Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-11-16
GentLemcn 9th Senate,

o. IRE IIoaSe ~ h'Pftot ''u'c'"t
anil Fsilop Citizens:
Deeply Impressed with d sense oil
gratitude to my fellow Citizens for the
confidence they have reposed in me,
by clcyating me to the chief executive
office in the state, and duly sensible OF
the weight of responsibility which will
devolve upon me, enter upon the
discharge Of. ITS da'ies firmly relying
upon the co-opcratipn Of the co o'di'
nate Departments of the State Gov
rnne6lin all such measures OF pub
he policy IT'S may be calculated TO
maintain the high character of the
state, and to advance and promote the
interests, the happiness, and prosPerl-
ty of the people.
A proper respect for public opinion,
as well as compliance With the pub
lie expectation, seem to require that
should upon this occasion publicly de.
clare the leading principles which !
shall deem it proper TO be observed N
tho conduct of tho state administrator
so far As tho action of the executive
branch may be concerned.
Under our happy system OF Govern
ment, the ultimate and supreme sovc-
reignty rests in the people. we
powers of government delegated by
the people TO their public functional
ries, are by our Constitutions divided
between tie federal and state authorl-
tiles. The state governments are not,
as ha, been enormously supposed by
some, subordinate to the federal gov
ernmcnt. "They arc coordinate de.
partmcats Of one simple and integral
whole The States have parted with
ceitain enumerated and speclhed pow
and bv the constitution OF the u
Il nited States, these are delegated &c
tho federal Government. and can only
be rishtlully exercised by that govern
mcnt. .1hc powers not delegated &c
the United States by the constitution
nor prohibited by it to the States are
reserved to the statesrespcctlvely, or t(
the people" BY the partition OF power
thus distinctly defined, tits manifest tina
each possesses gov ,nment powers whIcl
are withheld from the other. And 81
long as each acts within its, lcglt'm
ate and proper sphere the system work
harmoniously, and affords to the cit
zen greater amount OF security 10
life. liberty. and property, and IN tn
pursuit Of happiness, than is TO be ioun
under any other government that u"
Il over existed. When either .ovcrieaF
the true boundary prescribed for its az
ion. and usurps the exercise OF pow
ers properly belonging to another IN
VI hamony Of the. Sys.cm IS dl>turpe'
and agitating collisions arise which AZ
calculated to weaken the bonds OF VI
II ion, whilst. therefore, the stat
should be Jealous Of every cncroac'
mnnt Of the federal government G
Nor rights. they should be careful
consine thems Ives in their own actlc
TO thc exercise of powers clearly rcsc
we'd 10 them.
II will. do not doubr, be the pat
otic de.irc ofmy constituencies K 10
II viii be mine. in the discharge OF q
functions TO which am called, tn
..ihe support Of the state governmer
in their RIGHTS, as the most comp
font administrations for our domesI
concerns. and the surcst bulwark agar
ant;.rcpublican tendencies" and tn
V ..thc preservation of the general &c
N eminent: in its whole constitution
.;ror rs the sheet anchor OF our pea
~ home. and safety abroad shall
Scrnnnlously observed and inviol@t
maintained. RI .,
In ascertaining the true line OF $
,,ol;on between the powers OF the 9
cralgovcrnment and Of the states: mu
d;firnlty has often been experlesn1Sr,
IN no ouerations OF our system. !
powers delegated to the genera z
eminent arc either expressed or
pIed. The general rule Of constr
lion. laid down by the General
scn,bly Of Virginia in l790, may
regarded as "a sound one to uelern'
whether a given power has been q
gated to that government or Is ,. ~
Fed to the states. That rule is; ""0