The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-03
GOV. QUITMAN's MESSAGE,
Delivered to the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the State Of Mississippi.

GOV. QUITMAN'S MESSAGE,
Delivered to the Senate and House of Representatives
| Of the State Of Mississippi.
GESTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
A high sense Of duty has induced me to con-
vene the Legislature in extraordinary session.
Were disposed to shift from myself the respon-
sibility fthis act, might point 10 the firm and pa
triotic resolutions of your honorable bodies,
passed at the last session on the subject of our
Federal relations, as full justification Of my
course; b inasmuch the constitution confdes
this impd4ant power solely TO the discretion of
the Governor, | am quite content to rest the pro-
priety OF my action upon reasons and consldera-
tons, which shall proceed briefly TO lay before
you, and which, | doubt not, will be deemed sa-
tlsfactory both by you, and by our common con-
stituents, the people. shall study to present
them with simplicity, candor and truth.
Probably no free representative Government
has ever existed, which has not been agitated by
the contests of rival interests. When these hap
pen to be scattered and diffused throughout
whole community, the excitement thereby pro-
duced Is healthy and beneficial; but, when these
interests are local and sectional, growing out of
diversity of climate and productions, the contest
soon becomes struggle for supremacy, too often
attended with jealousy, bitterness and hatred, es-
peclally when the rival sections distinguished
| by disslniar and incongruous social systems
Northern or non-slaveholding States, led on by
New England, against the Southern or slavehold-
ing States, has begun to partake of the latter
character 1t commenced in conflict Of interests,
about manufactures, navigation laws, local appro-
priations, &C., and has ended in a war Of eXter-
mination against the institution Of domestic sla-
very, or rather, against the States in which the
system exists.
| This hostility to slavery has now become the
a'l-absorbng, all controlling element of political
action and party movement, both in Congress and
throughout the Northern States. Political parties
unite, separate, and are modified with reference to
it, Political platforms built upon it, 1t is the
main question in the selection Of candidates for all
offices. TITS the active element of religious, be-
nevoent, charitable, and even literary associa-
tons, and the spice which seasons private society
The Constitution Of the United States, the rights
Of the States, the gravest questions of public pol
icy, all are construed and determined with refer
ence to this question Of domestic slavery and the
| Congress OF the United States, whose powers are
limited mainly to the regulation Of national and
external objects are now found devoting nearly
all their time to subjects Of domestic nature over
which it was never intended that they should ex-
ercise jurisdiction.
/ 1t might be interesting TO trace the progress of
the abolition, or anti-slavery excitement, from its
small beginnings to its present overshadowing in
fuence, when it actually sways the whole ma
chinery of the Federal Government But it is suf-
cient, in this connection, to state the question
it was, during the last session of the Legislature,
and to present forcbly the changes which have
since occurred.
BY the war with Mexico, we had acquired a
vast and valuable territory. Its area is large
enough to constitute fifteen States of medium size
A portion of this territory, fronting for more than
200 miles upon the Pacific ocean, abounds with
good harbors, which command the rich commerce
Of the Indies, of China, and of the Southern Archi-
pelago. 1t contains too, within its bosom, mex
haustible beds Of the precious metals. No coun-
try discovered, has suddenly presented so
many brilliant attractions for adventures, and
none has risen into notice with more rapidity
THE exclusive possession and enjoyment OF this
vast and rich territory, soon excited the avarice
and lust for power Of the North, and for time,
all ntiSlavery schemes were merged in the lead
ing one of excluding the South from its joint pos
session. The whole force of the contest was
turned upon this point. The North determined
to exclude slavery. The South seemed equally
determined not to submit to such insulting and I'M
lust discrimination. The firm and decided posi-
ton of the slaveholding States enforced respect,
and for time, seemed to promise security and
protection against the contemplated outrage. In
the meantime, while the rival sections maintained
this attitude, deep political intrigue was devised
and set on foot, to effect indirectly the purpose Of
excluding the Southern States from the common
territory. The transient and floating population
which had poured into the country, were insti-
gated and encouraged to usurp the sovereign do
main of the best and valuable portions Of that
country, cut off the Southern States from all par
ticipation therein, and to demand from Con-
gress the sanction Of their illegal proceedings and
admission into the Union as State. Encouraged
by the Federal administration, in the way OF
whose political schemes these questions lay as
stumbling blocks, this stupendous plot TO defraud
the Southern States by an abuse of the power to
admit new States, Notwithstanding its monstrous
injustice, was beginning to develop its progress
Idurinp Last of the | ,eUSlatnre So
papable did its real purpose appear to those who
had closely watched its progress, that both of our
senators in Congress, and all our representatives,
in an official communication addressed to me, to
be laid before the Legislature and the people, de-
elared, that they regarded this measure, the adj
mission of California, as the Wilmot Proviso, in
another form. 1t was too grossly unjus, to be
urged as a measure by itself. Its deformity was
too apparent. Even its principal sponsors did not
in the commencement, venture to advocate the
proposition alone To break the force Of the blow
and TO palliate It's Effects they connected 1t with
other measures, some Of them Objectionable, and
others practically useless and immateral. 1t was
called a compromise, an adjustment, and many
patriotic men in the South, were, no doubt, mis-
led by the false, haow, and deceptive appliances
which were, without scruple, resorted TO, to boil
ster up and sustain it.
Such was the state of the controversy at the pc
riod Of the adjournment Of our Legislature. II
was still hoped that the outrage would not be con
; summated at any rate, the Legislature did mol
think fit to anticipate so important, a contingency
but deemed the precaution sufficient to leave 1t
with other causes Of complaint, to the consldera
ton of the Southern Convention, then shortly ex
pectcd to assemble at Nashville The Legislature
indicated no disposition to fall back from the po
stions which had been assumed by the October
convention, advocated by both great political par
ties in the State canvass, and maintained with
great apparent unanimity in numerous popular
meetings. Those positions were, that we were
entitled to just participation in the use and en-
joyment Of the territory conquered from Mexico
and that we could not, without dishonor, submi
to be excluded from it. The National Conven
ton, whose determinations were by anticipation
adopted by our Legislature, had most formally in
sisted upon these territorial rights, and had only
for the sake Of peace and union, agreed to ac
quiesce in division Of the territory by the line o
Sc deg. 80 min. with the express declaration tina
this was to be the extreme concession Of the State
therein represented.
All these protests and determinations were be
fore Congress. and would probably have com
manded respect, and secured the rights of tn
; South had the same frmness and unanimty beer
maintained, which marked the commencement o