Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-12-19
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE.

Saturday, referring 70 tho resolutions SUB
mstod by mo in tho late extra session Of
tho Senate inviting n conference Of all the
Southern Statos, you say,
We give place 10 the communication ~
4. W, showing the couciliatory measures
offered by DR.. Dslony, IN tho Senate, TO
stay tho purpose, Of The several gentlemen
In that body. who have made mp their
| minds that Louisiana RhdN no Withdrawn
from the Union. We do IL. rs act of jus.
lice To- the present tonable position Of tbe
Doctor ="
- "As chairman Of tho Committee
on Federal Relations in 1858, tho Doctor
was the author of a report, which we re-
member, 70 have called the attention Of
the readers Of this paper 10, which Is very
bright with tho sparks Of the fro eating
incondisfy. Perhaps tho Doctor did not
intend that tho flames should spread so
far. We for one hope 80. lfnot in earn
est, no should offer some excuse Tor joking
| in nm important State document, like that
from tho Committee on Federal Relations
always is"
Whilst It may DO matter Of no impor-
lance Whatever to tho public what my
opinions aud views have been or arc now.
Yet in justice to myself I have TO say, that
did mean what said in 1858, and that
my position now is precisely what It was
thon, I tako the following extracts and ro-
solutions from tho report to which you al
ludo. Referring 20 tho rights and equality
Of the South in the Union, I said in that
report
"The stake il n mighty one, and i,s
lit L..
shadow and crush out all other questions
Of tho day. But there il no trae 10 be loft;
and how shall this remedy be applied
We answer, BY rHE PROMPT AND UNITED
ACTION or THE SoUTHEEN PEOPLE IN Cor
vEETIoN AssENBLED, sOLEnNLy DLnAFD-
| tNa THE REsToRArtor TO TuE SoUTu oT uER
| CoNsTITUTfoSAL RIGHTS, AND HER roUALI-
TT IN THE SENATE OF TuE UHITED SrATEs."
The report concludes with this appeal
/" But, faithful unto the end, We would
still exert our sinking powers and feeble
energies in behalf Of this Union, and again
appeal to hor whole people to 70 establish
the South in her equality and rights that
cnly position in which aha can remain Ia
the Union"
The report ends with tho following re-
solutions which were then submitted 10
| htN 'Nhhho hhh tfj'NtNN w ff""fhtt w
those which submitted in the extra sos-
sion the other day.
" ResoiUed. That tho critical condition
| Of tho Southern States Of this Union, nnd
| the dangers which are surrounding and
closing upon them on all sides, throatgn-
ing their future welfare aud safety, earn
ostly demand their imnediate. united
and concurrent octioh IN COHHeHti,h, or In
some other effective mode, 10 devise means
by which these dangers shall be avoided,
aud their future security established be-
| yond hazard
4" ResoLUed fvther, That tho Governor DO
requested 10 forward u copy Of this Report
and Resolutions TO each Of the Governors
Of the Slave holding States, 10 be laid DO
foro their respective Legislatures; and that
| IL a majority Of said States shall concur in
the necessity Of uniting in convention,
then tho Governor Of this State in hereby
authorized TO appoint three delegates from
each Congressional district, to meet tho
States 90 concuring, at such time and place
as may hereafter DO designed
80 you perceive Mr.. Editor, that I am
advocating tho Same course for the South
now that did in 1853, ] was for Uniisd
and concurrent ao,ion Of all tho Southern
States thon, and had my viows been Rdop-
tod, tho rights, honor and equality Of the
Southern States would have been ere now
firmly established within the Union, fail
| ing, we would have boon united South,
) forming a confederacy with a stable gov
eminent, and embracing other States por-
haps, and constituting most powerful
/ Union. now know that was right IN
1858. believe | am right now.
am opposed TO immediate and sepera'e
secession by each State, now urged, as a
most dangerous and fatal policy. 1t is
step beyond which we have no assurances
Of safety and security and its immediate
effect il the division Of the South into
fragments, with anarchy, civil discord and
ultimate dcspotism in the prospective.
Besides 1t is s-postive duty justly encum-
bent upon us to consult with nil our sister
Slave States in the present crisis, before
our procipitate action shall place the State
Of Louisiana beyond the point Of consul
tation. II there is no hope for the Federal
Union; If its destruction Is inevitable, LEI
US not destroy the union Of the South also.
I hen let the approaching State Convention
do what the Legislature refused 10 do; In
stead Of declaring Louisiana out Of the
Union and setting her up as ar indepen-
dent republic, let it invite all our sister
Slave States to meet together in general
Conference, to decide upon the mode and
measures for redressing or removing the
evils of which we complain, vindicate tho
honor Of the South, demand our rights
and establish justice and equality between
the North and the South, or falling 10 ef-