The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-04-15

= Ioi the Soulhern states OF the Union at TN
: time, are comprised in the inquiry
: lst Has the Constitution been violated
, by the Federal Government in manner
aud TO an extent, injurious to the intere>
OF these State~-dr>truciive of the righrs n
property and secured 10y an express provision
OF that instrument-and dl>paraging to thai
Equality among the States of the Union, and
The citizens thereof, without VIII ch the Con.
srilulion would never have been formed or
ratified?
2d. Have the measures of the Goverun,c ~, -.
been OF such character as TO destroy inst
equilibrium among The States, and TO give
Tor al time TO come, an unconditional ma.
JoHty 20 one section of the Union over thu
section winch recognizes the Institution ol
African avery, so that the section bcin-
thus possessed of The entire power in at The
bfanrhes OF the Government may 80 ad.
! munster the Constitution as 10 place tn
| outhern ; ates in the condition of suppl
ants, instead Of equa :, dependant for every
| hing Connected with their welfare or ma.
tonai policy, on the absolute will of their
associates in the coniedrration-whichp pow
err thus p 'sSessed, All experience has shown.
| Ia be exercised for sectional purposes,
Sd, Ii the Constitution has I,een violated,
and The tights of the Southern States there.
10y put III jeopardy, are these violations OF
uch character as To cali for ultimate mea.
sures to correct them, and TO place, on
ure foundation, the institution OF slavery,
a, it has existed from the period of cur coio-'
MIA condition down to the present time?
These are matters OF grave Importance,
which will cali forth the CAIN and dispas-
slonate consideration Of the Convention; !;
but If il should be the determination of that
body, that the evils of which we complain,
and the infractions of the Constitution are
Of such character that no hope of redress
can be found short of a manly declaration of
our rights as freemen. and the sons of free
men, that it will remain for this body 10 de-
eide whether our rights should be simply
asserted, without any practical effort to
maintain them III the existing clrcumsla ances
OF the country, or whether the time for de-
finite ac, ion has arrived. These are ques-
lions which cannot he lightly disposed of.
The meeting of the Convention having
been postponed to distant day, ample op.
lportuni,y tor reflection aud for the develop.
lnent OF The policy aud ACTON of other States,
4 when calmly considered, may lead us to a
safe aud satisfactory conclusion
The first duty of free people towards
the Government OF their choice is. aIiegi.
lHnce aud obedience TO its constitutional
avs aud ordinances and the highest duty
,,t th., ~ rJSt
whom it, power and jurisdiction extends,
is protection against wrongs internal and
lextlrnaI--the maintainaBre of Just equal.
Inv, both of burdens and benefits, in all the
relations subsisIing between them, social
and poiiticai and the preservation of that
iberty which has been rendered sacred TO
H. by the memory OF those who achieved il,
and by the blessings which its enjoyment
have spread over the wide extent of this free
and happy country,
These respective duties and obligations
being faithfully observed and executed, will,
| without resort TO the various expedients
of miItary power secure, for all time to
come, the Union Of these States and the
harmony of he people without regard to
geographical boundaries or sectional inter-
ests. Preserve the Constitution unbroken,
and we may safely say OF this Unlon--eStO
lperpetu0.
| shall again address my fellow citizens
on the Stale of the country and the causes
which, in my judgment, have contributed
to bring Oh Nv the iearfu crisis which now
threatens our political existence.
1t is my purpose, boiore he approaching
e ection for members of the Convention, 10
the 3lst Congress, W ich have been subse.
quentiy made the test OF patriotism; aud we
fnd long list of the names OF our dlstin-
gui-hed Sem tors and Representatives who
come forward and commit themselves as po-
iticaI propagsndlsts. and ostracise all whu
do not subscribe to their confession vi faith
as unworthy 10 serve their country in any
capacity whatever, either under the Stale or
Federal Governments. Indeed, so sacred
are these measures held by this new sct0td
of statesmen and patriots, that they not on y
denounce, with bitter lnprecatlons, all who
shall dare 10 question the sublime efficacy OF
these healing measures; but the unfortunate
victim of their denunciatIons is gravely held
by these learned lursts, TO he guilty Vi the
crime of high treason against the majesty o
the law.
Constructive treason is abrogated by an
express provision of the Constitution; but
in this age of "progrsss, the definition Of
this high offence against our free Govern
ment has been carried back to the days o.
JeHries and Titus Oats. .