Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-02-05

,'rc5nstftutio1aL Mr.. jefferson CONDEMNED
/ fbs restriction, and forssaw its consequences,
Z and rreaieted, that it would result "a The dis
solution Of the Union. This prediction is now
history. The North demanded the application
/ Of ne principle Of the prohibition Of slavery
! 10 an Of the country ACQUIRED from Mexico,
ana an other parts Of the public domain. then,
and In future time. It was the announcement
of her purpose TO appropriate to herself an the
I rnbIic domain then owned, and thereafter 70
Z. s-oufred, by The United States -
: Tie claim itself was less arrogant and
insulting than the reasons with which she
supported il, that reason was her Fixed pur-
I nose. 10 limit, restrain, and finally 70 abolish
I slavery r. the S. ates where it exists. The
/ south. with great unsnimity, declared her
1 purp5ss to res 81 the principle Of prohibition
Z to .he last extremity. This particular qEes-
I ffon. in connection with 8 series Of questions
/ affecting the same subject, was finally disposed
! oF bv the defeat Of pr0hibitory legislation
I The presidential election Of 1852 resulted in
tie total overthrow Of the advocates Of re-
sfrfction and their party friends. Immediately
after this result, the snti-slavery portion Of
ths defeated party resolved to unite 81 the
4 elements in the North opposed to slavery and
10 stake their future political fortunes upon
their hostility to slavery everywhere This is
The party to whom the people Of the North
have committed your Government They
raised their standard iE 1856, and, we're barely
defeated Thev entered he presidential con-
test again in 1860, and succeeded. The pro-
bibition Of SLAYER. in the Territories. hostility
10 it everywhere, the equality Of the white
and black races, disregard OF all constitu-
tfonal guarantees in its favor were boldly pro-
claimed By It's leaders and spplauded by its
followers. With these principles on their
banner. and these u'teraBces on their liBs, the
majority Of the people Of the North demand
that we shall receive them az our rulers. TIE
Brohfbi.ion Of slavery in the Territories is the
cardinal principle Of this organization.
For forty years, this question has been con-
sidered and debated in the halls Of Congress,
before tbe people, by the press, and before the
tribunals Of Justice The majority Of the pe)-
RE OF the North, in 1850, decided it in their
oVn favor. We refuse to submit 20 that iudF-
ment. and in yindication Of our refusal, we
of-r The Constitution Of our country, and point
to the total absence e any express power to
exclude us-ws offer the practice Of our Gov
eminent for The first thirty years Of its eXis-
tzrcs in complete Tefutsti0n OF the position
that any such power is either necessary OF
proper 20 The execution Of any other power in
relation b The territories. We offer the iudg-
men. Of a large minority Of The people Of the
North, amounting to more than one-third, who
uri.ed With the unanimous will Of the South,
against this usurpaii0n; and finally, we offer
tie Judgment Of the S IpTems Court Of the
United States, the highest judicial tribunal Of
cur country, in cur favor. This evidence
ought TO be conclusive, that We have never sur
rendered this right; the conduct Of our sdver-
81 ries is as if we bad Surrendered lit is time
to resume t. The faithless conduct Of our
sdversaries is not confined to such acts a.
might sggrandise themselves in their section
Of the Union they are content, if they cen
only iriure us. The Constitution declares that
persons charged with crimes in one State, and
fleeing 70 another, shall be delivered up on the (
demand Of the executive authority Of the state
from which they may fee, to be tried in the [
Jurisdiction where he crime was committed.
It would appear difficult to employ language /
freer from ambiguity Yet for above twenty 1
years, the non-slsveholding States, generally, l
have wholly refused 70 deliver up % as per- /
SONS charged with crimes affecting slave prop
ertv: our c0nfedsrates, with Punic faith, shield
and give sanctuary to ali criminals, who seek
10 deprive US Of this property, or who use it
TO destroy as. This clause Of the ConstitG-
ton requires them 10 surrender fugitivss from
labor. This provision, and the one last re-
fe-rei 70, were our main inducements for con
federatiuF with the nerthern States Without
then, It is historically true, that we would
have rejected the Constitution In the fourth
year OF the Republic, Congress passed a law
10 give full viEoT aud efficiency 20 this imp0T-
siderable degree upon the local magistrates Of
fbs several States for its efficiency The non
slsveboiding States generally repealed all laws
intended 20 aid the execution Of That act, and
Imposed penalties upon those citizen whose
LOYALTY 10 the Constitution, end their oaths,
might induce them to discharge ther duty.
Congress then passed the act Of lS5o,
providing FOR the complete execution Of
this duty BY federal officers. This law,
which their own bad faith rendered ab-
aolutelv indispensable FOR The protec-
tion ot constitutional rights, was instantly
met with ferocious revilings, and all concsiVa-
bic modes Of hostility. The Supreme Court
unanimously, and their own local courts, with
equal unanimity with the single and solitary
exception Of the supreme court Of Wisconsin,,
sustained its constitutionality in an Of its pro-
visions. Yet t stands to-day a dead letter,
for all practical purposes, in every non sieve
holding State In tfe Union. We have their
covenant; we have their oaths to keep and OBJ
serve it: but The unfortunate claimant, even
accompanied hy Federal of er, with the
mandate Of the highest judicial authority 10
bis hands, is everywhere met with fraud, with
forces. and with legislative enactments, 20 re-
sist, TO defeat him. Claimants are murdered
with impunitT; officers Of the Law are beaten
by frantic mohs, instigsted by inhlmnatOry
appeals from persons holding the highest pub
lie smpl0Yments in their States, supported by
lpgis' alton In conflict with the clearest pro.
visions OF the Constitution, and even TIE ordi-
nary princsles Of humanity In several ef
our confederate States, citizen cannot travel
the highway, with bis servant, who may vol
UNFAIRLY accompany him, without being d.
clarsd By law a felon, and being subjected to
Infamous punishments. Z is difficult 20 per-
ceive how We could suffer more by the hostili
w than By the fraternity OF such brethren.
The public laws Of civilized nations require
every state 20 restrain i's citizens or subjects
frsm committing acts injurious 70 tue peace
and safety Of any other-S.sies attempting 10
excite insurrection. OF 10 lessen the sscurity,or
disturb the tranquility Of heir neighbors, and
our Constitution gives Congress the power to
punish all offenses against the laws Of nations.
Thsss are sound and just principles, which
have received the appreciation IF inst men in
all countries and in an centuries but they
are wholly disrsgardCd BY The people Of the
northern States, and the FEDERAL Government
is inpotent 10 maintain them. For twenty
years past, the abolltionists and their allies
IN the Northern States have been engaged ia
constant efforts to subvsrt ocr ins itutions, and
to excite insu-reciion snd ssrYils war among
us. They have sent emissaries among Us
for the accomplishment OF their purposes.
Some Of these ef1rfs have received the sane
ton Of a ma i0rity IL The Leading men of the
Republican party in the national councils
the same men who are now proposed as our
rulers. These efforts have, 30 one ins snce,
led 30 the actual invasion of one Of tie slave
holding States, and those Of the murdsrers and
incendiaries who escaped public justice by
A gh. have found fra'ernal protection among
our northern cohfederstes. These are the
men who say he URioa shall be preserved.
Such are tbs opinions, aud such are the pEsc-
tees, Of the Republican party, who have been
called by their own v0teslt 10 administer the
Il n %. eAH. HHa.aa -
the United S.atfs We know their treschery;
we know lhe shallow prstences under which
they daily disregard its plsiHest obligations.
II we submit 10 them, t will be our fault and
not theirs. The people Of Georgia have ever
been willing 70 stand By this bareain-this
contract. They have never sought 10 evade
any Of Ste obligations-.hey have never hith-
erto sought to establish any new goVernment
Thry have struggled 60 maintain the ancient
rights Of themselves and the human race, under
and through The Constitution. Bat they know
the value Of parchment rights IN treacherous
bands: and iheref0Ta they refuse 90 commit
their own e. ;be rulers whom The North offer
us. Why? Because, by their declared prin-
cipe snd policy, hey have outlawed three
thousand millions Of our property 10 The com
mon territories Of the UHion-pui it under the
[ bsn Of toe republie in the S-ates vhere i eX
l ists-snd ont 0f ibe protection OF the federal
]
! 20 thieves and incendiaries who sssah il, 70
/ the whole extent Of their power, Co spite Of
their most solsmu Obligations and coTenanta-
I because their svsWed purpose is to subvsrt our
society, and subject us not only 10 the loss Of
ogr property, but the destrue' ion Of ourselves
our wives, and cur childrsn, and The des0la-
ton Of our homes, our sitsrs, and our firesides
TO avoid these evils, We regums The powers
which our fathers delegsts De- Govern
rneuf ~ the United Sfa rf hencef0rth
1 seek new safeguards for our liberty, equality,
sscBrity ard tranquility.
Ten thousand copies of the address were
ordered 70 be printed, and the clerks were d.
Tected TO place It on the journals.
New York TrIbane ana secession.
g If the cotton States uaitedly and earnestly
wish 10 withdraw peacefully from the Union
we shink they shonid and would be allowed e
66 so. any attempt 70 compel them BY fore
y to remain would b. conlrsry 70 the principles
enunciated in the immortal Declaration u In
! spendeBce-canirary 10 The fundamental ides
on which human liberty is based Mes KoT
Tri5Eac. Nor. 1850.