Newspaper Page Text
Ejjc Btnnc Courier.
Tt’KSII.VV MOltNIMC, Nor. 13,
llKADISO MATTER OS EVERY
WOE OP THIS PAPER.
SPECIAL MEHNAUR
JOSEPH E. II ROWS.
mxumo or ooonoi*.
KsxxTirr Itai^sin.sT,
MillitlRovlllo, On.. Sor. 11800.,
'lb tie Anwfe k*i Ho•" if Htprunhdta i
out. of thn others, mid to miill to do
col'Inin other net. which might ho to
lh« injury of the olhora. Euoh dele
gate to the General Government, unilor
the qiialifioalions contained ill the Con-
Ktitiitioii ot the United Btalcs, the ox
creise ore iHirtlon of iu sovereign t»w
era, for tlio good of the whole. Geor-
gin, wlion (ho entcrctl the compact
with Massachusetts, conceded liiipor-
tnnt commercial ©ndother righlAi whlcIi
otiicor who nctn anti gives me cemnontn perty.
directed by the net of Conm'e*l tuTSbovii A\n,on South' Carolina, In 1832. made
stated. I 1«1m law of Massachusetts -
effectually nullifies, in Unit Stale, the
otherwise, hate Inured greatly to the
benefit of MaMachiiM'tU. 1 n return for
these concussions, Massachusetts sol
emnly contracted and agreed with Geo-
and also makes it highly penal in any
art or Congreta jsisscd for the proton
lion of llie constitutional rights of tho
|h*oplo of Grorgln and the other South
ern Stntei.
In 18tt, the
setts
;nre of Miwsachu-
ie Executive veto,
ioAfe*ion*~ under the operation of anotlftr stattifiy •xtondhig tho provis
r tariff taws, navigation laws, and ions ofthoaetnf 1843, to the act of
/}, He «rsa v g U, that site would, on her part, (atnong I
into Massauliusf Uf, on claim of tbo par-
viqo or
utl. Carolina a copy of the reeolutiovM
Disswl by the I legislating of that .State.
:»l its lute session, on tho suttfoct of oifr
l edeml Uelatiana; By reference to
i he*© resolution*, copies of which are
herewith transmitter!, i* will bo seen
i hut that gallant State, impatient under
l lie wrongs whirl* she, in common with
in r southern sisters, has suffered in tho
I ciifwlamay, ami ready a. alte ever haa
been Iu defend licroonilltulional rights
ovilce all the ©lnvrhnhhng Stales to
moot ill convontloni "lo conoort mcos^j
.... i for united action.'
I also transmit conics of the TMOttt-
tions p:is«c<l hy the legislature of Mis-
i-ippi in reference to tho resolutions
.f South Carolina; by which It wlU be
een that she accepts the Invitation. It
\* understood that the Legislature ol
Vliiitiun has also marie provision for
having tint State represented in con
vention; while Virginia, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Texas, and proliably oUier
Southern States liavo declined to accept
t lie invitation.
In view of these facts, it is evident
that tho convention, should it moot,
will Imj coniimsed of rlalegatea from but
row or the Southern Htataa. I think
tint little goo.1 could l« expected to ro-
-nit from Its delilMimtions, unless tho
Southern States were generally tepro-
.(>nted. I do not, therefore, recoin-
ii e.ul tho appointment of delegates to
represent this State. In declining to
recommend tho api>oiiittnunt of such
delegates, I do not wish to l>o under
load as expressing a willingness to ae-
utticsco in tlio repeated aggressions of
i!*o non-slaroholding States.
Iu mv opinion, the constitutional
rights of tlio people of Georgia, and or
’tho Other slnvehohllng States, have
Iippii violated hy somo or the non-slave-
holding Status loan extentwhleh would
justify them, in the judgment of alt civ
ilized nations, in adopting anytneasurea
■ gainst sucli offending States, which, In
thoir judgment, may be neoeasary for
ibo restoration and future protection of
all their rights.
At the time of the formation of the
Constitution of the United States, Uio
rights of the slaveholder were recognis
ed, in all tlio Stator. No political dom-
ugr.guoin tho Northern States had then
been able to ride info power by denoun
cing tlio people and tho institutions of
i ho Southern States; nor had tho Nor-
them pulpit been desocmt4d by aboli
tion harangue*. Sinco lho*poswigs of
t lie law of Congress inhibiting tho traf
fic, most of tho illegal importations of
-laves Imivc been made by Northern
-hips. And it is a well known fact that
the jK-oplo of tho Northern States, bo-
fore the traffic was Inhibited by Congress
itu|K>rted a large proportion of the
-lave* brought from Africa, and sold
them to the people of the Southern
States, and received ihoir monoy for
them, which, with IU proceeds, was no
doubt, invested in shipping, manufecg
luring, Ac. This fact was Irosh in the
recollection of tho Northom patriots
ivho united with our fathers in forming
tho Constitution ; and tlioy did not lios-
itato lo bind themselves and thoir.pos
terity or to respect our rights in slave
property.
1 regret to say, bowevor, that the con-
duet of many of their descendants has
not been characterised by a Uke spirit
of juitico; since, many, whose ances
tors grow rich by tlio sale of slaves to
tlio southern people are now ready to
denounce the traffic by which the for
tunes they enjoy were mado, ss immor
al and inhuman, and the southern peo
ple as little lietter than demons in hu
man shape, because we continue to hold
ns property, the offspring of the slaves
purchased from their lathers. Num
bers of them advocate Uie doctrine that
our slaves should be set free among us,
intermarry with our children, amalga
mate with us, and bo placed in all re-
spocts, upon a liaais of perfect equality
with our fVeo whito imputation. For
the piirpoio of promoting this object
and producing a genoral revolt of our
slaves, a portion of their number, with 1
fire and sword, have invaded Virginia,
one of our Southern sister States, and
slaughtered, in cold blood, some of her
quiet, law abiding citizens. It is trhe,
these guilty criminals liavo suffered the
penalty of tho law upon the scaffold;'
but the justico of their punUhmenthAs
been denied, and their names have boen
canonised by the abolition masses In the
Northern States; and evon in tho pul
pit they are frequently referred to as
martyrs to the causo of liberty.
Should our citizens invade their Ter-,
ritory, and hum down their factories
built with money or tho proceeds of
money paid them by Virginia, Georgia
and Carolina planters for slaves, and
butcher their citizens who hold proper
ty acquired by the sale of slaves, or by
tho iiso of the productions of slave la
bor, how differently they would view the
question of criminality 1 But the inva
der who should slay the Northern citi-
Congress known ns the fugitive slave
law, passed In 18.HI; snd which was in
tended to nullify that act. This act
also nxtohiL to tin* fugitive slave tile
benefit .of the writ of M-w coqm* ,-
/•'ii who holds his fortune acquired, by
the procoedsof slave labor ana the sido
of slaves, would not bo more guilty that>
:hotto were who invaded a slave State
and slaughtered her clthiens becauso
they held slaves; nor would his moral
guilt bo greater than that of the politi
cal leaders, who, liy tlmir doctrines and
tcushings, prompted and enoouragod
the invasion of Virginia. While the
aholitouists deny 6ur right to hold the
slaves we purchased from them, they do
not permit any one to question their
light to their property purchased with
the money wo paid them for slaves.—.
They claim tho right to hold their prop-
;*tlius acquired, but deny our right
ty to whotr the service or latar may
be dne. No one pretends that Georgia
and the other Sou^icrn Htatcs would
liavo entered Into tlio oninpact and
formed tho Union, had Msssaohu-etts
and tho other northern tttates refused
to *ive this express guaranty.
Not only tlio plain language of the
Constitution itsolf, but the contempora
neous debates, and tho oarly const mo
tion upon tho Constitution, or which
wehaveevidouoe in the fact that no
law was psssoil by. Congress on the sub
ject for several years alter tho Union
was formed, all show conclusively that
tho understanding between the Htsleo
was, that .MaiwuchusetU, snd the oilier
Northern Stales, pledged their faith to
Georgia and tho other Southern States,
not simply that tho Fedeial Govern
ment, by its officers, might arrest fugi
tive slaves found ill their limita* and
deliver them up to their owners, but
that the (wople of MuasaohuseUs, and
of each Northern State, by their officers,
would themselves **iloliver thorn up,"
fugitives from justice.
The only difference in the language
used in the Constitution, os applicable
to tho two cloMon of Ibgltives, is, that
the criminal, or fugitive from justice, is
to be delivered un on demand of the
Kxecntivo authority of the Stato from
which ho tfed, while thn slave, or fugi
tive from labor is to 1*» dolivorod ujkmi
claim of the party to whom such ser
vice or labor timy be due. The classes
Will be found in item two of article
four of tho Constitution ot the United
States. The elauso in reference to fu
gitives from justice, is In tlieso words •
"A person charged In any State with
treason, felony, or other crime, who
ZliallIlea fiom Justice, and be found
another State,- shall, on demand of the
Executive authority of the State from
which he fled, be delivered up, to be
removed to the State having jurisdic
tion of the crime."
The clause relating to fbgitlve slaves
is as follows: "No parson held to ser
vice or labor in one State, under the
laws thereof, escaping into another
sliall, in consequence of any law or reg
ulation therein, be discharged from
such icrvloe or labor, but sliall lie de
livered upon claim of tho parly to
whom such service or lator may bo
due,"., it may bo here observed that
the samo language, "shall be delivered
up, M is usod in both eases; snd that
the Constitution doos not, In either
cose, say thst it shall be done by au
thority of Congress. 1 do not say that
Congress may not havo concurrent
, urisuiotion in tlieso cases, and that a
aw may not be passed by Congress pro
viding for the ftxeroiso of this power by
the offioers of tho Federal Government
in oase a State refose to do it, and there
by proves faithless to iU Constitutional
obligatolns. As tills mnyjnot be consid
ered an open question, 1 do not pro-
|KMoto discuss it; but Ido say that,
under tlieso provisions of tho Constitu
tion, tlio faith of each Stato is solemnly*
dodged to livery otlior State in tlio
Union, to oxorcisn this poworj whenev
er a printer cu*o may arise; and to de-
Hve up the fugitives of either dais found
within her limits, on the demand or
claim being made os provided by the
Constitution. Wlmt State denies its
obligation, under tho Constitution, to
deliverer a criminal who is a fugitive
from justiee, on demand of the Execu
tive authority of the State from which
he fledf 1 an) aware that discussions
sometimes arise about the legal form of
UtodoauftKl, and that a ftdthlcsa Exec
utive may, under some shallow pre
text or legal technicality, refuse to do
his duty; but what State, by legislative
authority, hat over yet denied the ob
ligation Y and what State, not controlled
by Abolition counsels, having no regard
for plightod faith, will, for a moment,
deny its Constitutional obligation,to de-
liverup a slavo who is a fugitive from
sarvice, on claim of the party to whom
such service may be duo?
Hut how have several of the States of
this Union kept their solemn oompeot
with Georgia? As r should be compell
ed to extend this message to too great
a length, were 1 to attempt to point
out the fsithloMi legislation of Maine,
Vermont, New York, Michigan, and
other Northern States upon tide ques
tion, I will notiao only tho legislation
of MsssnchmetU, as one of a class of
States, which, under abolition rule,
have shown themselves utterly regiml<
loss of their Constitutional obligation*
and their solemn pledges of public
faith.
Massachusetts liss not only failed to
enact laws providing for tiie delivery
of fugitive slaves to their owners, but
shokos, in flagrant violation of overy
principle of good faith, ouaotod laws
throwing every obstacle in her power
In the way of the- rendition to thoir
owners, by the officers of the Federal
Government, of fugitive slaves found
Vvithin her limits.
lly a statute of that State, approved
March 24th, 184.1, she command* tlio
.lodges and Justices of the Peace not to
talco oognizsuce of tlio Act of Congress,
passed m 1793, for the delivery of fogi-
live slaves to their masters, and not to
grant the certificates required incases
that may arise under tlio third section
of that Act, to any porson who claims
any other person as a fugitive slave
within her jurifdiotion. This oertifi*-
Cate, under tlio Act of Congress of 1793,
Is necessary to enable* the owner to
carry hack Ills slavo tp tlio.Stato or Ter-
• - — t . *.il ....I u tl »...
snd . on Ida application, makes it the
tluty of thu court before which tho
Asfoti* nrput is rcturpuhlu, to ordui a
eorphi , , _ -
trial hy jury : which i* not allowed hy
said statute in any ease except in cases
of a fugitive slave; and also give* the
cffiirt the |>ower to admit him to hull.—
On ilio trial, the jury muy return u gen
oral verdict; and they are to have the
same discretion that juries have iu tho
trial of criminal cases. If the jury «lis-
acts of Congress that they are our pro
provision for tlio niilliiication of certain
laws of Congress, known a* the tariff
laws, by the o|a>rstlon of which her citi
zen* were being plundered by the Gov
ernment to enrich the manufacturer* of
Mu-wochuaelts, And other Northern
fitates, tho whblu Union wna convulsed
with exoltomcnt, and the use of Fede
ral bayonets was threatened to coerce
her into obedienee, II she attempted to
carry out wlmt were denounced as her
in iwlpnhie violation of her duty under
the Constitution, passed arts effectually
nullifying tho law* of Congress'cnactcd
fort ho protection of tlio right* of thu
-itizem of (lie slave .States, no outpour
ing of iiidignutioii went forth, snd no
cry of 11onson to thu Govi'rniueiii was
hoard from thu Northern States, lint if
a Southern Ilian pro|H>*cd that Massa
chusetts bu cociccd into obedience,' or
that a .Southern State juts* retaliatory
laws, lie wits drnotineed ns a (li*uuionist,
. , not os a traitor. If nullification in
agree, the issuo may Ihj sul>mitte«l to South CaivtUun, for just cause, was trea*
aiiellinrjuty.MeonIManI to llio ttext \ Ihu Kwl.-ral (lovrrnmriil,
discretion of the court. what butter is it in Mu*.suclni*otts wiih-
ty to the
justioo. •
Nor dr
stitution
dares tin
of Skirpw
right Of
wrongs,
igninsta
wisttl, wi
Ph?tw
distinctU
sovereigr
•prital g
The claimant is required to stato in
writing with precision and certainty,
tlio fact* upon which he relies; and
neither tlie claimant or the fugitivc.nor
any one interested in tlio alleged ohli-
fmtiou to service or labor, nor the fbgit-
ivo himscll, shall bo |H*rmittc«l to testify
on the trial; and nd confessions, admis-
sions, or declaration* of tlio fugitive,
against himself, sliall I*) given in evi
dence. Upon, every question of fact
involved in thu Issue, tho burden of
proof shall ia*on thu claimant; and the
fact* necessary to lie c*tnh|i*hed must
Ik> proved hy tlio testimony of nt least
two credible witnesses, or oilier legal
evidence equivalent thereto; and no
rx /sirle «le|»osition or affidavit shall lie
received in proof, in hchulf of the
clninmiit; (it mlglil lie in behalf of tlio
negro;) and no presumption shall aviso
in favor of thu claimant; from any
proof I lint tho alleged fugitive, or any
».l (tin ancestors, had been actually held
us a slave, without proof that such
holding was legal. I presume this
proof could Imrdly 1m* mado to the sat
isfaction of an Abolition Jury, who deny
that slavery I* in any on*o legal. A fine
of not less than one, nor more thuu
live thousand dollars, un imprisonment
of not less than one, nor more than live
years, is imposed on any one who shuli
come Into the CYiuitnnuwealth, with in
tention of removing, nr assisting iu re
moving therefrom, any jiorson in the
pence thereof, not held to service or
lulior, Ac. Under the rules ot evidence
laid down hy tho statute, with the de
lay* allowed in tne hnbms corp-u court,
no ritisen of Georgia, before a Massa
chusetts jury, would ever bo likely to
bo ablo to establish his claim to his
slave: and, therefore, tlio penalty im
posed by the statute I* to lie. ami
to hold tlio slaves they sold us for Ibr-
They claim tho right to carry the. prop
erty which tlioy roooived frotnVu* for
►laves into the Territories, but de
ny our right to carry tho Biftxeirthey
j.avo us for it, iulotke same Torrito-
This is not the spirit of Nortlicm pa*
t riots of477.fi, with whom our fatliurs
united III tlio Declaration ol Indepen
dence ; nor of those or 1787, with whom
tlioy entered into tho compact of the
Constitution. They were bravo, noble,
generous men, who required justico
from all men, and were rcudy, in return
j-» render eVAJl-hunded justice to all.—
At that time Georgia and Massachusetts
v .m o alike sovereign mid independent
States. I'jicli entered the family of
•States with her faith solemnly pledged
to the other to perform all her Consti
tutional obligations, and to respeot all
the Constitutional rights of the other.
Tho Constitutiou of the United
States is a compact in the nature of a
treaty, hot ween tlio sovereign States of
this Union ; hy which each State made
concession to the others, for tho hake of
tlio Union, and each bound her fuith
solemnly 4q the others, to do, or to j»er-
iit Congress lo do, certain acts which
agreed would promote the into
ritory from which he fled; and it Is hy
that Act mado the duty of -the Judge
or Justioe to actiu such case, and to
doubtless was intended to be, Inflicted
upon every owner of a fugitive slave
who enters tlio limits of Massachusetts
to claim his property.
Tlio noxl section of tlio statute, in
addition to this penalty, gives tlio ne
gro tho right of action for damage*
against tho porson who thus entered
tue Commonwealth for tho purjMisu of
removing him therefrom. After pro
viding, for the delays, mid prescribing
the rulos of evidence above mentioned,
as though the Legislature feared tlmt
somo owner of a slavo might bo uble to
ovorcomo all tlieso obstacles, mid estab
lish, even undur all these disadvanta
ge*, his right to his property, they pro
ceed to ouact, that any officer of tho
Commonwealth, or any officer of any
city, (xniuty, town, or district, who
shall arrest, imprison, dr tain or return,
or aid iu un-cstiug, imprisoning, detain
ing, or returning, any person for tho
reason that lie is churned or u<y*idged
to be a fugitive from service or lalNir,
sliall bo punished by tine, not les* than
ono, nor more than two thousand dol
lurs.and hy imprisonment iu the Stato
prison, not loss than ono, nor more tliaii
two year*. And if tlio volunteer mili
tia of the Stato assist the ownorj cveu
after the slavo has boon nhjmlge.l to bo
his property, they are suhjoct, under
the statute, to a line (tensity.
If, therefore, a citizeu of Georgia fol
lows Ids fugitive slavo'to MusHuchuxelU,
and after a long, expensive, and vexa
tious litigation, obtain* iu tho proper
court a judgment establishing his
claim to hi* property, ami starts to re
turn homo with him, and u mob ar
rests him while attempting to return,
and tukos ills property from him hy
force, and any civil or military officer of
Hint State copies to his reliof, and as
sists him agniiist tho mob to return to
this Stato with hi* prn|»erty, suck officer
for this act, is suiyect to l>u fiucil from
ono to two.thousand dollars, and to be
imprisoned in thu Stato prison, (I’uni-
toutiury.) from to ono two years.
It is further made thn duty of the
Govornor, by and with the advice ami
consent of the Couucil, to appoint in ev
ery county in tlio Commonwealth, one
or more commissioners, learned in tlio
law, who are to bodilligcututid faithful
in tlio defence of uuy person who is ar
rested or seized, or iu daimur of being
arrested or seized, as n fugitive from
service or labor, witli power to employ
otlior counsel for tlio defence; and tho
whole costa of tho defence, including
Uio attorney's fees, are to .ho paid out of
tlio State Treasury. The statute then
declares that no jail or other place of
confinement belonging to, or used l»y
the Commonwealth, or any county
therein, shall !>o used for tho imprisou-
uiciit of any one, who skull bo uorusod
or ooiivlctcd of any offence created by
either of the fugitive slavo acts passed
hy Congri***, or who may las accused or
convicted of resisting any process, war
rant or order issued under eil her of said
acts, or of rescuing, or attempting to
rescue, any (a rson, arrested or detained
under any of tho previsions of either »r
said i;ets, or or any person w rested un
der (execution for damages, lor assisting
a fugitive to escape from service or la
bor. Under this provision or the stat
ute, if tho leader of u juob resists a Uni
ted State* officer in the execution of h
proco'tS 'ifriicd under the nufliority of
I IlM Bril nf ilnltlWkl fi\r llin nnuul l.r ..
grant the certificate upon proper proof
oelngtlilade. She also enacts that no
•herOr, deputy sheriff, coroner, consta
ble or jailor, or other officer of the com-
rri on wealth, shall arrestor detain, to aid
in tho arrest or detention or imprison-
onniont,.in any jail or otlior building
belonging to tho- State, or to nhy coun
ty, city, or town thereof, of any person
for thu reason that lie is claimed os a
fugitive slave. Andasanenalty.it is
enacted that any J list ice or the Noaoe;
sheriff', deputy slioriff, coroner,- consta
ble, or jailor, who shall offend against
th<* provisions of this law, l»y in any
way acting, directly or indirectly, under
thu (lower conferred by the third sec
tion of tlio Act of Congress, aforeuien-
tinned,*ludl forfeit a sum not exceeding
ono thousand dollars, or to be subject to
imprisonment not exceeding one year
in Uio county jail.
Tills statute only prohibit* nit officers
of Massachusetts from arresting or de
taining a fugitive slave, and denies to a
citizen of Georgia the aid of the officers
of tlmt .State in capturing his fugitive
slave found there, lait denies to him the
use of any jail or building belonging to
that State, for tho purpose of detaining
his slavo till ho can carry him aivay;
tho acts of Congress, for the arrest of a
fugitive.slave, and thereby enables the
slave to c*cnpe,or rescues ur.d takes him
from the officer uftei ho lias been arres
ted, and this daring violator of the law
is indicted iff the United States Court,
and eoiivictnl and sentenced to prison
for having in tlio manner above men
tioned forcibly taken from a citizen or
thi* State his property; or if tlio citizeu
of Georgia sues him for damages in tho
United States Court, and recorera jtidg-
jnent, mid bus him arrested under exo-
oution, Massachusetts, in # either ease,
dailies tho use of her jails for his ini
prisonmqiit.
It is finally enacted thn* no part of
this statute shall 'apply to m» much of
tho act of Congress a* relutes to fugitives
from justice: showing thut the State re
cognises her Constitutional obligations
in the ono case and repudiates it in the
other.
By tlieso statutes, the State of Massa
chusetts, not only nullifies tlie acts of
Congress passed for the protection of the
Constitutional right* of the people-of
Georgia,hut holds out every inducement
in hur )>ower to her citizens to violato
them, to resist their legal process, and to
rosette and take from u* our fugitivn
slaves, after an a«\judiention under the
out cause ?
i'rohahly the records of no State or
nation in Christendom are more black
ened with tlio deep slain of disgraei,
caused hy a wilful violation of public
faith, than this record of Massnohuxctt*.
If I use strong language, »•. is lM>cnu*o I
feel that tho wrong* done our State re-
pure that I speak the truth without re
rvution. While too trado of Georgia
is worth to Maxmc.huxcit*. annually,him-
Ireds of thousand*, if n it million* of
ilnllnrx, under our tariff' laws, naviga
tion nets, and other advantages which
Mo-isachuscttM derives from the Union,
he retains u|miii her statute IwMik those
Host ext inordinary laws fur the pur|Mtxe
»f robbing thu citizen* of Georgia of
their projieriy which may cscapcnttd In*
foil iu l within her limits. * Shoi* inviting
our trade, to which many of her citizens
look for their daily bread; hut if our
muichuiit phis there to tiado, and car
ries with him hi* slave os n body ser
vant, (which bo bus a* much natural
right to do as u citizen of Massachusetts
1ms to carry hi»hapgag« with him when
he travel* through Georgia,I the laws
of tlmt Statu tuku from him ids proper
ty, and refuse to permit him to bring
it with him when he return* to Id*
home.
tiou, hut
tlio form
Ocorgii
•r to cow
•r nortin
itizen; i
repeal Iu
ixhilioii u
sutler tlu
■•ffc-H-ll
should o'
Slates,
mend lie
legishitio
eon over;
it i* now
just aggi
smte le
lion.
To thu
iiutniuut
riior ol i
ol this St
1 of I
under th
legislate
1 have n
any otlu
any siiel
lionul ol
zens, by
Suppose a similar treaty or compact
existed between Franco anil Great Itrit-
«in, and the Government and subjects
of Franco should, in open violation of
tho compact, rob tiie subjects of the
government of Great Britain. *.* the
government and citizen* of Massachu
setts do the citizen* of Georgia, Would
tlm Governiunit of Great Britain submit
to it for a single mouth? No doubt, in
stiuh case, satisfaction would lie prompt
ly demanded of the Government of
branco; and, In ca*o of rcfusul, tlio
Govirnniont of Great Britain would re
sort to immediate reprisal*, or a prompt
declaration of war. Should the free
men of Georgin bo denied by hor legis-
tors tho protection which tfie crowned
heads of Kiirnpo never fail to afford to
thoir*ut(ject*? IT so, our Government
U a failure, and our boasted free Join L*
but solemn mockery.
All writer* on the siilject of govern
ment agree that the duties and obliga
tions of the State or Government, and
tho citizen orsulijcct.urareciprocal. The
Slate has tiie right to require from each
citizen prompt obedience to her laws;
to command hi* service* in tho field of
luittloiicninst thn enemies, whenever, in
her judgment, it may lie necessary to
hur honor;ami to tax him to any oxtent
which her necessities may at any time
require. These requisitions, Georgia, n*
n sovereign .State, has made, mid may
continue to make, on all hut* citizens.
In return for the sum* paid as taxes,
and the services which each citizen ren
ders tho Ntnto, including obedience to
all her laws, lio is entitled to demand
and receive, from tho.State full and am
ple protection or his lifo, his liberty, his
family his reputation, and his property
cfevery description.
It is the duty of Georgia, therefore,
whenever one o r her fit zens, no quitter
h«w humble is robbed of Ids property
wrongrii|ly deprived if his liberty, by
any other State, to drmuitd prompt and lieneli
ample redress ; and if it bo iluiiied to longer U
make tiie cause of her citizens her own
cause: and IT need he, to exhaust her
vast resources and herjxront cnergiof in
a determined effort to redress the wrong.
It, therefore, the State of Mussnohusctl*,
in open violation or her Constitutional
obligations to Georgia, plunder* a citizen
of Georgia, of lik property, and refmeb
to make redress, Georgia violates every
if natural 1 have most ladpably violaUd-tke Consti
tution by thoir legislation and their no-
tho Con-1 tinn though tho legislation of somo
vldcli do-. others is, by no mean*,justifiable and
t letters 1 um> become lilt subjectbf future no-
with (he tiou, onjMir part;) and he should be
required .to'pay, in addition to his tax
on other properly, a tax of twenty-fivo
per cent, ffpon tho amount of goods,
W4T<*. itnd morbhamllw so sold by him.
Thft effect"of tills law would bo to dis
criminate in favor of tiie manufactured
articles of some other northern States
.whose legislation, though not by any
a clear
indo by a
wary* anil
State to
up individual, or individuals, authoris- mdun* free from censure, Is not alto-
ing themto tcdiW their ow*n k Wrong*, gether ns offensive to ui ai_that ,qfihft.
The lutfor is pipldbiu^d by thoOonttito- StdTWAbove inchtlo w nwir niid In fSS?
i against
lier (tow-
any oth-
o to tier
•eo her to
lslvo leg-
ny or to
violation
ty wldcli
eivilixed
y reconi-
y prompt
escutcli-
hy which
noet un-
litutionnl
ictalia-
tho en-
lie Gov
y citizen
i dt'priv-
projierty
iggressive
lo which
station or
egiect
cajad ill
military
the pun
of the ill
of such ■
which in
or this S
fully to
State wl
proper tj
.Statu to
ligatiom
G ovenic
and, im
shall lid
time lie
the pro|
rcturiict
to him,
of the G
such qui
nrthc i
may ho
him aga
him.
lhdiot
respect i
withdra
StMq* ol
islution,
stitution
profits i
fin tin r i
such lut
ml articl
hie, Inn
Georgia
.Status w
ry out I
each No
islatiou,
obligati,
would h
and if t
send tli
out of tl
be depri
oh.aiu i
mlvuiitn
in oiiro:
gornls .rl
It ina;
Constitu
gin (.roll
such Usui
liccesfear
vert thi-
the Con
gia to II
Massm-h
Constitu
*r lier citi-
owner, on
havo
I on Midi
cssary 1V»r
i amount
ny citizen
css State
tiie limits
sufficient
II of till*
■bed or his
faithless
itionul oh
icitify the
> seizure
-licit State
from the
to cause
en to be
nduu paid
thu duty
o deliver
so seized
State, ns
indemnify
itained by
it our self-
niipt us to
Nortliorn
hy its leg-
by its qon-
>. all the
r trade, I
itincnt of
imifaetur-
ir as |io»si-
Kirgia. If
.Siutlicrn
ution, car-
set t> and
by its log-
ile** to Its
istitution,
•Isewhere;
(ioII.hI to
factories
i*y would
they now
unt of (he
rird them
iuqiortcd
trenching, Ac., uro scattering inflanm-
ory documents among us, and at
tempting to Incite ouf slaves to revolt,
and to murder our women and cliff-
toroh'to our tin houst*, dwelling hou-
r. vlUfrgBH anil towns. ■ / v'.
N|> one cnir‘deny the power of our
State to effect such penal code, and to
tnuke such eveeptious thereto, as in tho
judgment of her people may be neces
sary to their safety and protect ion ; or
to repeal her present penal code, or
also, of good* manufactured abroad,
nmt which wore pot imported through
thu fsithless Stated nliove ituim-d. I
think it licsl that wo select for tiie pre*-
ont only such Htatcs are most in the
wrong, till wo have shewn all the effect
of this legislation : should others then
refuse to repent tlieir offensive' legisla
tion, the idututccan «.i*ily and justly lie
extended to them. Were such a” law
of force iu Georgia, our merchant- in
the market would r^fuso to purchase
the goods hiion which they would have
to pay thu ektru tax; and in their stead
would buy snob or lire not subject to
it.
if each Southern State will enact a
law similar to the oi.eiilNivereonutiiion-
led, thu effWt will lie, in a high degree
injurious to tho luniiiifNetiiring interests
of the above named State*. So soon as
thoiimmiractiirnrs in those Stutes see
that they are deprived of thn benefit of
the Southern trade, or that they ennbot
ujoy it on equal terms wit It their neigh-
lairs in other Northern States, tlieir in
terest will dictate to them tiie propriety
of uniting, and requiring tlmir oia-ra-
lives and those under tlieir nuitrol, to
unite, at thu ballot box, with tiie large
class of law abiding, Conservative, Con
stitutional men, in tlo-ir respective
States, who have ever been ready to do
U* justice, and aliidu, in i^.wd faith, hy
have
on of Mils-
It is hot
t I centre-
ring that
of Gcor-
whenever
lound hy
her eonstitiitioniil obligations to Ocor-
princi|ial otyood lait Ii to her own citi-
>cn, if she refuses either to compensate
him from her own treasury, or to coin-
poll Massachusetts to compensate him.
A sovereign State should cither 'protect
her citizcii* or cousc to claim tlieir allegi
ance and tlieir ohodicnen to her laws.
But it may liu nsked lmw Georgia cun
compel Massachusetts to compensate
citizens of (hairgia who have been rob
bed of tlieir property by Massachusetts
legislation. Tlio law of imtious furnish
es a ready reply. The most distinguished
writer* on this subject luy down tiie
doctrine that a State.) whose citizens or
mihiecl* have lieen unjustly und illegal
ly deprived of their property liy anoth
er Stare or nation, which refuses to make
reparation ; may lun fully make reprisals
by seizing the pro)icrty of the offending
Htatc or nation, or of its citizens or sub
ject* wherever to liu found ; and if jus
tice Is dill refused, hy confiscating and
delivering to thu injured party, a suffi
cient amount oft liu property so seized
to indemnify, him against the loss; and
such seizure is declared to he no just
cause of war.
The law of nations does not, in such
case, confine the injured State to tho
seizure of the public properly of tlio
offending State, hut authorises tlio seiz
ure of-the property of any individual
citizen or suhjea* of tlio offending State.
As between .States, tiie 1 law, in sucli
case, considers nil tho property of every
citizen or sulijcct ns tho property of tiie
Htatc to which lie belong* and subject*
it all, or any |xirt ol- it. to seizure for
«uah injury, done by tlm State, ns justi
fies reprisal. If an injured .Stato makes
reprisal, mid seises the property of a
citizen or subjeta of tho offending .State,
and delivers it to its own citizen or sub
ject, in satisfaction for the injury done
such citizen or subject, it is no violation
of tho rigid of privnto proper! v ; but
the citizen or sulijcct-of tho offending
State, whoso property luu boon seized,
must look to lib cwnritato to ooni(>cn-
auto him for the loss which lie has sus
tained ou her n couut; and it is the
duty of such Ntato to mako good the
loss to Us citizen or subject. 11 follows,
therefore, in case a citizen of Georgia is
duprivod of his, slavo, or other property
hy the unjust and unconstitutional
legislation of Massachusetts, and Massa
chusetts refuso to make restitution on
demand, that Georgia may hy the law
of nations, justly seise an amount of
tiie (iroperty belonging to that Com
monwealth, or any one of her citizens,
wherever to ho found, sufficient fully to
indemnify her citizen, and retain it till
restitution i* made by Massachusetts,
or, confiscate and deliver it to tho In
jured oitixen, in satisfaction for tlio
damage sustained liy him. This is not
only tho law of nations, hut it is tho
law of iiutiiro; and is in striot conform!-
It is si
violatioi
stitution
has com
the Com
cruign p
gia hns i
the Uni-
serves it
her, to |
| io rtnt in
she tins
the gooi
with, ai
own citi
sovereq
Hhe i»l*t
belweei
propprt
right sh
poriqrl •
time*, i
criminii
proport
than nt
omjdcd
ly from
to tiie i
town pi
or than
While 1
furnitu
not tax
bunk oi
alien, lo
otlior ii
U|KI|I Ii
dor the
Ao., Ac,
no one
lion lie
umy dc
hor tax
Who
tween
Staten,
vantage
qiiettio
should
has it ii
this coi
the £oc
territor
onnetm
plish th
urgent
Mrtxsnohu
led to tho
ho refuses
n*.
itliout tho
tho Con-
1, Georgia
natter, in
f hur sovr
iiiic Uuir-
y Htato of
es and ob
lations to
ng the im*
r territory,
us soon a*
mminglcd
•ty of, her
dm in her
m proper.
scrinilnato
kinds of
■opur. This
;hw earliest
has at all
taxes, dFi-
; kinds of
nd higher
always ex-
srty entire-
ion. l’rlor
city and
Jise, liigli-
negroes.—
houscliold
tides, were
slio tuxes
co eoinpa-
in slio docs
s imjKiscd
rnituro un-
ed dollars
■foru, that
mo to quez-
to us sha
DSHIUCIlt Of
uiimio be-
in cither
mdsran all-
is a mere
that sho
that, sha
(option .of
ro, to drive
>ut of hor
mend the
ill accoin-
1 I would
t, to tuko
nary next,
ny floods,
sod before
bants may
ioo before
ccount of
uiro even’
•or, in ad-
prescribed,
a year for
been Ibo
• nierchan-
•uld ho vn-
ffirmativo,
> state on
dedgo and
aU goods,
rev ohur-
said peri
od iu, or
Mnssnch li
no, Rhode
. /ork, ami
all thoir Constitutional obligations. ThV
accumulation of strength which the
Constitutional men inthoBoStateswouhl
in this way gain, it is believed, would
placu them in thu majority, mid enable
them to hurl from place and power, the
abolition luuder* who liuvu so long con
trolled, and by tlidf* council*, disgraced
thdr rospVotivb .States.
Ir. tlio enactment »»f such a law, the
power should ho given to tho Governor
of this State, to suspend by proclama
tion. the ojMT.ition n| thu aut, us unainst
said State, w henever he umy l*« official
ly informed, that such State has repeal
ed it* tincotistiUilional and offensive
legislation, and has rultinu-d to the
observance of its Constitutional obliga
tions: or to embrace in tho disability,
by proclamation, any other State en
acting similar laws.
It may lie said that this tax taw, if
passed, would bo frequent ly evaded,and
that goods made in MusHuchtisctU,
would often bo labelled, and pass in the
market, as ?ood* made in New Jersey.
This would doubtless Im so it: somo
rase*; ii* tho manufacturer, who would
vole for n law to fasten upon 111* Stato,
thn shame of a violation of hor plight
ed laith. would be guilty of any other
act of bad faith; hut. it would not lie
(Hwtihlo for tho mu'iufucturers in tho*o
.status to make thn fraud a general ono;
as it would bo thu interest of the man
ufacturers, and imjiortcrs of New Jer
sey, and such other States as might
have tlio advantage in Houthem trade,
under the law, to nx|M»e, as much as
possible, the frauds utlemptcd to be
practiced by tlio manufacturer or im-
jiorter of Massachusetts, or those o!
other States disvriminutMl against, it
would, therefore, seldom he u difficult
task, for the Georgia merchant to form a
correct conclusion us to tho character
of the goods pui'Miiiscd hy him; and us
the law would require him to swear to
the best of hi* knowledge and belief,ho
would not likely tm wanting in vigi-
lance; but would require such evidence,
in making hi* purciioies, os would sat
isfy hi* mind tlmt thu goods purchased
were rtot subject ‘to thn tux. Tlio fact
tliut tlio law might somutiuKs be evad
ed, is no sufficient rcoson why it should
not be enacted.
How often are (lio pnvenue laws of
thu United StAtes, und or other govern
ments, violated or evgdod; and yet
whut civilised natiou fur tlmt reason
would do without them? K/en the
law** against murder, uud ail the other
felonies known to our penal code, are
often evaded; but w ho would say that
they should not. on. tljat account, havo
bacn.onucted. They are often enacted;
ami they stuud upon our statuto hook
a* a terror to evil doors; Ho would a
law of the chumeter pro(ioscd bo in a
great degree cjfectivo; and would place
the inurchaiidise of those States under
tlio bun of southern proscription, and
compel them to resort to fraudulent i
.contrivances, before they could intro
duce it among us. This would vindicate
our hbiior, and punish tlieir pciluly. It
would compel them, as long as they ro-
tnuiued faithless to the coiujmct, to lose
our trade, or pay a large portion of our
taxes ; us the merchant Jiuving to jmy
twenty-five per cent, tux iijkiii Mtu-sa-
chusotts or New York goods, would not
buy them unless ho could purcliuso
them twentv-five per cent. chett|M*r
tlinn he could get the goods of some
other Htato not subject to tux.
Thus far I have recommended tho
mildest measure.*, which, in my judg
ment, will redress our wrongs, and
cause tho repeal of the offensive und
UUjust legislation above.referrod to.
Hhould the enactments herein sug
gested be deemed insufficient to the ac
complishment of the object, I would
then rooommend, n« nn additional rein-
p«ly, thut the jienal code, and nil other
laws of . this Htato which protect the
lives, liberties, and property of the citi-
zcu* of other States while in this Htato,
be repealed, so fur ns they now protect
the citizens of oach free State in this
Union, which has ujmn its statuto book
any act or acts of the character, uud
fiitendod to accomplish thu object of
the Massachusetts.legislation to. which
1 liavo directed your attoiitiop-c aqd
that the citizen* of Massachusetts, and
of each free Htatc iu this Union, guilty
of liko had faith .to tlm people of Goor-
gia,he declared without tlm protection of
tiie laws or th;* Htato, until the Htutos
to which they respectively lieloqg shall
have repealed tlieir unconstitutional
and obnoxious legislation, and rot uni
to tlid observances of their Constitution-
al pledges. Iii resorting to this severe
concert, or whether .
cido for hortclf without eoi!r^
tho otben, nr© que.tloLT^' Wl -n l
dlvonUy of opliion !n« ©ES " k *1
I rntertnin no doubloMk *
ler cover of each Htato to decide and .... *
icendiary’. The Union i» a coniMct uf 0 '
.ovorc gn HUtc or X|J £?*'
oil. Kaoh .State In t| 10 xj„r “ «
of aororoignty tho equal or .. 1 '
and neither I© denendmi
tSSsSR
8o long aa alt tho State© aJu** 1
governnieulbr (mwer on earth, comrad
•» which
her to punish any aut as n erime,
sliu doc* nut cliooso to consider
ciimo against her peace and dignity as
a sovereign Htato.
If, therefore, she should rafttsn to dc-
dare criminal, or to permit her court* part. ItBran essentia!^nart*onJ**
io punish a* it crime, any ii\jury dune of twitracts, that both
to a citizen of M issaeliusett.-, till she
or part of the ^''rSl^ 1 ^
ohldo by it, «nd.ubwU to , ( t| p ^- J
while they tocfivo tho b©».8.
rroai it. Ihu otjuw parti™ ,1? '
hotiml by it. but may doclan likc „ , r
and rethra to ablJo Ly i,“ l!oi! ‘f 1 !
nait. It i. nn .1.1 : “ -» u.'ulJ ■
would h
them* 0 !
our o»R
find ou
thoit pr
tho I“"
l.w«, •«
»t»t«, I
iujMP 1
by the®
Bcturoe
people,
indpro
they -T‘
tiMly"
line, if ’
coiumet
the; cot
tlieir 8
other m
.hull havo lt,|Mhdod her law« |mwicd for
tho purpoNi of robbing lit© peopto
of tlooruin of thoir properly, which .lie
lilt, plrugud her litltll tmlidiver to them
henleniuml, iiritlin- the Federal llov-
ernnient, nor any'State gnveimtient,
haa a right to interl'ere nr to dictnte to
her what ahull In, the pinviNinna. nt her
penal rode. Wlfilu tiourgin ia n roror*
elgn Stale, rite will itieiu-q her own
|K"iinl luiVN, and delernili'o for liemelf
wlmt nho will plinluh a. a erime i,gainst
her ihniuo ami iliunlty, anil wlmt ahe
will omit to pinii»li.
It may l,o otjoeted that „uch an en-
tment would dotty to tho oiliaen of
UuMueliUNolt., or or other HIuIon wlioae
idliarua limy Im tloprivod of the proton,
lion of our law©, thu enjoyment of “oil
the nor
the 8ni
from th
,it*mpt
I8I.IM, I
Itoverrli
privilege© and immunllivm ot eilin-n© of
the several Stntea.” Should thi© la,
i. Ill© fault would not la> otira
Wo woru not th© aggreauom. Tlio lawn
of tlio.0 Slutu. wore oimetvd, and w©iv
Itituud to deprive Oiirxiliwii© not only
thn.0 "privilogo© ami immunitle/'
under tl.o CoimtitutlUi, but or tlieir
right, of property, and or tlirlr lllawtie©
aa froemen.
Maa.aehu.eU©, aa above .Into n, oven
denies the u»o of her prison© for tlio
pimlshmnit of him who I© eonvloteal nr
Imving loreibly taken from a eitiieu of
(ivurgia hi. property, in open violation
hound' 0 ‘ l,e
double ho l,©r©elf. Thera h
arbiter between them. Eaehta!r**^B'? r ,“ t !,
ciclgn, Mckuowloilues no ^‘i 1 n
on earth. Thu FimIuihI Uuvenunf?*^l? U T
hut tlu, limit,©I agent or all the
and lui© no right to IMUIm l0 d|'
t .o l-riueipaU, adtiol.il dn^iMX.
tho |»wur it |nor tort laiJta f
inent U|h,ii the ronduot of ||„ -Sf
whose i, rout tire it |>, and by wh<»iU
•nnt alum, it ©xiiu for a ©in.lbd,.^
i« not lo bo prisounwl tlmt 5 gui.'.S
woodo from ,|ho Union withoat 2
euuse. Of the .tiUluienry of th. ci
each Novereigu State must w!
heraolf. Whon hor dtcUioa kili I
no ono haa aright to revme th,
tuent, Imouuie no higher power uCt
which an uppeul can he taken, il
right or a State imacrahly to wo*
fiont thn Union, when, in the jiX
mont of lier people, the cemiTl
of the Oatffitiiulion have lea tk
s "* lc, ^amfiSvoii
,f thu h'onalilutinuof the Unite,hStatw,
ami thu law© orCongr<©u. Who, then,
will tleny our right to remote frutn our
©tutulo book ©m l, law. a. protect her
ciliieu, till >l,u rapoal. hur .tatuloaoit-
aotatj for tlm poriHUo of denying thu
proteetion ,,f her luw© tn ii»* When
©lie r©|».idshrr unconilltiitinnal am’
in,trie,,illy laws against us. wo ahoult.
again extend to Imr oilmen, tlm pratpo-
tlen or our law.. U-»H >hu dor. this,
wn should retaliate uj©,,, tho rubber, by
rcm.lng to protect him wldlo ho la
plundering u©, or to punish II10.0 who
ala) him while ho,U applying tho torch
to our dwelling..
Ill my Opinion, the lima for hold, de
rided iietlon, bus a, rived j mul he I , un
worthy III© eonthlenn, ortlm people of
Uuorgta who will refuso to vindicate
her honor, at uuy cost, and to main
tain her Constitutional right, at overy
luuard.
ll is believed tlm legislation above
roeninmeudod would tend toatrengtlion,
rullier limn woukun, tho tin of union
between tlm State, generally; a© it
would do nmeli tn destroy the .onion-
al character of the conlrovcr.e, now
pending belwcon tho free end the
•luvo State; and to narrow tin, issue
toa contest between individual Stales,
and not between wholo sections of tho
Union. Pint acknowledgment or the
biot that mm Statu Ims power lo pro.
tort her©,dl'. against tin, nnuonstitulion-
al ami aggressive, le .■islution c,r another,
without the aid or tlm sister State, nnd
without disturbing her relations with
them, not only destroys geographical
lines of division, drawn iterou ilm Un
ion, and localises tlm controversy ho*
twoen individual Btutcs, hut makes
e,mh State pay a inotojusl regard to the
rights or uvury other Statu, in view ol
the fact that sin, cannot look for tiro-
tectiOn in the wrong, from her other
sister States or her own ©eelion of Ilm
Union, whose buiiho of justice ns well
a© interest under tlm proimsod legisla
tion,, weald prompt thorn to
»f n portion tftW I
scci de fun • I
o the right of tu I
itWdlwl
oolouie. to hm')hIo front the
lorumontg! and a. Ibo colonies
only the right of revolution, il
that th.fclffiftn BIT" “
■ey ■©
In
oulonius, prior to the rmlutk»|
were not sovutslgn.. They m ulI
-I
ITl©')'
Id’hul^ngud toil. The)h|I
never tven claimed to he tlm equr
tho Urltish crown, nor had thatn
inent urer reoognliod them at iuch, i
formed any, couiuaot with them hw-I
ereign |nwon. Wlieh, therefore, Ita I
withdrew (pom the Uovnrntnenl of Gaul
Britain, It wnt a eat* or rehellkia al
the paM of tb« ntltject, ngnin.t the pel
erof Um wvereign—in other wonkil
wo. revolution—and upon their iuoos I
do,ended thoir exemption from tb|
twimllir* of treaMn, lo the Uornel
mont wltoee.ul,ject> (not equal.) thal
wore, till they had established tin I
right 9f ©overelgnty by force of uatl
But tiie States of tlm Union are nolll.1
©uhjuut. of the Federal (lovernanijl
woru not orented hy.it; and do act t» |
long to it. They created il;fromthmI
it dorives its {Kiwera; to them it b te|
sitonsihle, and when it uhuso. the I rat |
they re|K,sed in it, they, ns equal twe,|
cigna, liavo a right to return, the I
power, respectively delegated to, it t) [
III cm,
U|xm my mind thoro bnodmhttt I
(Icorgia or any otlior State in th. Vr I
ion, Im. a perleet rigid to weed, fita I
it Whuuover tlm people in tkeia m» I
eign capacity decide lor themith* 1
sx-Bsssaiaal
era? nor a State Government has iij f
more right to maka war oh her, fottU I
±
[Man)
exemsy of thh. net of WM rerai| P .ty J tha I
they have ia Bulk* War
ufient n
but hot
wares o
that tin
lw forei
they in
its viola
tax pay
(lition
wliothci
which I
vernier •
dise of
swer thi
tlien lo
oath, to
belief, t
wares, $
acter, sc
od, will
brought
Setts, Vi
Island, f
Wisconsin.
(I hcliovo these uro the .States which
though just measure of retaliation, wo
should act only on (he defensive. It
would, therefore, Uo nocessury to make
it tjio duty of tho Governor of this
State to suHjxnid hy proclamation, the
ropcgUug act above recommended, und
to restore the citizens of each offi-ndiug
1° lh° protection of tho laws of
tins .State, so soon as ho sliall Im official
ly iiiroi'hiod hy the Governor of such
State that the laws of such State, of
thu character ubovo iiumtiouod, which
now rob the citizens of thisHtuto of
their property, or imprison them for
attempting to reclaim it, have been re-
(>enled by such offending State. This
ivould be a moasuro of defensive retali
ation, and not of aggression, ou the
part of Georgia.
In addition to tlio influences which
thi* ennc'iuent would have iu causing
* he roiieal of tliope unconstitutional
and offi-uyivo law*, it would have fur
ther ofli-ct of ridding our Htato, in tlio
meantime in a summary way, of sueli
Abolition emissaries as uro now passing
among.our pcoplo; who, under tho pro-
Moiiv, wpuim prompt them to a con-
Uemnation of her had faith, and her
uneonslitutfonal enactment. I nm no
disunion 1st per se/ and would delight to
contemplate our future glory as a n n-
excrcise oT nny other one of her i
oign, powers. Should Georg's t
UiiiiA, while 1 exercise tiro Exrc
tiou, could I havo tho assurance that
tho Union, ujion the basis of the Con-
stitution, would Ins as durable a* tho hills
and vnlh-vs embraced within the vast
territorial limits of it* jurisdiction. -
I In* can not be tho case, however, un
less each section of the Union accords
to overy other section the full incus-
uro* ot it* constitiitional rights.
I earnestly invoku the ntimition of
Uie iMHiplo «»f Georgia to this siikjcut;
a*»d tril.*t the licut-ral A*iH-iiihlv may
take prompt notion for the protecthm
of thvir rights, and the vindication or
tlieir honor. In my opinion thu times
demand tlio legislation which 1 now
rccrimmond ; and the people, should it
bo denied them, will, and ought to
rise tu tlmir,might, and at tlio ballot.
“ ,x Be its vuactlimitt. Slmuld
those retaliatory Imr. Ik- cuaotad tvliih-
I have the honor to ho tho Executive
ol'lloorgi", | ©|,„|| In, prompt, aiid du-
oidod in thoir enfurcemonti. ' The pres
ent is a mo»t appropriate time for this
legislation. The Black Republican
party, organized upon a *ectioiml issue
and standing upon a platform of avdw-
power, to secedo from tho Union o
count of the violation. of the comi
by other Htatcs, 1 should deny tbs n w
of any other itato or Uovorninent Is I
coerce her to return to It. In such csn I
the allegicnbo of hbr cillzena wooldbs
due to her alone, and each would " I
entitled to tbo protection of her fUp- I
Thi* they mJkmU iorr. And if any oiW I
governuicntshould iuterlcre, sad a* I
suuie junauietlon over them, and iuu |
o<l hostility to our Constitutional rights,
have probably triumphed over-Us, by
the elt'ction of tlieir candidn'os for tlio
candide'cii for tlio
Viuo-Presidoncy. —
PreJidoncy anil _
Should simli be the caso, thi* dominant
thedives ot any of them upon arbuft I
of treason to its authority for following I
the Hag of Georgia, I would retsihu
promptly, l»y seizing and hanging spot I
the nearest tree, two ot tiie I
such Governim-iit for eucli cilueo d I
Georgia whose life should bo thus ill* I
gallv Uikcn. 1 need only iwld tlsat lw
gard tho question of separate State # I
lion, or of united action upon, l.he wA.I
of all the Southern ^iat< *,’ a* a H8W'|
qin-Htioii of (mlloy, itml notftsAquwlios T
ol right. As the omise of the Soulbrn
Slate* it a common caiise, and *• ff* I
aggressions upon thpir v rights aw.cff I
mon, 1 shoulu thinjf.it wiso thM that
Union should-incut in oonveution. .
duterinine. to secede from it, there wo**
be no war, no bloouihed. 8o ms»I •
the Northom pconlo nro dapendentzf J
on our cotton, nna our trade for ••’I
ploymont, and for tbo neoo*s«ri^8«
well ns tho *
tlio luxuries of life, tbat lb*?
couW noithw ftfford to fight us, no* *
imrty in tlio nortlicm section of tho stand,by.and aco others do R.
U mon, uiuoiiu wlmm fanaticism rules could the government of,Great
tiie hour, anif uiol; law too often main
tains its ascendancy, will consider
themselves ns victors, and tho people
oi the South a* vanquished. In flmt
event, tho adoption of other safeguards
may become necessary to the uiujutcn-
slice of the right* and honor of tho
sluvoholding Ntaies; as degradation,
iiisiill and injury, will probably he the
only reward, which Georgia, and the
other slave States, can thou ux|H.-ct to
receive, for continued association with
tliorn in the Union, and subjugation to
their foul domination; • '• w - i
So soon as tho Gqvcrmnep4 ahaff
have passed Into Black Republican
hands a portion of our citixon* must,
ij possible, liu bribod into treaoheiy to
tlieir own section, hy *tho‘nllurcmeuts
afford; U9 wifnosp nn invasion oN
Southern States. Wo are plants* 1
largo portion of tlio people of Kn|l*“
are manufacturers We come in <
petition with none of their interests
Our interests and theirs are mutu* “
reciprocal. The people of the
’em Htutps aro the rivals of the p
England in manufacturing and
j»lng. Both arodopondont uponu
cotton]
Great’ Britain
supiMirt to tho
of offico; or a hungry swarm of Aboil-
tion emissaries must ho imported among
us a* office-holders, to oat out our sub
stance, insult us with tlieir arrogance,
corrupt our slaves, ui\d engender dis
content among thorn ; while they fiood
thecomm-y with inflammatory Abolition
doduments and do all in their (>owcr to
create in the Houtli a state of things
which iqust ultimately terminate in a
war of extermination between the
white and the black moos.
Whether eight millions of freomon
in the southern .States will roonsent to
poiinit thi* stato of things to exist
among them, nnd will bmv tlio neck in
willing subicction to tiioyukA, ia a ques
tion to bo determined by thorn in their
sovereign oannclly.
Whether tlio sovereign will oftlfe peo-
|)loo| the Hou thorn Htato* sliall in this
crisis,.be ascurtninud hy a general con
vention of all the Htatos; hereafter to
ho called, and all shall act together in
orn‘Stal« STihUOSlfi?' A»55
or our St1. whiob would out
crop of cotton, would ohoko Uio pn»J ■
of tlio English throno. .ml tli««T? |l
“broad or ulooU” would at onco oonl™ I
tlio aotion of tbo government, tho ■
nnd tbo nnry of Great -Britain in 00 F
favor. L
I nm nivaro Hint Ilio opinion U *“*;■ I
tainwi by many, that-tbo fiouj-") I
Slate*, in tho ovont of a di»*olutioi» |
tlio Union, would bo in a worae cow* |
tion than tlioy now are,' in referonco ■
tho recapture of thoir fugiUvo «W"*
at it is uid large number, would e*»g
und we would navo no prooes. by wow;
wo could recover thorn from any F”_
tion of the Northern Confederacy
Till, is it great' error. In care of • «*P
longer fecl.that they were ooonsetw
witn slavery in tbo South, Mf
than they now aro In Cuba and w*.
Most of tho northern Btato. havo
ready ennotod ©tringent laws ng** I
(ho importaUon of iVcp nop«J I
among tiiem. Tlioy would nit d««J |
•ueb o population in Uieir