The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-11-26

hfr. 0 thf t1usntAAf hAte
nght Of e~xpansiou TO be doaied 10 H. ar
stauihig hets.
Notwithstanding temporary countorvaii
ing causes. the close observer eau already
perceive the injurious effects growing GU
of these indirect assaults upon the institu
J ton Of domestic slavery IN the necessity o
+ more yigilant police regulations and IN The
withdrawal Of capital from the country IN
dicated by decaying towns, neglect OF pub
lie Improvement and comparative dePfecia
ton Of real estate.
How much will not these injurious effects
be FASTENED and increased when time hal
have more fully developed the fatal fact
that the Federal Government Is now and Is
forever after to be organized, upon the pm.
ciple OF hostility to slavery The depres-
sion which follows a sense OF political deg
radiation. the decay Of public spint, the de-
tenoration Of public morals, not a little pro-
NOTED by the demoralising effects OF the
temptations to treachery, held out by the
splendid patronage of the Federal Govern
ment, all will tend TO the decay and ruin OF
the south.
Such then, gentlemen, | am called upon
by an imperous sense Of duty to declare, is
the present condition of Mississippi in com
mon with the other Southern States. The
prospects before us are gloomy indeed. The
times demand the firm and energetic action
Of every patriot. To permit ourselves to
float down the stream, without a struggle,
would inevitably seal our doom. To resolve
again that we will not submit TO further ag-
gressions, after our former resolutions have
been so contemporary %disregarded, and af-
ter we have been virtually stripped of every
acre of the public domain, would but invite
further aggressions, if it did not Justly sub
lect us to the scorn and contempt Of man.
kind. Let not the timid and the wavering
seek to cover the indignity by a sophistrv.
History will vindicate truth, and will here
after record the admission Of California. as
the application by Congress of the Wilmot
proviso to the vast and rich domain encir-
cled by her broad boundaries
The practical good sense of Mississippi
discards the shallow excuse. Relying upon
truth and justice, she dares meet the ques-
ton, and look in the face. Her resolutions
have long since been proclaimed to the
world, that she would not submit She
will not submit, She will however, select
her mode and measure of redress, with
firmness, but with wisdom and prudence.
Neither her Legislature nor her Executive
have power or authority to proclaim what
will be her remedy. Their duty will be
discharged, by calling into active operation
the sovereign power ofthe State, facilitating
the full exercise of its authority, and provi-
ding in the mean time, that the State shall
be prepared for any probable emergency.
Since the acts of Congress above referred
to, excluding the Southern States from all
share in California, abolishing the slave
trade in the District of Columbia, and actu-
ally asserting the right of liberating slaves
therein,-1 have never for a moment doubt
ed it was my constitutional duty, in conso-
nance with the resolutions Of the Legisla-
ture, to convene that body. Not that I, at
any time, supposed that the remedy, or the
mode and measure of redress was within
the power Of that body; but because, with
out their aid, 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 meek
ly submit to the wrongs which have been
inflicted upon us, acknowledge our inferior
ity, and throw ourselves upon the generosi-
ty of the aggressor; or whether, as freemen
and equals, we shall take steps to redress
past wrongs and provide adequate protec-
ton for the future.
Believing as | 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 Ger
tain to flow from an acknowledgment of our
inability or want of courage to protect our
selves, | shall at all times advocate the
measures best calculated effectually to cor
rect the evil and redress the wrong, and
best suited to the temper and spirit of Free
men and equals in the confederacy.
To devise and carry into effect the best
means of redress for the past, and to obtain
certain security for the future, | recommend
that a legal convention of the people of the
State should be called, with full and ample
powers to take into consideration our Fed.
eral relations, the aggressions which have
been committed upon the rights of the
Southern States, the dangers which threat.
en- our domestic institutions, and all kindred
subjects; and jointly with other States, or
separately, to adopt such measures as NAV
best comport with the dignity and safety of
the State, and efTectualIy correct the evils
complained of. A convention thus assem-.
bled, and representing the sovereignty of the
State, would of course possess pienary
powers, uncontrolled by any instructions 81
restriction which the Legislature might in.
terpose
1t might therefore be sufficient for me. "a
recommend the passage OF roper laws to
bring INTO existence such a convention
leaving the mode aud measure of redres,
entirely to their wisdom when thus assem-.
bied' Tothis high power, representing tbs
I HAA go 49, 1WI