Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-10-04

when annexed adopting as the language of tie
bill "to cede al her claims 10 the territory" in
stead of the original phraseology . to cede all her
territory F" and refusing TO insert the words . IL
tie and before +" claim - leaving the v hole mat
ter underlined that no right could probably be
supported by reference TO the previous local
law. The whole transaction being marked by the
never be-forgotten fact, that whilst Congress
held out-the ten million inducement to Texas TO
sell her territory, the President threatened her
with the army and navy, if she attempted 10 hold
possession of it.
Was the power which had been asserted fat
Congress to exclude slavery from the territories
abandoned? No. Its exercise was only abstain.
ed from. The Missouri compromise was effective
in all the territory we previously had and tie
Mexican law relied on for the recent scquis
ton yet when the proposition to prohibit slavery
in the territory was directly presented, the vo.e
stood, yeas, 90. nays, %, but four Northern Sen
ators voting against it, although they had entire
confidence in the efficacy of the Mexican law, and
die incompatibiiity Of the climate TO slavery. Mr.
Webster, said, March 7th., 1850
"Sir, whenever there is particular good to be
dene-wherever there is foot of land to be stay
ed back from becoming slave territory, ] am ready
to assert the principle of the exclusion of slavery;
and he went to say he had been pledged to that
since l 337, but unwilling 10 do thing I'M
necessary and ofenciye, and which would disgrace
his own understanding. Are Ne not led to infer.
are not compelled to believe, that the Wmot
proviso will be revived, whenever it shall be deem
ed necessary for the exclusion of slave property
from any territory Of The tnred States
The fugitive slave law must have been OF little
value TO the people of Mississippi if it had been
fad; hfully executed, instead of being evaded OBJ
structed, sometimes resisted even 10 the La Yard
and loss of life of the master who followed lis
fugitive slave.
The slave trade bill was offensive and danger
Gus usurpation of power on a subject which cannot
be too jealousy guarded.
/ havethus, my fellow citizens, at greater length
than desired yet too briefly for full exposition,
reviewed the principal events, of my course as
your Representative in the two Houses of Cen
gress and | subniitit to you for your approval or
dsapproval with the consciousness that have
failed in much from want of ability ard not
doubling that have committed many errors, yet
with the conseng conviction that l have never
failed inzeal, or knowingly departed from the poll
icy of the State. | have stood in the midst Of
high excitement on questions of sectional nature
| have beard others announce what would produce,
and what would justify dissolution of the Onion.
! | have done no such thing--that | have always
held question for the people of the State alone
I to consider and decide, and have said, ON more
| than occasion, that the honor of Mississippi,
and my own honor, did not permit me to contem-
! plate the destruction of the government of which
/ l was part, and to which | was accredited as a
Representative of Mississippi. Railways held that
4 the true position of the South was to stand upon
the defensive, and battle for our rights from be-
hind the barriers of The Constitution. Ny position
being such as l have described il, held that it
was offensive in any one to insinuate against
want of fealty TO the Union and therefore, in the
Senate, where was surrounded by those who had
had opportunity to observe my course, l said
if any charged me with being disunonist, L
| Il
/ it l replied Indignantly to Senator who said be
did not believe that Mississippi was in favor of
dissolution of the Union, and asked him F'vlro
ever said that Mississippi desired to dissolve the
Union, ? In Mississippi it has been spoken Of but
as alternative, last resource, and remedy
to which they would resort only when they wele
bound freemen TO surrender their inEt Iitance,
or adopt the last argument in order TO maintain
their Constitutional rights. You could not thro'
out the length and breadth Of tie State find
Icorporal's guard who desired to destroy the Union
of the Cons:itution--the Union as it was formed
by, the Union transmitted from their Revolu-
tonary sires." Away took the position that up-
on any question involving the relation of Misss
i sipp to the Federal Government, should " ait for
4 and abide by the decision of the people; that my
first my last allegiance was due the State, and
my service should be hers whenever, and however
she might please TO command It. Consistently
WITH tils view, tlft FoSttlou
to- ] could not and did not assume to decide
what the Stale would or should do. Since de
recent election of Delegates to State Convt n,ion.
! | have asked myself what have the people dcci-
ded Have they decided the issue which was
presented by one party but neyer accepted by the
other--of Union or DSunion in favor Of the
4 Union Then amwith the majority, snd know
of party in the State opposed 10 the 6eeisien.
) The people of Mississippi have given too many,
and conclusive proofs, 10y acts which speak louder
than words, of their attachment 20 he Union, and
willingness to make all proper sacrifices for it,
The :. Democratic State rights Convention = of
June last, speaking of State secession, in ther fir
teenth resolution, said
II * Whilst assert the right consider it the
last remedy, the final alternative, and also d, clare
that the exercise of it, by the State of Mississip-
pi, under existing circumstances, would be nexpe-
a dent, and is proposition which docs not meet
the appreciation of this Convention.
Ell Did the election, then, decide that Mississippi
should not secede from the Union | know OF no
party and trust there few, very few indisidu-
ais who desired that she should adopt so suicidal
: policy Did the election decide that the people
of Mississippi approved the action of Congress
: the subject of slavery, and the territories of the
United States? | hope not, believe not. For
the future well the past, / should deeply la
n ment such decision. Have the people decided
that, though not satisfied not approving. yet they
will bear the evil without seeking any remedy, and
d shape their future action by the of future
oil 7 how tn he iudpn and hui