Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-10-04
ADDRESS
JEFFERSON DAVIS,
ro TIE PEOPLE OF MIsSIs sIPPI.

FELLOW-NlIIHhNS
Nominated as a candidate for Governor of the
State of Mississippi in the manner which it has al
ready been announced to you the relation which
has so long subssted between us of Representa-
tive and constituency are changed, and my name
Is presented for your suffrage for an office of a
different character from those with which you have
heretofore trusted me. With feelings of profound
gratitude offer you my Acknowledgements for the
undeserved honors you have heretofore bestowed
upon me, and avail myself of this, the only mode
which my health enables to adopt, TO make a
review of the course | have pursued as your Rep
resentative to the Federal Government, and to
state the general policy by which will be govern
ed ifyou should elect me to be your Chez Execu-
tive.
Openly, and at all times avowing the principles
of Democracy as defined and established ID 1898
and '99, and believing the best interests OF the
whole country, and the preservation OF our GOV
eminent in lis original purity, depend upon the OBJ
servance of those principles, entered puohc HE
to maintain and uphold them. But though elect
ed as a Democrat, l conslded myself as Repre-
sentative of the people, and feel pride in the
victon that the severest scrutiny into my public
conduct cannot find an occasion on which the zeal
of the partizan has made me forget the duty of a
Represen alive.
In 1874, l advocated the election OF Mr. ok to
the Chief Ma isaracy OF The United Sts-es. and. as
a member OF Congress, entered he House o. Rep
reSentaves at he tlrsC session which followed his
inauguration. l. was my good fortune to see the
success Of those principles we had advocated, by
the repeal of the Protective Tariff and the cstab-
lshment of dd VGl0ren duties, by the overthrow of
partial, wasteful and corrupting scheme of In
ternal improvements by the Federal Government :;
by the annexation afTexas-and generally by ad-
herence to our cardinal principle, strict conshuc-
ton of the Constitution. When in discharge ofthat
J,,+1- -
TO repeal the invasion of State, we became in
volyed in hostiites with Mexico, [ voted to de
clare that war existed, and to provide the means
necessary for its prosecution. When the sons of
Mississippi who had volunteered, and been receiv-
ed into the military service of the United States,
were recognized Regiment, they elected me
their Colonel and notification of the fact left
my seat in Congress and joined them on their way
to Mexico. After our return to the United States
by expiration of the term of service, l again be-
came your Representative in the Senate of the u
nted States
When the treaty of peace was submitted to the
Senate for ratification, found it Objectionable in
many of it's features, and endeavored to amend it,
with some success, but failed on that point which
1 considered most important-the modification of
the boundary to be established between the two
countries [ sought to obtain a mountain barrier
which would include within the limits of the Unit
ed States all the valley Of the Rio Grande country
which, by its conhguity and climate, | felt would
inure to our advantage, whilst | gave a boundary
easily defended, and which separated countries so
distinct from each other as to put far from us the
probability of future collision; also TO change the
line from the Rio Grande to the Pacific, to as to
secure the Railroad route to San Diego. and a val
ley on which a settlement might be formed, which
would best to restrain the Indians within our
Territory from incursons into Mexico. This "a
mendment sustained by but eleven votes. 1t
was the settled policy to acquire Territory by the
treaty of peace. This vote left no hope that such
a change of boundary could be effected as | believ-
ed was desirable to the Southern States, and the
question assumed to my mind this form-shall
the treaty be ratified, and the war terminated or
shall the treaty by rejected, and hostiies be renew
ed Our army was in possession Of the Capitol of
Mexico, and was rapidly assuming self sustain
ing character. To continue the war must finally
lead TO a total destruction OF the Mexican govern
nent, and in the phrase of the dav 10 the sTal-
lowing up OF the whole OF Mexico by the United
States There was large party who desired dis
result, and Southern men Of tue highest sta ion
were of il. Between TWO evils | chose the least,
and FOJed for the treaty
Long before he treaty wss ratified, il an.icipa-
lion OF the acquisition OF EeJi-ory, the North
manifested lis will both III and out of Congress,
for the exclusion OF the Southern shareholders from
eli participation in any Territory which should be
thus acquired. Hhey had not sh0wu be same de-
sire 10 enEross either III lie personal hazards, OF
pecuuiary CuIthers of ne war.
In l848, various attempts were made % give
government California and New Mexico, IN con
nection with The Territory of Oregon. 4 special
committee was raised in the Senate by which Z
bill was reported to give the highest grade of Ter
ritorial Government to Oregon, and the Lowest
grade of Territorial government to California and
New Mexico, with the restriction on the two last
that no law should be passed respecting the pro
hibition or establishment of African Slavery" l
provided for judicial decision, of the question ii
controversy, the Constitutional right of the owners
ofslaves to take that species of property into The
Territories.
preferred Judicial to Congressional decs
ion, both because l hoped it would be more just
and believed it would be more permanent. l die
not doubt the Constitutional right fear the de
cision of an impartial tribunal. If rendered in GU
favor, might more confidently have looked for
ward to Legislative protection This measure O
Compromise treated with marked want O
consideration in the House of Representatives
where Northern power held control. It wa
promptly laid on the table without examination o
reference, and a bill was passed for Territoria
government OF Oregon without any provision 70
California or New Mexico. To this the Senat
attached an amendment by which the Mssoul
compromise was declared to be in full force an
binding tor the future organization of the Terri
tories OF the United States, in the same sense an
with the same understanding, with which it wa