The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-12-12

N''N'N'ffS' S~ASAN hhS ANdsuFluE SOuVRll~ ,
ton, when elected as President Of tlat DO
dy+
Gentlemen of the Convention Cir
cumstances have devolved on me The
unexpected duty of presiding over your
deliberations. bring no experience
to its performance, but, III undertaking
to discharge it, | console myself with
the reflection, lhat have before me
wisdom, intelligence, aud generosity,
capable OF aiding, me in its execution,
aud ready 70 make, allowance for any
errors | may commit.
1t may not be unsuitable to the oc-
casiou for me to add, that when we
went hence in June last, We departed
with tho ardent hope, that the claims
which we spread before the country
for the States represented by US, being
so Just and reasonable, would have
been met blythe public authorities in
spirit of Cancellation and peace, and
that they, by giving them effect, would
have restored confidence between the
different secuons Of the country Had
that been the case, we should now have
had the agteeable duty to perform of
congratuloiing ourselves On the Just re
suit Of our labors, and Of sending forth
our greetings to men Of the East, the
North, and the West, for 50 happy
consummation, and Of proclaimiug to
them that we held them, now, as brelh.
rem, not lnnamo merely, but IN aiiecs
ton and ,trIth; that we esteem them,
like ourselves, as loving justice, the
public tranquility, and the Union; and
as being disposed, equally with our
selves, to maintain all, by sustaining
: the Constitution, the only means Of
| preserving them. But how fatally has
a this pleasing hope been disappointed
How different the duty before us -
The equality Of rights on the public
territory, to which we are entitled as
, citizens Of this great Confoderacy, has
: been distegarded, by the admission OF
e State into the Union. embracing al
t most the whole Of 1t, with hasty, un>
u usual, ana usurped organization, exclu-
9 dmg our property theretrom. But
5 this wrong .grievous as it is, bears NJ
= proper one IN the enormous iniquity
S medltated against the savebolding
!" States, Of Changing the Constitution
: and with jurisdiction acquired in this
J. manner, to destroy an institution which
It constitutes in principle degree, thei
wealth. and bnng to those whom i'll
8 detractors are pleased t. call lis vic
1t films, comforts, and happiness unknown
j to any other portion of their race. Il
must not. be expected that men wht
! have the spitit and patriotism which
i ought to belong to freemen will silent
it " contemplate the impending DANCE
N and not prepare to meet it. The Con
stitution must be preserved unchanged
'S and unbroken, Every thing depends
ie on this. Its fruits, when faithfully ad
ministered, attest its value. What i
it which has attracted to our govern
y ment the admiration of tho world I
g. Not, 10 be sure, the mere co,operaiior
c. ofthe States through theIl representa-
IN uves in matters ofgovernment.
m The great principle of right, justice
and liberty, which pervade the Constl
: tuition, and its wise provisions for Ihei
n, wholesome administration, have com
al manded this admiration. These ar
cd the attributes which drew to its adop
! tion the several States which form III
coufederacy. five look at our unpar
y alleed growthin agriculture, commerce
ut and manufactures, and ask the cause
Us it is the effect OF the Constitution. ]
n. we see the people Of this broad land
in every part Of it, worshipping tn
Most High according to the dictates Q
10 their conscience if prosperity is to b
sy seen every where, and our commerc
a. moves upon the bosom of every ocean
T. If we have grown in power an
" strength, commanding the respect {
III the most powerful nations-alI-alI
by the great work Of our admirable Con
nd stitution. Ii we look around ana M
.. each State moving quietly IN its appro
pirate sphere, with no erratic motion
10 bring into collision with the rest 9
any of them, il is the track marked ou
N, for it by the Constitution. 1t Con
n gress, con6nng itself in all its meas
on ures within the limits prescribed to
it, doing nothing unjustly, consultln
cd right, abstaining from the semblgnle
m Of wrong, fulhls the letter and spirit Q
u. the Constitution, its action will irui
N. promote the general welfare.
d. The Constitution, then, is the grea
ne temple Of our religious, politica an
* individual liberty. The sacred rlshit
IS OF millions Of freemen are sintimatell.. !.
r. interviewer with its structure. u 1t p
hs destroyed, they must perish with i
~ unless they can be otherwise preserves
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