The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-12-02

We uttQl ~ WHoul Unnecessarily 10 puoiNH
the loyalty OF Mississippi to the Union, aud
the Constitution without amendment, when
we are unable to perceive anything in her
i'ss aistesy, IN the eoatirti haii, OF upon she
field of battle, which would justify the world
IN arraying fhe one or questioning the other
She regards the Constitution as the sacred
bond Of the Union. AN she asks, is, that
Il be fairly construed and ughteonsly od-
mlnlstered, in order 20 secure the perpetual
devotion of her people, aud their obedience
to the laws OF the land Mississippi has ne
yer questioned tbs wisdom of our form OF
government aud has only arraigned the con.
duet of those who have shown themselves
strangers to the high and holy spirit in which
Il was framed, and traitors to the honor and
good faith in which it should be carried out
We cannot further perceive the necessity
which has led to the solmn denial of a right
to do that which no one is now proposing.
We are yet to be informed, what body of
men amongst us proposes to secede from the
Union, We come to this convention as re.
presenting the sovereignty of the State, hot
as a poIticaHbody TO assert unmenning ab.
stractions, merely to color the present nour.
But, lnasmuch as the majority has seem pIo.
per to express their views vpon the right of
secession, we feel justifyed in asserting n
principle, announced in the earliest history
of the government, aud consecrated by the
highest names of the Republic, We there
fore assert "that the several States, Com
posisg the United States of America, are not
united on the principle Of unlimited submis
sion to the General Government, but by
compact, under style and title of a Constitu-
ton of the United States, aud of amend
ments thereto, they constituted General
Government for special purposes, delegated
to that government certain defuitive powers
reserving each state for its self the residuary
mass of fright TO TO their own self govern
ment, aud that whenever the General Gov.
eminent assumes undeagaied powers, its
acts are Unauthorized, void, and of no effect
that to this compact each state acceded, rs
a state, as an integral party, that this gov
ernment created by this compact, was not
made the exclusive or final Judge Of its pow.
ers delegated to itself, since that would have
made lis discretion, aud not the constitution
the measures of its powers. But. as in all
other cases OF compact among parties, hav-
ing no common Judge, each party has an
equal right TO Judge for itself, as well of in.
tracnons, ms of the mode and measures OF re,
dress. We do further explicitly and per.
emptorily declare, that view the powers OF
the Federal Government as resulting from
the compact to which the states are parties,
as limited by the plain sense and intention
OF the instrumt Mt constituting the compact
as no farther valid than authorized by the
grants enumerated in that compact, aud
that in case of deliberate. palpable and
dangerous exercise of other powers not gran
ted by said compact Tor the gross and flag.
rant abuse of those granted, J the states who
are parties thereto, have the right, and are
in duty bound to lnterpose for the purpose
of anesting the progress OF the evil and for
within there respective limits,
the authorities. rights and liberties apper.
tanning to them,
We cannot, out Of se-respect, and inlus-
tlce TO ourselves conceive with the majority
that The Convention, ofwhich we are part
is an illegal or unconstitutional body II
this were true, we should be bound by our
oaths TO adjourn. Our continued sessions
would be a palpable fraud upon the rights OF
our constituents. The date OF our organi-
zation should have been the date of dissolu.
ton. We are unwilling thus to stutify our
selves or stigmatize those who refused aipro-
position TO adjourn on our first meeting.
We regard the Convention as legally aud
constltutionally assembled, and whether its
deliberations should meet our WISHES or
otherwise we cannot bold their result as
wanting in binding force from any defect in
our organization.
IN conclusion, we are forced 10 disagree
with the seventh resolution of the Commit
tee, We hold il to be our duty TO submit
our actions to the people of the state of the
state An ordinary degree of respect for the
people would seem to ub TO call for such
course. Justice and fair dealing towards
our constituents demand it, The nature Of
our organization requires it. We are hold
ing and exercising the sovereignty of the
State Our opinions, our acts become the
solemn will Of the people. II is an. uniVer
sal rule, one never hitherto violated in the
practice Of any statein the Union, that such
should be submitted TO the people for their
Judgement In ordinary Legislative action
no such necessity exists. as the same power
which makes, can repeal laws. But when
the sovereignty Of the state has acted. il can
never be changed without calling into ac.
ton again the powers of the people through
an organized form. Hence the palpabie ne.
cessity that their opinion should be had be-
fore any supreme rule ofaclion, any law, any
great principle, should be imposed upon
them. Distrust of the popular will does not
become a popular representative. and we
have ever held that system of government
the wisest. which most frequently seeks an
expression Of the popular viii.
And in pursuance Of the foregoing Report
we submit for the action Of the convention
the following resolutions:
/ Ro,ay,.ed 1tt Thattbat this ,onventior