The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-07

The name Of j. A. Campbell was then with
drawn by Daniel Chandler, in obedience to the
wellknown wishes Of Mr.. Campbell
The name OF the Hon. T.. >. Dargan was also
withdrawn.
The Hon. John Bragg being the only one in
nomination, the president informed the conven-
ton that Judge Bragg had been unanimously
selected by the Mobile delegation. and there
upon read to the convention the following cor
respOndence:
MOBILE, May, oath, 1851.
DEAR SIR: You, with other gentlemen, have
been spoken OF by the friends of Southern
rights, rs a suitable person TO represent this dis
trict in the next Congress Of the United States
The undersigned have been appointed a com
mittee by the delegates Of this county, to as
certain your views on the important questions
that are now agitating the country We should
like to know your opinions definitely and fully
expressed, on the following points
lst Do you approve Of the acts of Congress
commonly known MS the Compromise measures
--or do you regard the measures rs unjust to
the Sonh and aggre ,sive on their rights?
ID Do you believe State has the right to
secede from the Union?
3D. In the event that State, in the exercise
of its sovereign power secedes from the Union,
do you believe that the federal government
has right to coerce the seeding State to re-
main in the confederacy? In the event that
such an effort should be made, what, in your
opinion, will be the duty Of the other States !?
Yours, respectfully,
DAN'L CHANDLER, }
ROBT w. SMITH,
Hon. JOHN BR GG.
MOBILE, Nav 26th, 1851.
GENTLEMEN: Yours of the oath inst, pro-
pounding to me several questions in reference
to the present aspect Of political affairs, is be-
fore me.
To your first inquiry answer: : that while
the Southern States gained nothing by what
has been termed the Compromise" to which
they were not clearly entitled, they were de-
prived of much which they most justly had the
right to claim. The conclusion is that the Com
promise measures are unjust in themselves and
derogate from the rights fthe Southern States
To your second question reply: that for nd
equate cause, in my opinion, State has the
right to seccde from the Union. In this con-
nection, must be permitted to say, that in re-
gard to the right of secession, it seems to me
singulqr confusion of ideas has existed. This
has arisen from a proneness to consider it
right secured by and arising under the Constitu-
ton. | do not so view it. 1t is right para
mount to the Constitution, residing with the
States necessarily for their self-protection, un-
alienated and inalienable. In view of the object
OF your letter, however, candor compels me to
add here, that in my judgment the Compromise
measures above referred to do not furnish ade-
quate cause for a resort to the right of seces-
sion.
In reply to your last question, have no hes
90. tIok 4
any resort to force on the part of the general
government to compel State that has deter
mined to secede, to return into the Union
Eighteen years ago, being then a member ofthe
Legislature of North Carolina, | voted to in
struct her Senators to vote against the cele-
brated Force bill The opinions formed and
acted on at that early day. have seen no cause
to change or abandon. When the time arrives
that the government can be maintained only BY
the exercise of force upon sovereign State, in
my judgment the period will have been attained
when the government will not be worth pre-
serving. shall certainly deprecate most sim
cerely the withdrawal of any State from the
Union; but if any State should resolve to 90,
my language to her would be--in the name of
God, depart in peace.
As to what would be the duty of the remain
ing States in the event that the general govern
ment meditated resort to force, it is rather
difficult to determine before such contingency is
presented. Before the actual use of force,
think no effort should be spared to prevent re-
sort. The States should remontrate and protest
against it, and Congress should firmly refuse to
invest the executive government with any ex-
traordinary powers to enable it to humble the
recusant State. If all such appeals proved un-
avaing, and in spite of all effort to avert it, no.
| h,,t To- ..c,x IL
history it fable, and human nature is changed if
brother fail to sympathize with brother, and
those having common interests did not unite to
protect them. If Massachusetts were to with
draw from the Union on account of her opposi-
ton to the Fugitive slave law, and force were
used against her, apprehend she wond receive
very little aid from the Southern States spring
ing from sense of duty, while she most prob
ably would be assisted by Vermont and other
States having kindred sympathes. On the other
hand, if South Carolina secede on account of
her opposition to the Compromise, and, if met
with force, would Massachusetts feel il to be
her duty to aid her! Massachusetts, | supp ose.
would hardly think 80. After all, the thing is
resolved into a simple matter of sympathy and
interest. | think then, every effort. should be
made to avoid collision between the general gov
ernment and State-that failing, consequences
must needs be left TO take care of themselves.
What they must inevitably be, I think have al
ready sufficiently Indicated remain, gentle
men, very respectfully, your obedent servant,
JOHN BRAGG
Daniel Chandler, J. NJ. Withers, Robert w.
| Smith, esqrs., committee.
On motion, Judge Bragg was nominated by
reclamation.
On motion, committee, consisting Of Dan'l
Chandler, It. b. Beihea and r. Watkins. was ap-
pointed to wait upon Judge Bragg, inform him
of his nomination and invite him to meet the
convention.
The committee soon returned accompanied
by Judge Bragg. whereupon the president wei.
coined him and announced that he was the
unanimous choice of the convention
Judge Bragg then rose amid enthusiastic ap
plause, and briefly, but gracefully and eo-
quently accepted the nomination, and insured
the convention Of his readiness to vindicate and
maintain the rights Of the South
On motion, il was ordered that the proceed
ings Of this convention be published in all the
papers in this district favorable TO the cause of