The southern press., 1851-09-06

devoted State that has the boldness to take the
initiative, let all be prepared to AS becomes
freemen, jealous of their rights, and r,ssss'ved to
submit to nothing that Is wrong, whatever the
sacrifibe may be.
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
Agreeable to public notice, the convention for
the purpose of nominating candidate for Con-
g-ess to be- supported by the Democratic party
Of the fourth congressional district, met at the
Alexandria House, in Alexandria, on Monday,
the llth August, and having been called to
order, on motion of A. r. Splane, r. A. Hunter
was called to the chairAknd DR.. Hilliard and Mr..
Jacob Humble were appointed vce-presidents,
and Lewis E. Texada and NJ McIntre ap-
pointed secretaries.
Thus organized, the meeting proceeded to the
selection of candid tie to represent he distr =
in Congress, and the result was the renomna
on of the Hon. ISAAC E. MORSE, by ACCLAIM 3
ton.
On motion Of J. A. Bynum central commit
tee of twelve were appointed, consisting of Dr..
Flournoy Of Caddo; J. A. Bynum, of pdes !;
w. H. Hough, of Caldwell; N. NJ. Bryant of
Union; r. NJ Richardson, of Iachita; r. G..
HiIliard, of ST. Martinsvle; General Splane, of
st. N ry; Judge Greenaux, of Natchitoches !;
John Smart, of Sabine; James A. Kennedy, of
fckson; Aaron Livingston, of Morehouse and,
on motion, the chairman was added to the COM
mittee.
On motion of DR.. Fournoy, committee VIZ
appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the
sense of the conven ion, which committee csg-
sisted of Dr. IFior doy, ID. Hilliard, Jesse A .
Bynum, A. ]. lsacks and H. Mclntre, who
ported the .olIowing reso'u' ons, which were
aaOpted:
/. Resolced, That we will cheer,ully abide by
and maintain the American Union, so long as it
rests upon those principles of Hb:rty Justice and
equality upon which our fathers placed it, and no
longer
2. Resolred, That this Union consists of dis
tnct, independent and sovereign States who by
their own free will ID consent, have united in
confederacy for their mutual safety, advantage
and prosperity.
g. Resolped, That whenever the objects and
powers of the government so formed, are SUBJ
verted and abused, so as to be turn to the op-
PR ssion Of any one Of those SIT either by
the continued violation of its organic laws, or
by the determined domination of any unjust mr.
jority, that government can be upheld by the
party injured only by submission pc dangerous
and impoLitic as it is unworthy an intelligent and
free people.
A. Resolued, That at the formation of this
government the right of property in slaves ex-
listed in all the contracting States but one, and
was as fully recognized in the federal compact
as the right to any other species of property,
and as distinctly lefs to the exclusive control of
the States themselves within their limits.
5. Resolped, That the continued systematic,
and increasing aggressons of the people and
many of the States of the North, upon the rights
of the Southern States, and particularly upon
the institution Of slavery, judged by those rules
of construction which prudence teaches to all
prudent and sensible men. affords us but slight
hope that those eressio rs will now cease but
on the contrary, show US the strongest reasons
that-unchecked- will progress to the final
and complete subjugaton of the slaveholding
States.
6. Resoiued, That it is duty which the peo-
pile Of the Southern States owe to themselves,
promptly to unite and cooperate in the defense
of their rights and institutions.
7. Resolred, That while forbearing to take
ourselves, or to prompt Others to take any meas
ures of violence or active resistance to the laws
of 1850, called the "compromisa," we are neither
content with their provisions, nor sat 1ied with
the spirit in which they were enacted We think
that concessions OUGHT TO be mutual, and do not
consider THAT a compromise in which all the con
cessions are wREsTED from one of the parti
g. Resolved That while we regard it as mex
pedient for any Southern State, in view of her
past grievances, separately to secede from this
Union, we are nevertheless constrained TO be-
lieve that any Southern State which may adopt
that extreme measure, will do so in good faith
and under an honest conviction of its necessity,
and in that event, we are nearly kindred in in.
terest and blood to the people of our sister States
of the South, TO consent TO the coersion Of such
seeding State by the arms of the federal govern
ment--
Because--to consent to that coercion would
involve our consent to consolidation fatal to
our libertes-our consent TO the sacrifice in de-
tail of all th)se States which have a common in
terest with ourselves--our consent to all the
horrors which will certainly flow from violent
disruption Of the obligations existing between
the white and slave population; and, because,
by such consent, we should finally surrender
ourselves to the same fate, tohen no longer
able 10 resist.
9 Resolped, That great as ia our devotion to
the Union, we owe to liberty n greater--anu
while we fix upon no special grievance as rem
fering expedent the withdrawal Of the Southern
S'Ttes from this Union. we distinctly declare
that those States have the unquestionable right
to resort to any meauae by secession or other
wise, which may be necessary to preserve and
defend their constitutional rights.
10. Resolued, That we solemnly dsclaim al
purpose of .disuuon, except ms last resort
against an unworthy submission. To that we
can never consent, because while submission
only begets aggression, and it is admitted tNt
further aggression must lead to disunion, we
may hope that bold and manly vindication o.
our rights will enable us to reclaim and defend
them. We therefore declare firm adherence
to these principles to be the best means of de-
Tending the Constitution and preserving the
Union.
On motion, the convention adjourned sine d'a
r. A. HUNTER, President
r. c. HrLtrARD, ! V,cs pres;d,u,,
JACOB HUMBLE,
M. McIrrrRE, c;,,
LEWIS Il. TExADA,