The Van Buren press., 1860-12-21

fence and assistance of those states who are
struggling for liberty
| w Duid Arkan ,as unite with those who
have counse!e1 scrvile insurrection, stolen
Our slaves, and advised the murder and raw
ishment of our wives and children, and as
sist them to destroy their brethren. Such
sentiment, We believe, finds no abiding
place IN the bosom of any of our fellow
citizens. In view of the fact tha. we may
at any time be hurried into the conflict un :
P epared. it Is proper that we should put
ourselves in a condition for such an emer-
gency.
The course of events is so rapidly has
tening forward, the emergency may arrive
when our people will be called upon to act
promptly ; .ni in the opinion OF your
conmittee. the path of duty and of honor
requires that the people should be called
together to make last effort to preserve
the Union ot the States under the guaran-
ties of the constitutions. This can be e,fec-
tel by assembling southern states together,
and in the exercise of q clear, constitution
al right. demand security for the future. up
on which the conservative sentiment of the
nation may hereafter repose. This procee-
ding, instead of leAiing. as some affect to
believe, to a disruption OF the Uni N, will
more surely perpetuate it, than abiect sub
mission TO repeated and continual agress-
slons.
The southern states. standing on the
tasia OF the constitution, have a right to de-
msnd the repeal OF the unconstitutional
enactments of the state legislatures" above
r-ier1ed to. If this be not done, the Pie .
ident, in his message, tells US it Is -. i'm
possible for any human power to save the
Union that-the constitution, to which all
the states are parties, will have been will
fully violated by one portion Of them in a
provision essential to the domestic securi-
ty and happiness OF the remainder. In that
event the injured States, alter having first
used all peaceful and constitutional means
to obtain redress, would be justified in re-
volutiOnary resistance to the government OF
he Unlon. our committee have omit
ted any discussion as to the right OF State
to secede, or whether tie election of liz
coin is. per sc, a legal Justification for such
a step. We have to deal alone with the
facts developed in the history of the times,
and having pointed out the aggressions OF
the past, and the long serios OF insults and
injuries eliminating in the election OF Lin
coin to recommend u peaceful and cOnstitu-
tIonal mode to obtain redress
| 10 shut our eyes to the fact that there is
danger Of dissolution, would be as silly
as pusIlanImous to hope TO avert the dam
ger by silent submission, would be futile.
The tide OF events have brought, US to a
crisis which must be met manfuiiy and
with a determined spirit. The people are
the fountain oi power and to them we
would appeal. and urging them by them
love of the constitution, to act promptly ia
demanding their rights to preserve the In
ION formed by our lOieiathers, cemented by
their blood. and transmitted to us, III the
hope that it would be iraught with blessing,
We cannot appreciate the argument that
1t would cost too much to cal a convention
to weigh money against principle, to es-
timate our rights by dollar, and cents may
become the sordcd miser, but it ill become,
the free and enlightened people OF thi, coun-
try. The people have Il right to be he Ard,
and it Is our duty to afford them the oppor-
tunity Of speaking out for themselves.
Your Committee earnestly recommend
that a Convention of delegates from all OF
the southern States assemble at Memphis
in the State of Tennessee. ON the second
Monday in February, A. ID. 1851.
Your Committee beg leave to present the
accompanying bill anu recommend its pas
sage
All of which is respectfully submitted
DU VAL, Chairman.