The organizer., 1850-11-23
Gov McnoNALn,s REMARKS.

ing the chair:
Gentlemen of the Convention;
Circumstances have devolved on me the
UNEXPECTED duty Of presiding over your
deliberations bring no experience 10
its performance, but, in undertaking 10
discharge il, console myself with the
reflection, that have before me wisdom
intelligence, and generosity, capable OF
adding me in its execution and ready to
make allowance far any errors may COM
nit.
Il may not be unsuitable to the occasion
or me to and, that when we went hence
in June last, we departed with the ardent
hope, that the claims which we spread be-
fore the country for the States represented
by us. being so Just and reasonable would
have been met by the public authorities
in spirit of conciliatiop and peace, and
that they, by giving them effect, would
have restored confidence between the
difieren. sections of the country Had
that been the case we should now have
had the agreeable duty to perform congrat-
ulating ourselves on the just result of our
labors. and of sending forth our greetings
/ to men of the East the North, and the
/ West, for so happy cOnsummation, and OF
proclaming to them that we held them,
now, as brethren, not in name merely but
in affection and truth; that we esteem
them. like ourselves, as loving justice, the
public tranquility, and the Union: and as
being disposed equally with ourselves. to
maintain all, by sustaining the constitu-
ton, the only means Of preserving them.
But how fatally has this pleasing hope
been disappointed! How different the
duty before US The equality of right on
the public territory, to which we are enti'
tied as citizens of this great coniederacy,
has been disregarded, by the admission of
State into Union, embracing almost
the whole of it, with hasty, unusual, and
usurped organization, excluding our prop
eriy therefom. But this wrong, grievous
as il is, bears no proportion in the enor>
nous iniquity medtated against the slave
holding States, Of changing the eonsttu
ton, and with jurisdiction nquired in this
manner, TO destroy an institution which !
constitutes, in principal degree, their
veal h, and brings to those whom its de
tractors are pleased to call its victims
comforts and happiness unknown to any
other portion oftbeir race. Ii must not be
expected hat men who have the spirit and
patriotism which ought 10 belong to free,
men will silently contemplate the impend. I
ing danger and not prepare TO meet it .
The constitution must be preserved un.
changed, and unbroken. Everything de.
pends on this. Its fruits, when faithful Y
administered attest its value.-What is it
which has attracted to our government the
of the wur'dl Not, to be
sure the mere cooperation Of the States
through their representatives, in matter OF
government
The great principle Of right, justice and
liberty; which pervade the constitution,
md its wise provisions for their wholesome
have commanded this ad.
These are the attributes
which drew TO its adoption the sevaral
tates which form The confcderacy. IL we
ook at our unparalleled grow in agri
culture, commerce and manufacture; and
lsk the cause, il is the effect Of the con. {
titution. lf we see the people Of this
'road land, in every part Of worshipping
he Most High according to the dictates of 1
heir conciences; ifpro, perity is to be seen I
very where, and our commerce moves {
IpOn the bosom of every ocean; If we
ave grown in power and strength, com I
handing the respect Of the most powerful {
is the greatest work Of
ur admirable cnostiutiOn If we look
round and find each State moving quietly
n its appropriate sphere, with no erratic I
notions TO bring it in collision with the rest {
II any of them, it is the track laid out for q
hem, Il is the track marked out for il by j
he constitution. If Congress confning i
self IA all its measures within the limits 9
rescribed for it, doing nothing unjustly,
onsulting right abstaining from the sem. Z
lance ofwrong, fulfills the letter and spirit T
{ the constitution. its action will truly :
the general welfare. Y
The Constitution, then, is the great c
emple Of our religious, political aud indi. .
idual liberiy.-The sacred rights Of mil. j
ions OF ireemen are intimately interwo. 4
en- with its structure. lf il be DESTROYED {
hey must perish with il, unless they can q
q otherwise preserved. The polluted =
nd polluting hands Of wicked ianaii.
ism and sectional ambition have already
haken its foundation stone. Il is in eT. =.
-eme peril, Unless it can lie rescued /"
ON the Vaccinations and violence Of :, :
vii men, il must fail. Every breeze that !
ONES from the Norih WATTS to our ears :,
le intelligence Of fresh wrongs and in : !,
lsiice, Oftumults and rnsurrections against !
le constitution and the laws. Il may be ! !
lat while ! now speak: the life's blood o. : :
tizens of Georgia ciimsons the streets Of. !,
ostOn, and that FOR the prosecution Of !,