The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-11-08
LETTERS TO THE KERR DINNER.
TEAoHEy's DEroT, DUPLH COUNTY,
September On 1881

September 20, 1854.
GENTLEMEN Your letter Of the 4th instant honorng me
with invitation to public dinner be given your
representative in Congress the Hon John Kerr on the
2sth instant at Yanceyvle is before regret exceed
ngly my inability to comply with your request My long
absence from bonneville require that all my time and aen
ton should be given TO my private business
| am truly pleased at this manifestation of approval
given to your distinguished representative for his
the bill to organize the Territories of Nebraska and
Kansas" You in my opinion, do than Justice
in adding TO the confidence already reposed by this new
acknowledgment of gratitude for his faithful public service
agree with you in the importance that your people at
tach 10 the momentous issues likely grow of the
present agitation at the North the Question of slavery
and | trust you will indulge with a few reflections
which the time suggests The first question is Why the
agitation at the North and what has been done
cite the public mind in that section make them threat
en- hostile legislation against interest which claim is
protected by the federal compact? retrospect of our
conduct as members of conederacy suggestive of the
following pertinent inquiries Have invaded any
Of the constitutional rights of the Norh2 Have ever
withheld the protection Of any interest pertaining their
persons or property Have manifested the least
disposition to resist them in their liberties Illustrate
their prosperity Have indicated any intention to
disturb their domestic tranquility Or have ever
fused to provide for the defence promote the
general welfare? Or finally might ask, what object had
our fathers in view in the formation of the federal govern
ment that we have shown unwillingness to obtain
Can be upbraded by the North for the derelicon
of any constitutional duy2 No. gentlemen escutcheon
is clear OF any offence arising from commission of
wrong omission of duty towards northern friends
and this storm is raised heads in all its fury
for other under Heaven than that we will not
allow the North to use the common agent the general gov
ernnent to exclude from the occupancy of common
property You may turn and twist this question you
will it resolves itself into the simple fact that the North
desires to restrict in the of property-the Terrific
reswhich belong much TO section another and
they seek to do it with that power which is much
agent theirs To illustrate the gross injustice the atroci
" of this attempt us suppose Massachusetts or any
other northern State should send armed force the
Territory Of Kansas with Instructions that it should
permit Shareholders to enter and occupy any portion of
that country Would this be rebellion against the
stitutonal authority of the conederacyY Where is the
difference if she should do the thing through her rep
resenatiyes in Congress The mode of doing it. whether
by force law may less irritation, but does
affect the question of authority If she claims the
right member Of the conederacy to say what species
OF property you may may not carry into the Territory
she might just well contend for the power to exclude
you altogether your exclusion by the mode or by the
other would be practical establishment of two case in
American sovereignty States of superior and inferior
ranks.
This distinction would necessarily entail upon civil
moral and social degradation Does the part have
been called upon to perform in our political drama justify
any such degradation? Whether in peace in have
not been peers with our northern friends? What
battles have been fought for the protection of
flowed equally with theirs What the civil or political
country has obtained but that the South
tribued her full proportion Our country has risen
incredible short time from state of insignificant imbec
ity rank among the first nations earth What has
caused such astonishing development Of her
but southern capital
From a compilation of facts furnished me by friend in
the Treasury Department find that the exports of the
domestic products from the United States from 1921 to
1853 amounted in round numbers to S300O000000. This
has been our trading capital What we have consumed
whether produced in this that section Of country has
added nothing the national wealth 1t has only received
any substantial addition from exports that of the
large amount given above two-thrds composed Of
three articlescoton tobacco and riceexclnsvey the
products of slave labor the other hrd-composed of
breadsuiis, spirits manufactured articles &c-were pro-
duced at the North well the South but have no
cpfar thn ytraro
giant to claim at least nnehrd OF tie latter for the South
which would give seven-nint of the exports of The cpun
try to the saveholdng section contemplation of these
facts should inspire with the conviction that have
fully done our duty under the federal compact in promo
ting the general welfare and also with manly resolution
resist any unjust oppression Before finishing with
these exports let who has reaped the if all
the advantages ofexportaon The shipping interest of the
country is owned mostly at the North and while have
no right to charge the general government with their
superiority in this branch of industry we do claim
that the monopoly which our laws give them in the
coasting trade, and which is burden sec
ton, is owing to southern berality Yet how deaf
they 10 eny call Of gratitude. The State of Maine
has lately indicated by her election that she is ready and
ripe for crusade against southern n.ass She has abo
itionized her whole congressional delegation ie she
still enjoys this monopoly of which, If she deprived
it would beggar thousands of her citizens With what
grace lhen can she modest ns Is because we allow her
to live il werc upon the fruits of labor? Yes gem
tlemen not only DO we furnish tho exports and give the
North the exclusive right to transport them but when these
exports return to this country in the shape of goods wares
and merchandise, adjust tariff of duties in such
to protect those branches of industry which
in measure peculiar to the North The South has, in
deed clamored against the injustice Of these tariff duties
but she has asked from the government any legsa
tive protection to any interest peculiar TO her section
mention these facts, which familiar all, to show
that in the first place. it has been policy to
tionaze the legislation of Congress- and in the second
place. 10 show with what fidelity the southern people have
always acted in maintaining the naonal sentiment which
pervades the federal constitution " the North possesses
constitutional authority to exclude from the Terri
tories with onr slave property and we hare aoea in such
10 give them excuse for their present hostile
attitude, agree with you that Il intend to defend
selves against aggrcssions which they threaten and for
which they to be uniting the South should also be
unit
You have been pleased speak in terms of commenda-
ton of my as steadfast and in support
Of southern rights Next to the approval Of my
science uigre no higher qualification than the approba
ton of my fellowcitizens. Upon the passage Of the par
cuar bill organizing the two new Territories the South
almost unit nnd in repeing aggressiop WheneyeF
attempted trust there viii not DO dissenting voice.
have sympathy for that dasrdly sentiment which apol
ogzes northern action under the hypocriea guise Of
having disturbed "a compromise of long standing 1t
ne compromise and considered by the North and
violated by them whnnever opportunity presented it.
self a compromise sacred COMPROMISED What reck-
less etsronery in this pretehsiap Wig ade sacred
The ink with which the Missouri restriction Wr.ttrE
not dry before find majority Of northern mem
bers in Congress voting against its observance and sub
sequent occasion has been allowed to pass but with
yandal-like spirit they have sven for its destruction.
The States of Arkansas and Michigan applied for adj
mission into the Union about the timethe latter
lying north of this pretended compromise line the former
souh Of they bech possessed the usual requisites for adj
mission, but how aiferepy lr9 ter applications treat
ed Michigan was admitted without the least struggle
Il