The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-08-09

ring with State and even Mr.. Hamilton ha
opposed all coercye measures bat now som
statesmen, viliiied most freely, denounced mos
bitterly, and talked OF coercing State, with a
much calmness, as they would Of roping dos
IL was said that submission or disunion wer
the only alternatives, and one or the other mus
be the issue. He trusted in the name of Mis-
sissIppi, that such an assertion should not
made by her citizens, for he thought there wer
many steps between the one and the othel
Surely, IN seeking for their rights under tn
Constitution, they We're seeking for disunior
Nor did he believe that such assertions wou
De made by others, than those transient visitor
who We're not identified with the feelings O
l ai'ssisspplans; whose hearts were aenated L
other districts and other Institutions.
At the convention Of Mississippi, her homo
was the first consideration; her flag was hoiste,
to the mast, and he for one said, cut away tn
halyards, and there let it float (Cheers.) Thei
cause was = right and holy one, and the mer
who felt this would stand by, amidst all storms
to protect their honor and their equality, tina
they might transmit to their descendants tn,
same heritage which had been given to them
selves. He felt and he knew that the citizen.
of Mississippi would never so act MS to allow
their children who came after them, to have in
scribed upon their banner: g We 90 for the
rights our foreiaihers bought with their blood
but which our fathers unworthily surrendered
The object of Mississippi should be to organ
ize for the purpose Of claiming their right to
! the territory They should endeavor to meet
the other Southern States, and confer as to the
best means of repe!lng aggressions, and giving
security to the Southern States. III there was
n unanimity of feeling, proposition might be
adopted requiring certain securities from the
North But if the Southern States cannot and
do not join Mississippi in her efforts for South
ern rights, then Mississippi will have given them
fair opportunity. and for whatever future ca
lamties may arise, let those take the blame
whose lethargy caused the misfortune. Mean
while, this State ought to stand aoof in readi-
ness, and when, eventually, other States should
join her, let them fall in to the right and left to
arrange with them for mutual cooperation. He
would meet South Carolina, and proudly meet
her. He would meet her for her glorious work
in the old revolution he would meet her for her
gallantry and patriotism in always endeavoring
to give security to public liberty, life, and pro-
perty; he would meet her for her many acts of
devoted heroism for the veal of the republic
and Mississippi should be proud to meet South
Carolina Mississippi drew South Carolina into
the controversy, and it would be too much to
leave her sister State to bear the difficulties and
encounter the dangers before her alone. He
would meet South Carolina, because by that
means, they might be able to save her from TAX
ing that last resort to which she has determined
to recur, although she may be abandoned by all
other States. Isolated as she is, it would be
wrong for Mississippi to turn coldIy from her,
and abandon the pledges made to lend co oper-
alive assistance now that the last alternative,
ca1 Ia Cd 10 IN .ui, ~
South Carolina, she could advise with her, and
the two States could make propos tons that one
of them could not, and thus Carolina might be
prevented from separate State secession. They
ought not, out of justice, to turn coldly from
South Carolina, whose object only is to demand
from the federal government those rights and
.vileges Of which she has been deprived, and
which Mississippi is an equal sufferer. What
would be the future policy with regard to South
Carolina he cond not tell, for MS yet nothing
had been avowed
He did not believe that the federal government
would, as had been said, erect floating custom
house on the bar of Charleston, but as President
Fillmore had threatened army and navy
against Texas because she held her rigbtful Ter.
ritory, he should suppose that the President
would send an armed force to South Carolina
IL such were the case, would Mississippi stand
quietly by, to witness her sister State defend
herself against such fearful odds, upon the very
issued raised by Mississippi? 1t could not be
it was thing so utterly at variance with the
principles hitherto acknowledged by this State,
that he would not believe in it. Their fellow
feeling would not permit them to desert that
star which shone so brilliantly throughout the
storm of the revolution, by which a tyrannica
power was ovcrthrown, and a glorious republic
created out of dependent province He felt
that Mississippi could not and would not aban-
don South Carolina loud cheers) fla army
should be sent to trample upon her soil, devast
ate her country, 20 produce all the horrors of
war, lay in waste the fertile fields, and spill the
blood of noble people, the heart OF Mississippi
would be moved and her sons would rush to
the rescue. In justice, Mississippi ought not
passively to submit to the destruction of
Southern State that only wished to preserve her
Institutions for the defence of those institutions
was important alike to all Southern States
South Carolina had right to look to Mississip-
pi for support and sympathy, a proper response
should be made, and there would be no crime in
such n course. If he were asked to 90 out of
the Union with South Carolina, his answer would
be "no," for unless they were attached to the
coterminous States in a secession, they would
be worse off than before; and further, Missis-
sppi would be more effective in the Union than
out of IT, She would be able to give moro as
sistance and advice to South Carolina If he
were asked what right States had to 90 out Of
the Union, his reply would be- reserved rights
not found in the Constitution, because they were
above the Constitution.
1t was truly said that secession was the right
of revolution. In I776 the colonists resolved
to seeded from the mother country, and throw
offihe British government. They had right to
do so, and by revolution they maintained their
If the colonies had a right to
secede from the British rule, although that Sc.
cession was opposed, by the same reason 3
State had n right 10 secedc from the federal
government. But what was revolution? Was
it necessary to shed blood N order to make .
revolution sacred {? If so, what amount of blood
would suffice? Perhaps only small amount
was sufficient. Whatever might be the re-
CURED quantity, he felt sure that old Jefferson
couny would supply IT, either by the pint, quart |
or any other measure. He did not understand
how revolution and blood were necessarily as
ISOLATED together. Suppose State seeded, |
the citizens would hold the same right and
tile To their prOpprty taxes would he raised M