The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-11-23

1900 EA4AMAAAALn LL
Since the acts OfCOngress above referred to. 9
excluding the Southern States from share in d
California, obOlishing the sIavl trade in the /
District Of Columbia, and actually asserting q
the right Of liberating slaves thersin-T have /
never for q moment doubted that it was nv
constitutional duty, in eonsO nance with the (
resolutions Of the Legislature to convene that I
body. Not that ], at any time supposed tina,
the remedy, or the mode and measure Of re-
dress was within the power Of that BODY, but
because without their nd, the sovereign power
of the State could not be legally invoked. 1t
is therefore for you to determine, whether in
your opinion, we should patiently and meskly
submitto the wrongs which have been inaic.
ted upon ", acknowledge our inferiority, and
throw ourselves upon the generosity Of the ag-
gressor; or whether, as treemen and equals,
we shall take steps TO redress past wrongs and
provide adequate protection for THE future.
Believing as l 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
acknowledgment Of our inability or want Of
courage 10 protect ourselves, | shall at all times
advocate the measures best calculated c~fTectu-
ally to correct the evil and redress the wrong,
and best suited TO the temper Of freemen aud
equals in the confederacy.
To devise aud carry into effect the bes,
means of redress for the past, and obtain GER
tain security for the future, | recommend that
a legal convention OF the people should be
called, with iulI and ample powers to take in
TO consideration our Federal relations, the ug-
g~ressiOns which have been committed upon the
rights of the Southern States, the damages
which threaten our domestic institutions, and
all kindred subjects, and jointly with other
States, or separately, TO adopt such measures as
may best comPOTt with the dignity and safety
Of the State, and effectually correct the evils
| complained Of. A convention thus assembled
/, and representing the sovereignty OF the State,
would OF course possess flenary powers, un-
: controlled by any instructions or restrictions
Q which the Legislature might interposo.
1t might therefore be sufficient for me, to
a recommend the passage of proper laws to
8 bring into existence such a Convention, leav.
ing the mode and measure oil redress entirely
to their wisdom when thus assembled. To this
n high power, representing the majesty Of the
people, and constituted the proper exponentl
n Of their deliberate will, all public authorities
e and all good citizens, would yield cheerful ant
d prompt obedience.
lie claim not for my opinions any weight oil
inf u ence to which they a1e not intrinsically
entitled, or which does not belong to those o.
ID any other citizen; but the position in which
i have been placed by my fellow-ciliEens, wOulc
at appear to justify, if not require, that in such
crisis, ! should step forward, and add my ad
Y. vice to the common stock Of public opinion
NJ | shall, therefore, present it freely, frankly AM
without reserve.
Having g own up with the State from It's in
fancy, the father Of a family "a property holder
re often honored with high office, | am bound t
Nv the State Of Mississippi, by every tic whic
Of can unite man to the spot Of earth which h
lat calls his home. | desire her prosperity, he
", security, her repose. Her Interests are min,
ed Her fate must be mine. From these conside
~ atoms, | claim not exemption IRON error, bl
IN sincerity Of purpose in The expression OF Il
ed solemn conviction of mind, thar for the rea
raj ems which have been hastily glanced at in tn
10 message, the Union Of these States has bee
so grossly per verted from its original purPos
no as to render IFS further continuance incompa
ible with the honor, the prosperity, and Il
d. safety OF The Slave-holding States, unless son
~, corrections Of past aggressions, and some Q
gu. G~ectual and more additional guarantees for o
om future protection, be obtained from our assoc
ms. atts in the cOnfederacy.
.ra. When | reflect upon the pertinacity WI
which the assaults upon our rights have be
cts for years prosecuted, the evident increase
lall anti.slavery sentiments at the North, a
act the excitement there pervading nearly
md ~cllsses against the law to provide for the ext
in dition OF fugitive slaves, | have little hope j
ion that these guarantees, lndlspensloiy hecess
on, to our safety, will be yielded by a maj"ri
Of flushed with recent victories and CncOurag
the by apparent divisions among ourselves. J
10 to leave no effort at reconciliation %untrled,1
age still further to unite with US those Of our o.
the people, who still look for a returning sense
Justice in the Norh, let the propositions
by distinctly made to the people Of the non-sla'
the holding States to remedy the wrong SO far al
non may be in the power Of Congress to do So
,ect obtaining from California concessions south
de- SO deg. 10 min. or otherwise, and to consenI
,ery such amendments Of the Federal CONSTITUTE
the as shall hereafter am ly secure the rights
,bly The slave-holding States from misconsIructl
will and from further aggression.
our But in the event of refusal, do not hest
IN exnress NV decided opinion, that the o