The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-04

oi inc convention, nor II may De allowed 10
conjecture, in supposing that irritated feeling
eXerted by that correspondence, found express
sion in the resolutions which | am considering
Il will only add that when do become can
didate, shall of course feel it to be my duty to
make it know, and especially to gentlemen dis
posed to deal so fairly with me as the nomina-
ting convention Of Richmond, and the gentle
man referred to
recur to the inquiry, what ii is which these
resolutions either directly or indirectly assert
They assert directly,
That it is inexpedient to sustain any aspirant
TO political office, concerning whose opinions on
the compromise measures, serious doubts are
tertained--and,
That nv course has excited such doubts in
the minds Of many patriotic and intelligent men
doubts so serious rs TO render my re election
at this juncture, "impolitc and unsafe"
make no remark on the first of these propo-
sitions-but when it is applied to me by the as
serton that these serious doubts are entertained
concerning my opinions on these measures, so
serious that the interests of the State cannot be
safely entrusted to my care, every man must feel
that the truth FAD sincerity of my public and re
iteratrd declarations Of those opinions, are called
in question by most offensive impeachment OF
my integrity.
This is the inevitable inference from these
resolutions, taken i'm connection with the fact OF
repeated declarations of my opinions to which
have referred. Do the. members OF the con-
yention themselves believe what they have thus
| indirectly asserted ! acqnit them of such out
RACES of injustice | have looked over the list
of their names, and find that very few Of them
are known TO me, but hazard nothing in assert
ING that there is not a solitary member OF that
convention to whom am known, eithe. per-
sonally or by reputation, who in the retirement
| of his closet, left to Commune alone with God,
and his own conscience, would venture to avow
to himself his belief of the truth OF the charge
which he has thus contributed to prefer against
my personal integrity.
What then was the motive OF this extraord-
nary proceeding II do not say that the mem
bers of that convention have been influenced by.
and participated in that movement of which l
am about to speak that they have, however, un-
consciously lent themselves to it, is obvious.
Ever since the senatorial election in lS47, there
has been concerted movement to DESTROY my
public standing before the people OF Georgia.
The indviduals engaged in it were not numer-
i ous but they were active, and some OF them had
control of the press Failing to find in my course
in the Senate any act which they could use for
the purpose Of elimination, they resorted to the
extraordinary alternative of Withholding from my
constituents the knowledge of anything which |
had done which might be rewarded by their APP
probation. From some of the presses OF the
political party with which | was associated my
name was studiously excluded-or if its inser-
ton became unavoidable in a report Of congress
sonal proceedings, the part which had taken,
however prominent, was either entirely omitted,
or imperfectly reported. Now, cannot say that
am a busy member of the Senate, but the
record of lis debates will show that have taken
my full share in its proce edings, and yet there
have been portions of tire in which have been
actively engaged in those Debates during which,
the fact Of my being a member Of the body,
could not have been aScertained, by reference to
those presses This singular mode of destroy
ing man in public station, by Withdrawing him
from the notice Of his consti uants, while others
were prominently put forward, has been the SUBJ
ect Of remark TO me On several occasions.
The struggles of 1850, ia Congress and in
the State, at length occurred, aud have seemed
TO present an occasion for increased activity in
this movement In the session of our leoisa.
ture in lSi9, some measures of very marked
, character had been adopted in anticipation Of
the result of those which were pending in Con
gress. When that result became known in thC
, State there were some--a very few, as ! theT
believed and as the event has shOwn-who
excited and indignant feelings would have Lee
! them to extremes. Il is the part taken by M
in these transactions in Congress and in tin
State, which j. now to Ice adverted to. to deter
mine on the Justice Of the charge preferred b.
these resolutions will state il briefly, appeal
. ing to the Congressional records, and to tn,
recollections of those TO whom addressed my
SELF. for the correctness of that statement
At an early period Of the session OF Congress
: in 1850, the resolutions of the legislature .
, Georgia were sent to the delegation. The,
I claimed, n their predecessors had always done
whether Wing or Democratic counsels pre-
r dominated in that body0 equality in The diSiri
hutton Of The territory acquired from Nerico. |
became the duty Of the DELEGATION to endeavo
TO give effect TO the wishes Of their constituents
b and am not aware of any diversity e opinion
! as 10 the riqhtfulness Of the claim which the
;, preferred. In common with my colleagues,
~ resisted the admission of California rs a State
While the several measures relating 10 IL
4 newly acquired territory were embraced in on
bill. underworld 20 obtain such modification
:. Of il as would enable me 90 vote for il.
i; I failed in the Senate as n combined measure. l.
J, no set Of mine but by disagreement betwce
= its friends relative 10 the boundary Of New Mes
, leo, a. the records Of that body will show
= When separate bill for the admission Of Ca
, ]
= opposing IT, They may have differed rs 10 III
;, grounds on which they rested their opposition
d, but all believe, concurred in the act
81 For the bills establishing territorial govern
,. men,s in New Mexico and Utah. rested undo
the belief that we were bound by tie treat
with Mexico 10 relieve the inhabitants Of III
former from the military government 10 whc
they were subjected, aud 20 emancipate the la;t,
from Mormon rule.
gave not only NV vote, but my cordial snI
port to TIE bill providing for the settlement Z
the conflicting claims Of Texas and the Unite
States. FOR the following (among other) reason
which will state without discussing them
]. thought the peace and harmony Of III
i Union were endangered. There was part {
y the army Of the United States in New Mexic
% whose con- ranAer exercised civil authorit
- within the limits Of the territory claimed
% Texas That State had provided for the exter
sion Of her Laws over the whole territory whic
she claimed, and for military power 10 sustai
~ her officers in the execution Of them IN In