Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-09-20
Hon. VI. S. Featherston.

q !
ceiient health and looks as if months service at
Washington was calculated to improve rather than to
injure the outward man. He viii address his fellow
citizens at this place on Saturday next, when we hope
that there will be large audience to hear him. We
know he always tells the right sort of tale, and the
records Of Congress sow that he has Invariably pursued
the right course. Come and hear him" Columbus
Democrat, October l9th., 1850.
6~Sueh is the language of our contemporary in re-
lation to the Congressional action of the gentleman
whose heads this article, after the measures
known theS' Compromise AdjuStHlent'' had be-
the Laws of the land, and when the full and COM
plete vote of the representative, not only upon the
measures of Compromise but other questions, were
before our respected and able contemporary. He, of
course, spoke Understandings without guile or prer
Dice and therefore, the opinion is valuable because
is the clear and distinct offspring of impartial justice.
We so take it and upon it, we propose presenting a
few reflections, to which the impartial readers atten
ton is invited.
Col Featherston in connection with whole re-
presentation at Washington, with one exception, op-
posed steadily and consistently the compromise
ures. They opposed them because they believed them
unjust toward the section and the peculiar institutions
which they represented Believing them unjust, they
exered every faculty defeat them. For doing this
the Columbus Democrat says Col. Featherston spur
sued the right course. At this point, the Congress
ional career ceases and have the course pursued
by Col Featherston endorsed by the leading press in
his District.
Col. Featherston returns to his home and consttu-
ency. He finds the public mind agtated The acts
of Congress dstasteful, ana disposition springs
up is nourshed and strengthened by reflection and the
facts of the case, resist legally and c0Stttationay
these compromise measures The question finally set
tied down into Unconditional Accquesence" on the
one hand or Constitutional Resistance upon the 9TH
er hand Parties formed and arrayed against
each other. It is not necessary to so into detailed
statement Of the canvass. is only necessary to say,
that the People decided that they would "Acquiesce
in the Compromise measures a final Adjustment -
This closed the door against Resistance in any FORM
and we here take occasion to say. that States
Rights man, we are prepared to believe that Colonel
Featherston submits cheerfully to the will of the
People That will has been obtained in its sou8rejq
form, and hence the question of"Resistng the Com
promise measures has been swept away by the Peo-
pie.
When Col F. returned to his district, he found the
people organizing upon the points indicated above ant
he had legally resisted the enactment ofthose meas
while pending before Congress, consistency anC
inclination both prompted him aid by his voice anc
his vote, that party opposed to Unconditional Acqu
escence." As stated, that issue is decided The las
final arbiter-the Peope-have spoken and their de-
cision is irrevocabe. We will illustrate our meaning
by simple figure, and believe we can thereby make
the point too clear to admit of cavil
Our government is based upon majorities-maiori
ties rule, and when the will of majority is ascertain
ed upon any single, distinct and definite question sub
mitted that single, distinct and definite question is de
cided. 1t is tribunal from which there is no appeal
Communities have instituted courts, and have invest
cd them with certain powers. among which are the &
nal settlement of difficulties growing out of our dali
transactions. In cases of life and DEATH the peopl
have erected final tribunal before which the crimina
is permitted to appear and appeal. If ttathibna de
cdes against him-he must submit. Questions c
governmental policy, State National, are, in lik
manner, submitted to the People at the ballotbo
decided in the negative the affirmative the decisio
is final because the People, in their aggregate Stat
capacity, have retained the sovereign power to adus
such questions in such form. When, therefore tn
People declared through the baot-box that they wou
not resist the compromise measures, we regarded tn
question of resistance as swept away.
. The Columbus Democrat disagreed with Col Featl
erston in this, then. 1t was for acquescing in an
submitting 10, tleSe compromise measures 20
Featherston not in favor of acquescence or sui
mission. But the Democradd approve ofthe Colonel
course in his having opposed those measures Will
e pending before Congress As the question then
Resistance is settled there cannot be any exigtn
difference between the Democrat and Colonel Featl
erston, and itwoud imply doubt both of the consi
tency and fair dealing Of the Democrat, were we
suppose it capable of opposing disapproUing-of h
Congressional career. That it was right and prop,
for to oppose him, while the question Resstance
was pending, consistent and just but now, sinc
that question has passed away, holdi it be neit
consistent nor just to urge the people to disappro,
of the public course of representative that IT HA
g DELIBERA TELY END ORSED ASJUSTA n
/ CORRECT.
'All admit, says the Democrat of the 3rd nstan
that the South has been wronged that the aggression
have been by the North, that the citizens of the MOI
aveholdng States have nterfered with our domest
institutions both in Congress and out of Congress
that Congress violated the Constitution in the pas
age of the Missouri Compromise and IN other acts pr
II limiting the introduction Of slGUeS into the territ0y7
20 Of The United StqteS.''
W Notice the language of the Democrat 1t still a
mits the aggressions of the North, and now can it wi
any justice urge the people censure or disappro
d oft course of Col Featherston as representat
X in Congress We cannot believe the chvalry whit
guides contemporary nor that love for consi
/ tency which so eminenty is distinguishing diosy
% Grassy in his constitution that just regard for
and manly dealing of which he has heretofore not
ly been type, but an example have delighted