The organizer., 1850-11-23
GOVERNORO'S MESSAGE

inst. He reviwes the aggressions oI
the North upon the South in master
ly manner, and particularly his com
ments upon the recent measures
passed by Congress are most clear
and forcible. We have only time
and room to give the following ex,
tract containing the principle recom>
mendation of the Governor,
Believing as do. that submission to
wrong and injury tends but to invite
further aggression, and that no evils
could befall US, so great as those
which would be certain to flow from
an acknowledgements of our ability
or want of courage to protect our
selves, | shall at all times advocate
the measures best calculated effect
ually to correct the evil and redress
the wrong, and best suited to the
temper and spirit of freemen and
equals in the confederaCy.
To devise and carry into effect the
best means of redress for the past,
and to obtain certain security for the
future, | recommend that a legal con.
vention Of the people of the State
should be called, with full and ample
powers to take into consideration our
Federal relations, the aggressions
which have been committed upon the
Rights of the Southern States. the
dangers which threaten our domestic
institutions, and all kindred subjects;
and jointly with other States, or sep.
arately, to adopt such measures as
may best comport with the dignity
and safety of the States, and effectu.
ally correct the evils complained Of.
A Convention thus assembled. and
representing the sovereignty of the
State would Of course possess plenary
powers, uncontrolled by any instruc>
lions or restrictions which che Legis-
lature might interp ose.
1t might therefore be sufficient for
me, to recommend the passage of
proper laws to bring into existence
such a Convention, leaving the mode
and measure of redress entirely to
their wisdom when thus assembled
To this high power, representing the
of the people, and constitH-
ed the proper exponents oI their de.
berate will, all public authorities.
md all good citizens, would yield
cheerful and prompt obediance.
claim not for my opinions any
weight or influence to which they are
,ot intrinsicolly entitled, or which I
loes not belong to those of any other !
'itizen; but the position in which | I
ave been place by my fellow citizens, +
would appear 10 justify, if ont require, :
hat in such a crisis, should step c
onward, and add my advice to the Y
ommon stock of public opinion. !
hall, Therefore, present it freely a
rankly, and without reserve u
Having grown up with the State Il
rom its infancy, the father Of fam. p
", a Property-holder, often honored n
nth high office, am bound to the n
tate of Mississippi, by every tie o
which can unite man to the spot OF d
arth which he calls his home. | de. p
ire her posterity, her security, and Il
ppose. Her interests are mine II
Ter fate must be mine. From these
considerations, | claim not exemption
-om error, but sincerity ofpurpose in Il
10 expression of the solemn convic. q
on Of mind. that for the reasons :,
'hich have been hastily glanced at :,
I this message, the union of these : :
tates has been so grossly perverted u
'om its original purpose, as to ren. d
er its further continuance iLcompat-
Die with the honor and, the prosperi- S,
Z, and the safety Of the slaveholding h
tates, unless some correction Of past o.
and some additional and
lore effectual guarantees for our 70. is
are protection, je obtained from our {,
ssociates in the confederacy. C
When | reflect upon the pertinaci- &
: with which the assaults upon our Il
ghis have been for years prosecu> ii
d, the evident increase Of anti-slave.
: sentiments at the North, and the 5
Sciiement there pervading nearly all p
asses against the law TO provide for e
le extradition Of fugitive slaves, ] G
ave little hope left that these guar, b
mites, indispensibly necessary 10 our N
Ifeiy, will be yielded by a majority. n
ushed with recent victories. and en-.
'uraged by apparant divisions among e'
lrselves. Yet, to leave no effort at a
untried, and still fur. A
Ter 10 unite with rs those Of our own d
sople, who still look Tor a returning Il
.nse Of justice in The North. let the Al
-onorifions h Issff,rfI,, 81, - a.