Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-07-03
COLUMBUS. MssIsslppl. SATURDAY. JULY 5. 1882


4. Resolred, Tha, domestic slavery, as Il ex
isis ia the Southern and Western States Of thi
Union. composes an important part of their do
nestle institutions, inherited by their ancestors
and existing at the adoDiion Of the Constitution
bv which il is recognized as constituting an i'm
| pouani element in the appononment of powers
among the States. and that no change of opinion
or cling, ON the part Of The other States Of the
Unan in elation 10 il, can Justify lhen or thelI
citizens in open and systematic attacks thereon
with the view to lis overthrow; and that all such
attacks are in manifest violation of the mutual
and solemn pledge TO protect and defend each
other, given by the States respectively, On en-
J ering inia the constitutional compact which i0gn.
ed The Uninn and as such are manifest breach
of faith. and manifest violation of the most SOL
emn obligations.
Resolred, That interference by the cilizenI
of any uf The States. with the view TO the ab0s
lition Of slavery in this District, is endangering
the rights and secRritg OF the people Of The Dis
irci and that any act or measure Of Congress
designed Ia abolish slavery 10 this District, would
be a violation of the faith implied in the cessions
l,y The States of Virginia and Maryland, Just
cause of alarm to The people of the slaveholding
States, and have direct aud inevitable ten,
1encv TO disturb ard endanger the Union.
And Resolped, Tha, any attempt of Congress
to abolish slavery in any Territory Of the United
States in which il exists would create serious
alarm and inst apprehension, in the States sus-
tanning that domestic institutions would be vio
lation of good faith towards the inba ilants Of
any such Territory who have been permitted t0
settle with. and hold slaves therein because the
people Of any such territory have not asked or
the abolition II slavery therrid. aud because
when any such Territory sh,l be admitted into
the Union as Stale, the people thereof will
he entitled to decide that question exclusively for
themselves.
General Pierce voted in the AFFIRMATIVE
upon each and every one Of these resolutions, in
opposition to Daniel Webster, who was then in
the q. s. Senate.
In 1899, Gen. Pierce presented petition
praying for The abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia, on which occasion he made the
following remarks:
"Mr. p. said that the memorial came 10 him.
accompanied by letter from highly respecm-
bic clergy man. residing in his native country -
The letter says, though we are aware that your
views may not correspond with those Of the pc
tiliOners, they have no doubt Of your readiness to
present a respectable petition coming from any
portion of the cilizens of New Hampshire"
II is certainly no task to present the memorial,
and yet ! cannot, 10 Justice 10 my own couvic.
tons Of duty, comply with the request, wi hout
expressing my deep regret. that these petitioners,
many Of whom am sure are actuated by pure
motives, shond So FAR mistake their own moral
responsibilities, and the POWER and DUTY Of
Congress in relation TO this subject.
/ da aatnastly bona 4 ut ava,v honast u,an
has sincerely at heart the best interest OF The |
slave aud master, may no longer be governed by I
blind zeal aud impulse bot be led To examine /
is bearings; and that, when called upon TO lend
heir names aud Influence 10 lhe cause Of agita-
ion. they may remember that we live under
written Constitution which is the panolpy and
protection of the South, as well rs the North
hat !, covers the entire Union. aud is equally a
guarantee ior the unmolested enjllmeul Of the
domestic institutions Of all lis parts and trust,
urlher, ihattha they no longer closr their eyes
o the fact that so Ear as those in who welfare
hey express so much feeling are concerned. tbis
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE has been, aud must in
vitably continue 10 be evil. aud only evil
Iaviug on former occasion. expressed my
Jews somewhlt at ieTgih, | will no. detaiu you
lrher than 10 notice an erroneous statement
which has been made. and thousand times re-
ealed. with regard Ia my own course and tha, Of
he Representatives of New Hampshire in both
iouses Of Congress. We have been chafged
nth having denied Ibr right of petition; and al
rough the charge is wholly without foundation,
ave no doubt that, from its frequent repetitions,it
lay have had an influence upon The minds Of
,any honest and patriotic men. So far from I
aving denied. We have uniformly assened and {
Maintained bis right. But aher defamation aud
rgument had been exhausted on both sides OF :
~ question--afiei the memorials had been re. {
rred To a select committee during the 24th Con,
ress, aud an elaborate report sent firth 10 the q
meic n people--we thought il our duty To- take !
ich course with petitions Of this character, as
oud enable Congres 10 procred with the CON a
derslion of subjects at necessary aud legiii. {
nte legislation. The whole qu .siion since that .
.riod has been one vifb regard 10 th- DIsrosi- ?
iON of memorials WHEN RECEIVED and 40 r
'nunciaiipn ~ filse representations will drive o
from course demanded alike by regard Cor u
? proper and nece.sary legislation q Congress. r
p rght. Of lhr South, and he interests Of The p
hole country. Afer the derlafziian. which
W. gone from high SOURCES during the present O
ssiou, in both ends 81 the Capitol I am en- NJ
uraged 70 hope that The agitation Of This qurs- b
N 10 New England for political purposes will pl
ase; that there Eill be no m0re attempts 90 de- al
i've and excite the people. by ineulcsiing he l.
preston that their rights TO petition has BEEN ID
raded X
Such was the course Of Gen Pierce. while IN Z.
,neress on the subject Of slavery. subject of II
vial importance then to the South, and Of Vi. or
importance now. At the present tine. u
Iced. we point 10 Il with peculiar sAiisiae-
n. Nov, il ever the safety and peace of the 81
lniry feqqire that a nan and party should co
a. he head of affair. whose slavery opinioBs
firmly settled and national in their character. tif
III this record. and the platform a the Nation ID
Democratic Couveniioa lefyre us. We can say &c