Newspaper Page Text
.SAL a mI. . EiNGEK.
s. TANARUS, CHAPMAN A- S. HOSE, Editors.
ADDRESS OF THE
southern Delegate* in Congress, to their
Constitneuts.
We whose names are hereunto annexed, address you
in discharge ot what we believe to be a solemn duty, i
on the most important subject ever presented tor your
consideration. We allude’ to the conflict between the ,
w.> great sections of the Union, growing out ot a dis- j
terence of leelmg and opinion in reference to the rela- j
tio.i existing between the wo races, the European and
African, wmcli inhabit the Southern section, and the;
;ter- .f aggression and encroachment to which it has led
Tile conflict commenced not long after the scknowl- |
edgment ot our mdendence.and has gradually increas
ed u.uil it has arrayed the great body oi the North a- ,
gainst the South oo'thi3 most vital suqject. In the pro
gress of this conflict, aggression has toilowed aggres
sion',and encroachment encroachment, until they have j
reached a point when a regard tor your peace and safe
ty will not permit U3 to remain longer silent. The ob- j
,e. iof this address ts to give ioa a e’ear, correct, but
brie! account ot the whole series ot aggressions and
encroachments oil your rights, with a statement of the
dangers to which they expose you. Our object in mak
iu , it is not to cause excitement, but to pui you in full
posscs-'oii of all the facts and circumstances necessary
to a full and just conception of a deep-sealed disease,
widen threatens great danger to you and the whole bo
dy politic. YVe act on the impression, that in a popu
lar Government like ours, a true conception of the actual
character and state of a d.seuse is indispensable to el
ecting a cure .
iecting a cure. . , j
We nave made it a joint address, because we believe
that tin* magnitude ot the subject required that it should
as. ame the most impressive and solemn form.
Not to go further back, the ditfe.euce of opinion and
feeling niTeference to the relation between the two ra
ces, disclosed itselt in the convention that framed the
Constitution, and constituted one ot the greate t diffi
ealties in forming it. After many eflbrts, it was over
portiuned among me Stues accoi . gio their rcrac
tive numbers; and that, in ascertaining the number of
each, live slaves shall be estimated as three. In the
next, that slaves escaping into States where slavery
does not exist, shall not be discharged from servitude,
but shall be deiiveied up on claim ot the party to whom
their labor or service is due. In the third pace, that
Congress shall not prohibit the importation of slaves
before the year 1808 ; but a tax not exceeding ten dol
lars may be imposed on each imported. And finally,
that no capitation or direct tax sh ill be laid, bat in pro
portion to federal numbers; and that no amendment
of the Constitution, prior to 1808, shall effect this pro
vision, nor that relating to the importation ot slaves.
So satistuctory were these provisions, that tile second,
relative to the delivering up ot fugitive slaves was
adopted unanimously ; ami ail the rest,except tne third,
relative to the importation of slaves until 18(8, wun
almost equal unanimity. Tney recognise the existence
ot slavery, and make a specific provision tor hs protec
tion where n was supposed to be the most exposed.—
They go further, and mcorpoiate it, as an important el
ement, m determining ilie relative weight oi the sever
al States m tile Government ot me Union, and the re
spective burden tney shoutJ bear in laying capitation
and direct taxes, li was wen uiueistood at the tune,
that without them tne Constitution would not have
adopted by the Southern States, and of course tb.utthev
eonsi.tu a elements 90 essential to t..e system tnat ,
never wou.d have existed without them. “ Tpe North
ern c-mies, knowing ail this, ratided the C j!l ,, 1 i , II
thereby pledging u.e.r faith, ui the mo-; Soil . llin
Ho -that taith has been
Kept, and that pit. ge we S;ia ll nexl p rocet;; j
to show. r
eX *- Vplijns ‘* no § r>r,t importance, tlie
had no to oouiplain pi ior to tne yeai 18 ia
a year, u is to be leared, uestmed to mark a train of
events, bringing with them many, and great, and tatal
ibsasteis, on tne country and us institutions. YViui it
commenced the agitating debate on the question ol the
admission ot Missouri into the Union. We shad pass
by ior the present tins question, and others ol the same
kind, directly growing out ot it, and snail proceed to
consider the eliects ot tout spirit ot discord, which it
roused up between the two sections. It tiist disclosed
itsejt in the Noith, by UoS'iiitj to that portion ot the
Constitution which rovioes for the delivering up ot tu
g'ttve slaves, in ns progress it led lo me adoption ol
horde acts, intended to render it oi uon-etji and
with so much success that u may be regarded now us
practically expunged Iroin tne Constitution, flow tins
nas been effected, will be next explained.
Aitet a careful examination, truth constrains us to
say, that it has been by a c.ear and paip.inie invasion of
tile Coil-tit. 1 un. li. is im[>.*9s;oie lor any provision to
be more free from ambiguity or doubt. It is m the fol
lowing words: “No person held to set vice, or labor, in
one’ estate, under tne taws thereot.escapiug into anoth
er State, sfcali, in consequence ot any law or regulation
therein, be discharged trom such service or laoor, but
shall be delivered up on cGim of ihe party to whom
such service or labor may be due.” Ail is clear. Tnere
is netan uncertain or equivocal word to De found in the
whole provision. What shall not be done, and what
tvimci pioi.d'-s mat me tug.rive .-line suiffi lift be uuT
charged noui hi3s tv.iude b> a:iy taw or regulation ol
the Bl .ie wnerein lie is lound ; nd the Uli.tr, that lie
shun ie delivered un on c.aim ot Ins owner.
W v uo not deem it uece.— ny to undertake to refu'e
the sophistry and subterlugt s by winch so pi m a pio
vision ot the Coiis'ituuou has been evaded, and, in ef
fect, annut.ed. It constitutes an essential part of th'-
consiiniiionalcompact, an! vt corns die supreme .aw
o! tne land. As tucii ills binding o.i ui. tiie federal
and State Governments, th states a.id the individuals
composing them. The sacred obligation oi compact,
and trie solemn injunction oi tne supreme law, winch
legislators and judges, both federal and State, are
bound by oath to support, ad mute lo enforce ns iuitil
ment, according to us plant meaning and true intent.—
What that nieauuig and inteiu are, mere was no diver
sity ol o, anon about in tlie better dajso* the Republic,
prior to 181 J. Congress, State L gtsiaiuies, State and
f eder. • judges and olagistraies, and People, ail spon
taneously placed ’he Same nite; prctUIIG;; CP. it. During
that period nolle interposed impediments in the way oi
the owner seeking to recovei htstu mve slave; nor did
any deny Ins nglit to have every proper lactlity to en
force his claim to have him delivered up. Ii aas then
nearly as easy to recover one lound in a Northern State,
as one found in a neighboring Southern State. But
this has passed away, and the provision is defunct;'PY
Cept pt rlidpsui two elates.*
When we takailito consideration the importance aria
clearness ot this provision, the evasion by winch it has
been set aside may (airiy be regarded as one ot the most
t.aial blows ever received by tne South and the Union.
This camjo4j&,putfft correctly stated,
Court ot the Uint-d States, i., ~, jhu de ....
Judge Story said : *’ Historically, it is well known that
the object of tliis clause was to secure to the citizens ot
the slave-holding States the complete right and title ot
ownership in their slaves, ns property, ia every State
of the Union, into which they might escape, trom the
State wherein they were held in servitude.” The tub
recognition of this right and title was indispensable to
the security ot this species of properly, in all thc.-lave
holding States, and, indeed, was so vitai to the preser
vation of their interests and institutions, that it cannot
be doubted, that ii constituted a fundament and article
witiioui the adoption ot which the Union would not
have been formed, its true design was to guard again.-t
the doctrines and principles picv beat in the lion-slave
holding Stales, by preventing them from intennediing
with, or restricting, or abolishing, tiie rights of the owie
ers of slaves.”
Again: “ The clause was therefore of the last im
portance to the safety and security of the Southe n
States, and could not be surrendered by them without
endangering their wholeproperty in slaves. The clause
was accordingly adopted in the Constitution by the
unanimous consent or the framers ol il—a proof atonce
ol its intrinsic and practical necessity.”
Again: ‘■ l'ne clause nianitestiy contemplates the
existence ol a possitive unqualified right on the part of
the owner ol the slave, which no Slate law or regula
tion can lit any way regulate, control, qualify, or re
strain ”
’*> u„l .non of the other learned judges was not less
emphatic i-sto the importance of tbie ,r<.vision and the
unquestionable right ol the South under it. Judire
Baldwin, in charging the jury, said :{ “ It there are any
rights ot property which can he enforced, if one citizen
have any riguts ot property which are inviolable under
Ule protection of tie supreme law of tne State, and the
Union, th -y are those which have been set at nought
by some < t these defendants. As the owner of proper
ty, which he had a perfect right to possess, protect, and
fake away—as a citizen ot a sister State, entitled to ail
the privi.eges and immunities of citizens of any other
State—Mr. Jo nson stands!)-lore you on ground which
cannot be taken from under him—it is the same ground
<m winch the Government itself is based. P the de
fendants can he justilied, we have no longer law or gov
ernment.'’ Again, after referring more partieularly to
the provision lor delivering up fugitive slaves, he said :
“ Thus you see, that the Inundations of the Govern
ment are laid,and rest,on the right of property in siaves.
The whole structure must lali by disturbing the corner
stone.”
These are grave and solemn and admonitory words,
from a high source. They confirm all for which the
South has ever contended, r.s to the clearness, impor
tance, ai. i fundamental character of this provision, and
the disastrous consequences which would inevitably fol
low from us violation. But in spite ol these solemn
warnings, the violation then commenced, and which
they were intended to rebuke, has been tuiiy and per
fectly consummated. The citizens of the South, in their
attempt to recover their slaves, now meet, instead ot
aid and co-operation, resistance in every form ; resist
ance from hostile acts of legislation, intended to bafHe
and defeat their claims by albeortsof devices, and by
interposing every description of impediment; resist
ance from judges and magistrates ; and finally, when
all these fill, from ihotis, composed ot whites and
blacks, wind:, by threats or force, rescue the fugitive
slave from the possession of Ins rightful owner. The
attempt to a slave,,in most of I lie Northern
‘States, cannot now be made \ythout the hazard of in
sult, he vy pecuniary loss, imprisonment, and even of
life itself- Already has a woiTJty citizen of
lost bis itie in making an attempt to enforce his claim
o a lugitive slave under this provision.
But a provision of the Constitution tuny b violated
indiiectly us well as directly—by doing an act in its na
ture iuconsi; tent with that which isenjoined to be done.
C)f tins form nf violation, there is a striking instance
-connected.v-oh this provision under consideration—
Wo-afhjde to secret combinations which are believed
‘lndiana aitt'l jlltuois.
• f Hie’case of Prigg rs.-tfee poramomveaiiji -ol Penn
sylvania. . ‘'■ v ...-
t’l’he case of Johnson c. 1 ompkins and others.
‘% \lj-. Kennedy, of Hagerstowfr. Maryland.
to exist in most ol the Northern State#, whose object
is to entice, decoy, entrap, euveigie, and seduce slaves
to escape iroin their owners, and lo pass them secretly
and rapidly, by means organized ior the purpose, into
Canada, where they will be beyond the reach ol the
provision. That to entice a slave, by whatever arufice,
to abscond from his owner into a non-slaveholding State,
with the intention to place him beyond the reacli ol the
provision, or prevent his recovery, by concealment or
otherwise, is as completely repugnant to it, as its open
violation would b", is too clear to admit ot doubt or to
require illustration. Anil vet, as repugnant as these
combinations are to the true intent of the provision, it
is believed that, w th the above exception, not one ot
the States within whose limits they exist, has adopted
any measure to suppress them, or to punish those by
whose agency the object or which they were formed
is carried into execution. Oa the contrary, tuey have
looked on, and witnessed with indifference,yi not with
secret approbation, a great nu.naer oi slaves e.>licei
from their owners, uni placed beyond the possibility ot
recovery, to the great annoyance and heavy pecuniary
loss ot tne bordering Southern States.
When we take into consideration the great impor- j
tanceofthis provision, the aossnee of aU uncertainty
as to its true meaning and intent, the many guards by
which it is surrounded to protect and enforce it, and
then reflect how completely the object tor wmch it
was inserted in the Constitution is defeated by t ese
twofold infractions, we doubt, taking all together,:
whether a more flagrant breach of laitli is to lound on
record. We know the language we have used is
strong, but it is notiess true than strong.
There remains to be noticed another eiassof aggres
sive acts ol u kindred character, but which instead ot
striking at an expr -ss and specitic provision ot the
Constitution, aims directly at destroying tlie relation
between the two races at the South, by means subver
sive in their tendency ot one ot the ends tor which the
Constitution was established. We refer lo the sys- j
te inane agitation of the question by die Abo.monists,
which, commencing in lotto, is suii continued in ali
possible forms. liieir avowed intention is to bring
about a state of things that will torce emancipation I
on the South. to unite tie North in fixed hostility to |
slavery m the South, and to excite discontent among
the slaves with ttietr condition, are among tin.- means
tmmhwului MLcUi—WUh A Jtitf ‘hfftrib-,
Guuiii, ! itie \ -ini.Da DctWoCii iu*j iwo i\ict*s
there, o 1 ous and hatetui to the North. For this pur
pose, Societies and n ’wspapers are everywhere estab
lished, debating dubs opened, lecturers employed,!
pamphletsand other pictures and peti
tions to Congress, lesor.ect to, an J directed to that single
poin;, regardless ot Uuth or decency ; while ihe circu
lation oi incenniaiy punlications m the South, the agi
tation of me subject ot abolition in Congress, and the
employment of emissaries, are relied on to excite dis-;
Content among the staves. This agitation, and the
use oi tnese means have been continued with more or
less activity for tilte-m years, not without doing much
tow.-ids effecting tne object intended. We regurd
botn ooject and means to oe aggressive and dangerous
to tne rights oi tne boutn,and subver.-ive,as stated, ot
on ■ ol the ends tor wnicfl the Constitution wasestab*
hs.ied Slavery is a domestic institution. It belongs
to tlie Stales, each tor itselt, to decide whether it shall
be estaotistied or not; and it it be established, whether
it stiuuid be abolished or not Such being the clear
and unquestionable light 0 j the states, u loh.-ws ne
cer,i>lhaj„ v.v;j a b e a flagrant act ol aggression
j* -=trucnve of its rig.ns, ami subversive cf
u ,.. 1 gender,ce, tor tne federal Government, or one
mo: e States,or tbeir people, to undertake to torce on
U the emancipation ot its slaves. But it is a sound
maxim in politics, as well as in law and morals, that
no one has a rigut to do that indirectly which he can
not do directly ; and it may be added, wnh equal truth
toaia, or abet, or countenance another m doing it
And yet tlie Abolitionists ol the North, openly avow
ing tnen intention, and resoi ting to the most efficient
means toi the purpose, have been attempting to bring
aoou: a state ot tilings to force the Southern States to
emancipate their staves, without any ac oil the part
Oi a.iv N Jilhern State to arrest or suppress ttie means
by watch tney propose to accomplish it. ‘1 hey have
been permitted lopussue their object, and lo use what
ever means they piease, it without aid or countenance,
ais < Without rests, nice or disapprobation. VV hat gives
a deeper shade to th, wuole adair, is tne fact, inui one
ot un- means to effect tneir object, that of exedmg dis
comem among onr siuves, tends directly to subvert what
its pieinabie declares to be one oi the ends for which
tile (Jonstituiioii was ordained and established : “ to
eosu e domestic uanqumiy and that m tlie only
way in which domestic tranquility is nkeiy ever to be
d.slu.oed m ihe Nou h. Leiiaiu it MS, mat an agltatio •
so s_,siema..c, liavmg such an objecl in view, and
sougat to oe earned nuu execution r>y such means,
would, between independent nations, coiisinule just
cuuseo, t\ juoiistiance by tne puny against wmch the
aggression was dnect and, and.i, not heeded, an appeal
to amis tor tedress. ibucn being Uie case wheie an
a ot .tie kind place among independeirt
nations, how much more aggravated must n be be
tween confederated aiaies. wnere tlie Union precludes
an appeal to arms, while itatibidsa medium through
vvtiJcn it can operate With vustiy increased torce and
effect .’ ihat it would be perverted to such a use*
never entered into the imagination of the generation
winch iormed and adopted i.,e Constitution, and it it
had been supposed i> wouid.it is certain ihat the SSuuih
never wo lu have adopted it.
JulJsbii’iihid* flic TTmon, and sp.iif'pteceeu iu hive a
bnei sketch ot the occurrences connected with it, and
the con* quences to winch it has directly led. In the
latter'part ot 181y,ihe then territory ol .Missouri appli
ed to Congress, m the usual torn), tor leave to lonii a
Cj.ate Constitution and government, in order to be ad
mitted -mo tite Union. A bill was reported for the pur
pose, wit ir the usual provisons m such cases. Ainend
mtii.swere otieicd, having tor tl.etr object to make it
a condition ol tier admission, that tier Constitution
should have a pruvission to prohibit slavery. This
brougui oil tne agitating debate, which, with t,.e effects
that toliowed,has done so much to ahemne the South
andNoith, and endanger our political institutions.
‘1 hose who objected to the amendments, rested their
opposition ou the flight grounds ol the righ of self
government. ’I hey claimed thgt a territory, havin'*
reached the period when il is proper tor it to form a
Constitution and Government tor used, becomes fully
vested with all ihe tights ot self-government; and that
even the condition imposed on it oy tne Fed< ral Cons
stitutton, relates not m the torinaiioii 01 us Constitution
and Government, but us admission into the Union.
For that purpose, it piovtdi s as a condition, that tlje
Government must he Republican.
They ciaimed that Congress has no right to add to
this condition, and that to assume it would be tanta
mount to the assumption ol the right to make ils en
tire Constitution and Government; —as no limitation
could be imnosed, as to tin? extern ot the right, if it
b • admitted that it exist at all, Tho-e who supported
the amendment dented these grounds, and claimed
the rig.it of Congress to impose, ulfJiscretion, what con
ir i, Al 4 lht-i atXiiuujui *l*> *
fuua ‘o rigv f t dj. ti, si e<icii other—ifte South
m favor ot tin. Liit without amendmem, and the North
opposed to it without it. l'ne debate and agitation
continued until the ses-ion was well advanced ; but it
became apparent, towa cis Us close, that the people of
Missouri weie fixed and icsmvsd in their opposition to
the proposed Condition, an.t that ‘bey would certainly
reject it, and adopt a Cousiitution without it, should
tne o:i p iss witn the condition, riucli being the case,
it required no great effort of mind to perceive, that Mis
souri, once in possession o; a Constiution and Govern
ment, not simply on paper, but with legislators elected,
and offi'ers appointed, to carry them into effect, the
grave questions would he presented, whether she was of
light a State or t erritory ; and, it me latter, whether
Congie =s had i e right, and, if the right, the power, to
abrogate her Constitution, disperse her legislature
and to emand her back to the territorial condition,
i hese were great, and under the circumstances fear
ful qir >’ii>ns too feaiful to be met by those who had
raised th * agitation. From that time the on y ques
-1,01 W 13 > h(, w m escape from the difficulty. Foitu
nately, a means was afforded. A Compromise (as it
was cal,ed) was offered,based on the temis, that the
Noi tl, should cease to oppose the admission of Mis
souri on tne grounds for which the South contended,
and that the provisions of the ordinance of 1757, for
the government of th” Northwestern Territory, should
be applied to a|| t| le territory acquired by the Un ted
States from t ranee under tne treaty of Louisiana ly
ing North of 36 3() ; except, the portion lyin* in the
Slate ol Missouri. The Northern members embraced
it; and, fiitno U g|] not originating wult them, adopted it
as then own. ft was (breed through Congress by the
almost united votes of the North, against a minority
consisting almost entirely of members from the South
ern (Mates.
Such w,ig the termination of this, the first Conflict
under the Constitution, between the two sections, in
reference to slavery in connection with the territories.
Many hiijed itasa permanent and final adjustment,
that would prevent the recurrence of similar conflicts;
but otuera, leas sanguine, took th” opposite and more
gloomy view, regarding i’ as the precursor of a train of
events wh:-ch might r--od the Union assunder, and
prostrate our political Bysicm. One of these was the
experienced and sagacious Jefferson. Thus far, time
would seem to f iVor his forebodings. May a returning
sense ot |uslice, and a protecting Providence, avert
then final fulfilment!
For many years the subject of slavery, in reference
to the te utoiies, ceased to agitate the country. Indi
cations, however, connected with the question of an
nexing Texas,showed clearly that it was ready io break
out again, with redoubled violence, on some tuture oc
casion. Tile difference in the case ot Texas was ad
just'd by extending the Missouri compromise line of
36, from its term nus,on the western boundary <>f the
Louisiana purchase, to the western boundary of Texas.
The agitation again ceased fora short period.
The war with Mexico soon followed,and that termi- j
nated in the acquisition of New Mexico and Upper
California, embracing an area equal to about one-half
of the entire valley of the Mississippi. If to this we j
add the portion ol Oregon acknowledged to be ours by
tfie recent treaty with England, our whole territory on
the Pacific and west of the Rocky mountains will be j
found to be in extent but little less than that vast valley. |
The near prospect of so great an addition rekindled
excitement between the North and the South in re.er- I
ettce to slavery, in ils connection with the territories,
which has become, since those on the Pacific were ac
quired, more universal and intense than ever.
The effects have been to widen the difference between
the two sections, and to give a more determined and
hostile character to their conflict. The North no longer
respects the Missouri-compromise into, although adopt
ed by tiieir almost uiiainnn us vote. Instead of comp o
inise, they avow that their deteruiiimtioiuis to exclude
slavery tioin all the territories ol the United States,
acquired or to be acquired ; and, of course, to prevent
the citizens of the Southern Mates from emigrating
with the it-property in slaves into any of them. Their
object, they allege, i9 to prevent the extension of sla
very, aud-ours to extend jt thas making the issue be
tween them and us to he the naked question shall
slavery extended or not T-- We do not deem it ne
cessary, looking to the object ol this address, to exam
ine the question so fully discussed a( the last session,
whether Congress has Pie light lo exclude the citi.’ -i:
ol tlie rfoutn Iroin immigrating with ill it property pit
Territories belonging lo the contederated States ot tii
Union. \Y T hat we pr .pose m this connection is. t
m ike a few remarks oil wh it the North alleges, en
neoesiy, to be the issue between us and them.
Sofa:- trom maintaining the doctrine which the issin
implies, we hold that the Federal Government has n
right to extend or restrict slavery, no more than t<
establish or abolish it; nor has it any right whatever t<
.distinguish between the domestic institutions of on.
tState.or section, and another, in order to liivor the on.
! and discourage the other. As the federal represent.!
tive ot each and nil the Slates, it is bound to deal out
within the sphere of its powers, equal and exact ju-nc.
and favor lo all. To act otherwise, to undertake f
discriminate between the domestic institutions of on*
tiiui another, would be to act in total subversion of the
i end for which it was established—lo tie the common
protector and guardian of all Entertaining those opin
, ions, vve ask not, as the Nortli alleges we do, for tli
extension ot slavery. Tiiat would make a discrimina
i non in our favor, as unjust and unconstitutional as the
i discrimination they ask against us in their tav .r. it is
! not for them, nor tor the Federal Government, to de
termine whether our domestic insrituti- n i9 good or
bad, or whether it should be repressed or preserved.—
It be.ongs to us, and to us only, to decide suen ques-
I lions. What then w'e do insist on is, not to extend
1 slavery, but that we shall not be prohibited from immi
grating, with our properly, into the Territories ot th”
United States, becaus- we are slaveholders ; or, in other
| words, that we shall not on that account be disfian
’ chise.i of a jn iviiege possessed by all others, citizens
: and foreigners, without discrimination as to character,
prulessi >n, or color. All, whether savage, barbarian or
civilized, may freely enter and remain, we only being
: excluded.
We rest our claim, not only on the high grounds above
stated, but ntso on the solid foundation ot right, justice,
and equality. The Territories immediately in contro
versy—New Mexico and California—were acquired by
the common sacrifice and efforts of all the States, to
wards which the South contributed tar more than her
fu.i share of men.* to say nothing of money, and is, of
Course, on every principle ot right, justice, fairness and
equality, entitled to participate hilly in tlie benefits to
is ‘sd! ,r, o?i?s 1:
■ Federal Government; u government in which, not
individuals, but States, as and stinct sovereign communi
ties, me the constituents. To them, as members of the
Federal Union, the Territories belong ; and they are
hence declared to lie Terntoi ies belonging to the United
States. I lie Stales then are the joint owners. Now
it is conceded by ail writers on the subject, that in all
such governments their membeis are equal—equal in
light.- and equal in dignity. They also concede that
this equality constitutes the basis ot such Government,
and liiat it cannot he destroyed w'thout changing their
nature and character. To deprive, then, the Southern
Slates and their citizens ot their (nil share in Ihe Terri
tories declared to belong to them in common with the
other States, would be in derogation of the equality
belonging to them as members of a Federal Union,and
sink them, from being equals, into a subordinate and
dependent condition. Sucii are tlie solid and. iumreg
tuibie grounds on which we lestour demand to an equal
participation in the Territories.
Bat as solid and impregnable as they are in the eyes
ot justice and reason, they oppose a fe* ble r<-sist;i'’
a majoriiy determined to H.gioes th; wnole . a'/,he
-ession of U" tl| , irgSj a jjjo waß establishing
a territorial government or Oregon, excluding slavery
therefrom. The President gave ins sanction to the
bid, and sent a special m. ssage to Congress, assign
ing ins reasons lor doing so. These reasons pre-sup
po.-ed tiiat the Missouri compromise was to be, and
wouid be, extended west ot me Rocky Moumams, lo
the Pacific Ocean. And the Piesideni intimated his
intention, in his message, to veto any tutu.e b ii that
should restrict siuveiy fciuuiti ot itic line ol that coiup o
mtse. Assuming it to have been the purpose an t in
teuiiou ot the Not th to extend tiie Missouri compromise
line, as above indicated, the passage of tiie Oregon bill
c.u and only be regarded us evincing the acquiescence of
ihe foouili in thui line. Urn tlie developments ot the
piesent session ot Congress have made it manifest to
a.I, that no such purpose or intention now exists w ith
the North, to any considerable extent. Os tiie truth ot
tins, we have ample evidence in what has occurred al
ready in the House ot Representatives, where the pop
ular feelings are soonest and most intensely lelt.
Although Congress lias be<m in session bui little more
than one month, a greater number ot measures of an
aggressive character . ave been introduced, and they
more aggravated and dangereus, than have been for
years beiore. And what cl. ally di-cioseS whence they
take their origin, is the laci, riiat they all relate to life
terntoi nil aspect ot the subject of slavery, or some
oilier ol a iiatuie and character intimately connected
With it.
1 ne first of this series of aggressions is a resolution
introduced by a member from Massachusetts, the ob
ject oi which is to repeal all acts,or paits ot acts which
recognise the existence of slavery, or authorize the
selling and disposing of slaves in this District. On the
quesuoii of leave to bring in a bill, the votes stood 6U tor
and Bgagamst leave. The next was a resolution offered
by a member trom O.iio, instructing the Committee on
1 erri tones to report tori h with bills lor excluding slaver. :
from California and New Mexico t It jiabsed by a
vote ot 107 to 80. I nal was toilowed by a bill intro
duced by another member fioni Onio.to take the votes
ol the mljabuautsoj_tlus.DisuicL.un tLie nucsuuii win th- i
bill provided, according toilie admission oi ihe mover,
tiiat liee negroes and slaves should vote. Un file ques
tion to lay Uie bill oil ilie table, tne votes stood, lor 106,
agamst 70. To tins succeeded i lie lesolulioli ol a
member trom New York, in the following w'ords:
YV hereas the traffic now pais cuo-d in thin metropolis
ot the Republic in human beings, as cliatieis, is contra
ry to nuiuial justice and tlie fundamental principles ol
our political system, and is notoitously a reproach to ,
our country, throughout Cnn-U-iidom, nnd u serious 1
hindrance lo the piogiessoi lepublicun liberty among
the naiionso: the earth—therefore,
lie solved, Ihat the Committee for the District ol .
Columbia be instructed to-report a bill,as soon as prac
ticable, prohibiting ihe slave-trade hi said District.”
thi the question ol ado ling tlie resolut oil, tlie votes i
stood i>B tor, and 88 against. He was followed by a I
member iroin Illinois, who oti. red a resolution fur abol- j
tshiiig siuveiy m the Territories, and all pi,ices where 1
Confess has exclusive powers ol leaisff non ; tiiat is, I
in all torts, magazines, arsenals, dock-ya rds, and other
needtui buildings, purchased by Congress with the |
consent ol the Legislatuie ol the State.
This resolution was passed over under the rule of the
House -without being put to vote.
ilie votes in favor ot all these measures were confined
to the meintters Iron) the Northern States. ‘J’nie, there
are some patriotic members trout that section who vo
ted against all of them, and whose high seitse of justice
is duly appreciated ; who in the progress of the ag
gressions upon the South have, by their votes, sustained
1 the guarrantees of the Cousiitution, an.: ot whom we
regret to say many have been sacnficed at home by
\ e have now brought to a close a narrative of the
i senes ot nets ot aggression and encroachment. <-..a
----neete J with the subject of this add ess, toclu hug those
. that are consummated an I those still m progress They
i aie numerous,great, and dangerous, and threaten with
i tlestrution the greatest and most vital ol all the inter
ests and institutions of th- South. Indeed It may be
doubted whetner there is a single provision,stipul m >n,
or guaranty ot the Constitution, intended Ihr the secu
rity of the South, that has not been rendered perfectly
nugatory in ail but two States. It may even be made
, a serious question, whetliei the encroach men s already
made without the aid ot any other, would not, it permit
ted to operate uncheked,Hid n emancipation, and t int
a! no distant day. But be that ns it may, it hardly ad
mits ot ad übt that, it the aggressions already com
menced in the House, and now in progress, sho ild be
consummated such in the end would ceitamlybe the
consequence,
L: ’ tie, in tr ‘th, w’ould be left to be done after we httve
been excluded from all the Territories, including those
to be hereafter acquired ; alter slavery is abolished in
this L>. strict, and m the numerous places dispersed all
over the South, where Congress has the exclusive tight
of legislation, andafer the other measures proposed
ar ■ consummated. Every outpost and b triier wo tid be
carried, and nothing would he left bit to fi nslt the
work of abolition at pleasure in the Stites themselves.
‘I bis District, and all places over which Congress h s
exclusive power of legislation, would be asylums for
fugitive slaves, where,as soon as they placed ill ir feet,
they would become, according to the doctrines of our
Northern assa lams, tree ; unless there should be some i
positive enactment to prevent it.
Under such ast .te o. things the probability is.th'it
emancipation would soon follow, without any final
act to abolish slavery. The depressing effects ol s'vch
tneasuers on the while race at the South, and the hope
they would create in tile black of a speedy emancipa
tion, would produce a state of feeling inconsistent with
the much longer continuance of the existing relations
between the two. But be that as it may, it is certn in,
it emancipation did not follow, as a matter of con rs ■
the final acts in the States would not be long delayed.
The wantof constitutional power would oppose a teebie
resistance. The great body of the North is unived
against our peculiar institution. Many believe it to
be sinful, ana the residue with inconsiderable excep
tions, believe it lobe wrong. Such being- the case,
it would indicate a very superficial knowledge of hu-j
man nature, to think that.nrteraiiuing at abolition,sys
tematically, torso many years and pursuing il with stu b
unscrupulous disregard of law and Constitution, that the
ianaties who have led the way,and loiced the great
body ol the North to follow them, would, wlten the
finishing stroke only remained to he given, voluntarily
suspend i>, or permit any constitutional scruples or con
sideration ofjustice to arrest it. To these may tic ad
ded an aggression, though not yet eo.m nenced. long
meditated and threatened ;to prohibit what the afT
olittonists caii the internal si avetrade, n leaning there
by the irausfer ofs.aves from one Srate to another, from
whatever motive done, or however effected. Their
object would seem to be to render them worthless, by j
crowding them together where they are , and tfius lias
ten the work of emancipation. There is reason tor be
lieving that it will soon follow those now in progress
unless indeed some decisive step should bt; taken m the
meantime to arrest the whole.
* Total number of volunteeers from the South :
Regiments, 33
Battalions, 14
Companies, 120
Total number of volunteers from the Souih, 43,610
Total number of volunteeis from ill” Nor>h :
Regiments, 22
Battalions, 2
Companies, 12 ,
Total number of volunteers from the North, 23,084
Being nearly two oil the part of the South to one on
the part of the North. But taking into consideration !
that the population of the-North. is two thirds greater
than the .South,'he latter has furoishetl more than three
times hey do? proportion of volunteers.
f triincC tcported to the House
1 eq i s.ion then is. win me on-..-urea oi aggression
proposed in the House be adopted f ...
They may tmt, and probahD will noi.be tins session
Bat when we take into consideration, that iheie is.i
,i ijority now in tavor of one ot them, and a stiotig nii
ii > tty m favoro! tbe other, as tar as the sense ot the
House has been ta.ten ; that there will be in ail ptob
aliiiity a considerable increase in.the next Congress ot
the vote in favor til them, and that it will he largelj
increased in the next succeeding Congress; under the
census to be l iken next year, it amounts almost to a
certainty, tha 1 -Ihey will ne adopted, unless some de
cisive measure is taken in advance to prevent it.
But, tleven these conclusions should prove erroneous
—ii fanaticism nnd the love ot power should, contrary
to their nature, toroi.ee respect constitutional barrieis;
or n tiiecalculatiotis ot policy should retard the adop
ti. nos these measures. #r even detent them altogether
tlierc would be stiff l-tt one certain way to accon plish
iff n-object n the determination avowed by the Noith
to monopolise all the Territories, to die exclusion of
the vSouih, should be carried into effect That o! itselt
would,at no distant day add to the North, a sufficient
iH.miiei of Slates to give her diree - torn tils ot die whole
when, under the color ofm amendment oi die Consti
tuiaon,she would emancipate om slaves, however op
posed it might be to its Hue intent.
1 hits, under every aspect the lesult is certain, ifng
gres-ion be not prompt.y and decidedly met. How it
is to he met, it is lor yo to decide.
Buchthen being the case, it would be to insult you ■
to suppose you could hesitate. To destroy the existing !
id 11 ion between the free and servile races at the
South w'ould lead to consequences unparalleled ,
in history. They cannot be sepaiute.l, and cannot j
live tegether in peace,or harmony,or p their mutual ;
advantugeexc.pt in liieir present rfation. Under,
any other, wretchedness, and misery, and desolation,!
would overspread the whole isouth. Tlie example of
the British West Indies, as blighting as emancipation ;
has proved to then, furnishes a ve|f faint picture of
the calamities it would bring on tlv South. Tliecir- !
cumst uicvs under which it would .ake place with us |
would be entirely different from tiv>se which took place
with them, and calcilated to lead to far more disas- j
trous results. There tiie Covemment of the parent |
country emancipated slaves in her'colonial possessions
—a Government rid: and poeriul, actuated by views |
ot p.fficy. (misiaket as tiny tuned out to be.) rather !
t i.u i.inaticisni. It was, besides, disposed to act just- |
ly towards the outers, even tlie act ot emancipating
tlieir s.aves, and > protect and losier them afterwards. ;
It accordingly auropriated nearly S100,000,0(X) as a
compensation to ior their losses under the act.
wmch sum, altliogh it turned out to be lar short of
ilie amount, wasKoughl at the Imeto he Ijbeial.—
Since the emancwtion, it lias kept up a sufficient mil- !
itaiy and naval face to keep the blacks in awe, and
a number ot mastrates, and constables, and otlier
civil officers, to ieep ordi i in the towns and plants- j
lions, and cnturcerespect to their former owners. To i
a considerable exait, these have served as a substitute j
tor the police lomeily ki pt on tlie > Imitations by tlie |
owners and theiriveiseers.and to pieserve tlie soqjal
and poiiiical supeionty ot ilie white race. But notwiih
standing ail tins, he British West India posse^,„ )n g ~r e
1U n,;d. impovefdied. miserable, “ ’.r-mhed, nnd des
, ! !. 1 pfobnbly
and Jen lit would b’* 1 eircuinsiances under wliich enun-
W()U ( | j,| UCr vvitli us. ll it ever should be
effected, it will b* through the agency of the F'ederal
Government,coifrolled by the dominant power of ihe
Not them iStutei of the Confederacy, aga nst the re
sisiance nnd struggles ofthe Southern.
It can then ouly be effected by the prostration of the !
white iace ;nnd ihat wuild necessarily engender tlie :
biitcrcgt ot hoflilify between them and the |
North. But the reverse would be the case between j
the Ida. ks ot theSoulhfaiid tlie people of tlie North.— ,
Owing liieir emancipation to them, they would regard i
th. in as it lends, guartians, and patrons, and centre, !
uce mainly,“l* men sympathy m them. The people :
< i the North would not tail to reciprocate and to favor
litem msteadol the \hites. Under the influence of
such feeling, and mist I led by fanaticism and love of
power, they wouid n<t stop at emancipation. Another
step would be taken—to raise them to a political and
social equality with their former owners, by giving
them the right ofvotng and holding public offices un
der the Federal Government. We see the first step to
ward it in the bill alindy alluded to —to vest the tree
black and slaves wnh the right to vote on the question
of emancipation in tli.fi District. But when once rai
sed loan equality, they wouid become the last political
associates ol tlie Norm, acting and voting with them on
all questions, and by mis political union betw'een them
holding the white race at the Boutli in complete sub
jection. ’Fhe blocks and the profligate whites, that
might unite with them, would become the principal
recipients ol federal offices and patronage, nod would
m consequence, be raised above tlie whites ot the South
in tlie political and social scale. \\e would, in a word,
change conditions with them—u degredation greater
man lias ever yet lalien to the lot of a tree and enlight
ened people, and one from w nich we could not escape,
should emancipation take place, (whicli it certainlv will
it not prevented,) but; y fleeing the homes ot ourselves
and ancestors, and by abandoning our country, to our
former slaves to become tlie permanent abode of disor
der.anarchy and poveity, misery, wretchedness.
\\ tilt -ifFli a prospect before us, the gravest and most
so.em i question that ever claimed tiie attention of a
people is presented for your consideration. What is to
be done to prevent it I It is a question belonging to
you to decide. All we nronpse i to wive vm <>nr
VVe, then,areaf the opinion that the first and indis
pensable step, Aithout which nothing can be done,
and wit’t wind everything may be, is to be united
among yourselv*, on this great and most vital question
The want of uinm and conceit in re eience to it has
brought the tsou h, tiie Union, and our system of gov
ernment. to thei* present perilous condition. Instead
of placing tt nhtie all others, we have made it subor
duiute, not only lo mere questions of policy, hut to the
preset vntion ot jrt i ty ties and ensuring ot puny success.
As tngh as we hold a due respect tor these, we luff i
them eubor.uiiiite to that and oilier que9t.ons involving
your sntety and iippiiiess. Until they are so held by
the ."outii, tlie Ninh wi I not believe that you are in
earnest in oppojtion to tlieir encroachments, and they
will continue tofollow, one after another, until the work
cl abolition is tfffshed. To convince them that you
, you must pive by your acts trial you hold all other
questions suborlinate to it. It you become united, and
prove yourselvt* in earnest, the North will be brought
to a pause, audio a calculation of consequences ; and
that may lead 0 a change ol measures, and the adop
tion tff acoursibf policy,that may quietly and peace
ably terminal!This long conflict between tiie two sec
tions. it it shxild not, untiling would remain lor you
but to stand ui, immovably in defenc e of rights, involv
ing your al!—'bur property, prosperity,equality, liberty
and safety. ,
As the assaled, you would stand justified by all laws,
human and ilvine, in repelling a blow so dangerous,
without lookiig to consequences, and to resort to all
means necessiy for that purpose Your assailants
and not you.tould be responsible tor consequences.
Eliteriaing rinse opinions, we earnestly entreat you
to be united, anb fur tiiat purpose adopt all necessary
mens ires. Bcyon&this, we think it would not be pro
per to go at present.
We nope, it you ihould unite with any thing like
inia i iiity, it may olfselfapply a remedy to thisdeep
seated and dangerous disease ; hut it such should not
be the case, the timf will then have come tor you to
deciile wiiat couise > adopt.
Virginia. —J. M Mason, R M T. Hunter, A. At
kin-.ai. Tiio. li Ba|ly, 11. B dinger, R. L. T. Beale,
‘I 8. Bocock, K. K Meade, R. A. Thompson, W. G.
Brown,
North Caroli.n., —J. R. J. Daniel, A. YV'. Vena
ble
Booth Carolina*— A. F. Buffer, J. C. Calhoun,
A Burt, l. E. Holies, R. B. Rhett, R. F\ Simpson,
D. Wallace, T. A. Woodward.
Georgia. —ll. V Johnson.
Tennessee —H. T. Turney, FP. Stanton.
Alabama —VV'. i King, If F’ltzpairick, John Gayle,
S. VV . Harris, B. V. luge, T. VV. Bowdon.
Mississippi. —Jet Davis. H. S Poole, A. G. Brown,
VV. S F'eatherstonjP. VV. Thompkiiis, J. Thompson.
Louisiana —S. l) Downs, Emtlie Lcsere, JohuH.
Harinonson, T. E Morse.
Missouri —D. R Atchinson.
Arkansas. — B. Hum land, VV. K. Sebastian, R. W.
Johnson.
Florida.—D. L.Yulee.
Texas. — Timotjy Pillsbury.
Z Bishop Done of New Jeisey, has had anoth
er severe attack of illness; supposed to be a relapse
from the attack that he had lately recovered from.
Mas. Fanny Kimble Butler, is giving
Sliaksperian readings in Boston. She commenced the
p!) of the Tempest. This is her first public appear
ance tor a number of years in this country.
A late official in California, writing to his
friends in N- w York. says that iii3 letter, including
paper, pen, ink, and time spent in writing, cost hin
about ij>3l)t).
The Legislature of Pennsylvania without dis
sent lias passed un act,allowing the w idow of the late
Gov. Shunk $1,557, being the amount of salary from
the date ol bis resignation to the 16th of the present
month.
B is stated thatthe vote by which Gen. Cass
was eleeted United {states Senator from Michigan, was
41 lor to 36; gainst. No lesstnan22 democrats voted
with the Wing members against him.
SggT” “ If it wasn’t for hope the heart would break,”
as toe woman said when she buni and tier seventh hus
band and looked anxiously among the funeral crowd
for another.
g£*~ The New York Mirror, determined not to be
outdone by gold news.on Monday started a rumor that
Gen. Taylor was on Ins way to that city ltorn New
Orleans, in the steamship Faxon.
A letter from Curacou states that Gen. Paez
has called a war steamer, employed to blockade Mura
caibo, by the double name of Andrew Jackson Buena
V tela.
1 It is announced in the New York Christian
Adc tcale of the 11th inst that a joint stock company
of inn is now forming in New York, to consist ol mem
bers pf the Methodist Episcopal Chinch, to go to Cali
fornia. •
2 #” A Paris caricature represents Louis Philippe
receiving a kick from Lamartine, who is receiving one
from Cuvuignac, who tain kicked’ by Loui6
Nopoleon ; and then comes a scroll, ** To be continu
ed ” . ; •
MACON, GEORGIA. ;
WEDNESDAY. FEB. 7, 1848.
Notice to Subscribers.
Messrs Thomas B. Gouldisg and John P. Harvey j
are the authorized Travelling Agents of the Journal
Messenger, and as such are warmly commended toou r
friends throughout the State. They will attend the
Courts of the sevaral counties lor the purpose of collect
ing the debts due the Finn, and persons in arrears are
utgently requested to make prompt payment.
To l'ost Masters.
In two or three instances, since we purchased the
Albany Courier , Post Masters have relumed
through the mails, the paper, without specifying the
Post Otiice to which it was sent, or the reason for rc
\ turning it. Tin 3 puts us ton great deal of trouble, as
| 1 compels us frequently to search over between three
] and four thousand names, in order to ascertain who
it is that wisho to discontinue. Besides, this is not a
I legal notice. The net of 18*25, section 30, says:
“ In every instance in which newspapers are not ta
ken out.fo/ the persons to to horn they are sent, Post
Masters will give immediate notice of it to the pub—
i lisher, adding the reason, if known, why they are not
taken out.”
The mere return ot a newspaper is not a notice, and
the Post Master sending it thus, violates the law The
act clearly intends that the notice be given by letter,
because in that form, it is much more certain to reach
the publisher, than when transmitted upon a loose pa
per, which is so liable to be mislaid or lost. Besides, :
we greatly question whether a Post Master has any
right to return papers, because the law distinctly pro
vides, that if not stopped within three months after
notice has been given, the papers shall be sold for the
postage. To s> nd them back, therefore, defrauds the
Government of the postage, and is, of course, a viola
tion ol the spirit, if not the letter of the law. These
errors, we have no doubt, are unintentional, and we
have been thus particular in stating the law, that Post
Masteis may understand its import, and their liabilities
under it. We are always happy to be informed when i
papers are not taken out, or when the parties are in
solvent, as we do not desire to send a single issue to
an y one who does not desiie it, or who is not able and
willing to pay lor it. All we ask is, that the notice
may he given in legal iOtm,so that we may understand
it.
General Taylor’s Family.
The immediate family of Gen. Taylor, consisting of
Mrs. Taylor, Col. W. W. S. Bliss and Lady,and Maj.
Hunter and Lady, left this city on Monday morning
i last.cn route, tor Washington City. They were escort
ed from Barnesville by the Mayor and a Committee of
gentlemen, and took lodgings at the Washington Hall.
In obedience to the generally expressed wish of the
Committee and Citizens. His Honor, the Mayor, ad
dressed to Col. Biissthe following note :
MACON, Feby. 4th 1849.
Con. W. W. S. Buss, U. S. A.
Sm—ln behalf of the citizens of Macon, who under
standing you had arrived in town, are disirous of mani
festing their peisonal legald for you, and of giving
some testimony of the high estimation in which they
view your services in the Army of the Union, I take
pleasure in conveying to you the very general wish of
all, that you together with your family and friends,
should remain among us, at least one day, and partake
of the hospitalities o! the city, leioie proceeding on
your journey to Washington.
I also beg leave to add in behalf of myself, assurances
ol individual respect and esteem.
GEO. M. LOGAN, Mayor.
To this invitation Col. Bliss returned the following
reply :
MACON, Feb. 4, 1849.
His Honor, George M. Logan,
Mayor of the City:
Dear Sir : 1 have the pleasure to acknowledge ihe
receipt ol your note of this date, tendering to the party
with which lam travelling, the hospitalities ot your
city, and kindly expressing a w ish in behalf of the citi
zens, that we should remain one day with you..
On behalf of our party and for myself. 1 beg you to
accept our sincete thanks for your kind invitation.—
\k! .. nil Imply appiermte me irsprci onu • ..-
ing which it conveys, and regret the more that the
necessity ot continuing out journey will not permit us
to accept it, and tiius see more of your thriving city,
and become better acquainted with its hospitable in
habitants. I am, with high respect,
Your ob’t serv’t.
W. W. S. BLISS'.
It was a matter of deep regret to our whole commu
nity, that the previ< us arrangements of the party, com
pelled tliem to decline the invitation. Hundreds were
anxious to pay their respects to the family ol the old
Hero, and to have an opportunity of doing honor to one,
who next to the General himself, has won the grati
tude and admiration of the American People. Col.
Bliss is a plain .unpretending gentleman,ofpre-eminent
attainments,and admirable social qualities. He isjust
such a person as would gain the confidenceand esteem
ot Gen. Taylor. To a pure heart and a clear head, he
has added a manner at once frank and cordial. He is
admirably calculated to till the station ot Private Sec
retary to the President; and we have no doubt that,
next to his amiable and accomplished lady, he will he
the “ bright particular star” at the White House. The
party arrived solely ill Savannah on Monday evening,
and were to leave last night in one of the Daily Steam
ers for Charleston. They will probably remain one
day in Charleston, and one in Richmond, and arrive iu
Washington about the l‘2th instant.
Thomas Ilutler Kin?:.
The Springfield (Mass.) Republican states that this
gentleman is a native of Palmer, Massachusetts. We
have seen the same statement in other papers, but it is
wholly incorrect. Mr King is a native of Wyoming
Valley Pennsylvania and descended from a long line
of patriotic ancestry. Col. Butler after whom he is
named was the leader of the patriots in the celebra
ted massacre which has given Wyoming a name in
both History and Poetry.
Advantages of Advertising.
A gentleman in Alabama a few weeks since for
warded us ail advertisement offering for sale a planta
tion and negroes near Mo die. In a subsequent letter
enclosing us the amount of Ins account, he says ;“from
the number ofapplications received from Georgia— sixty
or more —l should infer that the entire population of
your noble State were ready to move —if not to Califor
nia, at least to Alabama .”
What a practical illustration is here given of the
advantages of advertising. Ilad our Alabama friend
been content to offer his plantation for sale in a private
way, he might have had two or three customers and
probab'ysold out at two-thirds of the price finally ob
j tained. What is true in this case is equally true oi the
merchant who offers his goods for sale. Without a system
of advertising he may do tolerably well—he may sell
for instance one half, or two thirds as many goods as if
he were to advertise; but he will be compelled to charge
higher profits in order to support his family and
consequently must drive offhis customers to those who
do advertise, who consequently do a larger business
and can afford to sell cheaper. The smaller a man's
means the greater the necessity of bis advertising; f< r
it is the most certain and effectual way of increasing I
: his business. More than one House in Macon can !
amply testify to the coiteclness of these truths.
Large M ater Melons.
Mr. George Walker of Pulaski county has furnish
ed us with a lew seed from a Water Melon which
weighed fifty six pounds. Mr. Walker informs us that
many of the melons which he raised last year weighed
over forty pounds. They were planted in a sandy soil ,
which had been cow-penned. The hills wem about
15 feet apart and prepared as follows:—Holes were
sunk in the ground about 14 inches square and 14 inc h- •
es deep These were filled about two-thirds full of
well rotted manure which was covered with loose com.
post. In this the seed were planted. The vines were
afterwards kept clear ol weeds and occasionally hoed
The culture was doubtless good and and the seed
line hut the product exceeds anything we have ever
heard of. Mr. Walker thinks tint the ilivor was not
at all impaired by the mammoth growth of the fruit.
Plaster of Paris in Cherokee.
The Cassville Pioneer of the 24th ult. states that Cos,
tShackellbrd of Cass has discovered a bed of gypsum
(Plaster of Paris) in th- county of Walker. Its sttua
lion is immediately oil the Western and Atlantic Rail*
road near Ringgold. The bed has the appearance of
being an acre, and is, eight feet thick near the outcrop,
and lies so as to be quarried from the surface, only re
moving the soil.
The Aiajou and Western Hua i.
Isaac Soott, Esq., the President of the Macon and I
Western Company, immediately on hearing of the ap- t
proach of Gen. Taylor's family, very properly tender
ed to Col. Bliss the use of an extra train in which to
convey the distinguished guests from Barnesville lo
this City. The offer was accepted, anJ the service ■
was performed in a manner which reflected the highest
honor upon the Company. The entire distance from j
Barnesville to Macon, forty-one miles, was run in
one hour and twenty minutes. We need scarcely
add, that the Engine used on the occasion, was the
“ Rough and Ready,” and that this trip is only an avi
dence of what can he don? by a road w hich is properly
atrd carefully managed.
The Southern Address.
The address ol Mr. Calhoun to the southern people
will be found in our columns to-day. That of Mr.
Berrien Will be given next week, together with the
Journal of the Convention and the yeas and nay 9 on
the several propositions before the body. The latter
address was adopted by the sub-committee but rejected
by a few votes in the general committee.
There are 121 Southern Senators and Representa
tives in Congress—7s Democrats, and 46 wliigs. Ot
these, 15 have signed Mr. Calhoun’s address —being
only a little more than one third of the wFiole number.
The movement therefore has lost its moral force and
must be reg tided as a failure to unite the South. The
whole question will probably pass over to Gen. Tay
lor ’sadministration and we feel confident that it will
be by him adjusted so as to guard the tights of the
South and perpetuate the Union.
Telegraph to Atlanta.
At a late meeting of the Stockholders of the Macon
Sc Western Branch Telegraph Company, held in the
city ol Griffin Emerson Foote, Esq. was chosen Pres
ident, Reuben Cone, Richard Peters, Miles G. Dobbins
and B. E. Beman, Directors.
The work of erecting the posts has already been
commenced and it is supposed that the line will he in
operation in two or three months.
The Nashville Subscription.
The Supreme Court of Tennessee has decided that
the city of Nashville has the right to subscribe for stock
in the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. So that
there is an end of the matter here, the case having been
determined as it was generally supposed it would be.
Political Movement.
The New Orleans Crescent of the 31st ult says:
We understand Alexander C. Bullitt, ot the Picayune,
J. P. Benjamin, Wnt. L. Hodge, of die Bulletin, Cuth
bert Bullitt, Balie Peyton, and several other gentlemen,
left the city yesterday, to join Gen. Taylor at his plan
tation, and accompany him the whole or a part of hi 9
journey to Washington.
Edinb urgh Review.
\Ve are indebted to Messrs. L. Scott &, Cos. of New
York for their admirable reprint of this periodical for
October. The table of contents is very full and the
subjects treated of are deeply, absorbingly interesting.
It has often occurred to us that professional and bus
iness men would find it a great economy of time anti
money to subscribe to these Republications ol the
Foreign Quarteily Reviews and to other similar A
merican works. The articles are generally prepared
by men ofletsure and learning. They are, in many
cases, reviews ot valuable Books and embrace their
substance ; consequently the business or professional
man whose avocations restrict his time tor reading can
keep pace w ith the ptpgt ess ot science and literature
without the expenditure of either the time or money in
curred by those who depend upon Books. I hey can
here procure the very quintescence of the best works
issued front the press. Messrs Scott &. Cos. for in
stance, publish The London Quarterly Heriew, The
Edinburgh Review, The fiiorth British heview,
The Westminister Review and Blackwood's Edin
burgh Magazine.
These Reviews embrace everything that isvaluabe
in Lt.gl.tdi L u tfctuieand give a vety full teaol he
Liteiature and politics of the continent. They are
published at the low late o. §3; tor a single Review ;
$5, tor any two; $7, lor any three; or §lO per year, lor the
* x t - .™ . ■ .... m—
ter,or private gentleman can be well inlonned unless
he has access to tluse valuable wi tks.
The Monthly Miscellany.
This is a Religious and Literary Review and Month
ly Register ot discoveries and impicvements in the arts
and sciences, By Joseth Baker formerly Editor of tire
Christian Index. As Mr. Baker had long been a
favorite ot outs we turned at 01.ee to the editorialcol
unmsand found m the leading article the following
noble sentiments :
“ There are sufficient reasons, independent of the
“ vexed question ” of s laxeiy, why southern men
should patron ize southern publications. Better pay
dear for t ruih than receive errors as a free gift. —
Northern publishers are not so much in fault as are
southern readers.”
These noble sentiments we expected lo have seen
carried out in the publication. The reader can imag
ine our surprise at finding on examination that the
Miscellany itself was an emanation from a northern
press, being primed in the city of Philadelphia !Now
we must respectfully suggest that if the Reverend ed
itor is correct m his posit ion its iruthiullness and force
are equally as applicable to southern printers as to
southern preachers and southern writers. The men
who earn their bread by the “ sweat of their brow ”
are just as much entitled to southern protection as
those who live by thcexercise ol the tongue and pt n.
Law Reporters.
We see by the Alabama Journal that Nathaniel
W. Cocke otTuskeegee, formerly of Georgia, has been
elected reporter by the Supreme coutt vice Judge Or
mond resigned.
We have also learned that Thomas W. Cobb Esq. of
Athens has been elected Reporter by the Supreme
Court of Georgia vice James M. Kelly deceased.
Hines’- of Col. Preston.
The Columbia Daily Telegraph ot the 27th inst. an
nounces the dangerous illness ot the Hon. William C.
Preston, President of the South Carolina College. Col.
Preston’s death at this moment would be truly a na
tional calamity. As an orator, statesman, and scholar
the has scarcely an equal in the Union andhe is almost
he only man in the nation now occupying the position of
President of a Literary Institution who is premine ntlu
qualified to mould the mind and manners of the rising
generation. He is at once the model of a man —a
gentleman and statesman, and we he fondly hop
ed to see him allotted to some high and favorite po
sition under the new Administration. May his life yet
be spared to his country and his race.
A Cheering Propseet.
We have repeatedly expressed our confidence that
Gen. Taylor would be enabled to adjust the slavery
question satisfactorily to all parties. Recent develop
ments in Congress strengthen this conviction. The
Northern and Western Whigs have no idea of en- i
dangering the existence of the Union by rash and im
prudent legislation. The recent speech of Mr.
Thompson of Indiana in the House of Representatives
will go for to allay excitement even at the South. We 4
clip the following notice of this speech from th ■ Wash
ington correspo tdence of the Baltimore Patriot:
“ I trust I do no injustice to the other able and elo
quent debaters in the House, when I declare that
Richard W. Thompson is, in my judgment, deciJediy
the first speaker, or orator, in that body, ft has fie
quently been my orovitice, pride and pleasure to speak
of him, in my correspondence, in terms ot commenda
tion. Always able anJ eloquent when he addresses
the House, which is but seldom, he was to day, it pos
sible, more so than ever He enchained the attention
of the members generally, and a large crow I of listen
ers in die lobbies and gilleres, and thrilled the hearts
of ad who listeueJ to tits patriotic sentiments.
“ He rebuk"d the agitators upon that liror both from
the North and the South. lie rebuked all, from w! at
ever quarter they imgnt come,who were for calculating
the value of the Union. He rebuked the Democracy
upon that li.ior, tor forcing the House intoa vote on the
Gott resolutions. He declared that the people at home
were patriotic, calm and caul, while their representa
tives were uneasy,restless and ambitious. He alluded .
to the acquisition ot California, and th • vast deposites
of gold said to have been discovered there, and said
if it were ten thousand times as valuable as represent
ed, it should not weigh a feather’s weight whea com
pared with the integrity of the Union. He counselled
cooiness and moil era lion in tiie settlement ot the
great questions which were coming up, ad said he
trusted tn God that the time was near at hand, when
the Executive of this noble Union would lie actuated ;
iv profound wts.lnm anJ the most pure and
influences. He alluded to the fact that he hit ° ,ic
been born and reared in ihe South,tin Vio-i ~- : 11,1
his home, his sympathies and affecti..!-,* i 3t
Notth ; and said it mattered not upon what ij
of ground a man was born or found his Lome S|M
an American citizen, the whole Unton was hi*-7 ***
to cherish, and lo revere. The peroration „| ? ‘ Ve *
which I cannot describe, was well delivered ■'t ’
effective. The whole speech was worthy of tj”
It was such an effort as Patrick Henry, were “
living, would take patriotic delight u,
The California Emigrants.
The New-York Herald contains a list 0 f ,; v
I sels which have sailed from the various \ua ,• r *
for California, since the 7th of December
number of passengers earned by each, gi v ; n , In , f
lowing aggregate : e ‘ u^*
For San Francisco direct, in 80 vessel?
Via the San Juan, in one vessel, * - -4.4 .5
Via Vera Cruz, in two vessseis,
Via the Brazos, in two vessels,
Via Chagres, in 14 vessels,
j
Total thus far, i 99 vessels .-7-
1 The Editor says:-“ It will appear, therefore .J
from the 7th ot December last to the present time fi
thousand seven hundred and ninety gold-aeekcrs k,
left the United States, in various way?, who, it tfo .
succeed in reaching their destination, will sw e /
number of adventurers at ihe ‘diggings.; to n.-
| twenty thousand persons; and this number, adu.
I those who have probably left Oregon, tbe sfondw v
| islands, Mexico, Peru, &c., will make an agg*
thirty thousand.* = ” 0
The Herald further states that there are now up ,„ r
California, one hund,ed and fifty vessels,
prohahfy carry out eight thousand more emigrant* 1
ts thus rendered highly probable, that ma iweiveiaonjt
from the present time,California will contain a: ,
one hundred thousand emigrants from the Stated ‘ ,
of the Rocky Mountains.
A Soldiers Honor.
Gen. Wool,as was anticipated, refuses to sanction
the attempt of certain writers to make him
the real hero of Buena Vista. The Troy Post say.
“ On the occasion of Gen. Wool’s return home w
; on board the 6teamer Hendrick Hudson, on for
| up (rom New York, a gentleman ofiered as a sen;
mem—‘The health of the Hero of Buena Vista. t,- n
Wool.’ At this time among his personal friends,if
license in the language of admiration and praise snoQij
be excused, Gen. Wool seized upon the opportune to
pass the highest eulogiunr upon Gen. Taylor's e:, 3r .
j acterand conduct,and to utterly disclaim anypreten
sionsof his own. He concluded his remarks by ofe
| mg, “General Zachary Taylor, tbe Hero of Buena Vs
ta.”
New California State Hill.
Mr. Douglass has introduced into the Sennre n now
Bill for tht*admission of California,as a state, i otbr
Union. It is trained purposely to obviate the constitu
tional objections urged against his first Bill by the Ju
diciary committee in the Report presented by Mr Bn
rien. The New Bill contains the followingptovi-ions
Ist. That Congress give its assent to the coinin': in
of California as a State ot this Union, trolu and alter
the 4th of July next.
2d. That the actintjgovernor ofthe territory in the
meantime call a convention for tbe purpose of iiamiii?
| a constitution and establishing a State goveri n mt.
3d. That the laws of the United States be ext*',tied
j over it, and the State be allowed one repre-ema;:.?
in Congress, (of course, independent ot two Seine
South Western Ha tin ad.
We have been politely favored by some frei. w.i
1 a pamphlet report showing the condition of .i.>n
puny, and the pn gi ss made in the con-m.,
road. We however gave some ol tbe pstui. e
ported last week. We may on amuim tor
sion, enlarge on the important results !■:
from the enterprise when completed. .Suffice it
for the present when we say that its picsp - are
reported to be flattering, and we do not be ne ■ .1:
its friends can lie too zealous in iheirefforts luti ,u
early completion. That it will be tbe medium u se
j “••■J transporting to our Atlantic market an n
- quantity ot produce ihat iioh finds iis way 0
the Gull, as well a s being made thegreutlhurou.’ -
ol travel from North to South, we have not f t a m<>-
nient ever doubted. Fate has so decreed it. L ?
.needs push it ahead and reap at an early period .be h.r
vest that awaits them. Savannah, it will beserit, •
a live to her interest and properly appreciates this*
rerprise. She w ill largely participate in ttsadvanta;-*
So. Urmia
Singular Case.
A man named Wm Dunn, the overseer oil's
Dunn, ot Chambers Cos. Ala. was missing from *
plantation, together with a tregio girl, on the 23rdDrr
He was followed Mr. Joshua Smith, who afier a
tedious and persevering search traced him to tbe la
of Baldwin and Hancock counties where he toe
rested on the 2d inst and the negro found conceaK-
He attempted to escape, ran to a house, seized a n
attempted to shoot himself out foiled. He theoetr.s*
| throat with his knife ; but did not succeed in dec •
j ing himself. He isnow in Baldwin jail and
carried to Alabama tor trial as soon as his condition
1 permit.
Savannah and Charleston Market*.
We transfer to our columns the subjoined rerrzS
of the Hamburg Journal,of the 25th inst.
At no period since the opening of our Ra il-Rosd sos
Charleston to this place has there been so much Com
shipped from this place and Augusta to Savannah
has been this season. The wharves on both fid**®
our river, have been literally covered with this art**®
for the past two months ; and now at the time ot **■
ting thousands of bales are laying on the Aujcsß
wharves in view of our office awaiting transport:^!
“This arises from two causes, viz: The high rat* 1 ®
transportation charged by our Rail-Road on Co!’ ’-|
Charleston and the superior facilities offered
nah for trans-shipment to Northern ports, and' l
rope. To this, we are informed, may he addec I
superiority of Savannah over Charleston as a Co~W
mart. I
“We were not aware, until informed a few day?A
that shipments of Cotton to Savannah this season
this place and Augusta, have unifoimlv made t* I
returns than those that have been made to Chsr f ” I
This arises not so much from the superiority ot p I
in the former market, but from the fact, that
on the article are much less in that place. 1
I “ Savannah is making rapid strides. andi s ra ;;r ’ I
| in wealth and comme-cia! importance. As
!we may mention, that the receipts of cotton s: I
( port, are greater by 100.000 hales up to this r n ’ f I
for the same period last year. Chatlpston shorn |
| be behind her sister in this race to wealth and e~ n I
If she persists, however, in her present supine 1
; apathy. Savannah will outstrip h p r ; and “ ■
plod along in the same oi l conventional and si- K
ie style for which only she has heretofore been ■
’ guished.
! “We make these remarks for the purpose ot c
the attention of those interested : and not to ■
any private ends of our own. A feeYm ■
pride alone prompts ns to allude thus public!) 1 ■
state of facts.” ■
Ripe Strawberries-
The Tallahassee Sentinel of the 23rd nit- *’ • ■
i there were at that date ripe strawberries in T< ■
Verily, neighbor Sentinel, they must havt ’ r^w " fn .-1
ladies lips ; for surely Florida cannot snrpa* B
and even the Piets have not yet in’ I
Paradise affords ripe Strawberries in January I
A Model Speech. . J
Jellachieh, the Ban ofCrotia, 1
: enthusiastic public reception at Pa >n ■
! for a speech. made the following . tfn* r
| “ Gentlemen, there has b-en to much ‘_ a K ‘
! dy ; it is my part to act. If less had he^ n> ’’ 1 , n
| done, there would have been l e3S ut.a ~ I
I world.” . , c . f, a vf trru^B
It may be well to add that Jellaeiiu •-’ r\ .-.fl
| this speech before he could have seen fl
’ message.— Boston Tran.
Cleaning Tree*. fIe Jl
Trees and Vines winch arc • J m
jest, bear the best; like the 10 ‘ w ,j, ..ir'-l
pores of their skin become c W Tr ,,l
, and retain gases which oU ‘‘
! the bark of which has been F vjgor ou
j bed become more thriving 3 |! I