The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-04

tnas prohibited African slavery within their
limits had reached II mum Der sufficient to give
theiT represen tatson a controlling voice In the
Congress, persistent and org g.niz-d " stem
OF hostile measures against the rights of the
owners OF slaves IN the Sou thern States was
ipaugurated, and gradually extended. con-
uDuous series OF measures was devised and
prosecuted for the purpose OF rendering inse-
cure the tenure OF property IN slaves fanati-
cal Organizations, supplied win money by
voluntary subscriptions, were assiiuously en-
gagged ia exciting amongst the slaves "A spirit
of discontent and revolt means were furnish
ed for their escape from their owners, and
agents secretly employed 10 Gu tice them 70
aDscOndi the constltu tionaI provIsIon tor their
rendition to their owners was first eyaded
then openly denounced violation of con-
scientICUs obligation and religious duty men
were taught that IL WAS merit 10 elude
disobey, aud violently oppose the exec ution OF
the Ia Hs enacted TO secure the per formance of
the promise con tanned in the constitutional
compact owners Of slaves were mobbed and
even murdered in open day, solely for apply
ing TO magistrate tor the arrest of a fugitive
slave the dogInas OF these voluntary orgaui
cations soon obtained control of the Legisla-
lures of many Of the Northern States, and
laws were passed providing for the pu1isA-
ment by ruinous fines and long icon tlnued i'm
pTisonmeut in jaiis and peniten tariez, Of citf.
zens OF the Sou thern States, who should dare
to ask ala oI the officers OF the la for the re-
coYery Of their property. Enbotdeued by
success, the tbeatre OF agitation and ag-
gression against the clearly EXPRESSED con-
stItutlou4I rights of the out IerD STATES
was transferred 70 the Congress Senators
and Representatives. were sent 10 tue com
mon councils of the nation, whose chief
utie to TINS distinction consis ted in the
display OF a spirit of ultra fauaticlsn and
whose business was, not " TO promote the gen
~TaI welfare or ensure domestic tranQIliuIy"
but 10 awaken the bi itterest hatred against the
citizens OF sister States by violent denuHcia-
ton OF their Institutions; ths trausactiou of
public affairs was mpeded by repea ted efforts
fAd hU no yhtLs Il
tuition, for the purpose OF Impairing the sscu-
rlty OF property Ill slaves, and reducing those
states which held slaves TO n condition of In-
teriority. Finally, great party was organ
lzed Tor the purpose of obtaining the admin
lstTa tlon OF the Government, with the aVoWed
Object OF using Its power Tor the total exciu-
sion OF the slave States from ali participation
iii The benefits OF the public domain, acq ulred
by All the States in common, whether by con-
quest or purchase; OF surrounding them en-
ureIy by states ia which slavery should be
prohibited; Of thus rendering the property in
slaves 50 insecure as TO be com pdrdtiYely
worthless, and thereby aunihilating in effect
properly worth thousands OF millions OF dol
1878. This party, thus organized, succeeded,
IN the mon TIA of November last, ii the election
OF it's candidate for the Pres idency Of the Uni
ted States.
In the meantime, under the mild and ge-
DiIl climate OF the southern STATES, and the
increasing care and attention for the we'll
being ana comfort of the EtboriHg class, dc
tltsu alike by interest aud humanity, the AT
TIcan slaves had augmen ted In number from
about 6t0, 1900, at the date of the adoption OF
the constitutional compact. TO upwards OF A.
oJJ,uvO. In moral anu social condition they
bad been elevated from brutal Sayages in TO
docile, intelligent, and civilized agricultural
Iab0rers, and supplied not only Win bodily
comforts, but with careful religious iustruc-
ton. Under the supervision Of a superior
race their labor had been 20 directed not
only 10 allow gradual aud marked ameiiora-
ton OF their own condition, but TO convert
5,af
wilderness into cultivated lands, covered with
prosperous people; towns and cities had
sprung into existence, and had rapidly lu-
creased III WeHlth and population under the
social system OF the South the white popu-
lation OF the Southern slaveholding Sta tes had
augment ted from about ,25O, 900 at the Ga te of
the adoption of the ConstItu tion, to more
than 800, 900 IN 1850 and the productions Of
the South in cotton, rice, sugar and tobacco,
for the full development aud continuance Of
which the labor OF African slavery was and is
Indispensable, had swollen to an aEaount
Whicn formed nearly three -fourths of tho ex-
porls of the whole United States and had be-
come so absolutely necessary to the wants Of
civilized man.
Win in terests Of such overwhelming mag
nitude imperlled, the people of the Southern
States were driven by the conduct OF the
North to the adoption of some course of action
to avert the danger with which they were
openly menaced. With this view the Legis-
iatures of the several States invited the peo-
ntb 10 ktittL ufIeEdLes 10 GOnShI tlUnS, 10 Dc
held for the purpose OF determining for them
selves what measures were best adapted to
meet so alarming ii crisis in their his tory.
Here II may be- proper 10 observe that from
"A period as early "a lS0e there had existed In
all OF the States of the Union Il party, almost
min nterrup ptedly in the majority, based upon
the creed that each State was in the last re-
sort, the sole judge. as we'll of it's wrongs as of
the mode and measure Of redress Indeed, IL
Ia obvious, that under the law of nations, this
principle is an axiom, AS applied 10 the rela-
lions OF independent sovereign States such as
those which had united themselves under the
constitutional compact. The Democratic par
" of the United States repeated III It's cue
cesstul canvas in 1906, the declaration made
in numerous previous political contests, that
it would faithfully abide by aud uphold the
principles laid down In the kentucky and Vir-
gnia resolu tious of 179S, and In the report of
Mr.. Madison to the Virginia Legislature in
1899, and that IL adopts those principles as
constituting one of the main foUnda ticns OF
its political creed"
The principles thus emphaticaily announc-
ed embrace that TO which have already ad-
yerted the right Of each State to judge of, and
redress the wrongs OF which it eomp plains
These principles were maintained by over
wheming majoritles of the people OF all the
States OF the Union at different elections, es-
peclally in the elections OF Mr.. Jefferson in
1905, Mr.. Madison in 1902, and Mr. Pierce in
1889.
In the exercise Of right so ancient, so well
established, and SO necessary for self preser-
walton, the people of the Confederate States
IN their Conventions. Determined that the
wrongs which they had uttered, aud the evils
with which they were nlenac-d req uired that
they should revoke the delegation of powers
TO the Federal Government which they had
ratified ia their several Conventions. They
constq uently passed ordinances resuming all
their rights sovereign and independent
States, and dissolved their connec ion with
the other States of the Union.
Having done this, they proceeded to form q
new com pact amongst themselves, 10y new ar
ticles OF contedera tion, which have been also
ratified by The Conventions of the several
States with an approach 10 uhaulmity far ex-
ceeding that OF the Conyen tions which aaopt-
ed the Constitution of 1887. They have or
ganlzed their new government III all its de-
partmemts; the functions OF the Executive,
Legislative, and Judicial Magistrates are per
formed III accordance lth the Will OF the peo-
pie as displayed, not merely III cheerful ac-
Quiesceuce, but in the enthusiastic support OF
the government thus established by them
selves; aud but for the interference OF the
goyerunentoi The United States y this lsgiti-
mate exercise OF the right OF people To self
government, happiness and pros perity would
now smile on our land.
That peace Is ardentiy desired by this gov
ernment and people, has been NANTES ted in
every possible form. Scarce had you assem-.
bled ia February last. when, prior even TO
the inaus uration OF the Chief Magistrate Won
had elected, you passed II resolution express
sIve OF your desire tor the appointment of
omInissioIers TO be sent 10 the government
of the United States, ''for the purpose of me-
gotiating friendly reia tions between that gov
ernment and the Confederate States of Ame
rica, and Tor the settlement OF ali q uestions of
disagreement between the two governments
upon principles OF right, justice. equity and
good faith. "
II WAS my pleasure as well as nv DUTY To
cooperate with you in this work OF peace
ludeed, in my address to YOU on taxing tha
oath OF ottice, and before receiving tram Won
the communication OF this resolution, had
said, .'as necessity, not choice we have
resortad TO the remedy or separation and
henceforth our energies must be directed 10
the conduct OF our own affairs and the perps,-