Newspapers / The Newbernian, and North … / Dec. 4, 1849, edition 1 / Page 1
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f I - . '.. wu n. MAYiiiaw, mirroRd S2 50, IN" ADVANCE. EDMUND AlARSTON, PKINTEH. M.1 if . H r, i VOL. VII. NO. 48,-- TKM3. Cijc clnlJccufrtU. 13 rur.LisiiHD every Tuesday, by rn:.:xi n Ki. AT Z2.ZQ PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE cs Trv DilUrs ct tfu erpirctisn'ef Six KirChs. All orJ?rsfriU,prrou!Gf State, must U aeeonniri with itecash, or a responsible refcren A Itcrtlssati will b inscrtel at 0 cents per .,nr, ,r ui!r.?1.f)r lb .nt insertion. and 30 e.ta pJr . ; .,r, for CTcrj r.Moict r;111 ft Will Ut! lU I iv-- - 1 .r ror ; i irt. t:T. will J5 hr-I23 jercc-t bibber tban AT scUJb teuton ftCcc. lleJa Quantity of r.cw tvr5 to onr cf CO4- flavin. f. .... rroarj r.c ?r;;ar 1 1 J wc Iu '"S00'' lh St-tc. - ,a ,-, rnnfirjr L C 1?C ..- mm w H i taallyoa h-.nl, aul will l-t or A: b' ; . - ay lia 1 f rrlutir-donc, u:.l a c oxtry oir.ee, will ftr.l it to ttir xr Mi tb?ir cui--vu? a we aball srirc 9 '- c I i: eiv. . - '- LOOK at this BiacniT smi:. -UrUV-H! Tic s ins cV.lenrj Ai;",; .".urc , ro! tbc.rl ct ...a chctrttL; W..J w. 1 1 Ca t. ;t kcl-jul wL;ci tevria i-c u..v Ui- .r-.b nco-:r.t aVi thy j 'js: - l' it ?ICi'S T l.W.4 ricni .T.niw-"- 1 n,: tbiuc eje t, tbc lUiu aroual thee. ..-uMmIc! MinVml it istrae 13 j. t!iv nr. ;Uc!r fi :!:stb-: cor.cmtr.ite tcj i. r.:::ir.-t!iir i.tuct fLIci aLiac lortL )r.c:ntr.itc tby ti:w, 1.. iu:Ir A. i , l ",,; i:.-.p"rt t'n'-'i o-m ri!!ivr.t lln-s m tr heir?, A j J.ic " I: : l ? iii. A " ' t'- :, I fr t'.rf. :3 th dfi ! r. v.a tbo ,x-T. Wx G .j:.to liilercsling Letter. V. h-v I, I ! lon f.rriil.eJ fir p ih'icii n i-.v'.-ij- !e: rr. writo by th? Karl ,i. blui-r..f !.' -.a!:iiif. wb a c .rij''ndt!il of Mfs NVaJ.i " wid .v. of ltoi-;c W.ishmton, wilt J! t.vi na'd 1 ly o;.-. th s tt-ct ipt bv bi.iiof :ho uvxsof the dct!iof bei i!!os- ti; j ji h i!nd. This lo'tei hi nver before l t:i p;.i.bi'd i-n'n tu' nip? s It w.i ifc.vitly iuuiul of Mra. U ;i;h:nqtiri bv M. L iMrtfti L'mvis. her cnnil ilauzutor. tt: ! Mil L la ki : ily s-nt us a copy f.r pat d: a:nvi in tlii paper. It will 15 read, we hx: i. I ui't, witti iuteres', not only on ac c ..f the H:cualo'i whicli called it fith. fjrt!i"imny n Imirablc sentiments it con xn, rrriiuj iVw-ia a warm anil g.neiou i.cirr. vi J trotn a true friend to our couutry. tue nr.i cf Bucnn to xss. wismcTo. Dr.rui-r.GH AssrT, Jan. 23, 1S00 Madam : I bare this day received from my brother, at London. lh atllictiog tiiiags if t I . . L f tr.o .leTiU ot your nimtmD;e r.uso.inu, my re Vts.cd kir.min and friend. I am net aliad. v.-n u'i !er this sudden nd unexpected stroke P.viiv 1'ioviaence, io give vi-nt tne im t:u dia!e refl.'Ctioii? exciu d by it, Invause xay ti 1- Mm-Tt to y jur illustiijus cms rt was ike prrr? ih of re uon, reflection, and cone- n'i!.::v t f sr r:imcnt. He was one of thine v?h n tho Al ni'dv. in successive a?. Ins ch.M:n a-iJ raided up t pr.-m !c the uhirnao d'-dnf of His g odi.cs nd mercy, ia the Er- d m-h irari rr of His cnatures anl tho cmi-i- ot Uindam, which is ia boaven. It raiy be t,f lnJt cre,t and god man wm his Ivtn tAen fiom amnng us, what prj written by the wUeftn Ji.c,.,,?,, 'faci tui cocerniig hi fubcr i ;avv Agricolj that, th Jgh he -.as nucht4 away whilst his a0 was net broken by inf.rmiiv or dirn ra.d by bodi'y decay of reason, yet that, if Lis lif bo raeasuro'J by his glory, ho atuinej ii a mighty length of days; for every uue felicity, nimelj, all snch as aris from virtue b-a hid already enjoyed to ina fuIL As he bad l'.is9 held the supreme authority of the S:ata with tbc confidence and applause of all wiie and gooJ mea in every part of the world. atl a aniug thosu ha governed, and bad enjoyol tfi-aaphal honort in a war underta- fc.es i-.r Utknceof the inalienable rights oi mariKioj, wUhi mare, burarnly t peaking, eouIJ f .rtune addt.hU utre and renown V After tnormous weahh he sought not j an toaorable share be poiessed. His course U finished ia the peaceful retreat of bis own fiction, in the arms of a dutiful and aflfec ::itj wiTt, tod bcdoTred whb tha tens of surrounding relatives and fricno, vvi'-h ur.spcukally suju'tior advantage lo that ol the liftman gencial in the hopes afforded hy the gvpt f patdcu and pence! He there foro, inidani, r continue my parallel, may be accnuu'ed ainah.ly bappy. since by dy ing accorJing to his own christian and hum ble wiili, exprtSied on many occasions, whilst his cretlit was tiowife impaireJ, liis fame in its full fp!endor, hs relations ai;d friends not oi ly in a state cf crnFort and se cuii y, but f honor, ho was piol ably t es rfe many cviU incident to declining yenr. Mureovcr, he saw the Government of his country in hands conformable to our joint wishes anJ to the saftty of the nations, and a c ntingent succession opening not le.-s favora ble te the liberties and happiness ot the pc. pie. ConiJorinT niy uniform rcird for the Atn.iicMn Sitter, manifested lonjj before th.-ir I.irmiriT u 'ta?fe trittr.n. 1 mv uc " - - - c i rlascJ. as it were, among their citizens, cs peciaMy as I am come of a worthy ancestor. Ixsrd Cat dross, w ho found refuse theic in the last certurv, nnd lind large property in Car- membrar.ee of the moral and political maxims conveyed to its citizens by the father and founder of the United States in his Farewell -Address, and'iu that speech which he made to the Nervate and IIouc cf Representatives, where the last hand was put to tbc f irtnation of the Ftrdeial. Constitution ; and may it be leti:al ! It seems to me that such mixitns and fcUth advices ought to be engraven on ever) -f.rum or place of Common assembly aut'-ns the people, and read by parents, teachers, and guardians to their children and pupils, so that true teiigion, and viituc, its m jepirablo attendant, may bi imbibed by the rising generation to remotest aes ; and the foundations of national policv te laid and con tiuued in the superstructure in the pure and itiimu:ab!e rinciplcs of priv.te .morality, since the rj i- no truth more thoroughly es tablished than that there exists in the econo my and co-.ric of nature an indissoluble union bctwet n. viitue and happiness, be tween duty and happiness, between" duly and advantage, between ibe genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous people arid the solid rewards of puMie prosperity and fc!ic y; since tec ought to le no less jei sun Jrn hat the prop' thus smiles (J' Hat rat can, Tier ec le eipet.tcd on a nation that rnvtr dfsrr jzans the tt'Tal rules -f mr.ncn and riglit icAf'cX IJearen i.'sc.'fuiS ih'I.C-m d ; and si:u:c ike prt C V'ilim of the a.rrd fire of Jibuti; r eminent arrjusjy cosrdercd a deeply per haps jlna-'fy, tak'd on ike expenrm tit intrust ed to thr hands if the American people ! Lady liuchati j-uus with me iu the most stnetrely respectful gooj wishes. I am, lU i d m. with sincere osteem. your ohedicrit and fsitb.ful humllc seivant, nUCHAN. Mississippi Legislature! Thi'O m.iy bj readers wh will suppose the .vmexed rrcit.il to be art Naggera'.ion ; IrJt ;it !cat 300 persons wl;a were in the 4 .?;; t.tl f lL StitUi iS Al ui.dwi ji JI tJjd third day of 31ateh, 1 1 can testify that this account fitli fit short of the reality. The Cleiks of the liuue, as in duty Imun 1, entered the report of the member from (jrcune on the jurnals; but on the next morning it was e.Tpuujed by the House at the rt-cpiest of the member himstlf. Toe best fubject which fine before the fje-'islatu'e during tbo session .f 1S4G. was the all aboilrn one in truant to the charter of Melt.nia Ferry." '1 t.c owner of the ferry was a member himself bein the re presentative of bis county of Green- where the ferry is located; and through all the trying scenes of getting tho charter through, I that honorab.o rt prcst-ntative bore himself in a manner, and with a spirit which, to say the least, were remarkable. O.i the first broaching of the subjec some opposition was made. Tho representative from Clarke an fdjoining county conceived that the charter interfered with the rights of other citizens who had ferrig on tho same river, (the Chickajahiy,) nnd, on the first reading of the bill, this same representative (Mr. Moody mored its rejectiou. 1 his mo- tun brought Mclnnis to bis feet. Ho had never rpeken before: but in this ouc effcit (his mniJen speech) he more than compen Hated for his former remissness. M I hope," (said he, addiessing the House, bat not the speaker,) " 1 hope you II not re ject my ferry bill. Gentlemen, I'?n bound to keep a terry. I hem other men th'it got fen tis near me. ain't bound at all. They've got some liulo tritning flats to git across the river when they want to co to mill and I olina, whcie Poit Royal now is situated. 1 hope it will n..t bejhought ;VCcV,untTy''and ui Am?I,t7a"at large the constant re- when it's convenient for 'em to put a travel- 'em. He put in a bill here to get up a tha ler over, they d.i it and when it ain't they or logical survey of the country, and this my don L Hut 1 m bound to keep a Jerry. Ask Mr. -Moody; be know all about it He knows I ve kept ferry there across the Chick- bS-hay for thirty yeais past. My ferry's right on the big mad to Mobile, and every- where. There's three mails crosses at my ferry. GoutJeraen, m baund to keep Jerry. Mr. Moody knows 1 Jive al Leaksviiie, ngni at the Court-house and these fellers that keep tbo other littlo ferries they turn my boats hse, and bvre auger bole in 'em and sink 'em. I hope, gentlemen, you'll pass mj bill. I've jnst got a letter from my son last night -a telling me that them fellers has been boring more b.des in my boats. Geu- tlemen, i m bound to keep Jerry, I always cross every body that comes I'm bouni to doit. And I always keeps good flats well painted wiih tar." After ibb appeal, and the necesiarv read-1 tngs being gone through, the bill passed the House by a Iarg6 majority. taJ was sent to ib Senat. 1 KE VVBERN, N. ft, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1849, Here a. novel scene occuned unprece-denteJ,-pCrh?ip3, in the nnnals'of legislation, even of Alissiisrppi legislation. By a resolution-of the Senate, the "representative from Gtrenc was' invheJ to address that august body upon the merits of his bill, which he did after the manm-r inlicated in the above sketch of his remarks-in the House. Alter thejiavc Senators had sufficiently amused themselves with the matter, they passed the bid. The worthy representative immedi ately hurried back to his seat in the House and, although the Clerk was reading in the wiist of n document, the delighted member excla-md: "Mr Speaker, my ferry bi I Mias passed the Senate, and I want the ILjus to con cur A roar of laughter followed . this announcement. unique As soon as the matter in hand .was. dis posed of, there was an obstreperous call by ilin Hi.u4o that the trentleman from Greene should bo h ard in regard to bis mission- to the other branch in the Legislature. Mr M. In lira and said: . - ;,,r i , u- Senate passea my Speaker. "What! have the Senate passed your ferry bill : Mclnnis. Yes. sir ; thovVe passed it Speaker. Weil, I'm very glad to hear that the Senate have passed tie fetry bill of the gentleman from Greene.' Mr, Mclnnis proceeded: Mr. Speaker, when I went into the Se nate I told 'em all about my ferry, and some of'etn hopped on my bill." Here there were cries of Who opposed it! who attacked the ferry bilir'J " Why, sir, Mr. Ramsay did, and Mr. Lahauve, too. Labauve said he was travel alone there once on an electioneer tour, and like many other politicians, I.Ve.was out ot money ; and he said I would'nt set him over at my ferry, becaso he b'ad'nt no mo ney. I told him right before the whole Se nate it w.Wnt so.' Speaker. " That Labauve is a dangerous fellow to talk to in vhat way." Mclnnis. Yes, sir; he said he would throw a ghivo at me if he bad one." . . No reporter, w hatever bis powers be. could do jristicc to the various scenes which the iiOose and the Senate presented in the pro press of the ab 'Ve mentioned" events. The crowding of members and visiters around the seat of the Greene representative whenever he rose or openn I his mouth the roars of obstreperous mirth the painlul contortions of the Sneaker a face, as he vainly . strove to keop liim-o;f and the House in nn orderly frame these things all dficd description to say nothing of the greatest curiosity of all, the member from Greene himself. In the course of an hour or so, a message came from the Senate, stating among othr acts pHSed, thut they had passed the House b 11, in regard to the Chtckasahay Feiry. The worthy member attain a'ose Mr. Speak r' saitl he, I hope you'll now let me have the bill, to take to ibe Go vernor to get him to sicn it." Fortunately, the House was now too busy in tlisiussing some? otlnr mote impor tant matter, or there would hare been another convulsive scene. -As ii w. ib-- it;C Mitincnt burst of laughter, as rsudden as it was universil and over whelming, and then there was a calm again. Night came and new fuel was furnished to feed the slumbering emlera of that mirth, which ha. I nearly consumed the House du ring the day. In the morning a petition had been present d, from Harris ui county, by Mr. McCaugbn, praying the Legislature to p-,s a law, providing that lawyers n ichl he elected as other ofhVcs ere, and compensa ted out cf the State Treasury forbidding them to receive private fees, Sec. ccc. On this petition a committee was appointed including, singularly enough the member from Gitene. Judge, then, of the surprise of the House, at the promptness f Mr. Mclnnis, when at the nijht session of the very day he was ap pointed, he arose in his place, and made the following report, which in due form, was read at the Clerk's desk ; but was interrupted at the close of every aenterce by shouts of applsuse nnd memment ; crowded as th hill was by a brilliant array both of ladies and gentlemen : THE REPORT Of Col. Jack Mclnnis, from the Select Com mittee that had 3r. McCaughn,s Lawyer Mil put on em, Now, Mr. Speaker, if this House wi 1 ghe . i . e . a. .1.1.1. me its detention ior a icw rmuuit-s, i uuun that I can explain this matter. Mr. QcCaughn has introduced a grea passed of bills here, which is beiedical and null and void, and has'nt rot no sense in consatuents is opposed lo, becase they think there's no use in it. The people have euougb to nav for now. that ain't of no account. There has been a good deal of 'citement about my ferry bill; and when I had used up Mr. Moody, and got it into the Senate, Laboo bad to git up and say that be wa3 at my ferry wonst, ana l reiuseu to set mm over the river, because he didn't have no money and I jest told him what he said wain't so. Now. I don't know much about this Laboo, but I don't think he is the clean ca. fur, no bow. I give my vues about the pennytensberry t'other day, and I was right, for the things there dors look like they was painted with tar and I told the truth about it, and you know it. Roxr, ifr. McCaugbn is a man of great Iafnine: ho can write equal to any man in this House, and Vm 'sprizei that as araaxt a mm should have such berdicil iicricma. 11 wanted to have a law raised fcsre, for I doing away with securities; but lie couldn't rret that fixed, and then be wanted, to get the law turned to that a man would have to ax his wife whei be wan'ed to mi a feller's .se curity. Noyt, I have worked for my plunder," and. I'm opposed to all such sort of laws The Iegis!atar h :s already pa.-scd a l-rw. giving a mail's wife his plunder, a id his haid yearnings, and I believe Mr. McCaughn was the' cause ofi?, for it is jest like o:r i.f tliem beieJiw'ul laws of hizzen, that we have all hearir so much about. Now, I thiftk thb law bill is a rascally hill--fur I biifw in ktiin the people gel any lawver he likes, and pay hiia what he chuse3. And if this bill passes, "why these heredical candidates wouli be tslwavs tre"lt uU be tslway in gaud f..)iiig the people, just to get elect- I e hist onugiNg uj)fn them and their unof l There i too tnanv ra-c ils as is CJindi- fending brethren f the South, by the advo- cd dates now, and as sech, I tn agin it. I'm much obleeched to the Le-is'ater for nassiny lay ferry bill. They outfit to have passed it ir mat man waisv, r somoDmiy el'e, bored too inch aer boles i" y 1. u- - 6ot naoie ferrying to do than he did ; but i'vy fixed him now, for I've got the best fer.y any hoy - and the Senate's agreed tn.it, f r nli that fellow La boo went "atria it. . And ifyou'il let me have the bill, I will jest take it ritrht down to the Govern or, to sign it. A'id 1 will go and raise my sunk ferry boat, and stop the auger hobs and ferry every body as travels tbst way, and I'll take the greatest pleasure in cross ing the members of t is Legislator, becase they parsed my b.llv But I'm agin Mc Caughn's bill any now, for it is time to stop allsich hered.ical doctrines. Vichsburg In telligencer. Tit for Tat. The Delta of yesterday Published an amusing account ot tne pro I cceding;s of Mr. Mclnnis, of the Mississippi Legislature, a worthy man and a most excel lent whig, who it seems took peculiar inte rest in securing his own ferry privileges, and thought fit to make some rather facetious speeches, which made the readers of the IJelfa grin all day yesterday. One word in defence of our friend Mac.. II- is not asbij a fool as,sorne might think. He owns the whole town of Leaksville, court house and all. He keeps the only store, the only ta vern and the only post office in th-? county. He has contrived to extract from the poorest gopher range in all creation an estate of some g30.000 wi'h- ut ever owing a debt or borrowing a dollar. Some forty years ago he made himself agreeable to a beati'iful and innocent girl of the pine -woods, and by at tention to business. h enn'ributed a dozen fine boys to defend the honor of thrir country and the rights und digniiy of the noble State of Mississippi in particular. As to the ferry we -know that bespeaks the truth. We once waited lln-re three bonis because some scoundrel had bored anger holes in the flat, and on our return they h;id cut the rope and floated it away, so that Mac. had to tow us ov r on an Indian pony (two rotten logs nnd grape vine) and lefused to charpe a cent for his trouble. This was liberal, for iac. was a whig and we a de?no cratic candidate. He never charges editors, preachers or pretty women no wonder he was elected to the Legislature. Jeffer sonian. Col. Claiborne is ria;ht in taking up the cudgel in defence f his brother officer, Col. Mclnnis it wag generous ami chivalrous inasmuch as the 1 itter is declared to be whig and it was era'eful, oo, " in consideration of the gratuhiot.s acpi-drc excursion which tvasaffordtd him 'n ''ihein log?;" bu' we strongly su-pe- t tb;t s me funher passage took place between the two colonels a- "that only tavern'' whi.'h have nor be-n given to thf public, the bare rememhr-nce f wdiich warms the bean and sweetens all political iii.erness. We will venture to --ay ihey haJ a jolly time afcer tho cruise. Is it not so? N. O. Daily Ddt a :ti : r 1 i i : ' is r TT FEELING OF THE SOU i H ON THE Wiimot Proviso. The National Intelligencer pub ishes the following Correspondence between two distin guished Southerners on rhe slave ques tion, and lh Wilnj d Proviso ns applicable to the territories of the t,nited S?ate, which gives some i lea of the feeling prevailing at 'he Souih on thee subjects. They 8 em to thtnk that another tremendous crisis' is at hand, which will endanger the stability of he L'uion. The letter s will be read with interest considering the position of the pai ties from whom they emanate : Letter from Mr. Foote, or Mississippi to Mr. Cmxgma.v, or North 1 auouxa. Washington, Nov. 10, 1S49. Sir : Being casually informed of your re cent arrival in this city, I se.'ze the opportu nity of inviting your attention to a subject of high importance to the whole country, and of especial concern to the Southern States of rhe Confederacy one of which you have the honor to represent in the councils of the na- . tion. Ihe session ot uongress is almost at hand, and indications are abroad, aud every momeni multiplying, which seem to render it quite probable 'that the Wiimot Proviso and the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia will be again brought forward either in the Senate or House of Representa tives, and supported by the zealous and un scrupulous advocates of these two mischievous measures with increased violence and con firmed pertinacity. It is most evident to me .hat.tbtf Union itself will be put in serious jeopirdy by the movements thus menaced, as x uoia it to D3 cerium tnar no -sine or, me S u'h will patiently asquif-sce irr either cf the 'Sgres-ions alluded to. I regret to perceive that rhete is an em neons impression widely' prevalent in the Nrrh that the South is neither earnest nor untttd in any scheme of opposition and resbtancr to the insulting en croachmeiits.now.so fiercely .threatened. If this impression is permitted to remiirt uncor rected until either of the meditated outrages referred to sha'l I ave benf perpetrated, it is feared that it will be too late to save the Re public from consequences too dreadful to be contemplated without a feeling of patriotic solicitude and alarm ; whereas, it is my firm eonvictkm that, if the sober thinking men of the free States could once ascertain the din ners that demngsjgues and fanatical agitatms caev ot scntmes oi injustice anu oppression which cannot possibly result in practical ben efit toany section or Slide of the Confedera cy, 'hey would rise up, without fuither delay, r t i Mil y wme HgPiua m seuillon, WHO nave hfetetofore sported with their credulity :yid abused their confidence, that the period has at length arrived when they will not longer permit them, in their name, to trample the sacred provisions of ihe constitution under foot, ar,d embroil the legislative councils of tho nation in unseen and wicked contro versy. . Taking this view of the matter, and know ing that you have had an opportunity of con ferring freely during the past summer with your fellow citizens of North Carolina, I ven ture to lay before you the resolutions recent ly adopted by the Southern Convention of the State of Mississippi, and call upon you to say whether or not you approveof them, and whether they are, in your opinion, approved in the State of North Carolina and the South generally. Reing a prominent member of the Whig patty, you will doubtless feel au thorized to speak, in language f o "'explicitjto be misunderstood as to the probable action of your political associates irr tho South should the present contest be pushed to extremities. In the Convention, of Mississippi, you will observe both the two great political parties of the country were equally represented : the resolutions, unanimously adopted by that body, may be therefore regarded as declara tive of the views and feelings cf the whole State. However it may possibly bo else where, I can assure you most confidently that the people of .Mississippi look upon the sla very question in its existing aspects as above pariy. I am well satisfied that this is the condition of things generally in the South ; and I hope that you will feel justified in ex pressing a concurrent opinion. I bad the honor of addressing a Tew days" since inquiries similar to those now propoun ded to you to your distinguished coilague, the Hon. Willie P. Mangum, who proposes, so soon as the physical indisposition with which he is at -piesenl dieted will permit, to declare his views upon the wriole subject in a somewhat extended foim. I am gratified to know, and to be spe-.'iaily authorized to state, that he fully and warmly approves the proceedings of our M ississippr Convent ion ; as was cet tainly to be expected from one always npuv ncretotore. as ue lias Oeen. to ib cUiUMl.W l.v..v A fcty of U, t3oiih ngainst agressions either actuil .,r medi- tated, from whatever quaiter they might emanate. I have the honor to Je, very cordially and respectfully, your friend and obedient ser vant, H. S. FOOTE. Hon. Thos. L. Clingraan. Reply of Mr. Clingran to Mr Footh J City of Wasalxcjto.v, I November 13, 1849. Dear Sir: Yours of the 10th iti5tant has been received, iu which you ask my own views, as well as my opinion, as to what will he ihe course "i.f the South in either of the contingencies referred to. Your pob ion as a representative ef one of the States, and the consideration due you personally merit alike a prompt reply. Having on former occasions g'ven my views in detail with a reference to the whole subject, it is not necessary for me to do so at this time. I proceed therefore to give you fimply the genera! results of my reflections The Federal Government, because il?ia the government of ihe United States, is the trus tee and agent for all the States and their citizns. Every power therefore, which it can rightfully exercise, it must of Necessity exenise for the benefit of nil the parties to tt. The territory of the United Slates be ing the common property, the government is bound to administer it as far as practicable for the benefit of all the States as will as their citizens. A difference, however, exists among them in relation to the institution of iLvpit When (Tin rnKtturirn ivnefurmv'l " : - twelve of the thirteen btates were slaveh'iJd ir.g. Thai instrument, though t has clauses expressly inserted for the protection of the rights ant! interests of si iVehoIders, contains no provisions for the abolition of slavery any where. If the government, therefore can properly exercise such 9 power in any in-i stanee it must be because us duties as a gen eral agent, acting so as to meet the interest and views of its pi incipals, require it. But fifteen of the thirty States of the Union still maintain ihe institution of slavery. It isobvi ous, therefore that the government could not, consistently with its powers as a general agent, exclude the slaveholders as a class from all participation in the 'enjoyment ef the ter ritory of the U. b. It is, on the contrary, under solmn obligations to respect the lights of all. It has always heretofore, as I under stand its action, shown a sense of this obliga tion. When the much-talked of ordinance was adopted, by which the territory north of the Ohio river was made free, all that ponion of the country south of the rivr to the Gulf of WHOLE NO. 329, Mexico a? left to be occupied by slavehold ers. When slavery was abolished in the noithorn part of. the Lousbnu teriitoty, the out hern por lion, regarded as the most suita ble for slaveholder, wna left to be so occupied. On ihe annexation "f Texas, when a provision against slaery nonh of 36 deg. 30 min. wof incorporated, much the larger ond more va?r uable portion was left still fur the use of slaveholders. But it is nowpropost-d tn adopted ihe poli cy of excluding' slaveholders, as such, from all the ietrirory of tho United States. This would be an entire - revolution in the action f the Government a revolution which coulJ not occur without a total violation of the spiriand esssrrce cf the consliiuiiop. Since those citizens who do not own slaves r.ro permitted to oceupy every part of the territo ry of. tho Union, it has been doubted b many whether ihe government can rightfully exclu le slaveholder from any p rtion f the eommcn property. Uut, even it there should b a power lo divide ihe pubbo territory lor convenience between the two 'classes, it is perfectly olear that there can be no right to exclude one class entirely I l-hc hereto fore said that I should regard such an eXt'Ju moii as bung as great a violation of ths constitution as the Government covhl ositjly commit But even if this action should it be viewed simply cs nn enormous abuso of power, it would be not tho less objectionable. The government has unlimited powers in il lation to tho cs'ablisement of post offi? throughout the Union. If, however, it w r to withdraw all the post r filet 8 from ti c slavehouling Sta'es on the ground that 1 1 - -citizens of those Stales were not wot thy cf the countenance and aid of the government, we should have as much reason to compinMt of such action as if it involved a rlear inft ac tion of the letter of the constitution. In n word, if the government should adop: ihe policy of excluding slaveholders, as s cr. Irom all the territory of ihe Un'ted States ; V. would in substance and effect cease lo h. th Government of ihe United Siaus, While the form of the coneti ution micbt rernni': ihe same, its character would be essentially ch.tnged. Ought the Southern States toa qu'e-re ir: this gieat organic change in our political -y tern 'I Ought they to remain members ,m association which had, in utter disroeod I plai-i constitution .1 guaranties, degraded iht.-rn fnm the position of equality ? As- hi-iory furnishes no record f any p.'dplo who hav prospered after they had forfeited the.r sel; respect, by submiitiriff t bo degraded to state cf political vassalage, I hold it to Is the duty of the Southern States to resist ti i. change. That resistance, to bo ciTt ciut!;. should be commensurate with the violcr te of the attack. This they owe to the caus- i f constitutional liberty, to justice, and to their own honor With reference to tho abolition of s!avrry in the District of Columbia, I will sirrp'y -ay that, waiving nil controversy in r la ioi: to constitutional right, mid ooligadn to lhi ailioininq States, if such an event were to j occur ut this lime, it would not take place in l - i it. - ...! .i . e . i. .r.i. ... . 7 .. . . . . . 1 P4trict. but . wouul h brought atoul at tho lnHf,nce nI U)e u-Br-a -i me diuus. i)ut inee persons nave no n'.t to contrid th? L'Cal affaits cf tins District. Should Congress, therefore, thus art ut their instiga tion it would ba gjihy of an act f tyranny so inaulf iu-r and so gross as to justify a with drawal of confidence from such a Govern ment. You ask in ihe second place, what I be lieve likely to be the course of the South, shou-d such a contingency occur. Thro was but one of the States having any con siderable number of slaves in rrla'ion to which I hid my doubts. From the frontier position, and tho powerful influences brought to bear on her, I had some fears as to what might be the a' t'ori of Kentucky. B it I have been Gratified beyond expression by the gallant stand which tha: noble S:ar$ has recently taken. She has thereby j-b wn that she will not abandon her sisters in the hour of (Linger, but that she will, if neccssarr," take the front rank in the strucrsle for iho preservation of the rights and Ii herd's of tho white race of the South. The uriounf Iwh partita in Mis-rUsippi is a type of what will occur elsewhere. Ihe bouihern otatea ought to h ive but one feeiing on (his question as they cm havt but one destiny. 1 have no doubt but th it over th- cnt-ro Sout'i there would ba a vastly greater unirrimi y than existed in the ohlt'iirf.cr. Slarc States when thev decided to resist 15 i- sh ay?reaioa If a few individuals sbouid attempt to take adif- rent coutse they wouid bo rwppt away m the general current. Lon b f ne the stru le should come to the worst the South woulcj present an unbroken front. I era net Unaware, sir, trfat in making ai brief and concLe a statement of my views, I incur tho risk of rnhjoonpeptlori and of mis representation, but I should feel that I did not appreciate tho momprttous nature of th? subject, if I could attach consetunct tom9: personal consideration, ' Very respectfully, Your obedient aervat, T. L. CLlHQtfA.V. Hon. H. S Foot. P. S. Since the above Iettar was written it has been submitted to my colleague, Mr. Mangum, and he concurs fully in all its gen eral conclusions, and avows his purpose to make known5 his views at length at an ea l day, and entertains the opinion that the Ftd eral Government has no power to lj'Nli:a on the -subject of slavery eitho itl tha .Stare or the Territories, and thai nil precedents, whether legislative or judic al, bucuise adopted without duo eonsiderftii in, . are Qui obligaUory. T, lt C mm v - - m
The Newbernian, and North Carolina Advocate (New Bern, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 4, 1849, edition 1
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