The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-05

agree with tho seventh resolution OF the con-
mttee. They hold il to be their duty to submit
the action of the convention 10 the people Of the
State. An ordinary degree of respect for the
people would seem TO them To call for such a
course. Justice and fair dealing towards our
constituents demand il. The nature of our or
ganization requires il. We are holding and
exercising the sovereignty of the State. Our
opinions, our acts become the solemn will OF the
people. It is an universal rule, one never hitherto
violated In the practice OF any State IN The
Union that should be submitted To the people
for their Judgment In ordinary Legislative
action no such necessity exists, as the same
power which makes, can repeal laws. But when
tho sovereignty of the State has acted, it can
never be- changed without calling into action
again the powers of the people through an or
ganized form. Hence the palpable necessity
that their opinion should be had before any SUI
preme rule Of action, any law, any great prlnci-
pie, should be imposed upon them. Dstrust OF
the popular v i'll does not beco ne popular rep
resentative, and they have ever held that system
of government the wisest which most frequently
seeks an expression of the popular will.
And in pursuance of the foregoing report, the
minority submit for the action Of the convention
the following resolutions:
Resoiped. LIST, That this convention deems it
inexpedient TO assume any new or further posi-.
ton for the people Of the State OF Mississippi
on the slavery question, believing that their
position has been fully defined in the report and
resolutions of the October convention Of l849.
Resoiped, I'd, That this convention deems it
right and proper that full weight should be
given in its action TO the will of the majority of
the people of Mississippi IA expressed in the
=. 81 l.x ard ha oil
very question.
Resoiusd, Sd, That this convention considers
acquescence in the measures of Congress,
called the compromise, as the settled policy Of
the people of Mississippi, as indicated by that
election.
Resolced, All, That this convention does not
regard the election in September as an express
sion In favor of the justice or wisdom of the
whole series Of those measures, but rather as
an assent yielded TO them by the people in pre-
ference to the adoption of any course which
might tend to endanger the Union of the States,
and that while the people have thus yielded
their assent to those measures, in view OF the
surrounding circumstances, they have in nowise
intended Ia sanction them, so that they shall be
hereafter invoked AS presidents Of right against
them.
Resolved, 5ih, That this convention deems it
proper to declare that the government of the
United States Is one of delegated powers,
formed by delegates from the several sovereign
States, and limited by a written Constitution
which was ratified by the States separately /;
that all powers not expressly delegated, or ne
cessary TO carry out the delegated powers, were
reserved to the States respec lively, and II neces
sarily follows that any State possesses the right
to Judge of infractons of the Constitution, and
whenever an exigency shall arise which, in the
opinion of the State, is sufficient TO justify the
step, such State has an unquestionablc right To
resume the delegated powers and withdraw
from the Union.
All of which is respectfully submitted by,
WILLIAM X CANNON,
W. p. HARRIS,
SAMUEL N. GILLELAND.