Newspaper Page Text
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TOPRSPAT, MWBgm 13,1860.
■ ■CESSION C IMIIIUTFI TO THK STATU CONVENTION,
RIGH’D H. CLARK,
CHA’S E. MALLORY.
tSr-J.C. R”ii
••Delay is Sabmlssion. and Submission is
Slavery.”
With this w«* encl<»M- the. s'tovo document,
supplement, to ninny ol otir subt-crihera We commend it
to the perusal oi every honest and sober thinking man, and
trust that it may he ft;altered throughout the length and
breadth or the country. We believe that it is calculated
to do much good, that it but speaks the sentiments of eve
ry man who has a Southern heart within his bosom.
After surveying the premia, looking hack upon the
many insults, wrongs .nd injuries that have been heaped
ua as a people by one section of our country, we believe
“forbearance has erased to be a virtue." Delay
Mission and Submission is Slavery.
In another column will be found a call for
a “States (lights and Determined Resistance
Wrongs” meeting. We had supposed the meeting
held last Tuesday was one of this sort—that
ther would he unnecessary. We therefore cannot
say exactly who are called. It is a call that needs
explanation. As we undrstaml it, it is a call of all
those who prefer procrastination which is to lead to
submission rather than present, decisive, effective
and salutary action.
Oar Candidates.
To-day we throw to our masthead the names sf
Col. R. H. Clark, and Charles E. Mallory, Esq.,
as candidates for the State Convention, which is to
assemble on the ltith January. They arc too well
known to need any introduction to our readers.—
They have been placed in the scales, and found not
wanting, and we predict for them such a majority
as will make the submissionists tremble in their
boots. These gentlemen should feel proud of their
nomination, as it came without solicitation, and
from the largest citizens’ meeting ever held for any
purpose in the county, and with a unanimity
■ever before known or seen by the oldest persons
familiar with political gatherings. We can truly
say to our friends abroad, be of good cheer, Dough
erty will come nobly to the rescue, and will be rep
resented in the Convention by Clark and Mallory,
whose majority will be as great as the unanimity
which pervaded the meeting.
The President’s Message is too long for pub
lication in our columns. We give that portion, how
ever, wLich we think will be of any interest to our
readers.
Editorial Correspondence.
.. v - <\ Milledoeyille, Dec. 8th, i860.
Public Meetings—The Convention—Secession.
Quite a number or counties in this State have thus
far held meetings and forwarded their proceedings
to the legislature. These resolutions strongly urge
the call of a State Convention, with a view to some
mode of action by which the State of Georgia may
firmly *nd unitedly resist the past and present ag
gressions of our enemies at the NpYth. The action
of the Convention r.hculd conform to tfie will of the
people, and the people have declared in their pri
mary meetings that they are determined to resist to
the last extremity, the repeated wrongs, insults and
injury which have been heaped upon them. If
they do not resist now, we can but assure them that
these aggressions will continue with every indignity
by the Abolition States of the North. Thus far,
wrong and injustice have been borne with patience
by the Southern States, until now they find that
dress is necessary to secure to them the protect 1
of those rights which naturally belong to a free and
independent people. Ourconstituiional rights.ha'
been violated {only against tho South) by a portii
of the Stales of the North. This is a sufficient cause
to justify any and every Southern State to with
draw by immediate secession from a Union which has
only proved itself a burden and expense to
we flinch from this, disgrace must follow, repeated
wTongs will be continued, and we will fnll dishon
ored and degraded in the estimation of every civil
ised and intelligent nation of the world. The plain
question, then, to be answered, is—Shall we submit,
or shall tee resistt When I hear the word submission
to further aggression, it strikes us that it emanate?
from the heart of a coward, and lie Who utters it,
sinks himself low in the estimation of every true ami
honest patriot. But when
and the Federal Government make war upon her I [communicated.]
therefor, Georgia will give to the seceding Southern t . Albany, Geo., Dec. lltb, 1860.
State the aid and encouragement, lympsUin and j J\lr. Editor:—In your last issue I notice a conrunuoica-
she hereby offers to them. On the passage of the j
resolution there were yeas 101, uays 2f.
oiaic iuo oiu nuu cuuuuragcuitui, ■/uipaiuj', |
assistance of her entire people. And should the i tion addressed “to tho public” by Wm. Stewart, who had
State of Georgia secede from tho Union by the ac- boen ordered to leave this County and State, charged with
tion of the Convention of her people to assemble on 'expressing sentiments inimical to the South, but which in
tbe 16th of Janu.rj n.xt »h. xxkx the like «yonp«- his h „ dOTi « >w ,i„ g ,h oc h,tgeU--f»Ue io letter end
thy and assistance from her Southern sisters, which , „
dim korutiv aITam In thnm On tt.« imsium nf tllA 1 CO,
I was a member ofthe meeting which caused this man’s
expulsion, and feel it due to that public to whom he ap-
GOV: BROWN’S LETTER.. - 1 peals in such tender terms, to lay before them in justifies-
I also enclose an etlract from the letter of Got. j tion of our cars the eridence which, alter calm and dc-
Ilrown, in reply to our -Electors,” revesting Ms counsel, iodoced asm tho corn* we parraed:
•f . . • , . GEORGIA, l Personally appeared belore me,
views upon the issues involved irt the election of | Doobherty County. f Y G. Rust, Notary Public, J.
delegates to the State Convention called to meet at | L. Dozier, Esq , who being duly sworn, deposeth and say-
,1... ii,« -tp,i, „r eth that on tho eleventh day of November, 1860,one Wil-
tl.o Capitol on the ICtli of January next. liam Stewart, of the city of Albany, Doucherty county.
The Governor takes high grounds on the ques- ; said in his presence that lie had a “musket which was han-
(ion, at issue, and approves of secession. In the ^XrS.Ie^
extract herewith enclosed, will lie found sentiment* ketaud help whip her hack into submit ion.”
similar to those wo have heretofore expressed, nd- : ?'? orn to and subscribed before me, 1 Signed,
. , , this 1st day of December, I860. } J. L. Dozier.
nut for the sake of argument, that the blacks of the j y. G. Rust, Notary Public. )
South were all free, wh.it would become of the fnra-! ”« ■ ■*>"
j , , | • , , GEORGIA, > Personally appeared befbreme,
!ljr of tho poor, but honest while man o lio nr,- dc- . Ddouin aTY County. { Y. G.JtWl; Wotxry
pendent on his services for their day bread. The H. .Mouglmo, Esq , who being duly sworn, deposed) and
while family mustb, thesuffcYCY, because h. can- Si&fcESK
not sustain his family, and place them to that res- much regnrds him as an honest and truthful man, that he
pocublc position in society .0 which they belong, ' employ^ J,i„^I,,Mhe n«I year ^
and compete successfully with the low price, of free | me. this 1st day of Dec. 1860. [ Tuos.H. Mouohon.
negro labor, either in town or country. These are j Y. G. Rust, Notary Pub. )
stubborn facts, which few in more affluent circum-1 Thus! certificates can bo substantiated by othem equally
stances cannot realise. But to tho extract, which 8,ron S sho ;' i = n - h ‘ rn obnoxious to the welfare of this
... i inunity and Southern institutions. I deem, however, the
wo clip from the federal Vmon.- ! aboVl> K g Kiml evi( w to prove him /of« to the home
Again, the poor white-m*n wishes to rent land s0 fond | profeBed 1o cberisbi C>H on citteos of
from the wealthy land lord; this land lord awks him _ , __ ... . .
half the crop of common upland, or two thirds or i G< '°^ a , " mark •“ <*MonP<ton. and pass him on tow.rd
even three fourths, for the best bottom land, fhe < a colder climate,
poor man says this seems very hard, I cannot make | William Stewart is by occupation a brick-layer and
a decent support for my family at these rates. The plasterer-—about 37 years old, florid complexion, dark
land lord replies, here are negroes all around mo sandy hair and whiskers, about 5 feet 9 inches high, and
anxious to lake it at these rates; I can let you have j weighs probably 150 pounds. He was ordered to leaYo
it for no less. The negro, therefore, comes into j on tho train of 3d instant,but left on the 2d in direction of
with the poor white nut. when he seeks v , ldoBt , f on tho SaV n„ n , h 4 Golf Rxilioad,
gross, unless wc may possibly except the Missouri
Compromise, impairing, in the slightest degree, the
rights of the South to their property in slaveswr-
And it may also be observed, judging from present
indications, that no probability exists ofthe passage
of suck an Act, by .a majority of both Houses, cither
in the present or the next Congress. Surely, under
these circumstances, we ought to be restrained from
present action by the precept of Him who spake as
never man spake, that ••sufficient unto the day. is
the evil thereof.” . The day of ©vil may never come,
ilese we shall rashly bring it npon ourselves, j
It is-alleged as one cause for immediate secession,
that the Southern States are denied equal rights
ith theotlier States in the common Territories.—
But by what authority are these denied? Not by
Congress, which has never passed, and 1 believe
never will-pass, any act to exclude slavery from tlir
Territories: and certainly not by tho 'Supreme
Court, which has solemnly decided that slaves are
property, and, like all other property, their owners
' a right to take them into the common' Territo-
. and hold them there under the protection of th<
Constitution.
So far, then, as Congress is concerned, the objec
tion is not to anything they have already douc, but
to what they may do hereafter.i U will surely be
admitted that this apprehension of future danger is
no good reason for an immediate dissolution of tlic
Union. It is tru. that the Territorial legislature of
Kansas, on the 23d of February, 1800, passed in
great haste an act, over the veto of the Governor,
declaring that slavery “is, and shall be, forever pro
hibited in this Territory.” Such .an act, however,
plainly violating the rights of property secured by
the Constitution, will surely be declared void by the
judiciary whenever it shall be presented in a legal
form.
Only three days after my inauguration, the Su
preme Court of the Unitod States solemnly adjudg-
i protect his wife and his little t
from the
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.
cold and from the rain; and when he seeks employ-
a day laborer. In every such case, if the
negro will do the work the cheapest, he must be
It is sickening to contemplate the mis- ___
*— - *-••***—
bor, than the poor of any other country on the tatives.
g.obe. Most of them are land owners,- and they Throughout the year,
are now respected. They are in no sense placed country has been eminently prosperous in all its
down upon a level with the negro. They arc a su- material interests. The general health has been
perior race, and they feel and know it. Abolish I excellent, our harvests have been abundant, and
slavery, and you make the negroes their equals, le- plenty smiles throughout the land. Our commerce
gaily and socially (not naturally, for no human law
change God s law) and you very soon make
shout for resistance by the people, wo can clasp them • |cr
embrace and call them brothers, for they are 1
the sovereign patriots of the land, and on whose
valor in the hour of danger and in the hottest ofthe
conflict, we may safely rely. While we realize the
strength and power of such a grand Southern Army,
ready to strike for freedom’s enuye, we feel that the
fire which inspired the hearts of the brave spirits of
not yet extinct, but still burns with steady
lustr. around the altars of the brave and the free.
The Abolitionists every where, are to-day wallow
ing around the ted of their own filth and corruption.
They are blackened with disgrace and dishonored
as a people. It is wrong, then, that the .South should
au far lower her dignity as to continue in a Union
with such a deep-eyed, treacherous class of people.
The Convention soon to assemble should weigh well
the momentous questions before them. Wc believ
that body will be composed of the good and true
men of Georgia, and while tho people know t
they have been suffering from the intolerable 1j
thens which for years have afflicted them, we t
not believe but that the Convention will adopt s
efficient measures as will afford perpetual security to j i-^m such*a fate So g uuu i» s WIC HCIC
life, liberty and property of the people, and honor I liberty, thousands of them would leave the cotton
the South in the future. [ and rice fields in the lower parts of our State, and
j make tlieir way to thelieulthier climate in the iicun-
WEALTH OF TIIE SOUTH—WHO SI PI’OUTS | ,rti " region. We should have them plundering and
THE NORTH j stealing, robbing anil killing, in all the lovely 1
Yours, respectfully,
JOHN R. SIMS.
Carolina to Congress, employs the following lan
guage: “The right of the people of a single 8taie to
absolve themselves at will, and without the consent
of the other States, from their most solemn obliga
tions, and hazard the liberty and happiness of the
millions composing this Union, cannot be acknowl
edged. Such authority is believed to be utterly re
pugnant both to the principles upon which the Gen
eral Government is constituted, and to the objects
which it was expressly formed to attain. J
It is not pretended that any clause in the Consti
tution gives countenance ’ to such a theory. Iti»
altogether founded upon inference, not from any
language contained in the instrument itself, but
from tho sovereign character of the several States
by which it was ratified. But it is beyond the pow
er of a State, like itn individual, to yield a portion
M»Ciu Aavereign rights to secure the remainderl in
the language of Mr. Madson, who has been called
the father of the Constitution: “It was formed fcy
the States—that is, by the people in each of the
States, acting in their highest sovereign capacity*
ami formed, consequently, by the same. authority
which formed tlic State Constitutions.”
“Nor is the-Government of the United Stale*
creuted by tho Constitution, less a Government in
the strict sense of the term, within the sphere of its
powers, than tlic Governments created by the Con-
"ti tut ions of the States are within their several
pheres. It is, like than, organized into legislative,
executive, ami judiciary departments. It operates
like them, directly on persons and things; and, like
them, it has at command & physical force for exe
cuting the powers committed to it.”
It was intended to be perpetual, and not -Whe
annulled at the pleasure of any one of the contract
ing parties. Tho old articles of the confederation
were entitled “Articles of Confederation and Per
petual Union between the States;” and by the
nplc
Dougherty Superior Court adjourned to-day.
As much business has been disposed of at this term
as at any previous one for the same length of time.
In the ease of the State vs, Kerbf, the jury rendered
a verdict of “not guilty.’’ The State vs Taylor, a
similar verdict. The State vs. Ameson, a verdict of
guilty, and sentence of ten years imprisonment
the State Penitentiary.
and citizens at the Capitol, on Monday, 21st ultimo,
he stated that the annual drains from the South
.1 manufactures have been prosecuted
gy and industry, and have yielded fair and
all tenants, and reduce their wages for daily returns. In short, no nation in the tide of ti
labor to the smallest pittance that will sustain life, ever presented a spectacle of greater material pros-
Then the negro and the white man, and their fiuii- perity than wc have done until within a very recent
lies, must labor in the field together as equals.— period.
Their children must go to the same poor school to- Why is it, then, that discontent now so extensivc-
geflier, if they are educated at all. They must go ly prevails, and the Union of the States, which is
to church as equals, enter the Courts of justice as the source of all these blessings, is threatened w.itlt
equals, sue and be sued as equals, sit on juries to- disruption ? The long continued and intemperate
get her as equals, have the right to give evidence in interference of the northern people with the .ques-
Court as equals, stand side by side in our military | tion of slavery in the Southern States, has at length
quals, enter each other’s houses in social [produced its natural effects. The different sections
equals: and very soon their chilJrcn ; of the Union are now arrayed against each other,
jet her as equals. -May our kind ilea- \ and the time has arrived, so much dreaded by the
only Father avert the evil, and deliver the poor Father of his Country, when hostile geographical
parties have been formed. I have long foreseen
and often forewarned my countrymen of the now
impending danger. This docs not proceed solely
from the claim on the part of Congress or-the Terri
torial Legislatures to exclude shivery from thcTer-
ritorics, nor from the efforts of different. States t<
defeat the execution of the fugitive slave, law. AV
iy of these evils might Imre been endured by
I intercourse
lies of tlic mountains. This i can never consent
December 9th, I860, j mcc. The mountains contain the placo of my imti
When Judge Bcnning addressed the Legislature | ity, the home of uiy manhood, and the theatre of j the South without danger to the U
most of the acts of my life; and I can never forget | Have been.) in the hope that time and reflection
the condition and interest of tlifc people who reside ! might apply the remedy. The immediate peril
. there. It is true, the people, there ore generally I not so much from these causes as from the fact that
which went to support the North, amounted to eiyh- j poor; but they are brave, honest, patriotic, and Ulie incessant and violent agitation of the si
ty-jiee millions, two hundred and thirty-six thousand pure hearted. Some who do not know them, have j question throughout the North for the last qi
dollars. Let us now see what this vast sum oftnon- • doubted their capacity to understand these ques- of a century, lias, at length, produced its mali,
\ „ . .. .... . . ! lions, and their patriotism and valor to defend their l fluence on the slaves, and inspired them with
ey would do for Georgia, if we would act like sensi-{’ - . “ . . - .. *
ble people, and instead of paying tribute to e*.’.**Jj t „
riot ism and valor to defend their \ flu
I know them well, and 1 I no
mistake, could be made.— j loi
cd that this power did not exist in the Territorial
Legislature? Yet, such has been the factious tem
per of the times that the correctness of this decision
has been extensively impugned-Before the people,
njid the question lias given rise to angry political
conflicts throughout the country. Those who have
appealed from this judgment of our highest Cfn&ti-
tutioiial tribunal to popular assemblies would,, if
they could, invest a Territorial Legislature with
power to annul the sacred righ's of property. This
power Congress is expressly forbidden by the Fed
eral Constitution to exercise. Every State Legis
lature in the Union is forbidden by its own Consti
tution to exercise it. It cannot be exercised
State, except by the people in their highest sovereign
capacity when framing or amending their Stato Con
stitution. In like manner, it can only be exercised
. . . , I by the people of a Territory, represented in a co;
ii! ‘ ven **on of delegates for tho purpose of framing
“‘Constitution preparatory to admission as a State
into the Union.
Then, and not until then, are they invested with
power to decide the question whether slavery shall
shall not exist within their limits. This is
: of sovereign authority, and not of subordin:
Territorial Legislation. Were it otherwise, the
indeed, would the equality of the States in the Ti
ritories be destroyed, and the rights of property
slaves would depend, not upon I lie guarantees ofthe
oust it ui ion, but upon the shifting majorities of a’
responsible Territorial Legislature. Such a uoc
■ine, from its intrinsic unsoumlness, cannot Ion;
influence any considerable portion'of our people,
much less can it afford a good reason for h di.
in of the- Union.
The most palpable violation of constitutional du
ty which have yet been committed, consists i
,cts of different Si ate Legislatures to defeat t
cut ion ofthe Fugitive Stave Law. It ought
emembered, however, that for these Acts, neither
Congress nor any President can justly bo held res
ponsihlc. Having been passed in violation of thi
Federal Constitution, they are, therefore, null and
void. AU the Courts, both State and National, be
fore whom the question has ariscu. have from tin
beginning declared the Fugitive Slave Law to b<
constitutional. The single exception is that of a
State Court in Wisconsin; and this has not only
been reversed by the proper appelate tribunal, but
lias met with such universal reprobation that there
can'be no danger from it as a precedent. The va
lidity of this law has been established over and over
again by tlie Supreme Court of the United States,
with perfect unanimity. It is founded upon an ex
press provision of the Constitution, requiring that
il would nc
Federal Union.
In our last issue, we asked Brother BoronTON of
the Union, why it was that •» he was with us to-day
and against us to-morrow.” In reply, he says he
has advocated the calling of a Convention, that the
Convention is to assemble on the 16th January to
decide upon the time and mannerof onr resistance—
when the Convention determines what Georgia shall
do, he can answer whether he is with us or against
ne—that if we are with Georgia be will be with us
all the time So far. so good. But we are not dis
posed to see you. Brother Bo ion ton, placed in a
wrong position. We desire for you to come up
*• like a man and lake your proper part in giving
shape to the Convention.” We shall, Brother Bougii-
ton, endeavor to keep our “boiler from bursting.”—
The time has arrived for us and every true Geor
gian, to •* fire up,” nnd “ sink or swim . survive or
perish,” though it be alone, our “Patriotic ef
forts ” will be for Georgia and her rights. Con
vention or no Convention, wo are for rcsistanoe—
secession —Grorgi a.
If you and Joseph c innot agree, let frie jd Barnes
give the casting vote, so that there will be no lag
ging or hesitation by the glorious old Federal Union
newspaper.
[TOR TIIS ALBANY PATRIOT.]
Secession Meeting.
In compliance with a call made upon the citizens
•f this county in favor of secession, and to nomi
nate candidates to represent the county of Dough
erty in the Convention to assemble on the ICtb Jan
uary, a large number of our citizens met at the
Court House in this city, on Tuesday, tho 11th Inst.,
when on motion of Col. Win. M. Slaughter, CoL D.
A. Vason was called to the chair, and Alexander 8.
Lippitt requested to act as Secretary.
CoL Tift read the call for the meeting, and asked
if it was alone for those who favored seceseion, and
desired it explained by the chairman, whereapon
the chairman stated if he understood the call, it
was for those who favored immediate secession, and if
eo, he was a proper person to preside otct such a
meeting, if not, he would refuse to act.
On motion of CoL Wm. J. Lawton, business was
suspended, and the Rev. Mr. Clark was requested lo
open the meeting with prayer. Col. Tift then re
sumed his speech, stating his position—asking for
Georgia to maintain her rights first in the Union,
and out of it only as a last resort. Secession he
thought a last resort.
Col. Slaughter then moved that the meeting pro
ceed to nominate by ballot, which motion was amen
ded by Col. Alexander Robert, that one of the can
didates be selected from each of the two old parties
(Bell and Breckinridge.).
On motion of Col. Lawton, the candidate from
the Bell party was first selected, when on countiug
out the ballots its was found that Chas. E. Mallory,
Esq., had received a majority of all the votes east.
The meeting then proceded to seleoi*a candidate
from the Breckinridge party, and upon oouatiag the
votes. Col. R. H. Clark received a majority of the
>«tescast. The chairman then announced that Cols.
Clark and Mallory were the choice of the meeting.
Col. Lawton then proposed that the nomination be
made unanimous; which was done without a dissen
ting voice. Cols. Clark and Mallory being present,
thoy were loudly called for. and addressed tbs meet
ing in eloquent and stirring speeches.
Capt. E. H. Platt being present, was called upon,
and mads one of his happiest efforts.-- •
On motion of Hon. John Carr Brown, it was o*-
. jj^^'J^imwwUnfalwpnblUJwdlath.Ai-
enemies at the North, keep it among us. If wc • They love the Union of
make a calculation wc will perceive Gist Georgia's I f r consent to dissolve it so ...
proportionate share of thi. amount of money, trill j Tlxey’“tTfllwt"ISSP jSi'iJTumrV; ami'^Uey
be equivalent to the interest on a sum more than vril 1 never consent to submit to abolition rule, and
sufficient to penetrate each of the great geographical! permit the evils to cotne upon them, which must re
divisions of our .State with an efficient system* of I su,t from a continuance in the Union when the goy-
n ii, ,, eminent is in the hands of our enemies, who will
Railroad,, winch will rosier dcrolope all our UM a „ power for our de , lruction . Wll on il ho-
agricultural and mireral resources, from their pres- j comes necessary to defend our rights against so foul
ent extent, to over an hundred fold, nnd render our j a domination, 1 would cnll upon the mountain boys
mountain-bound valleys and rich plains of her tnid-' ns ” 8 people of the low lands, and they
would come down like an avalanch and swarm
die and southern section,, musical with the hum "f . rollnd ^e-flsg of Georgia with a resolution that
busy life in manufacturing industry, nnd leave n j would strike terror into the ranks of the abolition
surplus sufficient io establish a system of Free cohorts of the North. Wealth is timid, and wealthy
Schools, on a firm and durable basis, l.y whichorcry mi,y cvy f ',’ r “ ni1 '‘ ubn I i ' *? " ror ’«; W
. . , , , ; fear they may lose their money; but the poor, hon-
neh or poor child throughout the length and breadth ' j Hbo r ers Georgia, can never consent to see
of the State, may receive the benefits of a free, I slavery abolished, and submit to all tlie taxation,
thorough English education. Thus erecting a tnon- ; vassalage, low wagesjintl downright degradation,
ument to the wisdom and statesmanship of her pt
triotic sons, and placing Georgia on a glorious em
nence where she may proudly sit dispensing her
blessings on the heads of her devoted children.—
These grand results will greatly augment Jier best
wealth, an intelligent, industrious nnd thriving pop
ulation, rescuing the idle nnd ignorant from tin
darkness belore them, and spreading the blessings
of religion and civilization throughout licr
borders. This will make Georgia grand and noble
among the civilized powers of the world, securing
her prosperity in peaoe, and making her impregna-'
ble in times of war. |
la it not the part of wisdom, then, yen, is it not i
our solemn duty, to sever the bonds which bind us!
in a Union with a Northern class of people who j
claim openly for themselves the deadly enemies of 1
the people of the South, glorying in our defeat, and '
who threaten tlie overthrow and destruction of our
social and domestic institutions, and thereby- make
us common among men. 1 „
We trust thst such . direful culamily may ncrer , .J resolution was adopted, requiring that all the
. # ,, ..r, . - . . \ ^ '• bills of a similar nature which can be merged, shall
befall us. If Georg., w.ll h'firm and (rue to 1,er-, be erabraced in ono billi onli in (bi , f or m reported
self, the “nations of the earth will rise and call her to the House on Monday morning,
blest,” and exclaim in divine language. “Many,
daughters have done virtuously, but thou, Georgia> I Tlic following extract of a letter from Washington
excellent them all.” j City, is short, but speaks much for the subject
I which ho writes. The writer, though a Northern
) man, intends soon to claim tlie Soutli for his home,
Tho following resolutions were presented by Mr.
Hartridge, with an amendment by Mr. McWhorter,
and adopted by the vote stated. By them it will be
seea that should South Carolina, or any other
Southern State secede from the Union, and an at
tempt be made to coerce her or either of them back
r fathers,
sit protectsth
irliich must-follow.' They will never take the
i gro’s place; God forbid.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
will be impossible for the Legislature to ad
i within the time allowed by law, nnd complct
the business before them, they will therefore pro-
' long tlie session from three to five days. Wcnotice
the following report relative to the business of the
^ , House up to the 8th inst.:
i Bills introduced in the House >370
Acted on to Dec. 8th....„......................128
To be acted on ;.„242
The feeling of peace at home has given place t
prehensions of servile insurrection. Many a nm
ii throughout the South retires at night in dreu
wlmt may befall herself and her children befor
- morning. Should this apprehension of dotnes-
danger. whether real or imaginary, extend
ehsify itself until it shall pervade the Ynasses iff
the Southern people, then disunion will become in-
vituble. Self preservation is tlie first law of nature,
nd lias been implanted in the heart of man by his
'rentor for the wisest purpose; and no political
'nion, however fraught with hie*
a all other respects, can long coi
ssary consequences be to render
resides of nearly half the partic
ml hopelessly insecure. Sooner
!iall I
“delivt
i> their masters
ell known historical
-mid
k Cl,
>vcd. It i
n«l benefit:
if the nes
tles andthe
habitually
r the bonds
id, and
of which are general
AID TO SECEDING STATES.
lions that this filial period has not yet am
my prayer to God is that he would preserve the
Constitution and the L'niou throughout all .geneva-
But let us take warning in time, and remove the
cause of danger. It cannot bo denied that, for five
and twenty years, the Agitation at the North against
slavery in the South has been iuccssant. In 18-‘*o
pictorial hand-bills, ami inflammatory appeals were
circulated extensively throughout the .South, of a
character to excite the passions of the glavcs; and,
in the language of General Jackson, “to stimulate
o insurrection, and produce nU the horrors of
lc war.” This agitation has ever since been
continued by the public press, by the proceedings of
State and County Conventions^ and by Abolition
and lectures. Tlie timooif Congress has l
occupied in violent speeches on this never-ending
subject; and appeals in pamphlet and other forms,
endorsed by distinguished names, have been sent
forth from this central point, and spread broadcast
•er the Union.
How easy would it be for the American people to
settle the slavery question forever, and to restore
peace and harmony to this distracted country ?
They, and they nlone, can do it. All that is
cessary to accomplish tlic object, and all for which
the Slave States have ever contended, is to be let
alone, and permitted to manage their domestic
stitutions in their own way. As sovereign States,
they, and they alone, are responsible before God
and the world for the slavery existing among them.
For this, the people of the North are not more res
ponsible, nnd have no more right to interfere, than
with similar institutions in Russia or Brazil. Upon
their good sense nnd patriotic forbearance I still
greatly rely. Without thoir aid it is beyond the
power of any President, no matter what may be his
own political proclivities, to restore peace and har
mony among the States. Wisely limited and res
trained as is his power, under our Constitution nnd
and battle for her rights. Such patriot* *will nl- laws, lie alone can accomplish but little, for good or
ways meet with a warm erecting and n welcome for evil, on such a momentous question.
l . . I And tins brings me to observe'that the election
home among us: of any one of our fellow-citizens to the office of Pro-
Washington, D. C., December 3J, I860. 8 i,icnc does not of itself afford just cause for dia-
Read 2d time 7->
40: local 35.
Read 1st lime 167, of these are general
61 ; local 107.
Of local bills there are—
For the relief of individuals ..-34
Incorporations 34
Changing county lines. 10
Regulating sales spirituous liquors 6
Consolidating offices ...4
Dear Col.: * * * It is just twelve o’clock, M. At this
Very moment the speaker raps tho House to order!
in the Union, the State of Georgia will give them • imagine the scene. Is it the last time? I grieve to think
aid and assistance in defending their natural rights '. may be. But “let justice be done though tho Heavens
against an unjuxt and unhallowed war bY the (iena- ,houU UU ’’— al,<1 glorious truth, whan jo,fit, is done tho
Y»\ GoYsrnment. Snch » stop »t coercion would bo f *H- “ Disguioo-Reomou or twin Union;’
usurping powers which doc not belong lo the gor- U DUanw " ""i* 0 ' ">■
r .... B tunou nor twin union is posable, nor is peace possible, nor
ernment, because every State id the Union has the, oor parity, aor happine*. nor glory. Then
inalienable right to secede, whenever their rights, j disunion first-*-«fter that, a glorious re-union, pr a glorious
interest and prosperity should be destroyed by the pair—the Castor and Pollux ofthe Western sky.
■partnership ot compact npon which they entered, j Tho present race of agitators, North, East and West,
*The commanding position which Georgia has as- whatever be their theme, are too zoalou? and inflammatory,
sumed by tho resolutions will give encouragement \ and ma3t h® 8we P l from **» f » c e of the earth! It is one
to her other Southern sister States, and by their 80,1 of raen who can raiae «onns-it is another sort who
united action, secession on their part will be peace
able and successful:
The grievances afflicting the Southern States must
be effectively resisted; the interests and *he destiny
ofthe slave holding States of this Union are, and
must remain common, the secession of one from the
Union must, more or less, affect all. Therefore,
Resolved, That in the judgment of this General
Assembly, any State In this Union has the sovereign
right to sooeds from this Union whenever she may
deem U necessary and proper for her honor, safety
or happiness; and that when a Stato exercises this
right of secession, the Federal Government has no
right to coerce or make a war npon her because of
the exorcise ot snch right to secede, and should any
SootWcn State secede from the American Union
been adopted by tlie Couv
In oue form or other under the Acta of 1793
1859, both beiug substantially'tlie same, tlie Fugi
tive Slave Law has been the law ofthe laud from th
days of Washington until the present moment.—
Here then a clear case is presented, in which it will
be the duty of Gie next President, ns it has been
own. to act with vigor in executing this supreme
law against the conflicting enactments of .State Leg
islattires. Should he fail in the performance oftlii:
high duty, he will then have manifested a disregard
for tlie'.t’onstitution and laws, to the great injusyof
the people of nearly one-half of the States of the
Union. But arc wc to presume in advance that Ik
ill thus violate his duty ? This would be at wai
ith every principle of justice nnd of 4’hristiar
liarity. Let us wait fofllie overt act. The Ftigi
ve Slave Law has been carried into execution it
very contested case since the commencement of tin
present Administration—though often, it is to bi
•egretted, with great loss and inconvenience to the
master, and with considerable expense to the Go'
ermnent. Let as trust that die State Legislatures
will repeal their unconstitutional and obnox
ment. Unless this shall be done without unnec
essary delay, it is impossible for any human power ]
save the Union.
The Southern States, standing on the basis of tlie
Constitution, have a right to demand this act of
justice from the States of the North. Should it be
refnsed, then the Constitution, to which all the
States are parties, will have been wilfully violated
by otic portion of them in a provision essential to
the domestic security ami happiness of the remain
der. In that event, the injured States, after having
first used all peaceful and oonatitutional means to
obtain redress, would .be justifiable in revolutionary
resistance to the Government ofthe Uniou.
UIGUT Of SECESSION.
I have purposely continued my remarks to revo
lutionary. resistance, because it has been claimed
within the last few years that any State, whenever
this shall bo its sovereign will and pleasure, may
secede from the.Union, in accordance with the Con
stitution, and without any violation of the constitu
tional rights of the other members of the Cotifedera-
That as each became parties to the Union by
oto of its own people assembled in Convention,
iy one of them may retire from the Union
similar manner, by the vote of such a Conventh
In order to justify secession as a constitutional
remedy it must bo on the principlc *hat the Federal
Government is a mere voluntary association of States
t<J bo dissolved at pleasure by any one of the co
trading parties If Hits be so, the Confederacy
a rope of sand, to be penetrated and dissolved by
the first adverse wave ot' public opinion in any of
tho States. In this manner our thirty-three Statee
may resolve themselves iulo as many petty, jarring,
and hostile Republics, each ot»e retiring from the
Union, without responsibility, whenever any sud-
djeo excitement might impel them to such a course.
By .this process a Union might bo entirely broken
temporary causes, which may ' into fragments in a few weeks, which cost our fore-
tin Occur. In order to justify aj fathers many years of toil, privation, and blood to
revolutionary resistance, the Federal Gov- I establish,
ernment. must be guilty of “a deliberate, palpable, | Such a'principle is wholly inconsistent with the
history as well as the character of tlie Federal Con-
article it is expressly declared that “the articles Ct
this Confederation shall be inviolably observed by
every State, and the Union ehall be perpetnaL”—
The preamble to the Constitution ofthe United States,
having express reference to the article* of Confede
ration, recites that it was established “in order to
form a more perfect Union.” Andyetll is oomtend-
ed that this “more perfect Union” does not inolader
e essential attribute of perpetuity.
But that the Union was designed to be perpetual,
appears conclusively from the nature and extent of
the powers conferred by the Constitution on the
Federal Government. These powers embrace the
very highest attributes of national sovereignty.—
They place both the sword and the purse under its
control. Congress h«9 power to make war, and to
make peace: to raise and support armies and navies,
aid to conclude treaties with foreign Governments.
It is invested with the power to coin money, and to
regulate the value thereof, and to regulate commerce
with foreign nations, and among the several States.
It is not necessary to enumerate the other high
powers which have been conferred upon the Feder
al Government. In order to carry the enumerated
power* into effect, Congress possesses the exclusirs
right to lay and collect duties on imports, and fn
common with tho States, to lay and collect all other
Hut tlie Constitution has not only conferred these
high powers upon Congress, but it has adopted ef
fectual means to-restrain the States from interfering
with their exercise. For that purpose it has, in
strong prohibitory language, expressly declared
that “no State shall enter into any treaty, alliance
or confederation ; grant letters of marque and re-
prisel, coin money ; emit bills of credit; make any
thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment
of debts: pass any bill of attainder, expost facto
law, or law imp firing the obligation of contracts.”
MoreoVcr, “without the consent of Congress, no
State shall lay any imposts or duties on any imports
or exports, except vvliat may be absolutely necessa
ry for executing its inspection laws:" and, if they
exceed this amount, the excess shall belong to the
United States.
And “no State shall, without the conseut of Con
gress, lay any duty of tonnage—keep troops, cr
ships of war, in time of pence ; enter into any agree
ment or compact with another State, or with a for
eign* power; or engage in war, unless actually in-
mhiont danger as will not admit
of delay.’’
In order still further to secure the uninterrupted
:ercise of those high powers against State inter
position, it is provided “that this Constitution and
he Laws of the United States which shall bo made
n pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which
ihallbe made, under the authority ofthe U. States,
■hall be the supreme law of the land, and the Judges
loiind thereby, anything in
of any State to the contra-
lie Co
shall b;'
irithatanding
tun sanction of religion has been soper-
iie obligations of official duty, and all
id Representatives of the United States,
s of Stale Legislatures, and all executive
and judicial officers, “both of the United States and
of the several States, shall be hound by oath or
affirmation to support this Constitution.”;-• ■ ' :
lu order to carry into effect theso powers, the
Constitution has established a perfect Government
in all its forms. Legislative, Executive and Judicial;
and this Government, to the extent of its powers,
acts directly upon the individual citizens of avery
State, and executes its own decree* by the agency
ot its own officers. In this respect it differs entire
ly from the Government under the old Confederation,
which was confined to making.requisitions on the
States in their sovereign character. This left it in
the discretion of each whether to obey or to refuse,
and they often declined to comply with such requi
sitions. It thus became necessary for the purpose
of removing this barrier, and “in order to form a
perfect Union,” to establish a Government which
could act directly upon the people, and execute its
own laws without the intermediate agency of the
States. This has been accomplished by the Consti-
solvjiig the Union. This is more especially true if
his election has been effected by a mere plurality,
and not a majority, of the people, and has resulted
from traneient
probably
put them down. Nothing but some novel and start
ling tarn in affairs can purge public opinion io the North.
My faith in human nature is pretty strong—but means
must be adopted to ends. It Is an axiom that all
just if their passions and interests do not prevent. The
time to address these has come. The time for reasoning
and arguing has gone by. There is great apprehonsioo on
the street about storm* in the House. Clerks are figety
about me as Lwrite. People look grave—nobody jokes.—
Mach of all this arises from the very free expressops of
Southern members yesterday and this morning.
Yours, &c.,
' |QF* Much editorial and other matter has been
unavoidably crowded out of thir issus.
and dangerous oxereasc ” of powers not granted by
the Coilstitution. The late Presidential election,
however, has been held in strict conformity with its
express provisiods. How, then, can the result jus
tify a revolution to destroy this very Constitution?
Reason, justice, a regard for the Constitution, nil
require that we shall wait for some overt and dan
gerous net on the part of tho President elect before
resorting to Such a remedy.
.It is Said, however, that the antecedents of tho
President eleot have been sufficient to justify the
fears of tho South that he will attempt to invade
their constitutional rights. Bnt are such 'apprehen
sions of contingent danger in the future sufficient to
justify the immediate destruction ofthe noblest sys
tem of government ever-devised by mortals ? From
the very nature of his office, and its high responsi
bilities, he must"necessarily be conservative. The
stern duty of administering the vast and complica
ted concerns of this Government affords in itself a
guarantee that he will not attempt any violation of
a clear constitutional right.'- After all, he ia no
more than the chief executive offieer of the Govern
ment. His province is not to make, but to execute,
the laws; and it is a remarkable fact m our history
that, notwithstanding the repeated efforts of the an
ti-slavery party, no single act bat «nr pasted Con*
well
■tjtution. After.it was framed with tlie greatest
deliberation and care, it was submit:cl to Conven
or the people of tho several States for ratifica-
Its provisions were discussed at length in
these bodies, composed of the first men of the coun
try. Its opponents contended that it conftjrred
powers upon the Federal Government dangerous to
tho rights of the States, whilst its advocates main
tained that, under a fair construction of tho instru
ment, there w*s no foundation for snch apprehen
sions. In that mighty struggle between the first
intellects of this or any other country, it never oc
curred to any individual, either among its opponents
advocates, to Assert, or even to intimate, that
their efforts were all rain labor, because the mo
ment that any State felt herself aggrieved she might
secede from the-Union.
What a crushing argument would thin hare proved
against those who dreaded that tbe rights of the
States would be endangered by the Constitution
The trnth is, that it was not until many years after
the origin of- the Federal Gofernment that such a
proposition was first advanced. It was'then met
and refuted by the conclusive arguments of General.
Jackson, who, in his massage of the 16th January,
1888, transmit ting the nullifying Ordinance of South
ution of the United States.
In short, the Government created by tlie - Consti
tution, and deriving its authority from the sovereign
poople of each of the several States, has precisely
the same right to exercise its power over the people
of all these States, in the enumerated cases, that
each one of them possesses over.objects not delega-
t lie United .States, but “reserved to ihe States,
respectively, or to the people.”
To the extent of the delegated powers, tho Con
stitution of the United States is as much a part of
the Constitution of each State, and is as binding
upon tlie people, as though it had been toxtually in-
inserted therein. .
This Government, therefore, is a great and pow
erful Government, invested with all the attribute*
of sovereignty over tho special subjects to which its
authority extends. Its framers never intended to
implant in its bosom the seeds of its own destruc
tion. nor were they at its creation guilty ef the ab
surdity of providing for its own dissolution. It
was not intended by its framers to be the baseless
fabric of a vision,-which, at the touch of the en
chanter, would vanish into thin air; bnt a substan
tial and mighty fabric, capable of resisting the
slow decay of time, ami of delaying the rtormsef
ages. Indeed, well may the jealous patriots of that
day havo indulged fears that a Government ef such
high powers might violate the reserved rights of the
States, and wisely did they adopt the rule of a strict
construction of these powers to prevent tho danger'-
But they did not fear, nor had they any reasen te
imagine, that the Constitution would ever be s* in
terpreted as to enable any Sta*c, by her own act,
and without the consent of her sister States, to dis
charge her people from all or any of their Federal
obligations.
It may be asked, then, are tho people of the States
Without redress against the tyrnny and oppresssim:
of the Federal G over ument? By no mean*. The
riglit- of resistance on the part of the governed
against tho oppression of their Governments cannst
be denied. It exists independently of all Constitu
tions, and has boon exercised at all periods of the
world’s history. Under it old governments have
been destroyed, and new ones havo taken their
plaee. : It is embodied in strong and express lan»
gungei
... bwn Declaration of Independence. B«t
the distinction .must ever be observed, that this is
revolution against an established Government, and
not a voluntary secession from it by virtue of an in
herent Constitutional right. In short, lot n* look
the danger fairly in the face: Secession is neither
more nor less than revolution. It may or it nmy
hot be a justifiable revolution, but still it'is revola-
* s on. , 1 .
What, in the meantime, is tho responsibility and
true position of the Executive? Ho is bound by
solemn oath, before God and the country,
care that tho laws be faithfully executed,” and from
this obligation he cannot bo absolved teMb MP
power. But wbat if the performance of thbfifo
in whole or in part, has been rendered
ble by* events over which ho could hare
no control? Stmh, ni the jwbmA U
case throughout the SUte Of South Carolina, so
as thelawb of the United States to securrlh«-»*