any one ask
whether l am Union man? Does be wish
to learn whether / have ceased to love and
revere the memory of him who gave me birth
whose youthful sword was feshed in the
achievement of those liberties, which union
was established to secure? Docs he mean to
inquire whether have forgotten the lessons
of my childhood as they fell from his lips?-
Is it his purpose to ask whether I intend to
close a life hitherto devoted to the public ser
vice, by infdelity to those sacred principles,
which with whatever ability God has given
ne, have labored to maintain? Bound, If
revocably bound-wedded as am to the pres
ervation of the peace and harmony of the
Union, by every social and sacred tie-by
the obligations which owe to a patriotic and
generous people, who through evil and thro'
good report, have still sustained me-by an
affection it may be, too ardent for that noble
State, which from infancy to age has been
the scene of my most cherished enjoymcnts
beneath whose soil, are the graves of my
parents and my children, where [ too must
shortly rest, and which is at once the home
and the hope of those who survive. Does he
mean to enquire whether, reckless of these
4 Ities-faithless to these obligation-inscnsi-
BILE to these feelings-I would rase the tenn
pie of freedom, erected by our fathers, and
bring upon this favored land, all the horrors
of civil, intestine, it may be servile war;
Let the unpretending story of life which,
! from infancy to age, has been passed aiiiong
I you, return the ahsRer-I have none else to
: give.
t But from various quarters, the question is
ITrOpounded to me, will you act with the Con-
! stitutional Union party? and it shall be an
c swered frankly.
$ adhere to the decision of the Convention
Q With these representatives of the sovereign
? ty of Georgia, I have lively recollection of
y "the aggressive spirit of Representatives of
y the non-slaveholding States, . with which we
: have long combatted," and feel with them,
: that the sources of this turbid stream lie be-
;, yond the Halls of Congress-that ''they are
L to be found in the midst of their several con-
IS stituences'-Iagree with them, that the meet
5, ing of the Convention afforded a ftoteasiou
7, ''for the sovereign people of Georgia, to COM
e mune with the sovereign people of those
le States, to remohstrate calmly and frankly
with them, and ''to recall them to a sense of
A 1t141 fodo al4 Il
it [ find in the compromise measures, as they
N did, 'matter for objection and matter for APP
le proval," though like them, do not 'Fwholly
C. approve" them, yet like them, l will "abido
IS by it, and will unite with any party, or por.
ton of my fellow-citizens, whose conduct as
no party, shall conform to a spirit thus mani
e. tested by this patriotic body Like them
es "impelled by an earnest desire to perpetuatc
IS the American Union," I am anxious to re
of store that peace and harmony on which itS
ty value" depends-and with them, am willing
v to let by-gones be by7gones,' in the cherish
II ed hope that "brighter hours will come" Il
n these opinions and these feelings make me q
he Constitutional Union man, here then is the
st pledge of my fealty.
a But if beyond this, I am required to say
is, what they have expressly contradicted-
us if, in the face of the long continued mani
Is festations of an aggressive spirit on the par
ra- of the non-slaveholding Ststes; Rbieh thu
IN Convention denounced in the langt:aEe 0
ur calm, yet manly remonstrance, it is exacte,
le- from me to say that Georgia has sustained
m no wrong-if while they declare, that ther
les is in the Compromise such "matter for obiet
ir- ton" that they cannot ''wholy approve it,
he | am required to say, not only that there j
IN in it no matter fer objection, and that who'll
* approve it, but also that it is fair, just AM
es- equitable-a source of triumph and gratula
ru- tion to the people of Georgia-then l hav
list to say, non haze IN federal cannot enter int
lb- these bonds. I will not make war upon th
rec Convention. This is neither their languag
as nor spirit. 1t is in direct conflict with al
tly they have said or done. / cannot tswallo'
OF my own words II cannot unsay, to propit
lth ate the favor of a party, what, under th
OF obligations of my oath, have said in mail
ex- tanning the rights of the State. I eannC
re- stultfy myself, lest I should invade ii
on, province of that reverend gentleman, an
oe- gallant soldier, and accomplished Statesman
nle who does me the favor to sit in judgment 0
rea my Capacity" I cannot entitle myself
ust the forgiveness, which in such a truly gent
ito. and patronizing spirit, is youchsafed to N
! OF "aberrations." cannot hope to remove Il
ngs serious doubts of the many patriotic al
ded intelligent men, who have RnbuEdenc
themselves to the nominating Conyentic
ice, tof Richmond No, fellow-citizens, when
di- accepted with profound gratitude to tho
the who bestowed it seat IN the Senate Of 4
.h a United States, l made no surrender Of n
Dlit- privileges as a free citizen of Georgia.
rse- retained my rights as man, and could n
too, Edigest myself Of my obligations as an a
ia coun:able being. Dragged before the pub
this to repel an unfounded imputation on L
this personal integrity, at moment like this,
ent, is both nay night and my duty to speak t
of truth, ewithouy fear, favor, affection, or {
ion, hope of reward, unawed by the menace
d a party prescription, and unseduced By t
nsti- hope of coneiiating opposition. To the d
liti cislon Of the people of Georgia, as it has be-
1uld announced BY their representatives in CO
lave yentlon assembled, I yield cheerful oc
ate, fdience, and will cordially unite with al
hen, party, who viii adhere to it, Hith fidelii
agg- by whatsoever name that party nlay be
nee, tinguished.
ls q By that decision the people Of Georg