The southern press., 1851-07-03
Hon. & w. Inge.

This gentleman has declined denomination
for Congress-. The following is an extract from
his letter announcing this determination
All the recent indications of Northern ecnti-
ment--the election of Fish, Wade and Sumner,
to the Senate; the riots Of the mob in opposi-
ton to the Fugitive slave law; the resolutions
of Northern legislatures and the anathemas of
Northern churches-demonstrat union of the
masses of the North in hostility to slavery /:
whilst the South is divided, and so weakened bv
division, that the time is apparently nigh when
she will be incapable Of selfpreservation, in or
out of the Union. | have always maintained,
that prior to the adoption of the late mis-called
compromise the South, united, could have per-
manently controlled the action of the federal
government in reference to slavery. The de-
feat of the Wilmot Provso, to which the North
cung with passionate tenacity, is due exclusive
to the united oppositi on of the South. The
same union would have defeated the mis-calIed
compromise and obtained the adoption of the
Missouri line across our Mexican acquisitions,
with distinct recognition of the right of slave
holders to that portion of the territory south
of the line
The passage of the message of the last Con-
gress is the handwriting on the wall, announc-
ing the extinction of slavery, or the Ultimate
destruction of the Union and in opposing them
claim to have been actuated not less by "a re-
gard to Southern rights, than by patriotic devo-
ton to the Union, which il was my anxious de.
sire to uphold in its pristine purity, and to per-
petuate TO the last generation of men.
So much for the past action ofC ongress; and
with the record of that Congress before us, and
the responses of the Northern people since
made, and now being made, can any man, how
or IL
the federal government to change its policy to-
wards the South If it were now to pause and
leave its own unfinished work of emancipation
and destruction to the certain consummation of
time, what human agency could avert our terri
BILE destiny But there will be no pause; agita-
ton will go on, aggression will 90 on, and the
abject minority in the two houses of Congress,
no longer authorised to proclaim resistance, will
retain the poor privile of recording in sullen
shame their Intellectual votes. In every depart
ment ofthe federal government the power of the
North is supreme. 1t is indeed the government
of the North, controlled and directed by men
utterly hostile to the antagonist section Dur
ing the agitation on the subject of the stamp
act, our ancestors refused representation in
the British parliament, because minority repre-
sentation would have been powerless to resist
oppression, and their participation would have
been claimed as a sanction to oppressive lrgis-
lation Such is now the effect of our parlicpa-
ton in the federal government
Sincerely entertaining these views of our fed
eral relations, and of the past and future action
of Congress, my friends, and former constitu-
ents WILL | am assured, appreciate the motives
which constrain me to decline the pursuit of a
position, in which | could neither serve them,
nor attain the rightful ends Of an honorable am
btion.
In conclusion, must do Justice to my own
feelings, by expressing my profound gratitude
to the people of this district for their generous
confidence and support in all the fiery trials Of
political strife. have the consolation of know
ing that since my first entrance into public life,
my major;ties at every successive election have
increased that despite the open efforts of organ
lied opposition, and the secret arts of misrepre-
sentation and caumny, the people have trium-
phanty sustained me.
Very respectfully, s. w. INGE.