The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-06-25
MR.. DAVIS SPEECH.

We take the following eloquent and true ex
tracts from the speech of Senator Jefferson
Davis, on the occasion of presenting to the
Senate the action of Mississippi on the slave
ry question
"Mr. President, these injuries, positive
and negative-these offences against theil
pride and sensibility-these intrusions upon
their domestic relatiohs-these ihffingments
upon their State rights, increasing from yeai
to year in ofensiveness, and the strength BY
which they are sustained-have excited the
feeling manifested in the State OF Mississip.
pi But siE = sAsxe been ED; and ask
ed, too, in the Senate, If this Nashville Con-
ventioh does not meet for purposes of disu-
nion, why does it meet at all Mr.. Presi-
dent, have we reached that point in the his
tory of our Government when aggression is
sanctioned by numbers, and redress can on
ly be obtained by force !-when citizens
cannot peaceably assemble in convention
with other hopes and other prospects than
disunion! Sir, this Nashville Convention
was founded in the confidence which the
people of Mississippi, so far as they recon-
mended it, had in the patriotism, the good
morals, and good sense of the North. 1t
was found in the expectation that the
masses of the South could speak to the
masses of the North, and gain their attention
for useful purposes. 1t was founded in the
hope that fraternity was not yet dead, and
regard for the constitution not yet wholly
obliterated among the people, however far
politicians may have gone astray. Those
who believe that this faith was unjust and
this hope was vain, may well ask us, if not
assembled there for purposes of disunion,
why do we assemble? When those who
believe this confidence in the patriotism ard
fraternity of our co-States of the Union to
be unfounded, ask such question, no an
swer can be given which to them would be
satisfactory"
After recapitulating the California question,
and showing the wrongs done 10 the South, Mr..
Davis concludes in this manner. Let every
Mississippian read it:
"The people Of Mississippi exercise their
right peaceably to assemble right which
Great Britain denied to our forefathers. and
which denial, more than any other one
cause, led to the war of the Revolution,
which gave independence to these United
Statos. They peaceably assembled. They
considered their grievances. They have
invited othersAlike circumstanced. to meet
them in c9hsultalion upon the subject of
providing appropriate remedies. They have
not soughtlbY force Of arms, nor by force of
numbers, TO violate the constitution, or in
fringe the rights of others. Far from it,
They have sought by public opinion, and by
a frank expression of their convictions and
determinations, to operate upon what they
still hope exists-the spirit of patriotism and
fraternity-which, in times gone by. anima-
ted and governed tIeif fathers, when, united
by one constitution, and marching toa a glofi-
Gus destiny under one banner, they founded
the Republic. This is the length and
breadth and depth of all the proceedings of
the people Of Mississippi. Under such cir
cunstances, therefore. they may well scorn
their motives They may well rely for
their justification against charges Of disloy-
atty to the Union, on the proofs they have
heretofore given, and those they are ready
hereafter TO give, whenever their country
may need them. of their devoted attachment
70 the glory and interests. and their faithful
adherence to the constitution Of the United
States. Well may they rely securely upon
the purity Of their motives. the justice Of
their demands ard the final Judgment of
mankind, for refutation Of the charges Of
those who have attempted TO defame them
IL IS true that the hope and confidence in