Columbus Democrat., 1851-01-18
To rnE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI


To address YOU. upon the various topics referred
TO by than meeting. In performance OF that du'y'
we desire to give, at the outset, lair ana correct
slaseaent oi the transactions Of the October Con
,ention held in Jackson in October lo49. and
Ike ,u5sequen, action u ,he lrgisa sature upon
the same subjects.
S44ce Ire treaty of peace betweeR she Mcii.
can Republic and the URi,ed States, in ls4s, by
which large amount ofterritory has been ceded
Va the Cnted States. very strong and well
founded apprehension has been entertained by
the southern OF slave States that an effert would
he made by the Representatives Of The fre States
In Congress, to exclude the southern imnignni
with his slave property, from these territories,
thuS acOVic~i tvum Mexico bS the common e.!
tor,s, treasure aud blccd N, the people d the sew
eral States. This apprehension was founded on
the tact that early in lSi7, when an Nppropra.
zion was asked from the public treasury OF three
aGtlt,ms Of dollars 10 enable President Polk 10
negotiate treaty cfpeace, David Wlmot, of
Penusl lvSnia proposed prorjso 10 this bill,
that any lerrhory which mighlbe acquired from
Mexico, by the United States, by treaty, should
reAaiL tree territory; that slavery or involunIa.
ry servitude, should not be permitted to enter its
i'mits. Again, ia March lS4S, while the treaty
was undergoing the revision Of the Senate Of he
United States, proposition was made 10 adopt
the Wilmot provIso in,o the body of the treaty.
The contest in Congress in the summer OF As,
upon the Clayto0 Compronise bill, watch was
finally REJECTED by the House OF Representatives
10y one or two votes, gave unmstakable evidence
OF power OF Congress in favor ui excluding
slavery from the territories, dariug theF terr1ls-
rial government.
1t mus, also be borne in mind, thatlhis subject
was 50 important in the estimation ut the soutk.
, ern people, AS 10 be made prominent. .isst,a m
the Presidential canvass that uuk pL.ck b fe4s.
1 The session oi Coa.r'sH IN '41 and 40, behiga
short session, and closing the term Il Mr.. Polk's
administration. was pernned 70 pass away wllh>
out any action being taken on this subject But
the session of 40 and 80 being one Ola new
Congress and the first Of new administration. it
was confidently supposed that the question fthe
power Of Congress over the subject OF slavery in
the territories, would brought up before that body,
and finally dispose of Mississippi with others,
Of the southern States, prepared herself for the
contest, by the call OF u popular convention, and
,he declaration of her rights under the conslitu
ton, and OF her stern and nArIiblo purpose, to
vndcale these rights, at all hazards, leaving the
consequences u themselves.
The first resolution Of ibis convention, is n re-.
solve Of devoted attachment to the Union, "as il
was formed, aud ne' an an engine ofoppression."
The second resolution declares the fact, that
slavery is left by the fderal constitution, entirely
and exclusively under The control Of the States as
pat of their domestic policy aud that all at,
temp,s on the part Of Congress, to interfere with
this subject. are in violation Of the constitution
aud ought TO be promptly resisted The third
resolution declares that Congress has no power
to pass any law
ID. Prohibiting the slave trade between the
States.
3D., Prohibiting the Introduction Of slavery in
to the territories Of the United States and declares
further, that the passage of any such aw, walIii
not only he a violation Of the constitution, but
would afford evidence of liked determination to
interfere with slavery in the States.
The fourth resolution declares the passage Of
the Wmot Proviso, by Congress, as an insult,
ing and unjust discrimination, TO which the South
cannot, without political degradation submit and
to which the people Of Mississippi will not sub
nit
The fifth resolution declares that the Wlmot
Proyiso, or any law aboIishing slavery in the
Dstrc; Of Columbia, would BE- breach of the
federal compact, and in that event, it will become
the right and The duty the saveholding States
to take care ofther own safety, and to treat the
non-slavehoding States as the enemies Of south.
ern domestic institutions.
The sixth resolution recommends the Mash.
vile Convention.
The seventh resolution declares the existence
Of slavery TO be anterior to that Of lbe constn
ton, and that consequently the latter was mad-
10 conform TO the former.
The eighth resolution declares il the duty Of
Congress to provide territorial governments for
the territories, and to enforce The guarantees ot
the constitution, in the protection Of properly Of
every kind in the territories
In addition to these rights, set forth in The DC
tober Convention resolutions, as secured 10 the
South, under the federal constitutions the legisla-
tive resolutions presented one other, and that is,
Congress has no power to abolish ''the slave
trade between said District District Of Coum.
ba) and any Of the States"
The legislative resolutions further denounce
the admission Of California with HAt present Inn
its and constitution, an act oi fraud and OPP
preston upon the rights Of the South, and direct
our Senators and representatives in Congress, to
resist i by all honorable and Constitutional
means. Again, the legislature, abon, ,he 5th
Of March last, say in one Of their resolutions -
'In the case of California, now applying for ad
mission, II our Senators and representatives shall
he satisfied from reliable evidence. that fraud
has been practced or improper influence used,
to stile fhl and fair expression Of opinion hy
the citizens Of California, in reference to their
State constitution they ought to oppose her ad.
mission for that reason also"
These are the positions assumed by Missis-
sppi, IN The resolves Of her October Convention
and in her legislative action, in February and
March succeeding. In the Convention, tho sub
lect ofCalifornia was introduced and the consti.
tuition said TO have been prepared by her Con-
yapi;on Iar adonfion hr ('ongrpss and lOF her