The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-06-07
To the People Of the State Of Missis,
Sinni.

has recently terminated its session, deemed it |
their duty on a recent occasion, to make their |
most solemn protest against the action Of the |
two Houses upon the subject of the appoint |
ment OF delegates to the convention of the South
ern States, to be held at Nashville in June next.
We think it duty not less obligatory on US,
to make known to you, fellow citizens, the rea-
sons which prompted our action. This is due
not only TO you, but TO our whole country, in
view of the crisis which threatens the overthrow
of our national constitution, and is so full of evil
portent to human liberty, not only in our own
| land, but throughout the civilized world.
| To you, as the sovereign people, we make
this solemn appeal from the dangerous and
alarming usurpations Of the mojority, in both
branches of the legislature
| Until within very recent period, all parties
| in the saveholdng States have cOncurred in one
opinion as to the power of the people OF the ter
ritories over the subject o. slavery in the ioTma-
| ton of their State constitutions. That opinion
was embodied in the most forcble language in
resolution presented by the Hon. John Z. Cal
houn to the Senate ofthe United States, in Feb,
l847, upon thisidentcal subject ltsas follows;
"Resolued, That it is fundamental principle
in our political creed, that people IN forming
Constitution have the unconditional right to form
and adopt the Government WHICH they may thlnk
best calculated to secure their liberty, 2rosperl-
ty and happiness; and that in conformity thereto,
no other condition is imposed by the Federal
Constitution on State in order to be admitted
into this Union, except that Its Constitution snail
be strictly Republican,; and that the imposition
OF anv other by Congress would not only be In
violation of the Constitution, but in direct con-
: flict with the principle on which our political
system rests"
) This was The recognized Southern platform
on which all true Southern men, however varl-
Gus their sentiments on other subjects, could un-
ite, and feel that they occupy fortress lmpreg-
nabIe to the assaults of their often battied ioes.
No one controverled this proposition. 1t was
deemed indeed the very ark OF southern safety.
Mr. Polk, Southern President, gave his tull-
est assent TO this principle, and his policy in re.
gard to the territory of California, was founded
: on this basis Gen. Taylor, also Southern
d President. has sanctioned it by his action on the
: same subject Gen. Cass too, the favorte OF q
majority of the voters OF the State OF Mississippi
: at the recent presidential election, has given his
e full and hearty approval to the same doctrine
n In this great principle we believe there is ve
t safety to the South. From this rampant we be
/ lieye that we may yet defy, not only tie foes
;, southern honor, but that we may successfully
S repel the wanton aggressions of Northern lana
j. tics upon our constitutional rights. This doctrine
n has ever been interposed as shield, by south
e ern men, TO the persevering and un;lrlng efforts
6 of Northern factionistst to fasten onthe Legislation
of Congress, on the subject OF the territories, TIL
n odious features of slavery restriction.
But on the other hand, yOn see at the Nortn
- band Of fanatics-foes alike TO the South, an
! the best interests of orr common country-
= defiance OF the inevitable danger to constitution
y al liberty which attends their efforts and the In
" evitabIe ruin and desoaton which await thei
= success, have not ceased to urge upon the al
g tenlion of Congress and of the country their 10
" determination 10 dishonor and degrade the Soutf
- by the enactment of the Wmot provso-or, ]
Il other words, the prohibition, by Congress,
:" slavery in the territories. In close connexlo
! with their efforts on this subject, has been thel
~ ceaseless and factious agitation on the subet
!. of the abolition Of slavery in the District OF U
umbia, nd the prohibition of the traffic in slave
:, between the citizens of the slaveholding States
- Against the aggressions on these subjects I'll
=, people Of the South unanimously took the
- stand determined at every hazard to resist the
!. designs. You, tie people of the State OF MI
- - sissippi, were not behind the citizens OF yol
sister States, in active exertons to stem the to
y rent of passion and delusion, which was sweeI
!. ing like wild deInge over the land.
- Let us recur, fellow. citizens, to the history
your action, on this momentus subject In Il
~ " month of May last meeting was called OF II
citizens ofcentral Mississippi, to be held at Jac
:" son. TO take into consideration the threaten'
~ ~ aggressons Of the people Of the non-slavehol
h ne ing States This meeting was held, and alt
- adopting resolutions declaratory OF Souihe
RIGHTS, recommended convention of delegat
fr from the various counties in the State to be ne
,d. at jackson in October last. By primarSmet
10 ings held in many Of the counties, in pursuant
in of the recommendation of that central meetln
all you called into being the convt ntIon which
IN. at jackson in October. The objects OF that co
VS. venton were strongly expressed the resolntIo
al it adopted to have been TO resist the aggressIo
If of the North in reference to the subject OF siaV
lcb ry restriction. That convention was an assel
ELF: blage of sneh of yourselves, as chose to Sc
mi. delegates equally representing both political pi
in ties, and protesting to speak for you IN your
hat mary, sovereign capacity.
in A committee of 90, who had been appoint
sed by that convention, did not entirely agree in th
ca sentiments. Fourteen of the committee repo
non ed a preamble and resolutions, most of viii
ble. we're subsequently adopted. 1t is not intend
The lO UULlC6 tUet I'll ucSdlls Oub We
iuo attention briefly, to the fifth resolution which
as follows:
as "That the right to organize States in
of territories Of the United States, is limited to
fac. zens of the United States, and that the atten
saw now in progress by the present occupants
NJ California, most Of whom are Mexicans, India
ime negroes, and renegadcs from every Europe
,ars country, to foist constitution and governme
,ad without taking the oath Of allegiance to the
mi. tied States, without any intention of becom
nan permanent citizens of the country, without
/ or dergoing that territorial pupfage, through VIII
other territories Of the United States have ?
hair sed, is fraud upon the citizens OF the Uni
ogo States, and ought to be resisted by such mel
,aSIr as a convention of Southern States may de
rter advisable"
,obt The 7th resolution Of the series presented
ms the majority of the committee provided for
calling of convention for the purpose of res
ner. @ ing the aggressions upon our rights which
and been described in the foregoing resolution.
II : The 10th resolution recommended the lei
ami. lature at its then1 next Session to pass a
.as,. for calling convention Of the people Of
nrhs State "apOn the passage BY Congress ofthe
+ i mot provso or any law prohibiting slavery in
5ds District of Columbia or prohibiting the 81
: trade between the slave States"
sun The minority Of the committee, however,
boof .;s,:no, of The Hon John Guion the reDl