The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-11-02
The Issues of the Day---The Duty Of the
South.

These important matters are clearly and
a letter written by the Hon. John Mcqueen,
a member of Congress from South Carolina.
His sentiments are worthy of the people whose
patriotism in early times was reflected by Gads-
den, of colonial memory; and who gave Call
houn to the cause Of State Independence and
Equality:
But, we are cautioned to make no new issues
for the sake of harmony in the great nation
al democratic party, lest we may hasten our
ruin and bring on our own calamity. The
South, as understand her, has never made
a new issue on this whole subject. In the
various phases which abolition has presented,
she has but contended that under the consti-
tuition the people of the States had right to
slaves as to any other property, and that there
was no right in Congress or any where else,
to abolish, restrict or modest it-that it IS the
duty of the Federal Government to protect it
according to the provisions Of the constitution;
leaving every State to abolish or retain it, as
they see fit, and to see that fugitiyes going into
free States to be delivered up, according to the
express provisions Of the constitution; and no
State or people in the South, so far as | have
ever learned, have ever contended that those
who own slaves would have right to estab-
lish slavery in State whose laws abolished
or prohibited it; neither have the South ever
asked slave code for any territories common
90 the South and tho North, and believe that
idea has been thrown out by its author to de-
ceive and pander to abolition prejudices.
All that the South has ever maintained,
,,,,la =, IL. ~ -
man has the right to go into our common ter
ritores and settle with his sla, es, precisely as
the northern man has with his horse; that un-
der the Constitution of the Uuited States they
are equally entitled to protection by the Fed
eral Government-every arm of it in their
persons and property-without a slave code
any more than horse code, until the organize.
State according to law; and that in the mean
time, there should be perfect non-interventoR
by Congress. So far as the establishment or
exclusion OF slavery is concerned, no one ever
dreamed 1t was necessary to obtain an act Of
Congress to declare horse property in a terri
tory; nor has any one in the South ever con-
sldered 1t more necessary for negro, though
the assertion is dignified with place in Har-
per- What the South is to do in the pending
crisis, is question most important and mo-
mentous
trust that the people will take care to
send men to the Charleston Convention from
the South who will see to it that no free-s0i.er
IS to be presented to them for their suffnges
IN 1861, and that will not concoct platform,
futile as consider platforms to be- that MAJ
induce them to vote for any traitor to the CDn-
sutution, or one who will betray them when
the test comes, let him come from North or
South.
II platform cannot be adopted which shalA
demand the protection of the Stakeholder with
MS slaves in every and all our common Terri
tory now owned or to be owned in future. then
We may know we are to be deffauded of our.
rights as we have been because we are in a
and If the South fail to demand ex.
ohcltly that slavery shall be protected in the
territories precisely as any other property.
hen we may know the south will be required
o acqulesce in the doctrine Of Douglas. and
1ve up forever the issue which he, not the
south, has tauntingly made. He has thrown
Town the gauntlet; and it seems to me the
south dare not ignore it, unless indeed, we
ire prepared to give up the issue, fold up our
ms, ana humbly implore our northern mas
ers to spare US humble, cowardy, miserable
Features, so long as they in their mercy sec
it. What would have been said on the pro.
POSITION to ignore this question in South Csro,
ina ten years ago And why do it now
Shall it be done to make way for Douglas be.
ause he may be the most available candidate?
t the South supports him, in my opinion, he
nay be the most available candidate to beat
William d. Seward, because they might bet.
er divide the votes OF abolitionists than any
ther two men, 1t being simply question Of
he abolition OF slavery a little earlier by the
ne than the other, but equally certain, though
much less cruel by the process of Seward than
Douglas. 1t would not even afford the paral-
Ell OF the question between being shot or
drowned, but rather that of being shot, or
lowly and ANONYMOUSLY tortured to death
would infinitely prefer the first. | would
lot support Mr.. Douglas for the Presidency
he were to make an affidavit to observe any
,latform that may be drawn; ! know what
ne has done, and that is enough for me. But
he great question presents itself whether true
constitutional man, with known integrity and
principles can be elected to preside over the
lestinieS Of the contederacy, for the next rour
ears. II not then 1t Is because the subject
{ abolition has, IN some form or other. taken
UGH hold on the northern mind that is i'm
osSible; and II So in the name of God il Is
ime that all the people shall understand II
nd make up their mind to meet it, as I krov,
hey have the spirit and the power to do hon.
rably and safely for themselves and nostor;t,.
have no hesitation in saying, if a black rs.
ublican is elected in 1860 that wo:d mot
lbmit to it in this Union, and l am sat;s6SS
the South submits to it, she viii bs lsmant-
bly, dercllct to her duty, and viii have raS.ad
le point IN her history, at VIII h she nav
'trleve her honor and h,r rvhts withon,
God shed, and without much strife and ga
Ire to herself and posterity the rich inbsr;.
nee which her ancestors beSuea he'd TO her
blood. The moment such election i Ln,v.n
trust the South will unite, either n , Art or
whole, and make known her determination
dissolve this Union. The common oon,.
'ct has already been broken, in letter and
init, and We will have perfect right 70 dis
I've an alliance not regarded by our en-, mics
Ithout war or blood; and if there be r. d;ca. TX
ons that, in the arrogance of our enenies
ey threaten to make war upon us then we
Iould he prepared with powder and bal IA
Indicate our rights as our ancestors did.
Please accept for yourselves and thoso v,a
present. my kind regard and thanks a. ~
'nor OF yourinvitation. Your ob't seryst
JNo. MCQUEEN
Messrs, j, 9. CanteS and others Comna-
e, Camden, S. G.
~.