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SOUTHERN TRIBUNE.
SUITED A.IU rCIUIICD WEEKLY, H»
WM. B . II A KRIS O X .
From the Federal L'nivn.
tiov. Jicl>onal<l*s Acceptance,
Os his appointment as a Delegate to the
Kush cille Con edition.
Kf.nnes.wv llali., Fob. 15, ISSO.
On my return home, recently, I receiv
ed yours of the Bth inst., informing me of
my election by the General Assembly, as
one of the Dclagates to represent the State
at large, in the Nashville Convention, to
meet in June next, and requesting my ac
ceptance. I accept with thanks for the
confidence, manifested by the appointment
the important trust committed to me ; and
in executing it, I shall endeavour, as far as
my poor abilities will admit, to carry out
the public will, and maintain the rights of
the people whom I shall represent.
The occasion which has given impulse
to this movement is, truly, a grave one.
No patriot who looks to the future, but
must feel apprehension at the prospect
which rises to his view. But it belongs to
the present generation to meet its own
difficulties. If the constitution of the U
nion were administered according to its
letterand spirit, the Southern States would
not complain. If it is not, and the funda
mental rights of the South arc essentially
violated by an inconsiderate majority in
Congress, the aggrieved States must con
sult and adopt some measure of safety for
themselves. We are all devoted to the
constitution. A wiser plan for securing
the peace, and union and happiness of
neighboring independant nations, could
not have been devised by man. Indepen
dent soverignties met and surrendered to
a common government, many of the pow
ers which belonged to them as such; the
treaty-making power ; the power of declar
ing war and making peace, as among them
selves, and as between themselves, and
foreign nations, at the same time securing
to themselves ministers plenipotentiary,
in their Senators and Representatives, to
take care of the particular interest of each
State, as well as the general interest of
ull; with the faculty of Legislation too,
within specified limits, to guard und en
force tho rights oftho whole, with no pur
pose to iujuro or impair the interest of
any. As equals they met, as equals they
deliberated, as equals they acted and as
equals they accepted a constitution, secu
ring in express terms, or by necessary im
plication, all rights to each State, which
as an independent sovereignty, it might
lightfully or reasonably have demanded
of any or all of the States by treaty. The
paramount interest of the Smith to be pro
tected by treaty, or otherwise, at tho time
of the formation of the constitution, was
the interest of the people in their s'nvos.
The constitution provides for the protec
tion of this interest, in the most express
and emphatic language, and in a manner,
at the time, satisfactory to the Southern
people, who felt that they had a double
guaranty of the security of this and ull
other interests, in that provision which re
quires the Legislators and the Executive
and judicial officers of the several States,
to be bound by oath or afiiimation to sup
port tho constitution. That tho rights of
the South, in respect to their slaves, arc,
notwithstanding this, every day violated,
is notorious. JLho act of Congress to en
able the owner to recover his property,
which may escape and bo found in anoth
er State, is ineffective. S >ine of the non
slave-holding States, so far from respect
ing the constitution, have enacted laws to
obstruct remedies under it, and to impede
tho legal efforts of the slaveholder to re
cover his property. The Executive offi
cers of some of these States, have refused
to cause fugitives from justice, charged
with the larceny of slaves to be delivered
up, on tho impudent pretence, that the
States in which slavery is tolerated, have
no right so protect this kind of property by
the enactment of criminal laws. Hence,
the constitution, in regard to this matter,
has become a dead letter. This is one
branch of the attack upon the institution
of slavery
Another is found in the policy attempt
ed to be fixed on the country by which
the people of tho South, arc, by direct
means, or through the instrumentality of
others, to be prohibited from settling on
the public territory with their property.
Thus, all the objects heretofore sought to
bcticcomplished by the unconstitutional
measure, known as the VVibnot Proviso,
are hoped to be effected by the admission
of California, with a constitution prohibit
ing slavery, into the Union as a State, em
bracing within its boundary tho immense
Territory bearing its name. It cannot be
questioned that the consummation of this
measure, will be as fatal to the South as
the Wilniot Proviso. The argument based
upon the assumption, that the people who
have gone there, have the right to form a
government for themselves; and to claim
to ho admitted into the Union, is more
specious that solid. The right is a quali
fied one, and is subject to the condition,
that in exercising it, they violate no rights
of the people of the States. A people
without a government, have the right to
erect one. It is necessary to self protec
tion. But, to form a government, to pre
vent the evils of anarchy, is one thing ;
and to engraft on that government, meas
ures affecting the rights of the people by
whose toleration they occupy the soil on
which they live, is another. A people
owning the soil and jurisdiction in a
pVintry, may establish such polity as suits
their condition and circumstances. But a
popple, who remove to a country in which
they do not own the soil, and assume a
jurisdiction, can acquire, l>y this usurpa
tion, no power to adopt regulations which
shall ifcstroy or abridge thereon, the rights
ot the owners of the soil. The people of
Calif >rnia have gone beyond the necessi
ties oftheir condition, and have incorpora
ted in her organic law, a provision affect
ing most injuriously, the rights on that
territory, of tho people of the South.—
Whether this was done from a great de
sire to be admitted as a member oftho
Federal Union, and a belief that her ob
ject could not be accomplised without it,
1 will not pretend to say ; but it is not im
probable that many were influenced by
sucli a consideration.
The country, claimed to be within her
boundat v, and in which tho rights of the
people of the South liavo been uncere
moniously abrogated, is of sufficient extent
for m any States of the first magnitude.—
Her government lias been hastily erected,
under new circumstances, and befoie the
country was well opened to the ingress of
our people. It is claimed that the whole
proceedurc may be sanctioned and ratified
by a vote of Congress admitting the State
into the Union. Such a vote, under the
circumstances, would violate the spirit of
the constitution. Congress may admit a
new Stale. There is no compulsion.—
Congress may reject the application, and
it is its duty to do it, when a State, erect
ed on public territory, offers itself for ad
mission, with a constitution, n t only of
fensive to some of the sister States of the
Union, but containing provisions injurious
to their interest. To admit a State under
such circumstances, is violative of the fun
damental principles of the compact of
union, as expressed in the first sentence of
the constitution.
Whatcvor a State may do, with a popu
lation settled and established, acquainted
with the wants of its climate and whose
territory has been long free to the ingress
of tho people from all the States with their
property, and which has been admited, un
der such circumstances, into the union ;
I repeat it, lliat the people who happen to
bo first on common territory, have no right
to erect a government thereon, with pro
visions infringing the rights of the people
of the Sates. It was not the intention of
tho people of the States, in adopting the
federal constitution, to place themselves
in a worse condition, in respect to their
territorial rights, than if they had retained
their entire sovereignty. Had the Union
never been formed, it is probable that the
Western and Southern country as far as
the Pacific, and South of Missouri compro
mise parallel of north latitude, would have
eventually come under the dominion of the
slaveholding States, or some of them. It
is probable that the conquests which have
been recently made, would have been the
cotiqnests of the South. But if the States
hail leagued to carry on war, tho South
would have been entitled to her share of
a 1 aquisitions of territory north or south.—
The same in respect to ten itoriesthat might
have been acquired by a common treaty.
In either case, the right of soil and juris
diction would have been perfect, in each
State, to the territory allotted to it. Are
not the rights of the States, united under
the constitution entitled to the same con
sideration, in respect to their territorial
acquisitions, that they would have been, as
distinct sovereignties 1 This cannot be
questioned. Any measure therefore, a
dopted either by Congress or in conjunc
tion with the people of a territory applying
for admission into the Union, impairing
the rights ofthe people of the South, in the
public terri'ory, is a breach of faith to the
South. If Stales arc organized upon our
newly acquired territory, as demanded by
the South, there will be an equality of
right therein, the property of citizens,
north or south, will not be excluded there
from ; but if the States are to be organ
ized as demanded by the North, the prop
erty of the Southern is excluded therefrom.
But the effect of the admission of Califor
nia into tho Union as a State, with her
present pretended organization, on onr
territorial rights, is, not the only, not the
greatest evil connected with that fatal mea
sure. Its more remote consequences,
certain as the step of time, present insu
perable objections to it. The mischiefs
to the present generation are as nothing to
those which are involved in the future.—
A war of extermination is waged by the
people of tho North against the institution
of slavery. It is true that many noble spi
rits there, cling to tho Constitution, that
not only refuse to participate in it, but op
pose it. Nevertheless, meetings areheld,
the press and the pulpit are called in aid,
the public mind is corrupted and inflamed,
laws are passed to prohibit tho owner
from recovering bis fugitive slave ; uncon
stitutional Legislation by Congress, ses
sion after session, is attempted, having for
its object tho prohibition of slavery in tho
territories, and the emancipation of slaves
in the District Columbia, and an altera-
tion of the constitution is threatened, by
which power over slavery in the States is
to be given to Congress, and slavery ev
ery where abolished. It is with this last
object that much of the intense interest is
taken at the North for the admission of
California. Admit her as she is, and the
change in the constitution only awaits the
admission of the requisite number of States
bo carved out of her territory.
The imminent peril in which the insti
tutions of the South are placed by the
condition of public affairs, requires that her
interestsshould he looked to without delay.
They must he protected. In deciding
on the mode < f protection or the necessary
measures of safety to he adopted, there
should he the most dispassionate calmness
and firmness. If the constitution is to he
regarded, in reference to the existing
matter of difficulty, as a convention to
which all the States are parties, a breach
of it by any of the parties thereto,according
to the law of nations, leaves the injured
party at liberty to consider it as dissolved.
1 have ever entertained a reverence,
almost lioly for tho Union, and I would
sacrifice every thing but the rights of my
countrymen to sustain it. These rights
are now in danger, and I verily believe,
from no fault in the constitution, but from
its violation in letter and spirit. In serv
ing the people on this occasion, I shall use
every effort to sustain their constitutional
rights. Iflfailin this, arxl the public
authorities are determined to set at nought
the constitution, the Union must perish
with it. It will be worthless without it.
Excuse the length of my letter.—But
for the invitation in your note, to express
my opinions, which was due to you and
the country, I should not have trespassed
so long on your patience.
With sentiments of high regard,
I am very respectfully
Your ohedeint servant,
c. j. McDonald.
Messrs. G. D. Philips, Lewis J. Gait
rell, W. J. Lawton, J. N. Ramsay and
T. C. Howard.
List of Acts,
Passed h]) the last Legislature of Georgia.
An act to authorize the Central Rail
Road and Banking Company of Georgia,
and other Rail Road Companies therein
named, to unite their respective Rail Roads
in one common depot at or near the city of
Macon, &c.
To add a part oftho county of Twiggs
to the county of Bibb, and a part of coun
ty of Bibb to the county of Jones, and
a part ofthe county of Jones to the county
of Bibb.
To change the time for holding elections
for members to represent this State in the
Congiess ofthe United States.
To repeal so far as relates to t’ic county
of Chatham, an act entitled an act to cm,
power the Inferior Courts of several coun
ties in this State to order the laying out of
public roads, and to order the building
and keeping in repair of public bridges,
approved December the fourth, seventeen
hundred and ninety-nine, and further to
extend and define the power of said Courts
as to construction of bridges, approved
Dec. 2Gth, 1845. Also,toalterandamend
the 4th section of an act entitled an act, to
alter and amend the road laws of this State,
approved Dec. the 19th, ISIS, and to re
peal the proviso of said 4tli section so far
as the same relates to the county of Chat
ham, and to exempt the commissioners of
roads from the performance of patrol du
ty in the county of Chatham.
To authorize the Goveuor of the State
of Georgia to call a convention of the peo
ple of this State and to appropriate mon
ey for the same.
To authorize granting injunctions in cer
tain cases.
To authorize and empower the Planters
Manufacturing Company of Butts county
and their successors establish a ferry on
tlieir own land at the place known as the
Seven Islands, also to incorporate the Mc-
Bean Company.
To incorporate the Cherokee Insurance
and Banking Company.
To amend an act to revive and amend
the act entitled an act to incorporate the
Milledgeville Railroad Company.
To authorize the subserption by the
State to the capital stock of the Milledge
ville and Gordon Railroad Company.
To authorize his Excelloncy the Gov
ernor to dispose of certain land belonging
to the State of Georgia.
To prevent lumber measures from
being clerks or agents of lumber
buyers oi lumber mills, and to define the
mode of measuring stocks of hewn or ran
ging timber.
To authorize the Chief Engineer of the
Western and Atlantic Railroad to have a
turn-out made on tho State Road in Cass
county, near Etowah river at such place
cs Messrs. Stovall and Lother shall de
signate, upon certain conditions therein
named.
To repeal an act entitled an act to a
tnend an act to amend tbcmalitia laws of
this State so far as it relates to the first
regiment of Georgia malitia, assented to
21st December, 1835, and alao to restrict
t he majors commanding the third and fourth
battalions comprising the thirty-fifth regi
ment of Georgia militia to one parade each
in the year, and to authorize the thirty-fifth
regiment to have and to hold a military
encampment for two successive days in
each year.
To provide for the removal of the pres
ent county cite of Marion in the county of
Twiggs, and to define the duties of the
justices of the Inferior Court of Twiotrs
‘ ii 00
county in relation to the same.
To prevent the running of freight trains
on all railroads in this State on the Sab
bath day.
To amend an act entitled an act to alter
and amend an act passsed 22d December,
1810, entitled an act to alterandamend
the ninth section ofthe judicary act of 1799;
and the first section of an act relative to
executions, passed December 14th, IS 11,
and to provide for the enforcement of
judgments against land sold and bound for
title given, assented to Dec. 29th, 1847.
To complete and finish the Georgia
Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, to appro
priate a sum of money for tho same and
other purposes.
To authorize the stockholders of the
Milledgeville Bank to increase their capi
tal to the amount of five hundred thousand
dollars.
To alter and amend an act to explain an
act to regulate escheats in this State and
to appoint cFchcators, passed the 13th day
of December in the year ISIG, so far as to
allow bastards or natural born children of
widows to inherit from their mothers un
der certain circumstances therein speci
fied.
Relative to Constables’ bonds, and to
regulate the proceedings thereon.
To change and define the mode of elect
ing field and company officers under the
militia laws of this State.
To regulate and designate the mode and
maimer in w hich the clerks of the several
counties of the State shall be paid their
costs on insolvent cases.
For the relief of all offenders against
the late laws of this State, prohibiting the
introduction of slaves into the same, for
purpose of sale ; and prohibiting the sale,
offer to sell, or the purchase of slaves,
within a certain period after their introduc
tion into this State.
To provide an annual sinking fund for
the payment of the public debt.
To alter and fix the times of holding the
Superior Courts ofthe counties ofl’ulaski,
Telfair and Irwin.
To change the lines btween the counties
of Effingham and Chatham, so as to in
clude the residence of George A. Keller
in the county of Chatham.
To authorize Wm. Ezzarc, adminis
trator on the setate of A. H. Green, late
of Dclvalb county, dec’d., an 1 Allison
Nelson, to to establish a ferry or bridge
across the Chattahoochee river.
To authorize the Inferior Courts of the
several counties of this State to grant li
cense to certain persons therein described
upon certain conditions.
To make it a penal offence for any con
ductor, fireman, engineer, or any other
officer or agent on or managing or conduc
ting any railroad in this State to allow any
slave to travel on tho samo except under
certain circumstances.
To authorize the citizens of the town of
Marietta to elect their marshal.
To alter and amend the third section of
the first article of the Constitution of this
State.
To alter and amend an act entitled at)
act to regulate the licensing physicians in
this State, to prevent apothecaries vending
and exposing to sale within the limits of
this State drugs and medicines without a
license from the Board of Physicians, and
to prevent merchants, shop-keepers, and
all other persons from compounding and
preparing drugs and medicines or either,
approved Dec. 24th 1825.
To incorporate the Eatonton Branch
Railroad.
1 o amend the second and fourth sections
of an act to provide for the education of
the poor, assented to 29th December, 1843.
To lay out and organise a now county
from tho counties of Floyd and Cass to be
called Gordon county, and attached the
same to a senatorial district.
An act to authorize and empower the
Muscogee Rail Road Company to connect
their Rail Road with the South-Western
Rail Road, and for other purposes therein
named.
'I o designate the holidays to be obser
ved in the acceptance and payment of bills
of exchange and promissary notes, and
to allow three days, commonly called
‘ days of grace,” fur the payment within
said time of all sight drafts and bills of ex
change drawn payable at sight.
To give additional compensation to the
Petit Jurors in the county of Randolph.
An act to incorporate the Harrison Aca
demy in Wilkinson county ; also to revive
ail act in relation to the West Point Com
pany.
Authorizing the Inferior Court of Cobb
county to pay the citizens of said county
for services rendered as jurors.
lo authorize the justices ofthe inferior
Court of Baker county, to levy an cxtia
tax.
To repeal so much of an act entitled ail
act to compensate grand and petit jurors
in the county of Wilkes and Thomas, as
sented to 25th Dec., 1837, as relates to the
grand jurors ofthe county of Thomas.
To incorporate the floating dry dock
company ofSavannah.
To incorporate tiio Houston Branch
Railroad Company, and to authorize said
company to construct a lailrond from some
suitable point on the South Western Rail
road to the town of Perry in Houston
county.
To compensate Betit Jurors, in the
county of Houston.
To alter and amand the poor school laws
now in force, so far as respects the cou.ity
of Dooly. To authorize William S. llamill
sr. to establish a ferry across Flint river.
To revive and make of force an act to
incorporate the Thomaston and Bartles
ville Railroad Company with power to
construct a railtoad from some point on
the Monroe Railroad at or nearßai nesville
in Tike county, to the town of Thomaston
in Upson county, and to publish those
who may wilfully injure the same, and to
confer all corporate power necessary to
effect such object, assented to Dec. 23d
1839.
To change the name of the Memphis
Branch Rail Hoad Company of Georgia.
To rullioi ize aliens to receive, purchase,
hold and convey, mortgage and devise real
estate.
1 o alter and amend the act to incor
porate the Southern Mutual Insurance
Company, approved the 29th day of
December, 1847.
1 o appropriate money for the support
of Government fur the political vears 1850
and 1851.
lo extend the lime for the completion
of the Ocmulgce and Flint Rail Road
and Canal Company.
To incorporate the Forsyth Female
Collegiate Institute and to appoint Trus
tees for the same.
To compensate petit jurors of Laurens
county.
To abolish change and establish new
election products in the counties herein
after named and to confer certain powers
upon the Inferior courts and to authorize
three free holders to manage and superin
tend elections in certain cases.
MACON, G A .
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH a, 1e!50.
JTJ* We welcome lo our columns our old and
esteemed correspondent,whose poetic impromptu
graces our fourth page to-day. In the absence
of the wished for dove, we hope he will hereafter
make the Tribune his messenger to liis lady
love, or other admirers.
Necromancy, &c — lt will be seen by refer
ence to the advertisement in another column,
that Mr. Macallister, the greatest Necroman
cer and l’rcstidigitndor of the age, will astonish
the natives, by giving at the Concert Room, in
the Floyd House, this evening, a great variety
of illusive and cnchantingscones, &c. All who
wish to witness his wonderful dexterity in the
art, can do so by attending his exhibitions.
Gov. McDonald's Letter.
In another column will be found the able
letter ofthellon.C.J. McDonald, by reference
to which it will be seen that he consents to serve
as a Delegate for the State at large in the proposed
Southern Convention. We cannot adequately
express our gratification at this admirable letter.
It is encouraging to see the stand taken by one
so able to do tho State good service, upon a ques
tion that now must be handled like the thistle,
if you would not have it to sting. Nerve, nerve,
is worth morn to the South, then even “sinews”
will be, when the “worst comes to the worst.”
Gov. McDonald docs not talk of the Conven
tion as the rendezvous of conspirators and incen
diaries, but in a noble manner vindicates the
necessity and the dignity of this proposed meet
ing of true and patriotic hearts. We think our
renders will he struck with that portion of the
letter, where the flimsy covering is stript from
the base conduct of some of tho States which
liavo rendered the constitutional provisions in
regard to fugitive slaves, inoperative. These
States, with the falsehood Gov. Seward first
vamped up for them, contend that the restoration
of runaways is none of their concern, and that
so far from being obliged to help,they have the
right to obstruct, their recovery. This is shewn
to he inconsistent with the very oaths of every
Executive, Legislator and Judge of every such
State. We ardently hope this admirable pro
duction will infuse its spirit into tho minds of all
who read it; and that we will sec this letter fol
lowed by others, from the rest of the State’s dele
gation, just as hold,explicit and sound.
We understand that Mr. McAllister has de
clined, from press of business, his appointment,
and lias been succeeded by Judge Colquitt.
The Southern Convention.
Inasmuch as the State of Tennessee has failed
to make any provision to he represented in the
Convention which was proposed to he held at
Nashville, in June next, thus virtually disavow
ing this movement, it would be proper vve think
not to hold the meeting in that State at all.
Os course it will never do to hold our delibera
tions among a people who must receive us frigidly
and who have no sympathy with our endeavors
to do the best for all concerned. Tennessee is
ofus.butnot with us, we fear, and if it must be
so, we see her break the league without being
dismayed or even disspirited. If Tennessee
“is joined to her idols” let her alone. Wo hope
an understanding may he entered into immedi
ately, by which the Delegates shall know that
they are welcome in the community where thev
may assemble to deliberate upon the important
business which will be presented for their con
sideration, and therefore suggest the assembling
of tlie Convention at the State House in the city
of Milledgeville, on the Monday, the 3d day of
June, 1850, and we go our life on it, that on this
soil, wc will not “ bate our breath” or be want
ing in the right sort of responses.
Georgia has taken high and patriotic ground
in relation to defending the rights ofthe South,
and her position will he maintained by her sons,
let tho consequences bo what they may. We
hope the press will speak out in relation to the
time and place of holding the Convention that
the preliminaries may be arranged, as the time is
short to settle tiio same. If tiie point wc have
suggested above, be selected, we are sure the
Delegates will there receive an enthusiastic
\\ cl come.
Kxtraxt from Mr. Root’s Speech.
* * * * “And it may bo, or rather might he,
if we were now to have the will of the majority
ofthc people of this country carried out, and you
were to remain in your present frame of mind,
that you would rush upon a crisis that would
make it necessary for you to speedily execute
in part what is evidently the decree ofGod—the
extermination of slavery throughuot the world.
You might bring on a state of things which would
make it necessary to bring about,so far as this
country is concerned, this result by your own
means; aye, you might arouse and bring into
action the war power—which is almost unlimited
by the Constitution—the war power—the miltary
despotism, that would use your slaves just ns it
would fuel or fodder, to promote its own success.
When opposing armies should he marching and
counter-marching through your land, do you sup
pose that you would keep all your slaves quiet ?
Would they bo likely to remain neutral in a
civil war.”
Wogivo the above extract from Root’s speech
delivered in the House of Representatives on
15th ul l., for the benefit of slow men South,
just as we would put a coal of fire on a terra
pin’s back to start him. If this excerpt from
the vile volume of outrage on us, does not
quicken the blood of every man among us that
reads it, we doubt if lie has any to quicken. O
the dear Union—Washington's farewell address
—blood of revolutionary father’s—star-spangled
banner—tree of liberty and botheration !!
Just think of it, Georgians, that this rascal was
tolerated while belching forth this St. Domingo
defiance—that while your representatives wore
obliged to sit and listen, you were threatened
with the government, that was in part the crea
ture of your own hands, and that you now up.
hold; and not only this, but planly told that
your own slaves might be, and should he used by
the “war power” to help in the hiotherly work
of subjugating you, that these slaves might ho
avenged. A few more of the same sort,and wo
think Union tnon down South will get mighty
seatcc—if we dont get too had frightened at tho
threats of the liberators, who 3wear wc shall
not quit,
Judge 'Wellborn’s Speech.
We read this speech with feelings of a , cr
mixed character. The argument in p» r » f
strong and admirable throughout for its pi'thj 3
ness, and its directness. In the long debate c
the slavery question, we have not observed
single effort that in strict logical compactnt.
and relevancy, compares with it. Th
style too, is most creditable. That part of th,.
speech directed against the precedent of ti
now notorious ordinance of 1787, under the p r ,
tection of which the anti-slavery States -,.
seeking to ruin us, we think conclusive, and
far as we know original. But wc must protest
strongly against the resolution introduced by
way of text into the speech. Judge Wellboi j,
did not ask any action by the House upon the
two propositions introduced in the form of rev ,
lotions, but merely used them as the predicates
of a plan of adjustment of the contest between
the North and South. The first resolution ad
mits California under her present constitution
only restricted as to territorial limits, and limit
ing her anti-slavery laws to 37 degrees, 30 min
utes North latitude. We think this wron*, as
coming from a Southern representative, because
first—this line of compromise has been shame
lessly repudiated by the North, though we
have all felt hound by it for thirty years, and
though the North gained every thing by it, and
paid no consideration for the concession. And
further, wo humbly think, that it is not good
policy, as we are acting on this question, as if it
were a new one, (the North treating it as a mat.
ter not corning within the scope of compromise,)
to propose in advance the limit of our endurance,
and the degree of submission to which we are
resigned. As plunder is the game ofthe North
we would be wasting magnanimity in generous
concessions. Let us keep all that belongs to us,
and fight her like a pirate before wc give an inch.
But if the first resolution of Judge Wellbor*
is impolitic, he also, in a most forcible war
proves upon principle, that California onght not
lo come into the Union, with or without slave
ry—or in short, that she even has no right to as
sume the discharge of a solitary civil act, for the
very good reason, that only those who possess a
home, or own territory, have a right lo exercise
the functions of a community. This short ar
gument to our mind, has always been conclusive
against the admission of California now, under
any circumstances, or any organization. Iu
fact, to talk of California organization, is n
solecism in the language. But this is not all
that we find in this able effort, that in candor,
we feel obliged to except to. The second reso
lution is in these words :
2. llcsolvcil, That the Committee on Territo
ries be instructed to rrport lo lhe House a lull
to organize that part ofthe territory of Califor
nia south ofthe parallel line of 30 deg., and 30
min., north latitude, and the Territories of
New Mcxcico and Deseret, prohibiting the in
troduction of slavery into any part of the said
Territories north of the parallel line of3odt g ,
and 30 min., and recognizing its admissibility in
to all parts of said Territories south of said line
of36d. and3o til., until the adoption by the pen
pie there of State constitutions, and their admis
sion into this Union.
Tho capital error here is, that this resolution
implies that the power has been in Congress, to
legislate on the subject of slavery in the territo
ries—and this power, the resolution propose!
should lie exorcised unfairly towards the South
California conics in now, with Iter constitution
fradulently made, and excludes slavery North of
36 deg. 30 m. This resolution proposes to or
ganize New Mexico, and Deseret, so as to ex
clude slavery, also North of that parallel, there
by, under the high authority of the General
Gorcrnvicnt, (not of a mongrel horde, of repro
bates, the disowned of Heaven and earth,) ex
cluding slavery “until the adoption by the pco
pie thereof , of State Constitutions," and effectu
ally cutting off all chance that tho South might
have of participating in the territory North of
36 deg. 30 m. For how own earth is she to
have that chance if the door ho closed to her
citizens removing th etc w ith tlieir property, till
the country lie populated with men hostile t
them, and “ the State Constitutions" arc triad'
to their hands? There is here again the old
game that has been played off on the South so
long, that was put off on the Indians in the
celebrated division of tho buzzard and turkey
We are now making a filial effort to settle this
tormenting question, and should therefore, lit
careful to make no more blunders, so far as prin
ciple is concerned. Better far, for the whole
country, had a compromise never been heard of
in relation to the slavery question. All the
compromises that we ever should have listened
to, or talked about, are in the Constitution ; and
had there not been, we would not at this hour,
have been troubled to know how to get on with
a Union, the blessings of which arc becoming at'
tolerable.
Armirr to Abscond. —Wo learn that on
Monday lasi three negroes, (a man and two girl*)
belonging to Mr. Ponder, of Monroe count},
made an attempt to escape to the North, by
means of a forged pass. They were detected bv
the conductor on the Macon & Western K-id
Road and placed in the custody of our Uity
Marshal, Mr. J. It. Ccmmisg, who committed
them to jail, and they were yesterday delivered
to theirowner and carried homo. This circum
stance should serve to arouso the vigilance <
the owners of this species of property, ns simile
attempts may hereafter be made to escape.
What the South Asks. —The Little RotU
Arkansas, Democrat, of a late date, utters tlu
following sentiments ;
“Kon-intcrfcrcnce upon the part of Congrc
is all that the South has over claimed, and up l ”
this every Southern man and every Souther"
Statu should insist. For tho purpose olgi'll
- to an expression of this kind, it * s f r
posed that a Convention bo held at Nash' 1
in which the slaves States shall bo represented
Wo hopo that Arkansas will not he lagg* n jjj
this matter, but at onco take such steps as
place her in the confederacy among tb<>*“
will not permit aggression or wrong fr° ,n
“fanatic horde” of the North.
O’ The most useful sign painters in tin- "
are publishers of newspapers. Advertise
business in the papers, if you would draw
tom.
