The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-11-09
MISCELLANY.
Governor Johnson's Reply.
MILLEDGEv1LLE, Georgia, Oct. II
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,

GENTLEMEN: have this dav received
your invitation "to attend and address a
mass meeting of the National Democratic
party Of the City and County of New York.
to be held at the Metropolitan Theatre, on
Monday evening, the ED instant, at I l-2
o'clock, Tor the purpose Of ra,ityiug the
proceedings Of our (your) late State and
county Conventions, and the tickets nomi-
mated by them" | regret that official ell
gagements deny me the honor of accepting
your invitation for there are circumstances
connected with the political condition Of
our country, which would render it exceed
ingly agreeable to mingle in the interesting
scenes of the occasion. AS it is, must be
permitted to substitute, in the form of a
hasty communication, Il few of the many
reflections that are suggested by the Signs
OF the times.
Ks the result Of the war with Mexico we
acquired extensive territorial possessions on
the Pacific coast. The Southern States
contributed their full proportion of blood
and treasure, and consequently thought they
were justly cutitled to a fair participation
in the fruits of the contest. But they were
denied it. a Brigadier General of the Uni
ted States Army, without authority of law,
assumed civil power in California, and con-
stituting himself Territorial Executive, pro-
claimed an election for a Convention, and
prescribed the time, place and manner of
holding the elections. lie ordered the
Convention to form State, and conferred
the elective franchise upon every type and
shade Of people who had squattcd upon
the public domain, to plundcr lis golden
treasures. There were,but few Inhabitants
from tho Southern States. They had been
deferred from emigration thithcr by the
Frcesoil counscls which prevailed in Con-
gress. The Convention met, organized a
State, with constitution prohibiting slave
ry, and against the protest Of the slavehold-
ing States, California was admitted into the
Union-the usurpation of the Brigadier
General was ratified-and the South de-
prived of all participation in scope of ter
ritory sufficient for ten States as large as
Georgia. Was that just? This was one
of the aggressive features Of the "Compro-
mise Measures" of 1850.
There was another. 1t was necessary TO
organize Territorial Governments for Utah
and New Mexico The latter lies adjacent
to Texas, a slaveholding State. Lynx-eyed
Freesoilsm discovered that fog and dust
4 could be thrown oyer the question of bound
airy between Texas and New Mexico. Its
fiendish nlyrmidons insisted that large por-
ton of the former properly belonged to the
latter: and, therefore, forty thousand square
miles were carved ont of Texas, given to
New Mexico, and converted into free soil.
%And, rs if to add insult. to injury, the pub.
1ic treasury was taxed to the tune Of $1O,.
100000, as bonus to Texas to- ~bribe her
Z into the arrangement. Was that justa
And what were the compensatory fea.
lures of the Compromise of ls5Oa The
South obtained the enactment of the "F,l
! gitive Slave Law" but she has, to a great
extent, failed; to realize its peaceful and bo.
ma fide execution. This is one. The othe,
consists in the recognition of the principle,
that hereafter the people ',of the Territories
should determine the question of slavery for
themselves, Independently Of Congressional
: intervention. 2 q :. 8 v x;ts
I; Well, in 1850 the. Southern States were
put TO the test Of. acquiescence rel non in
theses "Compromjse ;measures,n > as final
/. settlement Of the slavery. agitation. Geor-
*gia; acted. in Soyereign 4Gonvetftior, aud foi
(, the sake Of her devotion to Tho Union
consid deration of the memories pf the past
= the fruitions }of the pressnt, ami. the honei
Z of the future shs solenniy gssolyed la iss ac.
tqpiescs. the non,sf sfasehol ding States