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

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Below w4atya - ~ axsiun1ea ~ 6&Aor mat
ter, highly Interesting aettef from IN Hon
William X. King, to u editor Of tho Yves
Alabamian. II rsfutes most eonclusIXn3y thu
Interpretations Of the Why Unio6@ presl
and psrtsans, as to the opinions Of this distin
clares himself decidedly opposed 10 the leading
compromise measures. The admission of Cali
fornia, he pronounces an act Of injustice" and
says that no man could have felt more Indignant
than did at this partial aud unjust legislation.
To the bill abolishing slavery (under certau
conditions) in the District Of Columbia, he says
he could not have given his sanction under any
circumstances, and takes the high ground thai
he should feel il bounden duty to vote fol
the repeal Of the emancpating clause whenever
proposed" He also declares that he would
again, AZ he did at the last Congress-, vote for
the repeal of the Mexican law prohibiting
Z slavery in Utah and New Mexico.
Col King thus fully stands with the South
ern rights party in opposition to the leading
measures OF the compromise. 1t is true he
does no. deem that they violated the letter OF
the Constitution, but he clearly shows that he
thinks them at war with the spirit and equities
Of that instrument.
We wouId also call attention to the fact that
Col King, In the close OF his letter, decidedly
repudiates any connection with the new tangled
Union party" He stands, az no has always
d0ne upon the broad conservative doctrines OF
the Democratic party which are identical with
Southern rights principles, and without the
faithful Observance of which our Union would
load it's federatiye character, and become con-
soidated despotism,--aIl the powers Of the
country being vested in the political mnjorities
of the North ~
PIEE HnLs, Dallas co., June l6, 1851.
MY DEAR Sra:-I very much regret that my
absence from home deprived me Of the plea
sure Of receiving your friendly letter ut an ear
lier day hasten to return an answer. You
doubtless attach to my opinions much greater
Importance than they deserve; but as one of
your senators in the councils of the nation you
| have right to demand them on all political
questions, and especially on those affecting your
personal security and rights of property. shall
proceed to lay them before you with the frank
| ness that becomes Inan--cOncealment Of OPT
Mons, deliberately formed, never has, and trust
never will, constitute any part of my character,
public or private. shall never be deferred from
giving utterance. from the apprehension that they
! may not be in accordance with those which others
entertain OF that by making them known, | may
affect injuriously my standing as public man.
This is well understood by those who have
known me longest, and know me best If | fall
into error, to which every man is liable, when
convinced of it, promptly admit and retract it,
but much as desire to obtain the appreciation
of the people have the honor to represent.
should feel that was unworthy of the position
in which it has pleased them to place me, if to
gain it, ] were to trim my calls to every popular
breeze, and violate the obligations owe to our
common country. lcondemn no man for hon.
estly differing with me in opinion; but ! have too
much self-respect, and trust independence, to
set of men,
had supposed that my action ON the so called
Compromise Bill of the last Congress, together
with the reasons which governed it, had been
80 plainly marked by my public declarations and
votes, as to preclude the possibility of misap-
prehenson. From the tenor Of your letter this
seems not to be the case. A brief statement
will, trust, put an end to all doubt or cavil for
the future. was, as you know, one of the CON-
moi tee of thirteen which reported the compro-
mise bill. Without going into detail, will only
say it did not receive my sanction in committee,
nor acould L. under ara circumstances, hare gipen
il NM support as reported. The parts to which
principally objected were, the admission Of Cali
fornia US State with territory more extern
sive then any three States of the Union, and the
clause which emancpates slaves brought into
the District for sale. could not fail to see that
most of those who advocated the admission of
California with her extravagant limits, would,
but for the prohibition of slavery contained in
her constitution, have been the most violent in
| ~ int tba nj
She o,oed her admission, then, 10 the fact that the
people of the slapeho,ding States ,cere deprived
of an equal participation in territory phich q
right equallp belonged to The citizens ofthe States.
Finding that there was q fixed majority deter.
mined to prepetrate this act ofnustce, if brought
to the direct vote, made an effort to curtal the
limits of the State, 80 that territorial govern.
ment might be established south of the Sierra
Nevada. At one time the prospect was fair that
my proposition, so proper in itself, would sue
coed il however failed, and California became a
State with thousand miles of sea cost No
man could have felt more indignant than did at
this partial and unjust legislation, but am free
to declare, that have not been able to see in
the measures a violation of the constitution, as
contended for by many; did so consider it, ]
neither could nor would have expressed the opin-
ions, that the people of the South could with
honor, and under the circumstances should, nc
quiesce in what had been DONE The constitution
simply gives TO Congress the power to admit
new States and the only restriction upon the
exercise of this power is that the State constitu-
ton shall be republican. No territorial training
is reQuired-no assent Of Congress to the for
nation of the constitution. previously given, is to
| be found The whole matter rests with Congress
to exercise a sound discretion.
As respects the bill for abolishing the slave
trade in the District of Columbia, to which you
particularly call my attention, ] wish to be dis
tinctly understood. At early period of the
first session of the last Congress, declared in
my place in the Senate, that ! stood ready at
any time to authorize the breaking up of those
slave marts in the midst Of the city.--Oflensive
as they were to decency, prejudicial to health,
and in many respects shocking to humanity
1t was my desire to clothe the corporate author
tiles of the city with the power to abate them
as nulsances, whenever they conceive 1t proper
to do &C (; and for such bill ] would unhesi.