The republic., 1850-12-02
Message OF the Governor of MI.sis.ipp,.

In accordance with the proclamation of Gov
emor QuITMAN, the Legislature of Mississippi
assembled on the 18th ultimo, and on the same
day the message of the Governor was transmit
ted. 1t is document Of considerable length,
devoted almost entirely to a consideration Of the
slavery question, on which, as was to be ex
pected, 1t takes the most ultra dlsunion ground.
a correct general idea Of its purport has al
ready been given in our telegraphc dispatches
We now place before our readers more foil
abstract of those portions of the message most
likely to be Of interest.
The Governor commences by setting forth
the reasons which have induced him TO call the
Legislature together. These he declares to be,
frst, certain joint resolutions passed last year
by the General Assembly and, second, the
present aspect Of the controversy between the
North and South, which he proceeds TO con-
slider at great length. He holds that the con
test, beginning in rival interests. has now
assumed character Of hatred and jealousy
produced by homogeneous social systems. Hos
tilty to slavery, he asserts is the all-controlng
element Of political action both in Congress and
throughout the Northern States As evidence of
this, he refers TO California, and declares that
the North formed deliberate scheme to exclude
the South from that region and that the project
was VIGOROUSLY so monstrous and proligate thai
its advocates were compelled 70 unite il with
other measures which they termed Compro-
mise, and that thus many patriotic members
were deluded into its support The Governor
omits to explain how it happened that the Com
promise, devised TO carry out this " notoriously
prohigate projec, OF the North" was first sug
gested by one Of the most distinguished advo-
Gates Of the rights Of the South, Senator from
his own State of Mississippi /; and how it hap
pened that the opposition to the Compromise
came chiefly from the very men who must be
10 have been most interested in the success Of
the "prohigste project"
The message contends, as a matter Of course,
that the South has been despoiled and defrsuded
by the adjustment. 1t is especially indignant al
the Texas bill, which il declares has converted
millions Of acres Of slave territory into free
soil. II contends that the admission Of Caifor-
MIA was violation Of the Constitution; that
slave labor would have been highly profitable
in California, and ought to have been permitted
to 20 there; and that, in admitting the State
with a constitution excluding slavery, Con
gress has sanctioned the Wilmot proviso. The
abolition Of the slave trade in the District Of
Columbia is another grievance which receives
due share Of the Governors attention.
The Governor supports these positions by
the usual arguments and assumptions. the fal-
lacy and falsity Of which have been demon
strated over and over again. We do not see
that he adds any thing to the case worthy Of
particular comment. The conclusion to which
he comes, upon consideration Of the whole mat
ter, is that nothing is to be hoped for from the
North, and that no respite from aggression can
be expected; that the Government Of the
United States is now hostile TO slavery, and
will hereafter be selected with reference TO that
hostility that, TO save this great interest. to
preserve from destruction, cit must be protect
ed by guarantees, more available than the pre-
sent Constitution furnishes, OF it must be
wrested from the control Of power which
is hostile 70 il, and which seeks its destruction
II must, like every other great interest. be
placed in charge of its friends"
Governor QUITMAE then proceeds to the
question, "What is to be done7" Acquies
cence he regards as base and cowsrdly. He
advises, as a remedy, State Convention,
with full powers TO take into consideration the
Federal relations of the State, the aggressions
committed upon the South, the dangers that