The southern press., 1851-09-06

4
of the pitiless storm. Our cause is identical,
and if the red hail of death must sweep with
the force of the sirocco across the plains OF the
devoted State that has the boldness to take the
initiative, let all be prepared to act as becomes
freemen, Jealous Of their rights, and resolved to
submit to nothing that is wrong, whatever the
sacrifibe may be-
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
Agreeable to public notice, the convention for
the purpose of nominating candidate for Con-
g-ess, to be supported by the Democratic party
of the fourth congressional district, met at the
Alexandria House, in Alexandria, on Monday,
the 18th August, and having been called to
order, on motion of A. r. Splane, r. A. Hunter
was called to the chair, and DR.. Hilliard and Mr..
Jacob Humble were appointed vice-presidents,
and Lewis E. Texada and M. McIntire were ap-
pointed secretaries.
Thus organized, the meeting proceeded to the
selection of candidate to represent he district
in Congress, and the result was the renomna-
ton of the Hon. ISAAC b. MORSE, by acclama-
ton.
On motion Of J. A. Bynum, central commit
tee of twelve were appointed, consisting Of DR..
Flournoy, of Caddo; j. A. Bynum, of Rapides /;
| W. Ii. Hough, of Caldwell; N. NJ. Bryant, of
Union; r. N. Richardson, of Ouachita; r. c..
Hilfard of st. Martinsville; General Splane, of
st. Mary; Judge Greenaux, of Natchitoches /:
John Smart, Of Sabine; James A. Kennedy, of
Jackson; Aaron Livingston, of NJ Morehouse and,
on motion, the chairman was added to the COM
mittee
| On motion of DR.. Flournoy, a committee was
ap pointed to draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of the convention, which committee con-
sisted of Dr. .Flournoy, d. Hilliard, Jesse A..
| Bynum, A. ]. Isacks, and NJ. McIntire, who re-
ported the following resolutions, which were
adopted:
L. Resolued, That we will cheerfully abide by
and maintain the American Union, so lorg as it
rests upon those principles of liberty justice and
equality upon which our fathers placed it, and no
longer.
| 2. Resolred That this Union consists of dis.
tnct independent and sovereign States who by
their own free will and consent, have united in
a confederacy for their mutual safety, advantage
and prosperity.
3. ReSolUed, That whenever the objects and
| powers of the government so formed, are sub
verted and abused, so as to be turned to the op.
preston of any one Of those States, either by
the continued violation of its organic laws, or
by the determined domination of any unjust ma
jority, that government can be upheld by the
party injured only by submission as dangerous
and impolitic as it is unworthy intelligent and
free people.
A. Resolped, That at the formation Of this
government, the right of property in slaves ex-
listed in all the contracting States but one, and
was as fully recognized in the federal compact
as the right to any other species of property,
and distinctly left to the exclusive control of
the States themselves within their limits.
g. Resolped, That the continued, systematic.
and increasing aggressions of the people and
many of the States of the North, upon the rights
of the Southern States, and particularly upon
the institution of slavery, judged by those rules
of construction which prudence teaches to all
prudent and sensible men, affords us but slight
hope that those ageressons will now cease ; but
on the contrary, show US the strongest reasons
at-unchecked-theyw will progress TO the final
and complete subjugation of the slaveholding
States.
g. Resolved, That il is duty which the peo-
ple of the Southern States owe to themselves,
promptly to unite and cooperate in the defense
of their rights and institutions.
z. Resolred, That while forbearing to take
ourselves, or TO prompt others to take any meas.
ures OF violence or active resistance TO the laws
of 1850, called the "compromisa," we are neither
content with their provisions, nor satisfied with
the spirit in which they were enacted. We think
that concessions OUGHT TO be mutual, and do not
consider THAT a compromise in which all the con
cessons are wREsTED from one of the parties.
8. RssolCed, That while we regard it as mex.
pedient for any Southern State, in view of her
past grievances, separately TO secede from this
j Union, we are nevertheless constrained to be-
lieve that any Southern State which may adopt
that extreme measure, will do so in good faith
and under an honest conviction of its necessity.
and in that event. we are nearly kindred in in.
terest and blood to the people of our sister States
Of the South, to consent to the coerson Of such
seeding State by the arms of the federal govern.
ment--
Because--to consent to that coercion would
involve our consent TO a consolidation fatal to
our libertes--our consent to the sacrifice in de-
tail Of all th)se States which have a common in.
terest with ourseves--our consent to all the
horrors which will certainly flow from violent
disruption Of the obligations existing between
the white and slave population; and, because,
10y such consent, we should finally surrender
ourselves to the same fate, oien zoe were no longer
able 10 resist
Q Resolved That great as is our devotion TO
the Union, we owe to liberty greater---and
while we FIX upon no special grievance as rem.
derng expedlent the withdrawal of the Southern
States from this Union, we distinctly declare
that those States have the unquestionabe right
TO resort To any meaures, by secession or other
wise, which may be necessary TO preserve and
defend their constitutional rights
10. Resolred, That we solemnly discalm all
purpose Of dl-unlon, except as last resort
against an unworthy submission. To that we
can never consent, because while submission
T only begets aggression, and It is admitted that
further aggression must lead to disunion, we
may hope that bold and manly vindication Of
our rights will enable us 10 reclaim and defend
them. We therefore declare firm adherence