The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-11-28

Representatives:
A high sense Of d1ty has induced me
to convene the legislature in extraordi-
nary session. We're disposed to shift
fran myself the responsibility of this
act, ! might point to the firm and patri-
otto resolutions of your honorable bod
les, passed at the last session on the
subject Of our Federal relations, as a
full justification Of my course; but, in.
asmuch as the Constitution con6des
this important power solely to the dis
cretion Of the Governor, | am quite
content to rest the propriety of my ac-
tion upon reasons and considerations,
which |, shall proceed briefly to lay be-
fore you, and which I doubt not, will
be deemed satisfactory both by you,
and by our common constituents, the
people l shall study to present them
with simplicity, candor and truth.
Probably no free representative
Government has ever existed, which
has not been agitated by the contests
of rival interests. When these happen
to be scattered and oiffused through
out whole community, the excite
ment thereby produced, is healthy and
bene6ciaI but, when these interests are
local and sectional, growing out Of d.
verslty ofclimate and productions, the
contest soon becomes a struggle for su-
premacy, too often attended with jeal-
ousy, bitterness and hatred, especially
when the rival sections are distinguish
ed by dissimilar and incongruous So
cial systems. The contest which has
long been waged by the Northern or
non>slaveholding States, led on by
New England, against the Southern
or slaveholding states, has begun to
E partake of the latter character. Ii
commenced in conflict Of interests, a.
bout manufactures, navigation laws, lo'
cal appropriations, &C., and has end
ed in a war of extermination against
the institution of domestic slavery, OF
rather, against the states in which the
system exists
This hostility to slavery has now be-
come the all-absorbing, all>controlling
element of political action and party
$ $ movement, both in Congress anc
i throughout the Northern States. Pc
: litical parties, unite, separate, and are
modified with reference to it. Polti
cal platforms are built upon it. 1t il
the main question in the selection o
candidates for all Offices. 1t is the ac
tive element of religious, benevolent
u charitable, and even literary associa
I tions, and the spice which seasons pri'
It vate society. The Constitution of The
e United States, the rights Of the States
g the gravest questions of public policy
all are construed and determined witt
: reference to this question Of domestic
slavery; and the Congress Of tho Uni
ted States, whose powers are limite'
mainly to the regulation ofnational an'
external objects, are now found devo
ting nearly all their time to subjects Q
a domestic nature, over which 1t wa
i never intended that they should exer
else jurisdiction.
1t might be interesting to trace th'
progress of abolition, or anti-slaver.
excitement, from its small beginning
to it's present overshadowing influence
when it actually sways the whole ma
chinery of the Federal Government
n But il is sufficient, in this connection
Is to state the question as it was, durlnl
II the last session Of the Legislature, an,
TO present forcibly the changes whlcI
have since occurred.
Bythe war with Mexico, we had &C
auired vast and valuable territory
Its area is large enough to constitute
fifteen states Of medium size. A por
lion of this territory, fronting for mor'
than 1000 miles upon the Pacific ocean
abounds with good harbors, which com
mand the rich commerce of the Indies
:, Of China, and Of the Southern Archl
y pelago. 1t contains too, within Its 90
som, ineyhaustible beds of the preciou
metals. No country ever discovered
es has suddenly presented 50 many bril-
in liant attractions for adventures, an
sh none has risen into notice with mor
n n rapidity. The exclusive possesso
re- and enjoyment Of this vast and rlc
t. territory, soon excited the avarice an
It. lust for power of the North, aud for
e time, all anti slavery schemes wer
merged in the leading ore ofexcludln
the South from this joint possession
The whole force Of the contest wa
turned upon this point The Mort or
determined to exclude slavery. In
South seemed equally determined nc
n to submit to such Insulting and unlu'
4 determination. The firm and decide
position Of the slaveholding states, en-
: forced respect, and FOR atime' SCENE
to promise security and protector. : :
N .;.st tba concentrated outrage. i