The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-06-10
PoslhumOus Letter Of tn, late ]. c Calhoun

interest. 1t was written in answer 10 an
invitation 10 be present in Charleston to a
public meeting, in 1s47 when il was pro.
posed 10 give form to this idea OF Southern
Rights Associations. The meeting did not
take place at the time, but Mr.. Calhoun
: shows how fully alive he was to the power
.and usefulness of such combinations, gene
rally extended through the South. and act.
ing in concert.
FoRT HILL, September 2s, 1917.
+ Dear SU-I regret exceedingly that II
will not possibly be in my power to meet
the wishes of the Executive Committee,
which has associated to resist aggrt ssions
upon the property and rights of the slave
holding States, by attending the meeting of
the citizens of Charleston, to be held ON the
! 18th Oct 0ber next, for consultation to organ
ize an Association throughout the southern
States, and the adoption of such other mea-
sures as may be deemed necessary for their
safety. My numerous engagements viii
fully engross every moment Of leisure in the
short interval between this and my derar
turc for Washington.
take the pfofrundeSt interest IN the ob.
iect Of the meeting am under deep and
solemn conviction that the time has arrived
which we l1ust meet and put down the
abolition movements at the North or pre-.
pare Tor the most ca}amltors cvems that
ever 5ele people, 1t has been loo long
/ delayed The movement ought t. have
been met from the first, Waih fixed deter
minaton to put them down at all and every
hazard. Our perfect equality and right in
our property ought never to be permitted to
be questioned or disturbed. The constitu-
ton which guarantees them, guarantees
their quiet and undisturbed possessions
Such has ever been my opinion and, if
my counsel had been followed, the evil
would have been rrested at the start. But
! the past is, past and the questlonis What
shall we now do! 1t is a solemn question.
My impression is deep if we do not now
meet and put down abolition edectually,
the opportunity will be lost never to return.
1t is not sufficient to defeat the Wimot
proviso. As insulting and bad as that is il
is by no means the worst and most insult.
ing.
| regard the late act of the Legislature of
Pennsylvania, relative to fugitive slaves,
and those of the non-slavehoding States OF
similar character, more palpable, if posi-
BILE, violation of the Constitution, and more
dangerous in its effects, than even the Viii
mot proviso. / 90 further, and regard the
establishment of societies and presses in the
non.saveholdiug States with the express
intention of questioning and disturbing our
right in property over which the Federal
Government has no contro., and which is
expressly guaranteed to us by the constltu-
tional compact. as direct breach of faith,
and as violation of the terms of compact,
TO defeat the WiImot proviso, and to leave
these acts and the spirit in which they or,
ginate nnresisted and in full operation,
. would, in my opinion, be Il victory more
. fatal than defeat; especially, If its defeat
should be by mere compromise, proposed
by ourselves, and carried, mainly, through
, Congress by our votes. Such result would
be the most disastrous OF all. 1t would put
,is of our guard without removing, or even
, diverting, the danger. ..
The next question is: Shall we meet
I and put it down? Nothing would be more
, easy, if the SFavehoding States should agree
, TO unite for the purpose. The more Union
!. itself, in my opinion, would enable us to
i. dictate terms, or, if not, would put into our
hands ample hieahs TO compel the non
4 sIavehoIdng States to respect our rights to
q the fuIl, and to fulfil the stipulatons of the
I Constitution in our favDr. The mere right
A of retaliation. if they refused, would be ef
. lectuai. There are more stipulatlons in
a their favor and OF vastly greater import
=, ance, than in our favor. Union among our
!. selves would enable us to resort to retaa
. ton, if, after due notice, they should refuse
to respect those in our favor. But ! have
"a no idea, if we were once united in fixed re
: solve to put an end to these assaults on ou
% rights, that it would be necessary to resof
!. to higher measures. The power OF resort
ing to them, and the certainty they WouiC
-, be resorted to, if the assaults were not de
- sisted from, and the measures adopted 10
: the purpose ofnaking them Abandoned
10 The great question then, is-tlow cal
/; we be best united? | regard the propose'
7, Association, which the meeting Is to b
!, convened to consult about, as great an
70 indispensable step. | hope it will be ar
! proved by the meeting and that measure
= will be adopted to extend it throughout u
=. - entire sIaveholdng STATES. That and tn
no establishment Of an able and trustworth
- press at the seat of the Federal Govern
~ ment. to watch over our interests all
b. rights, and to warn against approachln
is dangers, with the determination to SILK pa
is ty considerations below what relates TO OF
Nh rights and honor, would do very much
bring about the desired unjou. That doh
M | will underwrte the rest
nd With great respect, am yours,
ms JIG. CALHOUN.
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