The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-02-28
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR.


and Representatives in Congress.
The subject Of whicb il trea,s, and the ex
traOrdinary measures taken ~ esAJe the direc
question Of the 'Wilmot Proviso, and YET h,.
summary introduction Of, California ss y
State, to exclude the instituiion Of domestic
slavery, irou the richest periion Of ournewl,
acquired territory, have already been foTClb!,
aud ably presented TO your consideration n
the annaal message Of my predecessor.
The sem;-ofioial announcement. in tho lettei
now presented, OF the probability of the con
summation Of this unjust measure by Congress
is calculated to arrest our most profound at
tentions
Considered ia connection with all the al
tending circumstances, and the refusal Of Coa-
gresS, at their last session, to prNvds territorial
governments for California and New Mexico
without restrictions aaai lsl the hsiDtroduction Of
slavery, we must regard this measure as On in,
direct mode Of excluding slavery from the ter
ritories. The enemies Of our institutions
checked in the mad career Of aggression, By
the firm position taken by the slOvehollinq
States, now seek TO accomplish tho came end
by means less palpably unconstitutional, bu;
equally subversive # our rights.
The violent agitation OF the slavery question.
which commenced even before the treaty with
Mexico, was ratified and which has been
kept up ever since, served the purpose Of de
terring the citizens Of the4 Southern States
whose best blood had been shed in the acquisi
ton Of this territory, from Fastening to share
the fruits of our golden conquest,
In the midst Of this agitation, and within
twelve months after it's final ratification with
Mexico, special agent Is despatched acctsdi-
ted with all the inadencs Of the federal cabi
net, and with instructions to urge the floating
population Of the newly acquired territory com
posed Of persons Of all nations, to form con
.titution and claim admission into the Union as
sovereign State. The Aattcring proposition
was accepted. An unoganized community Of
ldventurerR, some Of them, it is true, bold and
md hardv pioneers from our own country, but
many Of them aliens and strangers TO our in
s'itutions, hastily assembled, and as was anIici-
ted by the planners OF the movement, adopted
rs a part Of their organic law, provision. ex-
cluding forever the slave property OF large
oortion Of the States from the extensive and
rich territory thus usurped.
And now, while yet that broad and decF
stream Of emigration is still floating into tha
country, the admission Of California into the
Union as a sovereign State, with restrc.
ion against slavery is demanded.
We do not deny to the people Of an organic
ed territory the right to assemble and delibel.
uely frame FOR themselves State Constitution
with such republican features as they ma,
nreier. We shall not be found opposing the cain
and deliberate expression Of the win Of the
people Of any Of the territories on the subjec
Of domestic slavery within their borders, when
their full period Of maturity for admission as q
State shall have arrived but the clear princi,
pie Of equal justice to all the States demandl
that the common territory should be open fO
emigration and settlement TO the citizens o
all the States. HIS this been permitted in thu
case Of the territory Of California? Is II no
evident that her hasly admissions now dema n
ned for re other purpose than to exclude slav-
cry from her limits? Isit just thai a handful
Of adventureysw who have just set foot upon any
Of our distant acquisitions, snail be permitted
virtually to exclude the c,izsns nf one half o.
the Staiesof the Union from The privileges oI
settlement and occupations
4 But lorhear further comment upon this ex
traordinary and Unprecedented measure. Th
motives Of this hot haste are but too apparen'
4 devoutly trust that yet the Congress Of III,
n United States will not consent to psrpetrat
}, this gross act Of injustice upon the Slayehcld
ing States. To leave no measure un,ried Il
avert it, lreeommend firm remonstrance a
gainst the presen, admission Of Calfosnia as
State with the restriction against slavery,
Should this measure be contaminated, W
may expect to see chain of States encirclin'
our Sonth-w 1stern borders, who,ii they shoul,
imbbe the hostile spirit displayed in the resp
buttons and acts Of some OF the Northern Statel
would become more dangerousto our prosper
ty and repose than foreign States. Such Al
; event would, in my opinion, render i the dui'
Of the Southern Statesso consult together; an,
+ in concert to adopt such measures as shall ef
fectualIy protect their rights and secure thei
J safety; and give to the citizons { { the slave
hoGing States some assurance Of transmi,tinl
! to cir children, an inheritance Of pence AM
+ prosperity, and not Of war md .bloodshed
This opportunity will be afforded BY the Con
vention about to assemble at Nashville. to tn
/, deliberations Of which We may safely sabmi
thls very interesting subject.
/, JOHN A. ouITMAN.
I EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
jackson, Feb. IL, l85O.S
n MAKE SURE YoRU ELEcTioN.-- W.
Il Nr. Whitfield was in The zenit ~