Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-05-10
MONMOUTH, 31st March, 1851.
| COneniHee


Gentlemen: [ have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 10Th inst enclos
ing sundry resolutions passed rt a meeting of the
Central Southern Rights Association, and inviting
me, on behalf of that Association and other per-
sonal and political friends to partake of barbe-
cue at the seat of Government, at such time may
be convenient to me.
The circumstances under which this compliment
is rendered, render it peculiarly gratifying to me,
because it assures me that you approve of my
conduct under trying circumstances, and that L
am still honored with your confidence and es-
teen.
My position as Governor Of State which had
been the first to recommend measures of resistance
to the antislavery movements, and my expressed
determination, in my official action, not to reccde
from the position which had been taken by the
State, and which [ hereby approve of, have sub
Jected me to much bitter detraction and abuse
Such is ever the fate of those who seek to restrain
the abuses of power. The priests who derived
honor and profit from the worship of the Ephesian
Diana, and the goldsmths who enriched them
selves by it, cried aloud and furiously assailed the
Messenger of Truth, who proclaimed doctrines
which threatened to destroy the of their
power and wealth. Those interested patriots, in
answer to every argument, shouted great is Di
ana" and F's stone the traitor!" The selfish pol
ticians of our day, who worship around the Presi-
son and argument in hosannahs to the ''gt0rious
URjon,'' and abuse of those who will not submit
quietly to be despoiled of their dearest rights in
the name of the Union. Southern men who have
been true to their section have had to encounter
a systematic course of denunciation and those
who have deserted its interests have been loaded
with honor and praise from the same sources.
| | have been compmented with being made a
special object of vituperation. | know of no rea-
IL, IL
" endeavored to maintain the rights of the State,
and with you, and thousands of the purest patri-
OTIS of the South, have advanced opinions that the
present state of the slavery question is mcompatl-
! BILE with the equality of the slaye-hodlng States
in the confederacy, and have advocated some eff-
cent State action to protect us from the unconstl-
tutional and oppressive measures of the Federal
| Government. Whether the prosecution against
me for an alleged violation of the neutrality laws
had its origin In these causes have not sufficient
evidence to assert but | do say that the prosecu-
ton was wholly unfounded; that not single
charge Of the Indictment was true and that there
never was, far as | have been able to ascertain,
any evidence to support it. Provoking and op-
pressive as this prosecution towards me per-
sonallv it would not have deserved public consld-
Grafton but for the contemptous, insult
ing and disrespecful to the State-in which 1t was
carried on.
the Governor, there was deliberation and design
and it is fair to infer that design to humble the
State of Mississippi, and to prostrate her before
! the Federal power. The spirit that could dictate
attering apology to the abolition city of Boston,
for most scandalous outrage upon law, as well as
the principles of common honesty, is fit for the
service of perverting the power of executing the
laws to insult Southern State.
In the acts of the Administration, the Govern
ment and the anti-slavery States, we may read the
SIGNS of the times. We would be blind not to see
them, and infatuated not to prepare for them
They thicken around that no longer
avoid them. We must determine to meet them
face to face. We have been swindled out of the
public domain. Even portion of Texas, suppos
ed to be secured as slaye-holdng, has been cut off
Every outlet to the extension of our institution has
been firmly closed. The golden shores of the Pa
lcifc, open to the adyenturers of the wide earth
are denied to Southern labor though, in part, ac
a quired with our blood and purchased with oul
Treasure. We are now hemmed in on the Wes
: as well as the North. The line fixed to say,
i the Union has been contemptuously disregarded
The area for the employment of our labor has beel
d circumscribed by the stern fiat, thus far shal
: thou 90 and no farther;' and while anti-sayer1
i States may be indefinitely increased the numbe
It of slaveholding States and their political powe
: must remain stationary, or diminish. An effectiv
, step to the entire abolition of slavery in the Fed
y eral District although surrounded by slave-hold
], ing States, has been adopted. The provision G
y the Constitution for the reclamation of fugitiv
e slaves has not only been disregarded, but mum
Der of the leading anti-slavery States have passe