Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-04-17
col. los. r. Cobb.

4
According to promise, lay before readers, the
letter of our county and friend and avail ourse
of the privilege ofdrawing attention certain portions
oft Holding the doctrine of free discussion in all
matters touching political issues in which the people
are interested, conceive that the speculations OF
Col. Cobb present matters OF fact and opinions OF
character bringing them within the arena OF legitimate
debate. five are wrong in conclusions, Mr. CeDD
will OF courses set rig,sor we here assert that It
is part of intention, either to wound his sell
pride or do him injustice in the premises.
Col Cobb's general reflections are of little value,
and will not therefore, receive any attention. They
are just such points any ordinary minded man would
have made under the circumstances, and in part do
they rise The dignity Of originality As to the phi
losophy of his ideas regard the Compromise test,
it is simply ridiculous but then. what better be
anticipated upon that subject When man is wholly
committed hobby he too apt to ride it down, and
L if Col Cobb has no better employment than that of
defending the broken bones and ayed hide Of the Com
promise quite sure no one should or
least ought, to quarrel with him for INDUCING in his
peculiar fancy. The Colonel is under obligations to
very contemplate humbug for "a certain amount of
noterety and public distinction, and it is not intended
to urge it objection against him now, that he is
DESTROYS of perpetuatng that humbug in order to reap
fromit distinction and public honors. Ii this is
the road he has selected to reach political position and
power, no man should envy him. If the equality of
section is to be sacrificed the advantage and adj
vancement of another section if one interest is to be
expatriated for the benefit of another and the spirit of
the constitution warped from its equpendency to con-
ceal the agrancy of the proceeding man will ques
ton the of justice that prompts the mere poti-
clan to take a chance in the struggle for power No
doubt is entertained but that Col Cobb desires to in
troduce test into politics. but whether the peo
pie again to be vctmzed, is question open for
discussion.
Col Cobb has indicated his preference for the aspi
rants named for the Presidency He is for Fillmore
| frst,we think and Webster second, no doubt. but
would, in all human probability, grin Scott some
He speaks of Webster with confidence. Hehalf ban
ters discussion in regard Websterb by asserting that
he believes himself swell fortified True, without
doubt, the Colonel is web fortified. Others are also
fortified, no doubt but that any successfully
defend Daniel Webster in slave State, as man wor-
thy the support of Shareholders for the Presidency
point we now make with the Colonel. We shall
'udge him by his speeches and acts, and by the re-
corded history the times We will yield two col
umns of the Standard eachweek to Co. Cobb, thro'
whichhe may defend bir Websters speeches and acts,
!
of his valuable time and serious attention. we present
point or two below requiring defence. We put it in
to tangible form, that the ignorant may not be mis-
led, the ingenious deceived We here will say,
special pleas will be exposed and denounced in Ian
guage-it may be rude-pointed and wholesome, for
we have time to spend fallacies or bubbles
nor DO wish the minds of men get muddy with
sophstres this subject. The speeches and of
Webster are before the country Those who have
read his speeches. and noted his votes, know where he
stands-they know the and his principles.
But what are his principles some may ask Let
him announce them-here they are, and we challenge
their defence by Col Cobb, or any one else.
Slavery.
ResolUed, That We, the people here assembled,
remembering the example OF fathers in the
days of the first Declaration of independence put
Ting trustin God for the triumph of our cause
and invoking his guidance in endeavors to adj
vance it, do now plant ourselves upon the Nation
al Platform of Freedom, in opposition to the Sec
tional Platform of Slavery.
Resolved, That slavery in the several States of
this Union which recognise It's existence, depends
upon State laws alone, which cannot be repealed
or modified by the Federal Government, and for
| which laws that Government is not responsible.
We therefore propose no interference by Congress
with slavery within the limits of any State.
ResotUed, That the proviso of Jefferson to pro-
hibit the existence of slavery after 800 in all the
Territories of the United States Southern and
Northern the votes of six States and sixteen dele
gates, in the Congres of 1884, for the proviso to
three States and seven delegates against it the
actual exclusion of slavery from the Northwestern
: Territory, by the Ordinance of 1887, unanimous
ly adopted by the States in Congress-; and the en-
tire history of that period clearly show that was
the settled policy of the nation not to extend ma
tionaize, encourage, but to limit, localize, and
discourage, slavery and to this policy, which
should never have been departed from, the Govern
ment QUE hit to return.
Resolued, That our Fathers ordained the Con-
stitution of the United States, in order, among
other great national Objects to establish justice,
promote the general welfare, and secure the bless
Ings of liberty, but expressly denied to the FEEDER
al Government, which they created all consttu-
tional power to deprive any person of life, liberty,
or property, without due legal process.
Resotoed, That, In The judgment of this Con-
ventlon, Congress has no more power to make a
: slave than to make a king no more power in
stltute or establish slavery than to institute
tablish monarchy-no such power can be found
among those specifically conferred by the Consti-
tuition or derived by just implication from them.
= RESOLVED, That is the du5y Of the Federal Gov
eminent to relieve itselffrom all responsibility for
the existence or continuance of slavery, wherever
that Government possesses constitutional authori-
ty to egisate on that subject, and is thus respon
sible for its existence.
Resolred, That the true, and, in the judgment
of this Convention, the only safe means OF prevent