The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-12

and true position upon the 6nalty Of this settle
ment, and shall hold its members bound, with
out regard to former opinions, to maintain and
enforce this settlement in good faith, and honest
ly"
The view here taken substantially accord.
with INV own position | was originally opposed
to this system of measures lnasmuch AZ the Con
stitution expressly provided that fugitves should
be given up, | thought We were entitled as a
matter Of right without bargain, to All efficient
law to carry into effect that provision. did
not, therefore, consent to pay the price demanded
But it was determined otherwise; and the mea,
ures relating to the disposition of the territorial
acquisitions have been executed, and are now
beyond recall The fugitive slave law alone is
executory in its character, and is liable to be re-
pealed, modified, or resisted.
Though ! regard the bargain as whole ms
an unwise one yet, since what we lave paid
cannot be gotten back, have not right to in
sist that the other party shall pay what was
promised, even though it be less than hold it
ought to have been? Ii n man were to convey
by deed to another a piece Of land worth one
thousand dollars, with promise OF only five
hundred in return for it, might you not we'll say
to him that he had made bad trade, but that. as
his land WAS gone forever, he ought to insist
that the purchase money should at least be paid !
This view OF the case is so clear and easy of
comprehension, that | must be excused for
doubling the sincerity Of any one who processes
not to understand it, At least, he who does not
see it i, covered by coating of stupidity thick
enough, and hard enough, to turn the edge of
any argument, however sharp it may be, and
however forcbly driven.
From the day of the passage of these meas
ures have said again and again that, notwith
standing the great concessions made to the
North, il would not remain satisfied, and that
the Southern compromise men would soon be
put on the defensive again. have all the while
held myself ready to co operate with them.
Having failed TO maintain successfully my own
position for the want Of larger number OF al
lies, it is my duty to fall back on the next line
of defence that seems tenable What would be
thought of soldier who in battle, because the
advanced position which he wished defended
was abandoned, should refuse 10 co operate with
his comrades in defending any other line which
might be occupied by them? Feeling confident
that the Abolitionists would not give quarter
to nv countrymen, duty and patriotism required
that / should be ready to aid them whenever
they found it necessary to make stand.
It will be seen that my resolution vert be-
yond those Of the other gentlemen with whom
was co. operating, 1t in substance proposed
that we should not give the sanction OF q Con-
rressional caucus OF the Wing party to the
holding of any national convention, except upon
condition that certain principles should be
adopted as basis of action. But it is said
that we are disposed to thrust sectional issue
upon the convention. 1t is not SO; for the
Constitution of the United States is binding
in all its provisions on all sections of the
Unicn, and must be carried out in all its features
by every citizen. He, therefore, who is opposed
to the enforcement of any one Of its provisions,
is himself sectional man, and ought therefore
to be excluded from all part in the proceedings
of any national convention. Before entering
into political partnership with any set Of men,
we have a right to require that they shall adopt
rinciples co.extensive with the Constitution
and the rights of all sections under it. And il
the individuals composing the body about to
assemble really entertain proper national feel
ings, why should they hesitate to say 80. 1t is
the high privilege of American freemen to speak
the truth and why should they not exercise
this great right!
The fact cannot be denied. that within the
last half dozen years a large portion OF the
so.called Wing party has become mere North
ern sectional Ant-SlaverY party. 10 show how
this was brought about would extend the limits
of this letter too much, and | content myself
with reference to few well-known promi-
nent facts In the thirtieth Congress every
member of the House of Representatives from
the free States regularly voted for the Wilmot
proviso, with view of excluding the South
from the occupation Of every acre OF the Next
can territory. The fact that fifteen States, by
their Legislative action, adopted this provlso,
shows how general and pervading was this feel
ing among all parties at the North. And in the
Presidential canvass following, viz, of l84S, the
section Of the party in those States took ex-
IRENE anti-slavery ground When, therefore,
the thirty-first Congress assembled, 1t was found
that all of the eighty-four Wing members from
the North had been, either by their own declara-
tons, or by the resolves of the nominating dis
trict conventions, pledged to put the proviso on
the territorial governments, and to abolish slav
ery in the District of Columbia Though diff
ferent in name, yet these gentlemen agreed in
principle with that large section of the Abolition
party which supported John p. Hale as a Presi-
DENTAL candidate While they all protested a
regard for the Constitution, and discaimed all
purpose to interfere with slavery in the States,
yet they alike asserted not only the right, but
also the duty, of Congress to exclude slavery
wherever it had jurisdiction, and especially to
prohibit it in the territories, and abolish il in
the District
1t will be recollected that in the Congression-
al caucus hch assembled at the commence
ment of the session of the last Congress, when
discussion on these points sprurg up on the
presentation of Mr.. Toombs resolution, that
gentleman from New York, Mr.. Brooks, de-
clared that he had had conference with his
colleague from the city, Understood to be MIR.
Blggs,) and that they had determined not to
vote at that session (the first one) for any pro-
position to abolish slavery in the District Not
withstandng the pres ing and urgent nature of
the discussion on that occasion, no other gen.
tleman from the North made similar declara-
ton, while many who did speak asserted the
contrary. 1t was full knowledge of this state
of things that induced me shortly after to de.
clare, on the floor of the House that regarded
the Northern portion of the Wing party as
neither national nor conservative, but emnently
sectional and destructive in its policy 1t is true
that during the progress of the session several
public spirited and patriotic gentlemen from that
section changed their position but their num-
Der was go uncomfortable, compared. with the