The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-04-13
The Governor hns snnknn .

vile. The Governor, like sensible
man (not Qnitman) sends them letter
IN reply, from which we make few ex.
tracts. We wish he had written a
shorter letter SO that we could give III,
whole Of ii.
VI do not believe | possess any mower or
authority. as the Chief Ex utive Magistrate OF
this State, to take any official step to cause the
election or appointment. Of delegates to attend
the convention of Southern States to meet at
Nashville, in the State of Tennessee, in
June next. I know Of no provision in the
constitution or laws Of the State which points
out or permits the performance Of such duty;
or that Prescrbes and defines the powers and
duties of such delegates, when elected or an
Poluted. 1t is very clear to my mind that
have no more power or authority in this mat
Ter than any private citizen of the common
wealth, and that any act on my part in nv
official character, tn procure an election of del.
egates to such convention, would be usur-
patton alike dangerous and reasonable.
consider such convention as revolutiona-
ry IN Its tendency and 'directly against the
spirit, it not the letter Of the Constitution Of
the United States, which declares that "no
State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or
confederation; and the trainers ana expound
ers OF the constitution seemed to understand
this subject fully, in the course pointed out as
proper to be pursued by the States to oppose
encroachments by the Federal Government.
Would not the expression of an opinion or q
determination by the States in their sovereign
capacity, be calculated to carry more weight
and 10 command moro respect than the acts
and proceedings of an irresponsible conven
ton Of delegates assembled from portion of
the States, without any prescribed power or
duties, and subject to no control.
But it is said that the States have acted
by resolutions reports and addresses, and
'lhey (thC Norlh) will not believe the States
are in earnest, and mean what they say.r
Then what more could this proposed southern
convention do to make them believe we are in
earnest, unless, it is 10 be considered and to
consider itself revolutionary BODY? What
more could it dn than to reresoIve and reaffirm,
unless to propose violent and extra consltu-
lonal remedies? If it is called for this end !;
! most sOlenlniy protest against 10. The time
has not Grri0ed far such measures; and pray
God such n time may never ar rive. There
are, however, restless spirits amongst us, VINO
have calculated the value of the Union, and
would, perhaps, sell it f1r a mess OF rottage
Since this Southern Convention Ids been pro
ectrd, "a Southern Confederation has been
more than dreamed Of
And when this Southern Convention meets,
who can tell what its members may not at
tempt 10 accomplish, not thought of by those
who sent them there2 Should they attempt
measures dangerous to the permanence of this
Union, where is the power to arrest them?
Whose voice SO potent as to cay to them
"thus far shalt thou 60 aud no fartherl" How
long may the remain in session? These
and many other questions, may and should be
asked by rejecting men, before they go too
far to retract.
Bur Il we admit that no designs arainst the
Union are intended and none are to be feared.
that the whole object Of the Convention is to
show that we are united and in earnest, what
| ask can the convention say or do to create OF
strengthen thlsimpreasion, which has not been
said or done in n more authoritative and dig
nfed form by State lie slatures and State
conventions? What, on'the other hand, is to
be the consequence if the Nashville conven-
ZION shall meet and fail TO agree upon our rights
and anticipated wrongs-upon measures and
remedies! Is il very certain that delegates
from vast extent Of country, representing ev!
cry shade of Southern opinion upen this sub
jtct, will see eye to eye on all these points?
Will politicians of opposing parties certainly
c'aesce upon topic which has been most
unfortunately and unnaturally made TO play
part iu party politics for more than twenty
years past? Will delegates from some Of our
river States, who go unanimously declare for
the Union to the last extremity, harmonlze
with delegates from States alleged to be ndif
ferent to theUniOn? Willall apprekend the same
degree, extent and sources Of danger, as we'll
as unite upon the same preventativos? If
small body OF Southern Congressmen; assem-
bled under the presence of great excitement
and sense Of immediate danger, could not
agree upon the terms Of an address 10 the peo
pie Of the South, are we to be so certain of
unanimfty in body so numerous, and embra
cling SO wide range and contranetv Of opin
ion, as will this proposed convention2 Buff
it fails to agree, so far from foruIyng, will il
not havea direct tendency to weaken the posi-
ton Of tn South! cannot comprehend why
this very possible CONTINGENCY has been o yer
looked by the projectors OfIhe Southern con
vention.
regret that it should have been deemed