The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-16

~ ErIwn q The 4t6est lying h4tW&1a kl
|. Nnon1s md the Bic Gsnn3e. Tint tt1atr WAa
ysjss3sd by the Senate At suhsequen3 ~
| slon, ~ resolutions which passed authorizing
4he sdjnisston Of Texas, expressly reserved ths
riQht0f tho government TO fx BY negotiation
with Mexico, her western bouhdary-nothing
WAS said about the Rio Grands-and thus Texas
came Into the Union her western boundary I'M
settled The effort TO settle it by negotiation
having failed, Gen. Taylor was directed to take
position on the east bank OF the river he re-
moved from Point Isabel and encamped opp ,site
Matamorm. The battles Of Palo Alto and Re-
SAGA de Ia Palma followed What was then said
by Mr. Calhoun, the bold, fearless and uncom-
promising advocate and defender Of Southern
rights, and Southern interests He denounced
in most indignant terms, the administration Of
Col. Polk for having involved the country in an
unjust, and UNNECESSARY war by the invasion OF
Mexican territory. Texas, then State OF the
Union, had not, ia the opinion Of that distin-
guished man, any well founded claim to any ter
ritory bordering on tho Rio Grande, and in that
opinion he was sustained by many who now de-
nounce as faithless to the South all those who
aided in securing to Texas the undisputed pos
session of territory large enough for two States,
the right which they had strongly denied her.
No territory has been surrendered to free-soil,
unless the people of Utah and New Mexico,
when they form a constitution, and apply for ad-
misission as States, think proper to prohibit
slavery-and for the unrestricted exercise Of this
right, we Of the South have always c0ntended.
Governments we're established for these terrific
ries in strict accordance with all the territorial
acts heretofore passed, with the exception OF
that for Oregon There ia no restriction AZ to
slavery and the abest statesmen and most dis
tinguished jurists of the South, entertain no
doubt that the owners Of slaves may with per-
feet security take them to either of these terri
tories regardless Of the Mexican law.
Had the Southern senators and representa-
tives entertained anydonbt on this subject, do
you suppose that they, one and all, would have
voted for the bill known as the Clayton bill
which left the question as to the validity Of the
Mexican law to be decided by the Supreme
court satisfied as we all were that that decision
could not fail to sustain the rights of the South.
Yet then, as now, the advocates for resistance
commended, that the law Of Mexico excluded
slavery. That they did not themselves believe
what they 80 roundly asserted, is apparent from
the fact that they voted against the amendment
to the appropriation bill Of the same session,
which authorized the President to establish ter
ritorial governments saying nothing on the sub
ject of slavery and so urgent were they for a
positive restriction, that they came very near
defeating the passage of the civil and diplo-
matte appropriation bill, to which after the re-
lection Of the Clayton bill, We had attached the
provision.
My only reason for voting in favor of the
proposition to repeal the Mexican law, when
made at the last session, was, that knew prop
erty to be sensitive, and feared that many
persons might be deferred from removing with
their slaves to those territories even should the
discovery Of valuable mines render their labor
profitable, after the opinions of such men as
Clay and Webster were given in favor Of the
validity of the Mexican law abolishing slavery.
For that reason, and that alone, 1 to0uld again
vote for its repeal.
You say that an claimed by the Union
submission party of your country. Ifthe claim
set up, rests upon the supposition that | am an
advocate for the formation of third party,
either State or federal, it is most erroneous.
When attempted at Washington, during the
last session. think may safely say, that no
one contributed more to defeat the movement
than did. | have always considered the good
old Democratic party as the true Union party !;
and that nothing more is required to put down
sectional divisions, and preserve peace and har-
mony, than to have the government admins
tered in strict conformity with Democratic prn-
ciples have ever been a State rights man of
the Jefferson school, and can fearlessly appeal
to my whole public life in proof Of the assertion.
am not however prepared to admit that the
States possess either the constitutional or the
reserved right to secede from the Union. |
consider it to be paramount right, inherent in
every people, to free themselves from oppres-
sion, when the action of the government vo-
lates their essential rights, and becomes too
grievous to be borne; and that from the nature
Of our federative system, it would be the most
effectual mode to accomplish thai object.
have heretofore given publicity to my views
as to the position which | conceive the slave
holding States should occupy in reference to
the action Of the last Congress; and l will
not extend this long letter by recapitualing
them, but refer you to my answer to the invita-
ton of the citizens of Tuscaloosa, in the month
of October last. Nothing has since occurred
to induce me to change the opinions therein ex-
pressed 1t will at all times afford me pleasure
to communicate with You freely upon all sub
jects Of public interest.
Faithfully, am your friend and ob't serv't,
WILLIAM r. KING.
Col A. B. CLITHERALL.
From the Republic.
IT, Yv..,r- Tr~r D,r.-. D.. Al.