The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-09


| DAey Sir We, the undersigned delegates,
in convention assembled. for the purposes OF
nominating Southern rights candidate, to rep
resent the second congressional district OF Ala
bama, in tho Congress OF the United Sl' es
profoundly impressed with the Importance OF
presenting for that office, the nan Of one whose
past course has shown him 10 oe one VI ''e
truest and most disnterested of Southern ralri.
OTIS, and whose distinguished ability and anques-
tionube soundness, unite TO make him the ittesi
champion of our rights in this emergency, not
withdrawing your express wish 10 the contrary,
have unanimously, and by acclama ION, deter
mir to call YOU from the retirement which
YOU prefer, to bear GU. standard in the approach
ing contest
| We know the reluctance which you VIII 'eel
at entering again upon the arena, from which,
after 30 brlia 4 n course, you years ago, voiun-
tarily retired We are not Ignorant oil the sac
rfces, which such course will entail upon
you, but we know also, Your devotion TO our
cause, and we confidently hope, that IN TINS day
Of our peril, you will not withhold from The
South, the services which she has a right to de-
mand of all her true sons
To you pre.eminently, were the eyes OF the
convention turned and to you above all, do they
desire to commit the interests Of their country
and their party in the approaching canvass. 10
your keeping they contide the standard OF the
South in this district, ia the full beliefth how
ever great the personal sacrifice demands OF you,
Won will not refuse To bear it alof TO battle aud
to victory.
Signed, GEO. w. WILLIAMS, Presdt.
And all the delegates
TO Geo. w. Williams, esq, President Of The
Southern rights conuenion for The second con-
gressional district.
MONTGOMERY, 18th May, 1851.
DEAR SIR On the both ult, Mr.. X. w. Shep-
pard, one of the delegates to the late Southern
RICH convention for the I'd congressional dis
trict. delivered to me the letter OF the conven-
ton of the 28th ut, rendering to me the nom
nation of that body to be a candidate to repre-
sent this district 10 the Congress OF the United
States.
have pyen to the subject that mature re-
faction which was demanded alike by the char
acter of the nomination--by the circumstances
under which it was made, and above all By the
inheritance of the object which it was designed
to accomplish a and it becomes my duty to an
nounce to the Convention, through its President
that nv determinations not to be candidate Tor
anv office. (of which the Convention was fully
aware az its letter to me impes,) remains mai
tered Be assured, Sir, that it is with no ordina-
~ degree of reluctance that decline the station
10 which the Convention called me in so impress
sive and flattering manner. Reason exist for
this decision to which feel assured every mem
her of the Convention would yield ready as
sent-but which are purely of private charnc-
ter. The acceptance OF the nomination wou,a
involve more than "personal sacrifice" which
-
YOU have done me but simple justice IN supposlnS
I would cheerfullv make for the South.
am well satisfied that our good cause VIII
not suffer by the course which duty demands
that should pursue. There are several gentle.
men in this district, within my nowedge, men
of tried worth-of fine intellect, and OF devotion
to the cause, who fortunately are not hampcred
as am-and who can enter upon the canvass
fully able to cope with any adversary that may
present himself Let there be a generous and
wise sacrifice of personal preferences ~ tavor
of any one of these gallant sons OF the South
and the Southern rights resistance party VIII
certainly be victorious at the polls.
To very great degree, the question at issue
ia above and beyond the reach of most of those
arts and influences which have heretofore con-
troled elections. 1t has sufficient power 10
override and crush mere old party distinctions.
The body of men over which you were called
TO preside. sir. is striking illustration of this.
II was composed of men who heretofore, on
mare party issues have been well known as OPP
ponents of each other for long series of yeas,
vet who. on this issue, laying aside old preju
dices have uni ed on the great question OF the
salvation of their libertes-and have selected rs
their candidate one who has been parked, in
time. past, Dor his decided stand against both
parties-Whiy and Democrat. IL Is sign Of
the dawn of better dav for the South, when
her people, setting aside all minor differences
taking ND their conscienees from the altar OF
party, upon viii they had inundated them,
are beginning to think each for himself what
il TO be done to preserve the liberties and inst
tutions of his native land
There are still however, the remains of these
old party org nizatons in our m dst-in their
very thrnes giving evidence OF the powe. once
nossessed by them and there are even yet to
be found those who live and have ftttened upon
those organizations, who cry out that all those
who are takin sides upon the great issue purely
upon the merits of the question, are engaged in
a trick to destroy one or the other OF the old
parties, according as they may have be, n ciassed
under those parties in former days. Power is
sweet to all and with the rise of new questions,
and the formation of new parties upon them,
many little man, who by reason OF hts iilipu
tan proportions, moral and intellectual, has been
selected TO ensconce himself In some narrow
nook in the great machinery of party, and to pull
the wires. will lose his occupation and import
ance. 1t is natural for such to cry ont against
any course which will lead the people to think
for themselves on these great issues, instead of
submitting their views TO be squared by the old
party machinery
It needs. however, but little reflection to show
that the South has never gained point under
the rule of either of these great parties; but on
the contrary has lost by every act of federal leg
isation, and become divided in counsels at
home by reason of the influence of national
parties.
Three of the last five administrations have
been elected and sustained by the Democratic
party During their existence, the Abotionists
and Freesoilers have each organized as separate
parties, with the same ends in vicw--anti.slaye-
nv operations were commenced in Congress.
and petitions against slavery were received and
considered in Congress, and the shareholders
were excluded, by law, from any share in the
set lement Of near half million of square miles