The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-16
From the Sumter (.dls.) Democrat.
mr.. Inge's Letter.
LIVINGSTON, ALA,

LIVINGSTON, ALA, May II, 1851.
Mr. EDITOR: have observed with great sat
Observation-Disclosures Of the good feeling which il
implies-the unanimous concurrence Of the De-
mocratic press Of the district in presenting my
name for reelection to Congress This an
nouncement was made, in every instance, with
knowledge Of my wish to retire from office, but
nevertheless with my assent. The change Of
circumstances, in the last few weeks, in my
opinion, relieves me from the obi alton thus
assumed, and justifes me in declining the honor
which has been 30 generously proffered.
Being personally averse to continuance in
Congress, nothing less could induce me again
to become candidate, than the conviction that
some important political result depended upon
my success. Some weeks since, it was believed
that the district would be contested by our po-
litical adversaries, and into such a contest,
should have entered with zeal and energy.
Now, it is apparent, that no Wing candidate
would enter into competition with me, and that
if any opposition were offered, which is not
probabIe,) it would come from some aspirant in
our ranks. There is, then, obviously no party
necessity, requiring me to become candidate
no triumph Of party could be achieved, becau sc
ouradversaries admit our irresstible strength, and
dsband their organization before US. Nor do
see in the present condition of popular opinion
on the subject of slavery, and the aggressions
of the federal government upon the rights of
the South, that my reelection to Congress
would be productive Of any public benefit. All
the recent indications of Northern sentiment
the election Of Fish, Wade and Sumner, to the
the Senate the riots Of the mob in opposition
to the Fugitive slave law; the resolutions Of
Northern legislatures, and the anathemas of
Northern OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES union of the
masses Of the North in hostility to slavery;
whilst the South is divided, and so weakened
by division, that the time is apparently nigh
when she will be incapable of selfpreservation,
in or out of the Union. | have always main.
tanned that prior to the adoption of tho late mis-
called compromise, the South, united, could
have permanently controlled the action of the
federal government in reference to slavery
The defeat of The W'lmot Proviso, to which the
North chung with passionate tenacity, is due ex-
clusively to the united opposition of the South
The same union would have defeated the mis-
called compromise and obtained the adoption
of the Missouri line across our Mexican acIusi-
tons, with distinct recognition of the right Of
shareholders to that portion Of the territory
south Of the line.
The passage Of the measures of the last Con-
gress is the handwriting on the wall announc-
Ing the extinction of slavery, or the ultimate
destruction of the Union and in opposing them,
I claim to have been actunted not less by a re-
gard to Southern rights, than by patriotic devotion
to the Union, which it was my anxious desire to
uphold in its pristine purity, and to perpetunte
to the last generation Of men. So much for
the past action of Congress; and with The re-
cord of that Congress- before us, and the re-
sponses of the Northern people since made, and
now being made, can any man, however san
guine, or con6ding, or slavsh, expect the
federal government to change its policy towards
the South! fit were now to pause, and leave
its own unfinished work Of emancipation and
destruction to the certain contamination of
time, what human agency could avert our terri
bledestny? But there will be no pause agitation
will go on; aggression will 60 on; and the alb
jet minority of the South in the two houses Of
Congress, no longer authorized to proclaim re-
sistance, will retain the poor privilege of record
ing, in sulen shame, their Intellectual votes In
every department of the federal government
the power of the North is supreme. 1t indeed
the government Of the North controlled and di
rected by men utterly hostile to the antagonist
section. During the agitation on the subject of
the stamp act, our ancestors refused repYesen-
tation in the British Parimcnt, because a mi
nority representation would have been power
less to resst oppression, and their participation
would have been claimed rs a sanction to op-
pressive legislation. Such ia now the effect
of our participation in the federal government.
Sincerely entertaining these views Of our fede-
raj relations, and ofthe past and futur action of
Congress, my friends and former constituents
will, am assured, appreciate the motives which
constrain me to decline the pursuit ola position,
in which could neither serve them, nor attain the
rightful ends of an honorable ambition.
In conclusion, must do justice to my own feel
ings, by expressing my profound gratitude to the
people Of this district for their generous conf
dence and support in all the fiery trials Of poti-
Gal strife. have the consolation Of knowing.
that since my first entrance into pnblic life, my
majorities at every successive election have in
creased that 10 pite the open effort ofog MED
opposition, and the secret arts of misrepresentn-
ton and calumny, the people have triumphantly
sustained me. Very respectfully,
s. W. INGE.