The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-03

TO he People cj Georsia

10 INC e1Pfr ~ oe"'Sf"-
lcogcLuDED.
The convention met Those who had adyo-
Gated the proprely of its instant adjournment
if they still retained their opinions, were d'sap-
poiuted, Those who were in favor OF extreme
measures of resistance, if there were such, were
also oyerruIed The convention proceeded to
deliberate calmly and seriously on the several
matters before them and ad pied report and
resolutions, which they published, with jour
nal of their proceedings. kepudiating scces-
sion as a remedy, they declared that, although
Georgia 70 nd Z" matter for objection III, ana
did not wholly approve" the compromise she
would nevertheless "abide by it," "impeliff
by an earnest desire to perpetuate the American
! Union, and TO restore that peace and harmony
upon which its value to herself, her contederaies
and mankind essentially depends The con-
vention did more They complained OF "the
aggressive spirit of representatives OF the non
slavehoIdine States" which they had long com
batted and to bring this spirit to their several
constituencies" addressed to them the Ian
guage of calm and frank circumstances, rather
than that of defiance and menace" to recall
them to the faithful discharge of theirduty, as
faithful contederates, by AN appeal to their rea
son and their moral sense"
took an early occ sion to bring the action
of the convention to the notice of the Senate
of the United States, declaring my desire, as
one of the representatives OF the people OF
Georgia, to give effect to their opinions, express
ed in convention legitimately assembled, add
inc that IL represen ed the conservatism of the
State, and was composed of men as anxious for,
and devoted to, the preservation of the Union,
as could be found within her broad and extend
I'd limits" aud my argument on that occaslon
was intended and calculated, so far as could do
IT, to give effect to the action of the convention.
Is there any indistinctness, any want OF direct
ness and clearness in this expression OF my pur-
pose--any loop-hole on which to hang doubt
"a serious doubt ?--and if not, do the nominal
ing convention of Richmond mean to question
my sincerity--to impeach my integrity?
What possible motive could have to express
what did not feel? The convention thought
with me, that we had cause of complaint; that
disnnion was not the proper remedy for our
grievances-that a calm, manly remonstrance
should be addressed to our sister States, to re-
call them to their duty. These were my sem
timents, expressed before the convention met
Was it not natural that should adhere to them,
when they had been confirmed by that body?
have endeavored to meet this accusation in
every aspect in which it can be presented. The
resolution of the nominating convention is, how.
u
doubts concerning my opinions on the compro-
mise measures. The doubts referred to, may
relate either to the measures themselves, or to
the decision Of The convention Of Georgia, 10
abide by them.
IF they refer to the first, the answer is plain
ana obvious. | voted for all those measures,
except the admiss' on of California and against
that not only voted, but spoke, and assigned
nv reasons at large. Is there any room to doubt
what my opinion is, on all, or any of those
measures? The nominating conventten may
not agree with mel in opinion, but they cannot
doubt what my opinion is
Does it apply to the last--to the decision of
the convention of Georgia to abide by the COM
promise? Is this the doubt which it is meant
to express whether am disposed to conform
to this decision? Why should not! The
| opinions stated in their report, were my opinions,
and had been publicly expressed by me, before
they were adopted by them. They have been
steadily adhered to since, The declaration that
these are my opinions, and that this is, and has
been my determination, is repeated now. II
any man processes to donbt the sincerity Of
these declarations, what Christian obligation for
bids me to say, that such a man professes to
doubt what he knows to be true, and to believe
what he knows to be false?
commit these resolutions TO the Judgment
of the people Of Georgia---nav, | submit them
to the calm and frank reconsideration of those
by whom they were adopted, in the confident
belief that they cannot fail to acknowledge, AT
least to themselves, the injustice which they
have done me.
A word more. / am not among those who
discern in the signs Of the times, any immediate
danger to the Union: but the scenes through
which we have passed and are passing, admon-
ish us Of the perishable nature of all merely
human institutions. Its security is to be sought
in vigilance whi,h shall never slumber. We
must be wachfel of ourselves, as well as Of
Others With the mar " assertion of our rights
we must unite the faithful ful6ment Of oul
duties Our first great duty is 20 cherish
spirit Of union among ourselves Dangers may
spring up in our midst Our passions ma,
mislead us, and the selfishness Of others, may
subject us to perils from without An elemen
4 of discord between the members of this con
federacy, unhappily exists The institution il
VIII ich IL originates is vital to us, while to ou
confederstes IL is only important as an elemen
of political power. 1t belongs to an enlightene,
patriotism TO allav the animosities it is calcula
/ ted TO excite. To cherish n spirit of UnioI
among ourselves, is to sdopt the most effcien
means of perpetuating our union with our con
\ federates. We may not expect an entire ex
emption from future aqgreseions. If unhappil
they should come, prudence and patriot nd
monish us to rests them in manly and tenn
perate spirit Submission viii invite their re
newal The Freesoil party ia active, enter
prising, and increasing In numbers. Withou
being presently ranged under their standard, tn
advocates of the compromise in the free State
mite with them in opinion, and share thei
feeling Of opposition to what they denominat
"the extension Of slavery" Content with thci
recent triumph, they sing pmans to the Unior
, and will, when this question shall again occu
be identified with the Freesoilers-while w'
having nothing more TO YIELD and no reasonabl
expectation Of any thing to gain, must submI
J IN legislative exclusion from territories here
after acquired, without the form of comproms
to soothe the wounded feelings Of freemer
, This result can only be avoided by perfeC
} union among ourselves
90 the other hand, uures,rained violence, !
resistance to aggression, will produce division
among us. You need only look Mt the comics
, which ia ragino in the State with bitterness
which not content with the political ossracs'
!, Of tie victim--would remorselessly trample o
his reputation, and that too, between thos