The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-02-11
Gov Quitman'S Address


In November, lS49, | was elected bv
your free suffrages, Governor of this I
State. My term of office commenced
with my Inauguration on the 10th of
January, 1850. By the provisions Of
the Constitution, it will expire on the
10th Jonuary, 1852. In the middle Of
my term Of office, and in the active dis.
charge of its duties, | am to-day arres.
ted by the United States Marshal ofthe
Southern District of Mississippi, by
virtue of process, originating out d
charges exhibited against me in he
District Court of the United States fG
the Eastern District of Louisiana, for I
an alleged violation of the neutrality
law of 1918, by beginning, setting on
foot and furnishing the means for a
military expedition against the Island
of Cuba.
Under these charges, the Marshal is
directed to arrest me, and remove my
person TO the city of New Orleans,
there to be tried for these alleged OF
fences.
Unconscious Of having, in any re.
spect, violated the laws of the couu>
try ready at all times to meet any
charge that might be exhibited against
me, | have only been anxious, in this
extraordinary emergency, to follow
the path of duty. As a citizen, it was
plain and clear, | must yield to the law,
however oppressive or unjust in nv
case: but, as The Chief Magistrate Of
i. a sovereign State, | had also in charge
her dignity, her honor, and her sover.
eighty, which could not permit to be
violated in my person. Resistance by
the organized force of the State. while
!. the Federal Administration is in the
hands Of men who appear to seek
some occasion to test the strength oil
that Government, would result in vic.
: lent contests, much to be dreaded in
I the present critical condition Of the
country.
The whole South, patient as she IS
under encroachment, might look with
y some jealousy upon the employment
OF military force to remove a South.
ern Governor from the jurisdiction Of
I'd bis State, when it had been withheld
from her citizens seeking to reclaim a
fugitive slave in Massachusetts.
to On the other hand, the arrest and
ii forcible removal from the State, of her
8 Chief Executive Magistrate, for an in
definite period Of time, would not on
y be a degradation of her sovereign
IT. ty, but must occasion i~ncalculable in
q. jury and disaster to the interests Of
X the State, by the entire suspension Of
Xix the Executive functions of her govern.
'e. ment. The Constitution has not con-
!. templated such an event as the forci>
y, BILE abduction of the Governor. 1t has
Il. not provided for the performance o.
ed his duties by another officer, except in
case OF a VACANCY. Such vacancy
cannot happen while there is a Cover
nor though he be a prisoner to a for.
as elgn power. Although he may be ab'
- - sent, and incapable of performing bis
duties, he is still Governor and no eth
an. er person can execute his office.
lily 1t follows, therefore. that in sucf
lp- case, the State would practically suf'
Ter some of the evils of anarchy. Tb,
%pardoning power would be lost. Off
GERS could not be commissioned q
qualified the Great Seal efafhe Stat
: could not be used vacans!ss in ofhct
could not be filed fugiti4s from jus
ak, tlce could not be reclaimed or surren'
my dered the public works, the opera
tons of the ~Penitentiary, and all re-
pairs of public buildings must stop ~
legal acquisitions to defray the expenl'
ses thereof. The sale ofState lands
ay. and the location of recent grants mus
at be suspended.
The Convention Of the people, cal
ed at the last session of the Legislatuf
could not assemble for want Of wrI
IN OF election. In last of the death
FRS. resignation Of the administrative Of
GERS oil the State Government, the
nv important offices, including the tres
Isa ury, would be Left without the supe
nv l~nioadence or care of any authors
person. In fine, the whole Cover
ment OF the Stale would be in conf
oP- sion ond great inconvenience, and ps
haps ~irrcparable injury flow from su