The southern press., 1851-12-13
VOL. III

be maintained and the permanent happiness OF
the nation secured. | do not expect, Mr.. Pre-,
sdent this resolution to be unanimously adopt
ed, either in this house or in the House of Re.
representatives.. | know that there are gentlemen
committed, in both houses, to a system of per
manent opposition to our scheme OF settlement
and it is but reasonable to expect that these per
sons will, both by votes and speeches, presen
such opposition to any such resolution, as the
one before us, as they may suppose to be neces
sary to the maintenance of their local popuari-
| ty, or the attainment of other objects Of less
reputable character. What ! do expect mo ST
confidently is that this resolution or one of sim
| liar import will be supported by SO large a mum.
Der of both houses of Congress as to give assur-
ance to the whole country that no opposition
can ever be successfully presented to any part
Of the plan of adjustment, eith"r now or here
| after, and in any quarter ct " .alon.
| 3Ir. President, 1 have not brought forward
| this resolution as Il mere party man, nr for the
furtherance Of mere party ends. Firmly and in
! hexibly devoted as have been since the open
ing days OF manhood to the g"est principles OF
what is known as the democratic creed of the
country, and DESTROYS on all fifth q occasions to
rive hearty and uneq nivoca support to the
| same, should scorn myself could consent to
blend the interest of any party with the move
ment which have thought proper to originate
for the attainment Of different and far higher
purposes. Nor do |, sir, look to party alone for
the support of this resolution. Indeed, in the
spirit of sincerity becoming grave an occasion,
must acknowledge that should hold it to be
quite unsafe to rely alone upon party votes for
the adoption of such measure as is necessary
to restore complete quiet to the public mind. ]
will 90 further, Mr.. President, and acknow edge
Al. nj har of tl,a
| tonal parties of the country, in their present
state ard condition, as entirely reliable for the
faithful maintenance Of the compromise in all its
parts. Free -soisn in the North and secession
! in the South are vet undaniably exerting an in
| huence more or less mischievous in both the old
party organizations and events have occurred
recently, calculated to excite great alarm in the
public mind in regari to the future action OF
both the parties referred to- touching the faithful
| execution of the scheme of compromise. | had
| hoped, before ] reached this city, TO find both
| the Wing and the Democratic party prepared to
| rppudate all further connexion with faction and
with wretched devices
| Nv mind had chershA the confident hope that
at lea st the members of the Democratic party in
Congress would be prepared to declare their de
termination to hold no alliance with any body OF
men pledged to resist the laws, or 10 keep alive
agitation upon the subject of domestic slavery
and yet trust that a course may be adopted
| by those gentlemen il Congress in whom
have heretofore confded, and with whom have
delighted 10 cooperate on great national occa-
sions, more in unison with the ancient dignity OF
the Democratic faith, and less offensive to my
| own sense OF propriety than certain proceedings
which have of late gained somewhat distress
| ing notoriety. For nv own part, Mr.. President
! INN &c 5ulved to hold no po!iiiga. fa.lo ship
with any association Of men, by whateve? name
designated, whose opinions do not harmonic
perfectly with the opinions of that noble body
| Of lovers of the UuiOn whom have the honor
for the present, alone To represent on this floor
| What nv worthy constituents think on mi.
| whole subject j. 80 clearly aud stroaglY SCI
forth in the resolutions recently adopted by ouT
| State convention. that shall ask leave 10 read
them in hearing Of the Senate.
Here follow the Mississippi resolutions
which we have already published
These resolutions, Mr.. President as all pres
ent know. were adopted by an overwhelming
majority Of the body in which they were origi
naied-;here bcing, in fact, only three voices
raised in the convention in opposition to them
| Now sir, yNu disco yer that the sovereign peo.
] pie Of Mississippi have formerly and deliberately
| declared that whilst they do not entirely NJ.
prove" the acts referred TO in the first of the
resolutions just read, yet they will abide by the
whole series Of the acts as - permanent adjust.
meat Of the sectional controversy" which ha-
been so long pending. You will observe, sir
| also, that out convention has declared fur her in
the sixth resolution that the people Of MisSis.
sippi. in the recent elections, have been gov.
.rn ID by an abiding confidence that the said nd
| iustment measures Of Congress would be en-
forced in good faith in every section Of the lard
Such, sir, il the attitude Of the people Of Mis-
.is~ippi, and tiey have thought proper thus 10
make pubic avowa Of their opinions and ex
pectations. They have sdjudyed the measures
| Of compromise worthy of their approval. and
they have deter uiHed to stand by them firmly
and faithfully. They have not attempted 20
mystify their position, or 10 conceal their views
and wishes in any respect whatsoever. They
nave a right 90 expect equal frankness and f
deity 10 be- exercised by their felow.citizens in
any other portions Of the confederacy. Through
me they request at this moment, from the sena
| torial representative. OF the co States Of the
| Union here assembled n declaration Of the
willingness Of those under whose Authority they
act firmly and faithfully % stand By and
maintain the plan Of adjustment in all its parts.
| Will honorable senators speak out lilly and
explicitly on this important subject or will
they, by remaining silent, permit themselves and
their constituents 10 be misun ierstOod among
those whose earnest wish il Is 10 reciprocate
friendly sentiments with them. and 10 coufide
| fully in them n just men, and as patriots
Let no member Cf TIE Senate, Mr. President.
! from the South say that our Northern brethren
need no additional assurance from Us Of oar
determination to acquesce in and support the
compromise. Events have occurred, as all
truthful men will confess, calcnlsted 10 awaken
more or less OF doubt a. to the position likely
to be assumed ultimately by the Southern
States Of the Union. Let no senator from tie
North, either, declare that the people Of the
South have no right 10 demand from their fe
low-citizens Of that section Of the coofederacy
such an assurance as that embodied in the reso.
lotion under consideration. Every intelligent
man in America knows the fact, that the mum
Der Of active politicians in the Northern States
is by no means inconsiderable who stand
pledged to agitate for the modification or repeal
Of the Fugitive slave law, as it is called. There
/ Il