Newspaper Page Text
(Times ant) feentinel.
OuLUMtiUis, UEUIUjIA.
SATURDAY LVIKING, JUNE 16, 1855
FOR GOVERNOR.
IlfiHiClliSE V. JJIIVSJX.
FoR CO.NGRES
ht l>iMric%J'tm > it. Nmard, of Thomis.
31. Jitme* |. Smithy ul’ jpsoa.
4*h *• J Drain Wumih.
. r .h “ Juo. 11. Lijni km.
C ii unwell Cobb, ul Clarke.
CongreKvional ( mivenUtm* District.
W@ suggest that the Democrati'c Cubgief-MOnal Conven
tion lor the Second Dutiict bo held at Ameiieus, on Wed
m*da>, 11th July next. The Supreme Court will be in
se*'io i at that lime in Americas. What aay our Demo
eratic coteniporaries to this tujrgestion ’ Ihe time and
place oujjht to bo agreed upon at once. wtwtd.
n V Q'les’ion f*r Deniuc atic Editors.
Now, what we want to know i~ this: Is there a eingle
Democratic t d.tor in *itoi*.i ■, v\hi> i.- u<>w r aly and wnl
ing to pledge Inin ell to a .vocaie Utie dr-rupiiou < t all tne
ties that bind Iho Stale ol Geo-uia to the Union, ’ when
Congress stud eject Kansas on account ui slavery I—Cdi
i er ot>ne.
There certainly i* one E litor in G orgia who i3 now
and aiw.i.a hub e.i ready and wiling “to p edge hn>
g* ll’ to advocate tne daiuption ot n 1 ti s that bind tli
S.a e ot Georgia to the Union when (J mgr* ss shall re
jet Kaunas on account of slaveiy.’’ ’i Ilia pledge we
have given time and again and now repeat without res
ervaiion or q evocation. Not only *, bjt as we un
der-tand tlie position taken by the weniocratio party
iu Convention at M lledg. ville on the sth inst., tin
whole paity Entors and all, arc to the rams
course. The Cirner Stone totally misapprehends the
intent and purpose of tile dd resolution ot the Plailorm
ol the Georgia Democracy. Ii was not and signed to
wtaken the 4th r b lution of the Georgia Platform, but
to give aim aud point to it. The Kansas question had
arisen since that Platform was emend. Ii was deemed
important, then lore, to apply to it specifically that
I’lau.e of tin Geoigia Plaltol iii w hit h no lam! it to tie
the duiy ol Geoigia to ieri.-t t ven, as a last resort, t< a
disruption of the Union,‘"any letusal to admit as a Stale
any l' rritory heieatirr apply mg, b'cause of the exis
t* nee of sla* ery But* in.” S ich we know was the
object ol the buildeis of the Platform of the Gtorgii
Democracy and such will be the action of the Georgia
D -umcracy, when t!-o tune lor action ai rives. The
Corner Stone may, therefore, dismiss us fears as to the
com st- ot the Geoig>a Democracy. I hey* are s >imiil to
the lieai t’se re up *n the gr< at sectional ie-u*s >nv
pending b tween the North and South. Tiuy have a
hope that with the aid ol those good and wue IK'ime
cruts at ihe North, who have always shown themselves
loyal to the constitution, that Knsas will be admilied
a a slave Suite, if she shout 1 apply for admission in
taat obar toier an I therefore insist upon k eping up party
relations with them lor the present ; but if this hope
snail prove ab -rtive, they are pledged to strike for inde
pendence, what v-r may be the opinion* of ‘*a distin
tiuguislied aid very intljenual Democrat * If, however,
the North shoul I relent, in view of a threat ned disco
lution, itiAdalmii Km* is. we shoo and, of corn a advocate
a peaty; and this we presume is all tne Mistin/u shed
aid vI- ry intii-nti.il D**m *era /’ referred t • by the
Corner S ot' , p in nt to alii in.
c<>n the Comer Stone say as much if the new
patty it is attempting to form m G. orgia? We *8
pecifdly oounnetid to the a teuton of the Corner Stone
the tod owing paragraph wh'uli we * x rad from llie
Chronide if* Suuiuel , o ie of ti e Dating nigum of the
new par y. 1i an ar.nl • headed Fourth of July Con
tention the Chronicle j- Sentinel sajs:
•’ fins is h gr*a, a nuoD w*n k, worthy to enlist the
b st eii* r ics and g eat* st m utal ett’irts of ev ry pa
trot in the State. We repeat, t|;er*fre, send up
pour dtlegat* * ; n* led the b. at, the purest men; men
yledged 10 ihe support of those great conservative p'in
ciplr-s proclaim and by the constructors of the Georgia
platform They are the true prineipl sos the Consti
tution and the Union. Nay, mo e; repudiate in your
a* lection of and legates all sect one ism. and i the Coa
ven ion should incorporate in its plaif>rm any sectional
feature, wasli your hauls o*’ the o •ncern at oi ce and
Jot ever. This is the only true ai.d pit rim io course.”
I-i this the feast the Corner Stone prop >*• s to spread
on the 4'h July ? All sectionalism must be repo (ha
ted 7 What will brother B thuue find to lux taste in
such a hcii.d ?
Fizz e No 1.
The Response of Sumter to the Columbus Movement.
According to previous notice, as \v* Darn from th,
Sumpter Republican, ihe jitiz.-n* of Sumter assembled
at Ann ricus an the D.h inst, t j take into consideration
the, so c ill and Cos! unbus M •vement, fur the f >rnmtinn of
anew Party. Robert C J -ukius was called to the
Chair, aud Adam ll Brown appointed S* cretary. N.
Mcßaiu, fcj i] , Chairman ot the Committee of thirteen,
appointed at a previous uieetdig, to prep ire matter for
the cm s deration of the people, reported a seri-s of
esolu ions setting forth that the formation of a sectional
party at this time would be injurious to Southern in
terests, and ad vrsing all patriots aud Southerners irre
spective of fomn r party alliances, to give a liea> ty sup
port to the platform and nominees of the Dcin >cratio
par-y.
Mr. Wi 1 s A. Hawkins, a member *>f the Commi tee,
olf-red, as a sub-'.i ute, a pr.-a nble and resolutions
recogn zing the necessity of the format on of anew j
Party, “not sectional or disunion in its character” for ]
the defence of the pe- u!iar rights of th * S >uth. The ’
leportof the C'linmitt* e was sustained 11. M More, and 1
N. iMcßain, E-qs. T. e substitute ofTe-ed by Mr. Haw- j
kins was sustain and by W. A. Hawkins, H 11. McC y, i
an ! dona Davis, E qs.
•Juo B Worrell E q . then moved th“ previous quea 1
ti>>n which was lost. Ihe substitute was then up i
nI en Mr. H. M More arise at and proceed* and to ad dr* ss
the Convention, but give wav to a motion to srj >urn.
oil r*d by 11. Ii L S *rre!i, Esq., which was cairied ;
an*l the meeting disperse! without taking any aeti n
up-ti the resolutions or npp inting dJ gates to the
4ih of July Convention.
Democratic Convention-Four li Distric'.
The Convention assemble*! at Newnan on the 12 th
hist. On the 4th ballot, Hiram Warner wis nominated
as the Ciindidato of Democratic party for 0 ngrrss in
the 4ih district, having received ‘2’*7 votes out of 29?
cist. Oa the 3 1 ballot, Lotlor J. Glenn received 14
votes. On the Ist and 21 ballots, L J. Gartrell re
ceived OU votes On tlie Ist, 3d and 4.h ballots, A
Nelson received 3<J vot< s.
Resolutioi a were abound approving the platform ot
principles adop'ed by the 8a e Coiivt ntion, pledging
the party in the 4'h district to ssupp >rt 11. V. J <hns n
fir G ivernor, and thanking the jlon. W. B, W, D*.ut
for his patriotic cvui sc iu the laai
Democratic Convention—Fifth Dtstric •
We aie indebted to the Casscille Standard for an
extra containicg the prcc* e.img of ihe Democratic Con
gtes-ional Convention htld at Calhoun on the I‘2 h int.
Hon. John II l.umpktu wa elected the candidate ol
the party for Congiess on the Ii st ballot. Resolutions
wi re pass’ <1 approving the plaif*nn of princip’eß adopt
ed by the ritaio Convention aud p'edg ng the Detnoc
racy of ihe bth district to the cordial support of 11. V
Johnson.
Flare up in the National Convention.
Philadelphia, June 4th.
Fifty-three out of eighty fur d* legates troni twelve
free S*ates, have reced'd from the American Conven
tion, in cotiseq't- tsce ot the adoption of a plaiiorm on
the subject of Slaveiy, national iu its character.
Removal of Gov. Reeder and other Officials of Kansas
’1 mitory.
Washington June 12. 1853.
The administration is so ely puzzled with Governor
R eder’a case ll is i ndersloud now tlsat he will be
lemoved forthwith unless he resigns, which he ia un
.villmg to d>. His Associate Judges, Johnson aud El
more. ami the District Attorney, wll also go by the
board. Thia couree was determined on to-day by the
Bi* anient. The Kmsas L gislalure meets on 2d ol
J uly.
New Hampshire SanaCrs.
Concord, June 14.
The Senate of New Hampshire have elected James
B 11 for the long term, and John P. Hale for tlu* short
one.
Acknowledgments.— W e are to R. J. i
Moses, E-q , for a number of apricots grown on hi*
giounda near Columbus, for which he will accept our
thanks. Mr. P* abody will please accept out thanks for
an uncommonly large watermelon.
Articles Deferred —We are compelled by the
length ol the coir*spotidence between Governor John-
P oii and Major Howard, which we publish in lull to-day,
to defer, until our tuxt issue, st-verai communications,
e-iitorials and inteiesting new* items to a subsequent
i issue. The d< lay is unavoidable. The letter of Gov
| ernor Johnson is a very able r* ply to the Columbus
| movement and will amply repay perusal,
Muscogee Superior C> ukt. —In the eas® of the
State vi. William Stmffoer, charged with the murder of
William A. Lynn, the jury returned a verdict of “not
gtriity” on the 16th inst.
Columbus Movement Meeting. —Tha new Party
met in Temperance Hall, Saturday 16.11, to send dele
gates to the 4th July Convention. Very spirited ad
divane* w.ib made by Messrs. B. Y- Martin, Win. 11.
Mitchell, B. A. Thornton and G. E. Thomas. The
time of holdmg the State Convention was deferred until
Bth August. M< ssrs. Howard, Mitchell, Dougherty,
Johnson and Gunby were appointed delegates to th*
deferred Convention. We have no time to notice the
proceedings of the me ting. We will refer to them
herea ter. Denunciations of the D m ‘cracy and eulogy
of the Know No.hings were th staple of the speeches we
heard.
Merc r Univertity. —B- A. Thornton, Esq , oi Co
’ lumbar, will deliver the Literary Address before the. Societies
j of Mercer Uaiversiiy, Penfield, Ga ,on the evening of Com
men cement, he last Wednesday in July next.
’ Operation of the Ma<sachuset 8 Liquor Law. - ‘o°Pph
Wilde has been convict*d, in the Lawrence police couit of
j selling brand > on Sunday, three tint *&, to two persons
j fined SlO, and .-ent to the ho ise of correction for 140 days;
He is now serving out his sentence.
The Fugitive S ave Law in Connecticut —A bill de
manding the repeal ol the Fugitive Slave lsw wa j voted
down in the Connecticut Senate last Tuesday. Mr. Terry
of Norwalk, in opposing the bill, or rather the amend
ment, which include I the anti-fugit*ve slave saw clause
I said th t “he was willing the North should go t® the verge
! of the Con tituiion, but ho wai not prepared to invite adi -
I solution of the Union.”
ONE WEEK LATER FROM EUROPE.
ARRIVAL 0F TUF
STEAMSHIP ATLANTIC.
New York, Jun* 10.
Th 1 steamer Atlantic has arrived at this poF', wi’h L ver
pool dates to June ‘I and being one week’s later advices than
| loose brought by the Africa.
j iVlullegan’s Cucular says that the war news is important,
and the Cotton market active with a speculative demand.—
P.iee- have adva iced k a pent y.
i Sales of iha week, 152.500 biles Speculators took 86,-
0 )0, Exporters s,Out) Sale- on Friday 20,000, halt ot which
■ went to tne trade Market closed steady. •
Quotations—Fair Orleans, ?£ ; Middling 6 1 16.
| Mock in port 520 000 bales, in luding 332 000 American.
Breach-tuffs arr generally unchanged Closed dull.—
: Piovi-ion* steady. Slight advance. Naval stores active
and i nchai ged.
Money is easier.
Consols adva iced to 925.
American Stocks active, with slight advan’e.
The Allies have taken Kench between the sea of Azoff
and the Black Sea Also, the Russian camp at Tarkome
va, besides heir success before Sevastopol.
SECOND DISPA l CK.
Additi cal Intelligent).
O i the nights of the 22 id ad 23rd of last month, the j
French drove the Russians from an important position be- ;
fore Savastop >!,called Piace d’Artnee.
Tlie ki led and wounded on both sides during the engage ;
nieot, 8,000. Tne French retained the position
i’ne Allies sei/.ed and retained tha Russian line of de- j
fences on the Tehernaya with scarcely a battle, the Rus- \
sians retreating to the h Us. - j
A secret expedition of 20.000 man and 14 steamers took •
the fortress of Kertcn. ’1 he Russians blew up their own |
magazines on both sides of the straits and sunk 4 steamers j
and 30 bansp rt-.
Haifa million sacks of hread-t’ fls were elso destroyed. ■!
’! he Allies now have It steamers in the sea ot Azo'ff
Tne Allies aEo destroyed the Russian Magazines in the ;
inland town of Arob.it—also a shot shell toundery near j
Ketch.
As the Sevasto n| garrison draw most ot thsir supplies !
from thesaa of Azoff, it is proba’de that th< fad of Kertch )
and the occupation o the sea ot Azof!” will be speedily tol- |
lowed by their intluence upon the seige.
It was rumoied at Palis, that IVlissier had attacked and I
routed Le(;randi s division, ami that Can: obert was wound j
ed, and anothei French Iteneral killed m the battle. j
Death from a Sting by a Locust. — We are informed. 5
says the Athens (Am.) iFruld, by a gentleman, whose |
v*-ra-*ity and reliability we can v u h f.ir, that a youth in ‘
he dj imng county of Lawrence, while ont fishing oi/e !
day last week, was stung by a Lueust from the * sis eta of j
which he d;ed aim st iii3 antly. Ne hid caught several 1
with the intenton of using them as bait, and put th* m in j
h s hit f*.rsafe keeping, when or.e ofth* m stung him on j
ihe h ad, causing the elf ot above stated.
Tom Thumb not Married. —The New York Evening
Poet has a* en author z and o say that tfiure is no truth in
tfia sti-ry *f T m’s marriage. The lady to wh< mit hs*
b en ailegt and he was married, is rri rely employed to nttand
t< the v>a<4r>be ■ f the ‘’General” who is n*w * n a pro* |
fetation 1 tags .& N<*;w York State, with liuwv’e nunagwi#,
and circus, i
Intereatin? Correspondence.
km. John it. Howard ro o >vsrn r tt. r. Johnson.
Montgomery, Ala , June Ist, 1855.
Dear Governor I sent you, a day or two sgo,
fioin Columbus, (ia., the proceedings of s*>nie pairiolic
and tiue men, which 1 hope you have duly consdered
aud properly appreciated. bile tt* tiding a case in
Court here, I snatch an hour to support the policy of
the rcsoulutions referred to. Under the nettled con
viction that the divisions of the South into
tizan warfare, will forever render her weak and imbe
cile and continue her an easy and unresisting piey to
Northern aggression, l am an advocate warmly lor the
union of the people of the State upon one platform
Although these have be*n my opinions for some years
j past l do not claim the paternity of tho resolutions of
i f* r and in the Democratic meeting a few days past at
Columbus, and rejected by the imprudent exclusiveness
of Judge Iverson’s party policy *, they are neither John
A. Joins’ nor mine, but the spontaneous effusion of a
people fatigued with party end its dtlusive promises of
good, no matter how successful in numerical force.
A8 long aa opposing parties are tolerated and encour- ;
aged at tile South, just so long will wo be scoff and at j
by the North for our impotence, and humiliated in our j
own estimation from a knowledge of our weakness; but j
I* t us off these shackles and we are at once pla* |
ced in an attitu le to comm uid respect. No time ever, ‘
in my recollection, lias been so propitious as the present j
to cure this canker upon our politics. The \Y hig par j
ty is rather btl*>w par in its expectations of attaining j
to and maintaining a State ascendancy, and moreover,
somewhat convinced that their policy, for a few years
past, has not been very well calculated to advance or
even to protect the intercs sos the South, they are well
inclined to meet us : while the Democracy, true to tho
Constitution, and beating up constantly for auxiliaries in
the great work, evince openly a good tempi-r in inviting
all to come forward and join them in the d* fence of the
constitutional rights of the Country. The feeling; predi- ]
cated upon a sound judgment of the neces
sity of the thing, is good and warm among all
classes of Democrats, Whigs and Know Nothing!), ex
cept a few exclusives of all parties, who, from personal
selfi-hness, will insist upon the propriety of their sepa
rate organizations. But notwithstanding this good f*ei
ing certainly prevails, still Whigs and Know Nothings
will not come into the Democratic party in such num
ber* as will amount to a disruption and breaking up of
their own parties they must have an opportunity, by
going into a g*-neral Convention, to make their own de
durations of faith, and saying this is my platform ; for
if Sterne’s recording Hinge! were to come down from
lleavt n, and give us a platform of principles, the spir- j
it of an opposing party would blot it out sot ever. I
care m>t how wise, how pure, how patriotic the Dem
ocratic platform of principles may he, opposing parties
will rtj et the principles by their opposition to the irs* n
who are chosen as the standard bearers to carry out
those principles. How is this evil to bs avoided ? Sim
ply by the representatives of th© Democracy who m ®t
on the sth inst., consulting the known prejudice* and
weakness of our nature and inviting a Convention of
ail parties and the whole people to meet in July or Au
gust to nominate a Governor and make a declaration of
principlta free fioin the trammels ol instruction or dic
tation of any patty or of any pet of exclusive politicians.
Wh’gs and Know Nothings,like all other parties, to be
content With, aid support the truth, must have an
agency or hand in in iking a declaration of that truth ;
they mupt have it in their power from practical co-ope
ration to say, ‘‘here are our principles,’’ “we the people
•f Georgia promulgated them ii General 0 invention.’’
But ao long as they are announced as the principles of
the Democratic Pa*ty, though the principles may not
be opposed, yet the Party wjl be, and the strength of
tie State set at naught and destroyed by the eentin.
ued divisions of the people. Had 1 your official po*i
tion, aud peiso iai influen •*, at this juncture, I fl itter
nttself I could, and would, do a great deal, to conciliate
and reconcile old party Dements. I think, with the
good disposition which prevails,that it is in the power of
a few active and sensible men of the Democratic Party
to bring the people together, at least, for a time, and al
though they will again split into parties as new and iin
port3nt qu aliens may arise.yet they most probably would
be united and firm upon the questionof Northern in
roads upon Southern Rights, nut only in relation to
slavery, but upon all the lat tudinarian pract'eis, viola*
live of the Constitution, of which we have so long and
\ justly complained without the slightest influence upon
j irresponsible majoriti* s. The proposition “so be one
; people is so pre ty, md fair, and virtuous and states
| manlike, that it satisfies the judgment as well aa delights
the imagination. If it can be effected, it will betfio hap
; pitat era of the age, as it will bear upon its glorious
i pinions more weight and influence than ail the written
f Constitutions we have ever framed. Aud how glorious
! and honorable to tha Democratic Parly to make the
| motion in her Convention and point the way to bring
the State to its senses and unite the people in their own ,
defence. How magnanimous and truly praiseworthy to
yield her party supremacy to a power far more poten- |
till and iftVctive f*>r public good and public tranquility
of the State! There in ecstacy ia the contemplation
of its happy results. All this is in the scope and pow- j
tr of a few men, because it i? wise, and j ust and poiit- |
io. It is approved by reason and sound sense, and :n
than ail, desired by the people, who always h
right to govern. Who that is patriotic can object to
j this ? Certainly not the Democracy, for they are now j
| using the press, and their orators and statesmen, to in
j voke the people to join them. The Democracy is now
■ busily electioneering for, and soliciting recruits toad- |
I vance the interest of the people, and especially to pro*
; tect the South and its institutions. The Whigs now j
j maintain the same principles. Why, then, keep up that ,
| jealous distance between the parties ? There is no i
< sound philosophy or patriotism in such policy ; it ia mis* j
| guided and erratic. Oh ! But the Know’ Nothings ! j
■ Who are they ? I answer they are not Bears, but :
; People too. Mm of intelligence and -.-orth, having the j
[ same interest in the eoontry as other people. They ara j
I composed of Wnigeaul Democrats, and very clear, in j
I my judgment, of the imputations cast upon them by Mr j
L Stephens, who should have rt member* and h : 3 own assoei- j
! ation with Northern Whiggmy might have subjected j
j him with •q ml plausibility to the same charge of being j
| found in bad company. It is <*b urd and ridiculous to |
I charge them with any connection or sympathy with the j
s Northern Abolition Party. Upon that question I would j
| as Boon rely upon them as upon your Kxeeilmcy, and ;
I from your known active exertions in defence©! S mth- j
ern institutions, that, 1 would Bay, is putting the case \
for their loyalty to the South in a strong point of view. {
I have no connection with them, I assure you, hut I !
have lately and Bcover.d,by their open avowals, many men j
as pur*-, patriotic, and talented as our eoutry affords j •
they have s*-cr* ts, I dare say, and so have ail parties •
th* y are but a party upon the same organic rule ofoth-
er panies, t*> stick together and promote each other in
order to carry oat their principl* a. I ohj* ot to vf.air re 1
lig ouß pr<w.iiriptioa. I would fight for the free exercise ‘
f r'.l'giovis ppiciona, wh-th-r Catholic oj Prajvßtant. - y
But I beln-ve this is a mere hoax to unite with them th*
Protestant Clergy; but in regaid to discouraging for
eign immigration, lam deeidiy with them. I care no
who knows mv opinions. I hold th-s© propositions to
be undeniable 1 First, That this Country, S ntts and
Territories, belong to us; and by ‘ us,” I mean the nat
uralixed, as well ns native citizens; Second, Th'at th*
same reasons which induced the naturalization Saws, a’
the titne of their passage, do not now exist. W e then
wanted sirength ; we ar* now strong enough to de
f. ud ourselves against any expected combination of th*
world : Third, It is our right to take care of ourse ves.
and we are not under the slightest obligation to afford
an asjlum to the rest of the world : .and bourth, It is
had policy to pass laws which would have the effect ot
prematurely filling up the country ; our population is
dense enough ; we want what remains unoccupied tor
! our own children. And it is the interest and duty ol
: both naturalized and native citizens to put a stop to fur
! ther immigration. I would not take from a naturalized
i citizen a tittle of his privileges, and will support him
j for office, according to comparative qualifications ; at
hast, I,is foreign birth, shall never, with me, be an ob
jection. But the true p>l cy of the country is to put
an end to further immigration, and lam willing to
meet any man upon that question ; the contrary opin
ion cannot be defended, andwould not be attempted, but
tor the policy of Parti?#, to cater for votes. r ihe
Know Nothing* of Muscogee, under the beautiful prop
oaition of becoming one people, will go into tho Con
vention and support rou or any other candidate the peo
ple will put forward. I speiik advisedly. By such a
Convention, you ought, and would be chosen, because
harmony is the spirit and soul of the movement, and
n<> obj ction could, or would be urged against you.—
Mr.—, I understand, says that he could not ex
tend to you hie support, under any circumstances, what
ever. 1 think he would be found, with ail his influ*
ence, a solitary exception. The very act of going into
Convention dissolves the Know Nothings as a party,
and ipso facto mergts them, aa it does all others, into
the great mass of the people. Though in great haste,
l tnay have written too much, but I have said nothing
wrong, as my whole aim is to unite the people, by dis
sipating their mere party prejudices; if this can be done
by a pa riotio course of the Democratic Convention, ]
shall indeed be happy : the people, I am sure, desire
this union of political and social action ; and the re
sponsibility of rejecting their wishes rests not upon
I the Democratic party, but upon those gentlemen at
; Mill* dgeviile who, pro forma, represent a portion of the
►party. . lam truly and friendly
Yours, &o ,
J. 11. Howard.
P. S. Please show this to my friends, Pringle and
Clark, as I have an adjourned difficulty with these gen
tl m n, in regard to the propriety of my position. And
also to any of our friends you please, saving those men
who may be too proud or vain to think.
J. H. 11.
Governor H. V. Johnson to Maj John H. Howard.
Executive Chamber, t
Milledgeville, Geo., June Uth. f
Maj. Joiim H. Howard,
Columbus, Geo.
Dear Sir 1 received yaur favor, enclosing me a copy
of the proceedings of the “Meeting &t Temperance Hall’
on the 26th of May, in which you beg me “not to oppose
this movement.” 1 also received your communication of
the Ist in t., wii ten at Montgomery, AD., supporting, by
inelaborate a:gument, the policy foreshadowed in the reso
lutions adopted by the meeting referred to. My nomina
tion, and acceptance of the candidacy for the office orGov
ernor, by the late Democratic Convention, apprise jou
more so eibly than I could express, in word?, of try u er
and entiie diss* nt from.the line of policy, which jo i urt e.
Not desiring o be conspicuous I rhould not have cbtrui td
my views upon the public, but my great re p -ct for jou
would not permit me to be silent, and justice to.mysel', in
view of th • positi n 1 occupy before the people ofG.org a,
requires? that I should be fuly understood, in order that I
m iy not eatm captiously to oppose a movement so specious,
and emanating fiom a source so respectable.
Without arrogance, I believe 1 am as true a Southern
Rights man as any you can find—as firmly attached to
Sou hern interests—as prompt to un te in their energetic
vindication and support. 1 fully evinced all this in the con
test of 1850, which grew out of the acts of Congress, known
as the “Compromise Measures.” Upon that issue I acted
with the Southern Rights party. In common with them, I
was in favor of a ternporaty severance of party alliance
with the North—temporarily, untii that issue should be set
tied. For this purpose, I desired to see ail the slaveholding
State? constitute “one people and one party,” and that they
should meet in Southern Convention; not to dissolve the
Union, but to adopt a platform upon which Southern Right?
might be maintained and the Union preserved. I preferred
this course to seperate action by the State, because I believed
that its moral effect upon the North would be potent for the
accomplishment of our patriotic purposes. But the people
of this State, by an overwhelming majority, adjudged other
wise. They decided that Georgia should act for herself,
trike her own position and lay down her own platform.—
In sovereign Convention,she gave expression to her final ae
termination in the bold, fearless and solemn language of the
4th Resolution, to wit:
I the Slate of Georgia, in the judgment of this
i convention, will and ought to resist, even fas a last resort - ’ *o
i a disruption of every tie which binds her to the Union, any
action of Congress upon the subject of Slavery
in the District of Columbia, or in piaces subject to
the jurisdiction of Congress, incompatible with the safety,
; domestic tranquility, the rights and honored'the slavehold
| ing States; or any act suppressing the siave trade between
| the siaveholding States; or any relu ai to admit as a
| State any territory hereafter applying, because of the exis
j fence o* slavery therein; or any act prohibiting the in*
; troduction ol slave- into ihe territories of Utah and New
i Mexico; or any act repealing or materially modifying
the laws in force tor the recovery of lugitive slaves.
When Georgia had thus authoritatively decided to ac
quiesce in the Compromise Measures—to act tor herself,
I irrespective of our sister Southern Stales, by announcing
| solemnly the future conditions on which she would remain
j in the Union, i regarded the question which gave rise to the
| formation of the Southern Rights and Union parti#? as set-
I tied, and that, consequently, the necessity for their continu
; ance as political organizations ceased. 1 was satisfied with
| th<> platfoim, and if a Southern Convention had been held,
; 1 could not have a-ked it to take higher and stronger
i ground. I would have been better pleased with the same
| platform adopted by such a body, for the reason .onfy, of it*
greater moral weight, with the Northern portion of our
Confederacy.
The Southern Rights and Union parties of 1850 and ‘sl
j being thus disbanded by the cessation of the causes which
brought them into being, it became a question with us all-
Whigs and Democrats—whither should we go? The
Democrats of Georgia, myself included, seeing that among
the Northern Democracy were sound rnen—ready to sta: and
by the South—ready to execute the Fugitive Slar * law ar and
consider the passage of the “Comproroi @ Measures*’ as a
iinal settlement of the slavery agitation—determined to be
represented in the, then, app oadvng Baltimore Convention,
to support its nominees and abide its action, provided they
would pome squarely up ;q pyr position. That body did
so. They determined to stand by the Compromise Met*
sure*; to enforce the Fugitive Slave law, and resist its rept al
or modification. They rominated General Pierce, aid
with him as our leader, and those principles inscribed upon
our banner, the National Democratic party wa thoroughly
reorganized and marched to victory. Now I respctfully
a?k, has not General Pierce faithfully carried out the prin
ciple* of that Baltimore piatlorm i Has he not enforced
the execution of the Fugitive Slave Law ? Has he not
given evidence of great firmness and soundness ol constitu
tional construction, in his able and admirable vetoes 1 Aye
more—in the la?t Congress when one great principle of the
Compromise Measures, that new States should be admit
ted mto the Union, with or without slavery, as their people
might determine for themselves, came to be practically ap
plied on the passage of the Kansas-Ntbraeka bill,did not a
I large portion of Northern and Western Democratic mem
j bers faithfully redeem their pledges ? D and they not aid th*
South in repealing the lestriciion, under which
she had writhed for thirty years, as deg ading to her equali
ty and violative of the Constitution l Ii these things be
true, why should Georgia dissolve her alliance with the
sound Democrats of the Nor.h? What have they done
since we marched with them to victory in the late Presi
dential election, to foifeit our confidence I I know that ail
Northern Democrats are not, necessarily, sound upon the
slavery question—many of them are rotten to the beau's
centre. But Ido believe that the sound men among thorn
govern the Democratic party North, seas to prevent a per
manent course of policy by that party hostile to the right*
and interests of the South. They are at least tiie exponent*
of a powerful substratum of patriotism and constitutional
conservatism among the masses of the people of the North,
which will crop out in times of peril and stand like a wall of
granite against the tide of fanaticism. Therefore, l think,
we are bound in good faith to stand by them ?o long a*
they “are true to the pltdges to which I have alluded. Let
us preserve the brotherhood of party alliance between the
North and the South while it affords a hope tor the maim
tainanee of our rights in the Union.
But the preamble to your resolutions asserts “that the
g iliani band of patriots within those States who are lriends
to the South and faithful to the constitution, and whom we
remember with gratitude, have been routed, disbanded and
alnrust annihilated,” and therefore, the Temperance Hall
meeting solemnly resolve “to repudiate all fellowship with
the present national political organizations.” It is even
true that these, our friends, have fallen. But how and at
whose hands ? Fallen in their strife for us—for repealing
the Missouri restriction —tor standing by the principle that
the people of new States shall determine for themselves the
question of slavery, and be admitted into the Union accord
ingly—for abiding the Fugitive Slave law—fallen at the
hinds of the enemies of the South, banded together in infer
nal alliance under the sable flag of Know Nolhingism,
which, at the North, is out another name for Freeaoil and
A'ooiitionism Is it for euch area-on as this, we frhould
abandon them ? Southern chivalry revolts at the propon
iion. Southern gratitude will not permit it to Le entertain
ed. Ours are not the people to leave the wounded and
dying on the field when they have received the blowa tor
tignting by their side. They will rather administer to
them—succor, aid and encourage them, that we may have
their service* in tho next and rapidly approaching vtruggle.
In the next Congress there will be, perhaps, a score of
members from the free States, who stood by the South on
the Kansas-Nebraska bill; and if Kansas applies with aj ro
slavery Constitution, these men will vote lor htr admission.
But will they do it, ii they find that the South has cut off ail
party alliance with them l Is it to ba expeet-d? And
suppose Kansas, with suih a Constitution, should be teject
e 1, a* she probably will, and an appeal should be made to
the non slaveholding States to return members to the fol
lowing Congress who will vote for her admission, w hat hope
i should we then have of a successful appeal, if we shall have
uitly -none.
If the South s(Ctionaiiz6a herself, the North will take a simi
lar position ; and'being in the minority, we must either sub
mit to dishonor and degradation, or dissolve the Union.—
Tiier® is no avoiding one of these alternatives, and, there
fo.e, I am tor standing by our Northern friends, lor the
; present, as the best course to maina in our rights in the
! Union.
!
In 1850, ft * before remarked, I wa? an rdent but humble
memDer of the Southern Rights part . it was a section-1
organization,* from the very nature ol the circumstances,
&id q estionsf which brought it inti b* g. 1 belonged to .
that party, because the compromise measures, in my judg
ment, were of such a character, as to demand firm and united
action on the pirt of the Southern States. We had present*
®i tous a practical, tangible, exciting and solemn ist-ue,
involving the iiiiferests of our democratic institut ons. The
two parties thsu then sprung up, grew naturally
character of thw question to be decided. But is there
such issue now'|? Has Congress committed any overt act
hostile to the slavery interest ? So far from this being true,
the measures ol thel last Congress evince more justice to the
South than has heenSawarded to her for many years ; and
what is more irnportantt, those measures were sustained by
a large number of Northern and Western Democratic mem
ber*. What then is to/ be gained by sectional organization ?
Show me the necessity for it, and I shall advocate it with
earnest zeal. i
The “Columbus Movement,” as it is called, is put for
ward under the spetf oussuggestion for us to be “one people
aid one party.”- ‘if his indeed sounds beautifully. It smacks
of a prliticai milleuiumV But, however, desirable, we can
not be “one people and oree party,” until we shall all think
alike. In a government liike oars, where freedom of
thought ana debit-* ii tolerated, diversity of sentiment must
need? exist. Now, right or Vwrong, experience shows this
to be true. In 1832, it was considered that patriotism should
prompt us to be “one people on the Tar.ff
question. In 1850, many of ue thought we should^one” *
people and one party” on the Compromise q lestion. On
each of these occasions there was a great exciting issue,
deeply affecting the rights and interests of the South. But
iaow egregiousiy were we divided ! you have no such isst e
now—indeed, no present pending issue. Then, if we could
not be ‘ one people and one party” in 1832 and 1850, when
there were g eit subjects of excitement, is it not utopian to
expect it now, in th; abseence ol any condensing element in
the popular mind? In action, the masses oi freemen are
h irmonious; in discussion, rarely ever. We shall differ m
Georgia, and be arranged into party organizations until the
ti oe tor action shall come. Then we shall be “one peofie
ani one party.” Let the 4th Re-olution of the Georgia
Convention ot 185 G, be trampled under foot by Congress*
and then our people wish one accord, without the suggestion
of preliminary meetings, will rush together, like the gather
ing element? of the brewing tempest.
Loosing at all the circumstances, I can but regard the
“Coiurnbus Movement” as very singular. Congress hs
been adjourned ever since ihe-lth of March; the Northern
and Western elections have transpired several week* ag°*
no very recent development hostile to Southern Rights hae
occurred, and yet not a syllable issugge-tsd, as to the for
mation of a Southern party, until two of the most promi”
neqt leaders ot the Whig party, io Georgia, have throws