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present case, introduce and permanently establish slavery in
a portion of this territory, I question much w hether this par
tial benefit would compensate the South for the abandonment
of a principle so easential to its security and to the repose and
harmony of the Union.
“ These are my individual views. But, belonging as I did
to a deliberative body, in which no one had a right to expect
that his own opinion should exclusively prevail, I have always
declared my readiness to modify those views so as to suit
those of others, and to vote for almost any plan of settlement
(not involving a manifest violation of principle) which held
out a reasonable prospect of success.
“ Further than this I could not go. I could not consent to
adopt any particular scheme as a sine qua non. I would not
proclaim that the adoption of this or that geographical line
(a measure of doubtful constitutionality and still more doubt
ful expediency) was the ultimatum of the South.
“The Union is too groat a blessing to be staked on any
such game of hazard, and I was not commissioned by my
constituents to play it. I consider, too, that the prolongation
of this discussion is in itself a calamity. It alarms the South
and agitates the North ; it alienates each from the other, and
augments the number and influence of those who wage an
endless war against slavery, and whom this discussion has
raised to a political importance which without it, they never
could have attained.”
Can the Ethiopian Change his Skin ?
R. Barnwell Rhctt, the avowed disunionist of 1850, is
(says the N. Y. Express,) the R. Barnwell Smith, the ac
tive disunionist of 1833. He has lately maJe a feint of at
tachment to the Union, in order the better to conduct his
plans we suppose ; but it is within the competency of history
to show that with this change of name he has experienced no
radical change of character. .V cotemporary opens up an
interesting page in the biography of Mr. 11. Barnwell Smith-
Rhett, the perusal of which we recommend to the reader.
In the year 1833, this gentleman denounced all Compro
mises in favor of the then threatened Union as a snare, a de
lusion, and the Union itself as something that must and ought
to perish. A State Convention was called in South Carolina,
to repeal the ordinance previously adopted, in a whirlwind of
impulse, called the Nullification ordinance. Os this Conven
tion, Smith (Rhett.) was a member. Though he yielded to
the necessity of the case, he did it with a distinct averment
of his having no confidence whatever in the Union. But he
carried nobody with him at that time, and we predict he will
not be much more successful if any in his present crusade.
When the report accompanying the proposition to repeal
the ordinance of Nullification was read in the Convention, it
was found to contain an avowal of “ ardent attachment to
the Union.”
Mr. Smith (Rhett) rose in great excitement, and moved to
have the phrase stricken out, as untrue as respected him and
his constituents. Ifc denied that they had, or had any reason
to have, an ardent attachment to the Union. He said “he
would rather see the whole State, from Table Rock to Fort
Moultrie, one military camp than for the State of South Car
olina to continue a member of the Union such as it was
then, and had been for the last ten years”—from 1822 to
1832.
Gen. James Hamilton, Jr., attempted to rise in reply’, but
gave tlie floor to Col. Samuel Warren, from St. James, San
tee, a revolutionary officer.
Col. Warren, leaning against the table and supported on
crutches, said he understood the gentleman from St. Bar
tholomew's (Mr. R. B. Smith) to ask when he was up,
“ where was the man in llie convention, who could place his
hand upon his heart, and say that he was attached to the
Union.”
Mr. Smith—Ardently attached.
Mr. Warren—l don't earc what word you place fherc, I,
for one, can place my hand upon my heart, (suiting the ac
tion to the- word) and can say that I am ardently attached to
this Union—l fought for it, (and he looked unconsciously
downwards to the remnant of his dismembered limb,) and
will do it again, whenever my services are required.
agvmuggJi
Public Rejoicings in Washington.
Wc copy from the- National Intelligencer an account of
the public manifestations of delight by the people of Wash
ington on the occasion of the passage of the Texas Boundary
and other bills by tbe House of Representatives :
u The general joy diffused through all classes at tbe final
passage by Congress of the measures w-hich will restore har
mony and peace to tbe country, manifested itself in a most
signal manner in our city on Saturday evening and night.
Sx>n after the passage, on Saturday, of the last of the acts of
t-ompromise by the House of Representatives, preparations
were made to testify the public joy. Accordingly, about sun
set, the cannon of the Columbia Artillerists , under Captain
Buckingham, were drawn to the Washington Monument
Square, and one hundred guns were fired in honor of the
occasion.
“ But the demonstration of the public feeling did not stop
there. About 7 o’clock there was a handsome display of
fire rockets thrown into the air from the Mall, east of 7th
street. A vast body of our citizens then formed into pro
cession, marched to the National Hotel with the Marine
Band, and there played several national airs, and loudly
cheered in honor of Mr. Clay, who being absent from the
city at Mr. Calvert’s country residence, could not respond to
tlie compliment thus intended for him. The National Hotel
was, however, brilliantly illuminated in honor of the great
event, and of the distinguished Statesman whose patriotic
labors, and those of his noble co-adjutors in the counsels of
the nation, bad on that day been brought to a happy and
glorious consummation.
“ After tbe procession had visited the National Hotel, they
marched to Mrs. Peyton’s boarding house and called out
Senator Foote, who responded in a brief and felicitous speech.
Leaving Mr. Foote, the procession halted at the Potomac
House, where they paid a similar compliment to Mr. Senator
Cass, who amidst loud cheers, appeared and responded to the
visiters in a very felicitous manner. The procession then
marched to Gadsby's Hotel, and after a few patriotic airs by
•the band, called out ?Jr. Speaker Cobb, who addressed the
people in a very happy manner, congratulating them upon
the auspicious events of the last two days, which he firmly
‘believed would restore harmony and good feeling throughout
this lately distracted country. The Speaker's address, though
brief, was very pertinent, patriotic and eloquent. Tlio pro
cession next visited Mr. Senator Douglass, who, on being
called out, spoke to his visiters in a clear, animated, and pa
triotic strain, predicting the greatest possible good to the
country at large, from the auspicious legislation of the last
two days. The address of the honorable Senator was re
ceived with hearty cheers, in the midst of which he bowed
and retired.
After leaving the lodgings of Senator Douglass, the mov
ing mass proceeded up 6th street, and presented itself in
front of Mr. Webster's residence on Louisiana avenue. The
honorable Secretary, being loudly cheered and repeatedly
called for, made his appearance. Here we mingled with the
multitude, and got near enough to hear a part of what was
said. Thanking the people for their kindness, Mr. Webster
■l.l that his claim on their regard was not so much on ac
unt of any efforts made by him to produce the great re
mit, as on the depth, and strength, and intensity of hispar
t. nation in the feeling of joy and gladness which seemed to
animate all hearts,
“ Truly, gentlemen, (said Mr. Webster,) the last two days
been great days; a work has been accomplished which
Jv ipates doubts and alarms, puts an end to angry controver
sies, fortifies the Constitution of the country, and strengthens
the bonds of the Union.
“ Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer:
And all the clouds that lowered upon our house
Ip the deep bosom of the ocean buried.”
“ This language, fellow-citizens, is highly poetical, but, in
opinion, not too strong for the occasion. The decisions of the
popular branch of the Legislature appear to me to surpass in
in-porta lice any acts of legislation which I have known for
thirty years. A crisis lias come ifhon us, in which men’s
minds have been strangely agitated by notions of separation
and disunion. Phantoms of new confederacies, formed out
of the now united body of tbe old thirteen and the new seven
teen, have swam before the eyes of some; separate State ex
istences luive amused the visions of others; while local con
troversies have raged with uncommon bitterness, and iocal
and partial interests espoused with so much of the exclusive
spirit of partizanslfip, that the hopes of the most confiding ap
peared sometimes to waver. But these causes of apprehen
sion usd disquiet, these clouds, so portentous of disaster, are
now ‘in the deep bosom of the ocean buried.’ We ought to
be most thankful to Providence that the result of our delibe
rations has been so pacific. When, on to-morrow’s sacred
morn, the sun shall begin to ascend in the east, thanks from
devout hearts ought to rise with it, and fly beyond its orb, to
tii at gracious Being who has so kindly overruled all things
for the preservation and perpetuation of our liberties and our
peace.
4 ’ Yes > gentlemen, we shall be thankful indeed, that you,
ftnd I, and all of us, bear a common name and a common
character; that we are all United Americans ; that we can
yet without shame open the books which record the deeds of
our fathers, and can still look upon their graves without re
morse.”
Mr. T\ ebster's remarks were listened to with profound at
tention, and were most enthusiastically received. Next, the
Hon. Mr. Hilliard, of Alabama, addressed the crowd. He
spoke with great earnestness and eloquence, and attributed to
Mr. \\ ebster’s commanding talents, influence and patriotism
a principal share in producing those happy results which
would fill the heart of the nation with joy and gratitude.
lhe enthusiastic feeling which pervaded this numerous as
semblage of our fellow-citizens, was only exceeded by the
good order which prevailed during the whole of this sponta
neous public demonstration. We never saw, on Pennsylva
nia avenue, so much good order and regularity united with
so much enthusiasm and patriotic joy.
The Intelligencer of Tuesday adds : “In our account of
the rejoicings in this city on Saturday evening, there were
some inadvertent omissions by our city reporter; amongst
them the visit and serenade to the Texan Senators, Messrs.
Houston and Rusk. The procession of citizens called on
these gentlemen, among others already named, and being
loudly cheered for their patriotic course through the late try
ing controversy, both of them responded in eloquent speeches
to the mark of respect shown them. The procession also ex
pressed the desire to call on Mr. Senator Dickinson and
others, but the hour then being late, and his lodgings at a
distance, and the band of music moreover having left for their
quarters, the wish of the assemblage was not carried into
effect.”
€onwponknfi\ .
LETTER from STARRSVILLE.
Starksville, Ga, September 12, 1850.
Dear Citizen :—I would have informed you ere
now of the proceedings of the mass meeting which
was held by the fire eaters on the 29th ultimo, but
it being not worth while making “two bites of a
cherry,” I concluded to wait a day or two, and give
the mass meeting of the 10th inst, at Newton, Ba
ker count, a passing notice.
Well, according to “priority of discovery” I will
give some idea of the Starksville mass meeting.
The friends of Disunion were drumming up all the
help they could get to make a fair shoe ing, for they,
by special invitation, expected to have Colquit, Sea
born Jones, Iverson, and ‘other distinguished guests’
to address the meeting. Expectations ran high, but
oh ! they were doomed to disappointment. The
“distinguished guests” did not appear, so the lea
ders of the party had one more opportunity of dis
tinguishing themselves by displaying their talents
in the cause of disunion. The meeting was called
to order, and as the “distinguished guests” did not
appear, and only a few in town (according to the Al
bany Patriot, 150 all told friend and foe), about one
third being Union men, the Fire-eaters concluded
to give their opponents a showing, and challenged
them for a debate. —W. 11. Esq., of Starksville and
P. J. S. Esq., of Albany Ga., defended the rights of
the South upon the Union conservative plan. They
were opposed by E. H. P. Esq., of Albany, Ga., the
would-be captain of the Mexican volunteers in ’46,
if he got elected ; the other the bald-headed Gen
eral 11. M. Esq, from Albany Ga. So at it thev went
like
Like two dark serpents tumbling in the dust
That on the paths of men their mingled poisons thrust.
None were so furious in their denunciations against
Northern aggression and their approval of mob-law
violence as the bald-headed General. lie was a
perfect “man of war.” You would imagine lie
was born 36 degrees 30 minutes south of any part
of the South, and that he must bo worth 8500,000
worth of southern property ; hold on Gen’l, I’m not
done with you yet, I will show you up in your true
colors, which will show to advantage, especially as
they are varnished over with some of your “An
propensities.” I have digressed from the thread of
my narrative of the meeting. Well, there were two
chairmen, the Rev. J. M. D. on the part of the U
nion-men, and the Rev. M. E. W. Esq., of Starks
ville on the part of the Fire-eaters. The meeting
during the fore part thereof was noted for nothing
conspicuous but the amount of rotten meat which,
like the rotten policy of mob law violence, smelled to
Ileaven with an odor stronger than a compound of
Garlic and Assafoetida. It would be useless to des
cribe the dissatisfaction of the “leading characters”
at the double mortification—the absence of the dis
tinguished guests” and the small number who turn
ed out. Don’t be vexed gentlemen at what don’t
belong to you. One-third of the crowd were Union
men. The latter part of the meeting deserves a
passing notice —the two chairmen were each big
with a speech, as they were deprived by the fore
noon arrangements of delivering themselves of their
burden. The committee of arrangements “gave
out” that the two Revel, chairmen should have the
benefit of the Courthouse at “early candle light.”
The Rev. M. E. W. opened the debate and was fol
lowed by the Rev. J. M. D. The numerical strength
of the meeting as it closed, amounted to the two
speakers, the chairman and seven others, five of
whom were drunk and two sleeping. As the meet
ing drew to a close, the combatants had a running
argument for sometime which ended by the Rev.
Fire-eater proposing to the assembly the resolutions
of the Nashville convention and lastly calling for
the yeas and nays. At this stage of the proceed
ings the chairman woke up and found himself a nap
ping. Being somewhat embarrassed at his awk
ward position, he broke out into an exclamation sim
ilar to that which is used to call hogs when at a
short distance only. This exclamation woke up an
old sow which was taking a snooze under the Court
house, thinking, we suppose, that she was “called
to get her supper.” At the moment the ayes were
called for, the sow answered her supposed summons
with three grunts. When the nays were called she
again grunted twice. The excitement of the times
hurried the Rev. Nullifier so, that he could not dis
tinguish between human voices and the grunting of
an old sow, for he proclaimed aloud that he had the
majority of three to two, which so excited the risi
bilities of his Rev. opponent, that were it not for
the amount of surplus fiesh which covered his ribs
he might be a rich case for Anatomical inspection.
The Mass meeting closed at that, and the twin sister
thereof at Newton, was no better but rather worse,
for after the Albany Patriot having trumpeted it to
the four winds, that a mass meeting would be held
in Newton, Baker county on the 10th September, he
will not tell the number present. We should sup
pose though they were very few indeed.
These two mass meetings in the “Piney-woods”
reminds me of the anecdote of the little boy, who
said “he was boring augur holes with a gimblet.”
It is useless to pursue them any further, but these
assemblies are a fair index of the true state of the
sentiments of the people of Lee and Baker counties.
Not one man in ten is for disunion !
Citizens of Lee and Baker, will you sutler your
selves to be duped by such men as Matthew Wil
liams, Henry Morgan, E. 11. Platt, Ac., not one of
whom are southern men by birth or education, if
either accomplishment would constitute evidence of
the soundness ot their professed adherence to the
•South. It these gentry will not cease their rebel
lious cant, and quit distracting the community they
will be- exhibited in their true and natural colors
so ©®@m ©i .& osiiiis
that the people may see and judge for themselves,
the qualities and character of these “Fiery spirits, ’
who, like a certain old gentleman love to fish in
troubled waters. Yours Ac.
ROMEO.
LTTEER from AMERICES.
Americcs, Ga. Sept. 23d, 1850.
Dr. Andrews : The hour is at hand when Geor
gia expects every man on the side of the Union and
Constitution to do his dnty.—Let no man be bar
ren or unfruitful. The great question for the judge
ment of our fellow citizens is—shall we stand uni
ted ?or shall we fall divided? The howling demon
of Disunion is now heard from the sea to the moun
tains. —All we ask is for the friends of disunion to
meet the question fairly.—Let them toe the mark of
disunion. —Let the people know that the convention
to be assembled will be clothed with power above
the constitution. The design of the Fire-eaters
will be to bring the voters to the polls blind-folded.
It has been already suggested that what the dele
gates shall do in convention shall not be enquired
into —that whatever they shall do shall bind the
people without the liberty of ratification! Such
sentiments have been declared in my presence. We
should not allow them to dodge or shuffle. If they
have it in them, extract the pestilential word from
their lips. ’Tis disunion. ’Tis nothing but disu -
nion. When you find a Fire-eater, shake the word
out of him, that he may be seen and known of men.
Unless we resort to work of this kind, there will be
more voting in the dark than ever occurred since
the formation of our government. —Doctor, for a
while the clouds of revolutionary darkness have
hung with porten tons terrors over the 2nd (Con
gressional district, but reason has reclaimed her em
pire : Yes, we have Wellborn at our head. Though
surrounded with the elements of fire and,brimstone,
he has displayed a devotion to the country worthy
of the highest honors in the gift of the people. In
his letter before me he says in relation to the bills
of peace lately passed by Congress-*-“77ie settle
ment is an honorable one in my judgment, and as
such I aiti opposed to secession or other violent re
sistance?’
100 Guns for the lion. Marshal J. Wellborn ! 1!
Doctor, I sec in the Macon Tribune as copied in
the Federal Union (or rather disunion) an editorial
thus—“ At a large meeting in Americas , S)imter
county, on Saturday last, the proposition to secede
from the Union in the event of the passage by Con
gress of the California bill was put and carried by
a large majority.” Now our disunion friends, in
Sumter, did not intend the thing should be as plain
ly understood as that. For, you know Doctor, ac
cording to the description of the meeting as given
by “Sumter” that the resolutions offered “did not
reach but blinked the question at issue before the
country —though Messrs. Howard and Tucker
‘‘toed the mark,’ the latter saying ‘‘rather than yield
one inch, d'e? he would see the Union dissolved!
which sentiment was loudly cheered by all the
friends of disunion, about 40.” Now if the Tribune
calls that large, then he is welcome to shoulder the
whole pile. Sumter is sound to the core. The au
thor of the Tribune’s editorial is rotten with the
spirit of Disunion.
All who copied after him are guilty of being u an accesso
ry after the fact.’- They will deserve to be driven from
the “ Paradise of Liberty „to the land of ‘■‘‘outer darkness”
there to “boic the knee to the Baal of Disunion ” with
coffins on their backs.
I am rejoiced to learn through your paper that the only
surviving signer of Georgia's constitution is with us. May
the convention be favored by the presence of his snow
white, time-honored locks, that he may direct them in the
paths of patriotism, peace and union.
There are at this time constitution-destroyers north and
south—to wit: Fire-Eaters and Abolitionists. The Colum
bus Times says the question is disunion on abolition. Tin) |
Times is wrong in its grammar. It should be Disunion'-,- ujJ
Abolition. The Abolitionists desire the Constitution destroy-1
ed, so they can steal our negros with impunity. All the guar
anties in that hallowed instrument would bo gone. That mo
ment a slave should put his foot in free soil he would be a free
man, we would have no fugitive slave bill to recover and secure
our slaves uuder the penalty of a SI,OOO. The Abolitionists
had rather steal negroes than to have the Constitution, as they
have a law to themselves higher than the Constitution. The
Fire-Eaters desire to destroy our Union and Constitution, for
fear we lose our slaves.
To that end the Fire-Eaters and Abolitionists generally
voted together in Congress on the bills of peace !! ! Now,
either one side or the other of them are fools, unless there be a
common agreement between them to revolutionize the gov
ernment. Judge ye, between them or rather judge them to
gether, as they seem to act in concert, the Fire-Eaters hav
ing hold of one end of the Constitution and the Abolitionists
hold of the other, to tear it in two.
When the Fire-Eaters’ meetings are held, they read and
preach what the Abolitionists (as though they were the North)
say in abuse against the South. On the other hand when the
Abolitionists have their meetings, they read and preach what
the Fire-Eaters (as though they were the South) say in abuse
against the North—thus mutually forming the flames of dis
cord, envy, strife, revenge, hatred, finally, to eventuate in
dark and bloody disunion. O ! tliat a mighty fountain might
gush forth like Horeb’s living waters, to refresh our devotion
to the Union and to extinguish, for ever, the fires of discontent,
which threaten to consume the Temple of our Liberty and
greatness. E. R. B.
Tiie Crops.— A correspondent writing to the
Little Rock Gazette, from Crockett’s Bluffs, Arkan
sas county, on the 25th ult, says :
The weather continues very hot and dry. Clot
ton cannot possibly make more than 300 to 1,000
pounds per acre, and corn crops from five to twenty
bushels. Health is very good. The Doctors are
starving out.
The Yazoo Whig is informed by a person who has
recently made a tour through Georgia, Alabama and
Mississippi, that the cotton crop all along his route
was very poor.
A letter from Eufala, Ala., says that the cotton
crop will be curtailed 200,000 bales by the effects
of the late storm.
The Tuscaloosa Monitor of the sth inst., says :
Cotton generally, is badly boiled and it is said to
be rapidly shedding. Picking is unusually back
ward, and the probability is that in this country,
the present will not exceed, perhaps will hardly e
qual, the short crop of last year.
On the subject of crops the last Gainsville (Ala.)
Pilot and Sentinel remarks;
1 lie boll worm has made its appearance on the
rich bottom lands of the Bigby and is doing con
siderable damage. The late heavy rains have caused
the cotton to lose many forms and blooms, and un
less the fall is unusually seasonable not more than
half a crop can be made.
Late frOIM t alifornia,—Advices have reached us
from California up to the 15th ult., per Steamers Carolina
and Columbus to Panama, and the Philadelphia, from
Chagres.
IST Over a million and a quarter of gold brought by the
Steamers, besides 2 to 3 million in hands of passengers.
JST’ A dreadful riot took place at Sacramento city, on
the 14th August, between the squatters and real estate own
ers, in which several persons were killed, among them Mayor
Bigelow and J. W. Woodland Assessor of the Corporation.
A dispatch received at San Francisco, at the moment of the
sailing of the Steamer, announced that the city of Sacra
mento was reduced to ashes.
News from the mines encouraging, lumps of gold wigh
. ing 30 to 40 lbs. having been found.
21 )£ Gtorgin Cilizrn.
L. F. W. ANDREWS, Editor.
MACON, GA., SEPT. 27, 1850.
TO CORRESPONDENTS:
A Letter from “ A. A. B.” too late for this present issue.
The “ Silver pointed, broken arrow,” on file for examina
tion. Tin? contributor must give his name, to guard
us against imposition, before we can publish it, if found
worthy.
Our Exchanges.
Those Journals, with which we have heretofore ex
changed and which do not hereafter receive the Cit
izen, may attribute its absence from their tables to
one of two causes—lst, to the ‘unhallowed’ abuse
which they have heaped upon us and the counten
ance given by them to mob-law violence against our
Press, or 2dly, to that craven timidity which has
caused them to keep silent when the liberty of the
press and freedom of speech have both beeu invaded
before their eyes, for political opinions’ sake.
Gov. Towns’ Proclamation.—This state Paper
will be found on our first page. [ln the sth paragraph there
of, 2d line, the word must was left out in the copy from which
we set up the document, after the word “justify.”] From the
tone and temper of this Proclamation, it is evident that his
Excellency is determined to use all his official influence to
commit the State to all the horrors of revolution and civil
war. The “ Recorder ” shows clearly that the Governor,
in stating the objects of the Convention, has gone beyond
the record, and transcended the authority given to him by
the law calling that body. Says the Recorder :
“ The object of the Convention alone, is stated in the pre
amble of the law, and will be found by reference to it, and
that object is State resistance. This is the only and single
object of tbe law which convenes this Convention. The
Governor, on the other hand, as will be seen by the Procla
mation, after stating the words of the law to convene the
Convention, goes on to enumerate the objects for which it is
to convene, and as if those objects were laid down in the
law, and among other things that it is to “ decide upon what
steps are necessary and proper to be taken, compatible with
our honor and constitutional obligations .”
Now all this is calculated to mislead the public mind. In
the first place, the law calling the Convention brings forward
not one of the objects mentioned in the Proclamation as its
purpose in calling the Convention, but 2dly. it does state its
object in the preamble of the law, and there alone, and which
the Proclamation does not state, and this is the one thing of
resistance to the act complained of. And 3dly, this object is
diametrically in opposition to the object as laid down by the
Governor. The Governor says the Convention is to decide
upon what steps are necessary and proper to be taken com
patible with our honor and constitutional obligations. The
law says the object of the Convention is resistance alone. Is
resistance to a constitutional law of Congress compatible with
our constitutional obligations ? In other words, do not one’s
constitutional obligations directly clash with the declared
! object of the law of the Legislature, to wit, resistance to a
constitutional law of the land ?
*********
\ C \
v “ The Proclamation, then, as worded by the Executive, is
calculated to mislead the people of the State. The Conven
tion, as called by the law of the last Legislature, is for the
revolutionary remedy of State resistance. This purpose is to
be carried out, as it is boldly avowed, by an ordinance of
State secession from the Union on the part of Georgia. And
it is for the people in easting their votes n November to decide
for the Union or against it, as they east their votes for their
delegates.”
This is the true issue before the p.*c;.’o now—UNION or
DISUNION —aequicscence with the constitutional action
of Congress or open rebellion ! Let the people see to it
that none but sound conservative Union men arc elected
as delegates to the Convention, if they would not peril, life,
property and liberty, to gratify the spirit of mischief which
is abroad.
The lime for Action has come.
It is our decided opinion, that the friends of the
Union, in Bibb O. should at once take active meas
ures for the struggle that is now forced upon us, by
the Proclamation of the Governor. There is no
time to be lost, in effecting an organization, and in
bringing out suitable candidates for the approaching
Convention. We say, then, let there be a meeting,
immediately, of the Union Democratic Whig Citi
zens of the county, to make arrangements for the
canvass. Let not the field be pre-occupied by our
opponents, who are already moving heaven and
earth to accomplish their purposes. They will use
every art to commit the people to the support of
their cause, and should therofore be met at the thresh
old of the compaign, if wc would not lose every ad
vantage which “taking time by the forelock” gives
in every undertaking. As the next Tuesday is sale
day, would it not be well to have a primary meeting,
at least, at that time ? What say our friends and’
the friends of the cause ? Is not the suggestion
worthy of their prompt and serious consideration ?
P. S. Since the above was placed iu type, a no
tice for a meeting on Saturday next has been sent in
for publication. See another column.
What will Georgia gain by Secession?
Admitting, for a moment, that the South has lost all but
her honor, in the late adjustment, by Congress, of the Sla
very question, what are the people of Georgia to gain by re
bellion or dissolution! Can California be re-opened to
Southern Institutions and Southern men ? Can Utah and
New Mexico ever be made Slave States ? Can the boundary
of Texas ever be more satisfactorily settled ? Even if the
latter is divided into five States, what security have we that
the people of the new States will not prohibit Slavery ? And
what greater guarantie will Georgia have, after secession,
than now, as to the rescue of fugitive slaves ?
In truth Georgia has nothing to gain but every thing to
lose, by secession. She will lose all her right to the public
lands of the Union. She will lose her proud position as one
of the States of this glorious confederacy. She will lose her
peculiar institution itself, by the impossibility of sustaining it
against outward pressure. She will lose that abundant meas
ure of prosperity and happiness which a benignant Provi
dence has so kindly meted out to us as a people. She will
lose that security of person and property which is so essen
tial to the advancement of the Commonwealth, in arts, science,
and education. Yea, she will be obliged, by the force of cir
cumstances, to become a small military province—with a
standing army of thousands to protect the women and children,
while the remainder of her people will be pressed to the
earth, with taxation, to defray the expenses of the tyranny
which will then be imposed upon them. Instead of peace
there will be war—war of invasion and civil war. The States
that will compose the Southern Republic will find new oauses
of difficulty among themselves. Palmettodom will demand the
lead , and the chivalry of Coweta Falls will contest her right
to rule. The Quattlebums will rise in their wrath and cross the
bloody Rubicon —the Savannah—to put down the rebellious
hoosiers. The wealthy planters will be called on to pay the
expenses , and forced loans will be resorted to, to keep up the
war, until, finally, exhausted by internal strife, anarchy and
revolution, the State will become an easy prey to the British
Lion or some other grasping monarchy of the old world, even
if Yankee-doodledom remains a quiet looker on at the lamen
table scene.
And all for what ? What is the gain for such infinite loss 7
What is the glory derivable from the fulfilment of this grand
drama of dissolution 7 Let the people answer these questions
to themselves, before they consent to engage in the work of
ruin to which they are invited. Let them seriously enquire,
“ whether it is not better to bear the ills we have, than fly to
others we know not of.” In our humble judgment, there is
no existing cause for the measure of secession, nor do we be
lieve that the people of Georgia are prepared to th row away
the real blessings now enjoyed, in chase after imaginary advan
tages which can never be realized. They would be fools and
madmen to do it.
%
——% -
Daily Mail South. —The Newport, Florida, “Times
asks—
“ Can you tell us, friend Citizen, when the S. W. Rail
Road will be completed to Oglethorpe ?”
We cannot give a definite answer to the inquiry of our
Florida cotemporary, but presume that in about three or four
months, we shall hear the whistle of the Locomotive on the
S. W. Road.
Judg6 Andrews. —judge Garnett Andrews, of Wilkes
county, lias lately addressed an able letter to Messrs. Ilolsey,
Chase, and Hull, of Athens, in favor of the Union. We
shall endeavor to give an extract from the same in our next.
Judge A. is well known in Georgia as a leading Democrat,
an upright J udge and large Slave holder, and his opinions
are entitled to the greatest respect.
Slander Refuted. —The accusation of the Montgom
ery Flag and Advertiser, against Mr. Belser, charging him
with saying that the poor white men of the South would take
sides with the North, turns out to be a 36—30 falsehood !
Thomas Jefferson’s views of Secession.— in
the Southern Review for February 1830 we find, on pages
128, 129, the following notice of Thomas Jefferson's opin
ions on the question of Secession of one or more States from
the Union, which it seems had been proposed as a remedy for
existing evils, even in the days of this great apostle of Repub
licanism ! We give a few remarks of the Revjewer of “Jef
ferson's Memoirs,” by way of preface to the extracts from
Mr. Jefferson’s letters on this subject, which are quoted
by the former. These letters were written during the four
years of Mr. Jefferson's Vice Presidency, and have-,
propriateness at the present time on the Secession question,
which will repay the careful attention of the reader:—
“We know that in these times of great excite
ment, one of the modes in which the minority shew
their sense of injustice from the dominant party,
and their consequent alienation from them, is to
threaten a separation of the States. Such senti
ments seem to have been broached in a letter from
a leading politician in Virginia to Mr. Jefferson, in
1798, and there is so much good sense as well as
patriotism in his reply, that we cannot forbear to
make from it the following extracts. After stilting
that we were ‘completely under the saddle of M;is
sachusetts and Connecticut, and that they rode us
very hard,’ and that there must always be opposite
parties in every free and deliberating society, he
adds :
“But if on a temporary superiority of the one
party, the other is to resort to a scission of the U
nion, no federal government can ever exist. If to
rid ourselves of the present rule of Massachusetts
and Connecticut, we break the Union, will the evil
stop there? Suppose the New England States a
lone cut off, will our nature be changed ? Are we
not men still to the south of that, and with all the
passions of men ? Immediately, we shall see a Penn
sylvanian and a Virginian party arise in the residua
ry confederacy, and the public mind will be distract
ed with the same party spirit. What a game too
will the one party have in their hands, by eternally
threatening the other, that unless they do so and so,
they will join their northern neighbors. If we re-
duce our Union to Virginia and North Carolina,
immediately the conflict will be established between
the representatives of these two States, and they will
end by breaking into their simple units. Seeing,
therefore, that an association of men, who will not
quarrel with one another, is a thing which never
yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations
down to a town meeting, or a vestry ; seeing that
we must have somebody to quarrel with, I had ra
| tlier keep our New-England associates for that pur
j pose, than to see our bickerings transferred to oth
ers.” *
*Such in truth were Mr. Jefferson’s opinions even to the
last moments of his life, In hia memorable letter to Mr.
Giles in December, 1825. he reiterates the same opinions,and
decares, that nothing but a subversion of ail the principles
of our government could call for or warrant the dissolution
of the Union. The following are his concluding sentences:
“ And what is our resource for the preservation of the
Constitution? Reason and argument! You might as well
reason and argue with the marble columns encircling them.
The representatives chosen by ourselves?—They are joined
in the combination, some from incorrect views of govern
ment, some from corrupt ones, sufficient voting together, to
out number the sound parts, and with majorities of only one,
two or three, hold enough to go forward in defi'ance. Are
we then to stand to our arms 1
“ No ! thit must be the last resource, not to be thought of
until much longer and greater sufferings. If every infrac
tion of a compact of so many parties, is to be resisted at
once as a dissolution of it, none can ever be formed which
would last one year. We must have patience and long en
durance then, with our brethren while under delusion. Give
them lime for reflection and experience of consequences ;
keep ourselves in a situation to profit by the chapter of ac
cidents—and separate from our companions only when the
sole alternatives left, are the dissolution of our union with
them, or submission to a government without limitation of
powers.”
From all which it appears that Mr. Jefferson thought
that “ nothing but a subversion of all the principles ts our
government could warrant a dissolution of the Union.” In
this, our day, however, we have politicians so much wiser
than President Jefferson was in the zenith of his greatness,
that Secession or dissolution is'the only redress which the
South is to seek fora Constitutional act of Congress grant
ing admittance to California, whose people saw fit to repudi
ate our peculiar institution and adopt a State Constitution,
that does not please us ! Shade of the immortal Jefferson!
What a low grade of patriotism was thine, compared with
that which warms the bosom of the Rhctts, the Yanceys,
the Jones, and the Colquitts of the present hour.
Non Intercourse.
On Wednesday evening, the Fire-Eaters of Ma
con mot for the 3d time, to form a “Southern Rights
Association,’ but whether success followed, we are
unable to say. It is whispered, about, there is trou
ble in the ‘wigwam,’ arising from the proposition of
a certain tall son of Esculapius, as Chairman of a
Committee, to adopt the nou-intercourse policy, here
at home, and to interdict all communication, socially
religiously and commercially, with those who are not
disunionists! A certain other disciple of the Pill-box,
on the committee, couldn’t swallow so drastic a dose,
and remonstrated against such a rash course of med
ical practice as fatal to their professional standing. —
The consequence was a “flare-up” and a suspension
of further purgation of the body politic, until the
Doctors in council could come to some agreement
as to the diagnosis of the disease and the correct
mode of therap ‘utical treatment! Shouldn’t won
der if the whole case resulted like the man’s who
was bitten by a road-dog —“The Dog it was
that died.”
Presented. —The Grand Jury of Harris has pre
sented, as a nuisance, the ‘Southern Press’ and oth
er prints, (Columbus Times, <fcc.) for publishing the
abolition proceedings of the Cazenovia Convention
in their columns.
We also understand that his honor, Judge Hill, at
the late session of the DeKalb Superior Court, charg
ed the Grand Jury to look after those who were
plotting disunion and treason against the govern
ment, “There’s a good time_coming, boys.”
The Physic works.— We have just beer i*r
med, on reliable authority, that two individual! ,
have, the last year, traded to the amount of Kio
with a certain mercantile firm in this citi i °°
sworn, in their wrath, that they will tratfi *
more with men who aided and abetted in tl ° I
proceedings of the 23d August. This is the
resolution which they have adopted, without ar,
licitation from us ! How do you like the J
gentlemen ? J c We
We are also certified, that had the people of V
con sustained Mob-Law, the effect upon the trat 1
the place, from Cherokee, Georgia, and East Tm * I
see would have been nearly fatal. The patriot!, v
many ot those regions, in such a case, would h I
passed Macon by on the other side and refused 5 1
commercial intercourse with her. Happily the 3:
pie of Macon, almost en masse, have repudiated \U
Law, and the evil threatened will not, therefore If!
us—just yet. ’ oe **
That Exodus! —That episode in the inters;,,
life of the “Ruling Elder” of the “Federal R u j n !
itor, of Milledgevilie, is beginning to attract sonif at.
tention trom the Georgia Press. Will it not be wli
for some “ready writer” to satisfy the public cun 1
ity, by a detail of all the particulars of that hi* L , jr L
incident ? It will doubtless be ‘rich and racy’ *f r ,
grave to gay—trom lively to severe.’ Say, Mitttr
Campbell, were the Quattlebums after you witi
sharp stick in 1 832 ? And did you ‘leave your court*
try for your country’s good,’ chaunting the lament*,
lion of—
“ Ab, what perils do environ.
The man who meddles with cold iron.”
We only ask lor information. Will the ornc.
grinder give us the music ?
Latest from Texas.— “ Tho Steamer Galvctbin if.
rived at New Orleans on the 20th, from Galveston, Tmii
bringing the following important intelligence :
The Legislature organized on the 6th having passed a bill
directing the Governor to submit any proposition from tht U.
S. as to the boundary settlement to the people. This Bill
vetoed by Gov. Bell on the ground that the Legislature had
no right to require him to convene that body in extra s*ioa
or to submit a proposition to the people. Upon the first poi
he was sustained by the House—the Senate having
the bill by a 2-3 d’s vote. On the 2d point the House w r#
’ kunanimous ngaeoft-th* Governor. An adjournment waa thn
ordereTtiil the 3d Monday of November, when there Eo
doubt, says a letter writer from Austin, that the Legislature
w ill sanction Pearce's Bill, “ by four to one at least.”
The Governor is believed to be a Disunion man—hefire
his veto ! But the people of Texas are not with him. So
that the jubilation here, the other night, by the Fire Eaten
on hearing of Beil's veto was premature, entirely. It wa*
“ halloing before they were out of the woods”—as the ret*
did not touch the question of settlement, ns proposed by Con
gress. Besides that, the Legislature of Texas laid the War
Bill on the table and adjourned with a view to give time to
learn definitely what Congress would do. That she will ac
cept the boon is therefore as morally certain as any futur#
event can be.—“ LauiDeoV
Coming’. —A gentleman writing from Mobile, A!,
sends us $lO and five new subscribers, with the re
mark, that the ‘names are fowarded principally from
the facts of the outrage lately attempted on your lib
erties, some of the parties having known von long
and intimately, and also knotring that no Editor, in
the Southern States, has been more sound on the
Southern Question, than yourself.”
JSF Another friend, from the seaboard, sends ui
S2O as a seven years advance subscription, over and
above his dues, with the injunction to send the ‘Cit
izen,’ wherever published, until he says ‘ stop .’ Such
testimonials are unmistakeable and invaluable
to the Publisher, and serve as a sovereign panacea
for many a bruise and much buffetting from men
of violence and blood.
: —and
Another New Omnibus. — Those worthy and enter
prizing gentlemen, Messrs. Mason and Dibble, have just
i brought out another new Omnibus, for the use of the trsv
; elling public. It is named the “ Cherokee,” and is a gorgeon*
and beautiful specimen of the “ Bus “ class, though not quite
so large as the one previously introduced. From the incrtai
ing patronage bestowed on this conippnv, by a discriminating
public, there will often be need of their having both their
Omnibuses on the line, between our Rail Road Depots,
at the same time. Already has it oeeured, in several in
stances, that they have been obliged to call into service a half
dozen vehicles of another kind, or make double trips to meet
the emergency . Success, say we. to all men of tact, industry
and energy—who do things in a fair and honorable way, as
do Messrs. Mason & Dibble!
Bilbo* —A correspondent has favored us with a
few items of the personal history of this man, whioj
sojourning at Albany, that are rich, racy and pecu
liar, and which we shall lay by for future use. Bil
bo s exploits at the ten-pin alley and billiard saloon
and his patent way of paying his debts, were a cau
tion to both Jew and Gentile.
His Opinion. —The Montgomery ‘Atlas,’ in re
ply to the ‘Monitor’ of Tuscaloosa Ala. touching the
Slavery question, honors us with the following:
“ In our opinion, such papers as the Monitor, Mo
bile Advertiser, the Georgia Citizen , and others of
the same stamp, have done more injury to the cause’
of the South, than all the Garrison papers in New
England put together; and in the same category
do we rank the National Intelligencer and the Wash
ington Union.”
“In our opinion,” the Atlas Editor has said and
done enough, if he were in his native land, to de
serve and receive the hempen doom of a Traitor !
And this is what he and his disunion compatriots of
the Robespierre school are fast coining to, even in
this land of boasted liberty.
As to the affiliation the Atlas has found for u>,.
we feel honored by the classification thus assigned,
the ‘Citizen.’ We are proud of an an association
with such prints as the Advertiser, Monitor, Intelli
gencer and Union, while the Atlas shows its affin
ity with those of the ‘Garrisou’ school by freely copy
ing abolition proceedings therefrom, for the benefit
of Southern negroes !
*• As Nathan said unto David.”
The following sentiment was given to the world, through
the columns of the last “ Telegraph” of this city :
“ The maintenance and execution of all laws depend in a
great measure on public opinion, and that opinion should b*
left as far as possible to the direction of those tribunals
whose office it is to guard with vigiluce the invaluable right
of trial by jury. It is certainly no part of the duty of the
press to excite prejudice and forestall opinion against an ac
cused individual, to whom the law, in its mercy, gives the
benefit of every doubt.”
Taking for granted, tlie newly invented doctrine that
Editors are responsible for all the sentiments of their Corres
pondents, whether they disclaim them or not, we are obliged
to suppose that Sam Ray and Tom Ross endorse the lore
going extract, and are willing to stand Gel-fathers to the
sentiments thereof. This being premised as a “ fixed fact,”
we congratulate the public that a very sensible “ change has
come o’er the spirit of their dreams” since the 23rd day of
last month, between the hours of 4 and 5, p. m. At that
hour, precisely, both these gentlemen assisted to mob a pri
vate citizen, on a false and trivial charge, and without once
thinking of the “ right of trial by Jury,” or any other right.
True, the Editors of the Telegraph have since unblushingly
denied all participation in getting up of sajd mob, hut that denial
is worthless, in view of the tacts that Tom Ross had pre
viously denounced the “Citizen” as a “d—d abolition sheet ’
and Sam Ray did introduoe the far famed “ Policy Club”
Jones to the meeting of the 23rd, as one of the speakers or*
that lawful occasion !
Great lovers of law and order are these same! Great
sticklers for tho “ trial by jury” are those, when one of their
own kidney commits mnrdcr or burglary! In all other ctsm.
