The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-02-19
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there is Governor, though Iie be d
prisoner 10 a foreign power. A lilough
ne may be absent, and incapable Of per-
forming his duties, he is sill Governor.
and no other person can execute his Of.
flee. sf 5e. ,15 sss
II follows, therefore, tina. in such
case. the Stale would praclicully suffer
some of the evils OF anarchy. The
pardoning power would be lost. Officers
could not be commissioned orqualified;
the Great Seal of the State could moi
be used; vacancies iii Office could not
be filled; fngitiyes from justice could
not be reclaimed or surrendered; the
public works, tho operations Of .he Pen.
iten,lary, and oil repairs ofEspublic
buildings must stop for want OF legal
acquisitions to Iefray the expenses there.
of. The sale or Sta,e lands, and The
location of recent grants must be sns.
pended. 5.t.5 Il 4, g.@,
The Convention Of the people called
at the last session ofaihe Legislature,
could not assemble for want Of fwrits OF
election. In case of the death or re,
signa,ion Of 'he administrative officers
of the State Government, these i,npor.
TAM officers, including The treasury,
would be left without The superintend
ence or care Of any. authorised person.
In fine, the whole OF the Slate would
be IN confusion nudgrent inconvenience.
and perhaps irreparabie injury flow
from such state of things. For all these
evils there is bnt one remedy. That
remedy ismy resignation.
]. therefore, fellow Citizens, now resign
the high trnst ccntided TO my hands, with
no feeling of personal. regret, except that
could not serve you better; with no feel
ing of shame. or am innocent Of the
causes which have induced the necessity
of this step. On the contrary, although
personally fear no investigation and shIn
no scrutiny, have spared no efforts con-
sisteni with self-respectto TO avert this result.
So soon as learned thatsattempts would
be made, under an act of Congress of the
last century, to remove me from this State.
| formally offered to the proper authorities
Of the United States, any pledge or : sseEus
rity to appear in New Orleans, and msek
the ehargcs ngains. me, SO soon as my: term
5af olilfe should xpire. ard i rerrlo.issrasea
against the iadignify thus about Id be ofat fs 1
cd, MOTTO myself hut to the State, ii, drag
ging away from his duties, her Chic Magiss
tratc. ss 80. az zsss iS.'- 4
My proposition was not excepted. and.
my remonstrance not needed. Etass4
1t is not for me 10 complain. Ny course
in this matter meets The approval OF some
OF the most patriotic citizens near me.
sincerely hope. as it was dictated alone by
my sense OF duty TO tho State, il, may meet
the appreciation of my yfellow.citizens. fss5
In thus parting from my generous con-
stituents, it would be propcrto give them
an account Of my stewardship during tho
short but interesting period that have act.
cd as their. public servant, but the official
connection between us has been SO sum.
marily and unexpectedly deserved, that
must defer the grateful task TO future
day. ssss,esf
have but TO add that, during my shor.
but exciting period of service, have in all
things strivcn to be faithful and true 10 the
rights, the interests, and the honor Of the
State. For this, have been abused and
illuminated by the enemies of tho South.
Trcachery and faiihfulness would have se-
cured favor and praise from the same sour
ces.
Fellow-citizens, now take my leave Of
you with gratitude for the generous sup
port you have extended to me, and will,
cheering confidence that your honor and
your interests may be safely contided TO
the hands Of the faithful and able son Of
Mississippi, who, as President of tile Sen.
ate, succeeds to my place.
JOHN A. QUITMAN.
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