The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-28

Utica Convention. His speech before that body
was certainly not very pregnant with evidences
OF good will and respect towards the South
Hear him upon that occasion:
IL will make no boat, but | should like TO
see the man who has done more from his EARL
est manhood to tho present moment, in advo-
eating the principles Of abolition than the hum
BILE individual who now addresses you; and my
principles are unchanged, entirely unchanged"
Mark his extreme modesty, aud at the same
time the firmness of his attachmont to his prin-
eipIes He then goes on to point out the ad
yaptages Of the Union to the Northcrn States
aud addressing himself to the Southern people,
very comp!acentIy says to them, Your forms
OF government in your States differ from ours
zoe have advanced farther than you, as We think !;
zoe zee clearer than you but, Was well re-
marked by friend who preceded me, the dark
ness was once upon u.s." How cody does he
assume superiority over us, and with what an
air does he inform US Of it. But so great is his
detestation Of slavery, that be is not content
with recounling his services us above, in the
cause Of abolition, but must again revert to it,
and speaks az follows: "There are men here in
this assembly, doubt not, who remember the
time when slavery existed here. remember
that was in at its death, and that was asso-
ciated with band Of men to bring about the
destruction of that evil"
True, no says that he would not interfere
with slavery in the States in which il exists by
law, but in the next breath he speaks as fol
lows: "There are now only six hundred slaves
in the District of Columbia, and this number is
daily diminishing With these, we have righ
to interfere" Mr.. Ketchun knows full well
that the South has always denied the right OF
Congress to interfere with slavery in the Dis
trict, and has repeatedly declared in the most
solemn form that it will regard its abolition
there, as just cause Of withdrawal from the
Union. And yet this gentleman now assumes
the office of advising Southern men MS to the
course they should pursue, and gravely uiges
them to form "Union Safety Committees"
word more to Mr.. ketchum and am done
with him. Did he not also vote for Governor
Hunt, and was he not 80 panied because doubt
was entertained ON the subject that after the
election he published note asserting his sup
port Of Mr.. Hunt at the polls!
The other gentleman on your committee, are
not so well known and therefore cannot be
treated separately but they may be presumed
as not differing very materially from Mr.. ketch-
um in their opinions, as they have united with
him in your letter.
/ From wat have said, gentlemen, you may
readily imagine that cannot be instrumental in
forming the safety Committees" you suggest.
| cannot, therefore, render you happy by info m
ing you of the establishment of such commit
tees. "The inhabitants Of (my) section" have
no war to make against the Urion as it was de-
signed to be--a Union of equaity-a Union in
| which the rights of all were regarded-a Union
| regulated by the Constitution.
| nuf thov hasa oanar,l for
| the Union you would have them TO uphod--a
Union in which their rights are tram led under
| foot by ruthless majorty-a Union which de
dies TO the Southern people the right of entry
| with their property into The territories which are
| owned in common by nil the States-a Union into
| which no new slave State will ever be allowed
| admission--a Union fy those who for ffteen
| years have necessarily PRESSED their assaults
| upon US, and who are determined to WELD the
powers Of the Government to our detriment
"The inhabitants" of this section acknowledge
their "fealty to the Constitution, and obedience
to the laws"--but it isto the Constitution in its
letter and spirit, and to laws sanctioned by that
| Constitution.
| They not desire to abandon the Union, if they
IN remain in it without sacrifice of honor and al
they hold dear These demand their first AND
highest allegiance These "inhabtants' there
fore insist upon a full and complete recognition
Of their rights, and as those rights have been in
fringed, they think that their motto should be
| The South frst-the South last-the South for
| ever.
In conclusion, gentlemen, | am "happy" to in
form you that a F." Southern Rights Association
has been formed in this city, and is rapidly grow
ing in power and influence. Similar societies
have been organized in other sections of the
State, and every indication warrants the opinion
that Alabama is ready to maintain "at all and
every hazard" her right, dignity and equality
against "Northern fanaticism," come in what
shape it may.
an, respectfully, your ob't servant,
PERCY WALKER.
To George Wood, Hiram kechum. Edward B.
Butler, George Douglass, l.. B. Chase, James
T. Brady, and A g. Bcman, esqrs., committee.