Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-02-21
House of Representative

II EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Feb, 7th, 1852.
II the Senate and
House of Representative
B. the 9Th section of the 5th article of the Con
sttuton of the State of Mississippi, it is required
that he Governor ''shall, from time to time, give
to theLegislature information of the state of the
Government, and recommend to their consdera-
ton su.h measures as he may deem necessary and
expedelt - and by the legislative act of 1880, it
is provided 'that at the regular session of the
General Assembly of this State, next preceding
the expiration of the term of United States Sena-
tor, or at any other session at which vacancy or
Executive appointment shall be reported by the
Governor, shall be the time of electng United
States Senator'S" l have the honor herewith to
report the vacancy which has recently occurred in
the seat formerly occupied by myself and to state
that the present session of Congress is of great
Importance, both to Mississippi and the other
States of the confederacy. On no occasion has it
been more desirable that all the States ofthe South
should be fully and efficiently represented in the
Senatorial branch of the National Legislature !;
and yet it is true that Mississippi has only Sen
atoral representative in Washington, and he
holding his authority by Executive appointment
alone is unfortunately gentleman who, whatever
qualifications his friends nay attribute to him, is
well known to entertain sentiments and opinions
highly dangerous in their character and tendency,
and which have been, moreover, twice openly re-
pudiated by the sovereign people of the State, in
two successive popular elections. / speak plainly
on this subject, because | consider the occasion
one which demands that | should so speak. I'm
der the circumstances stated, deem it my duty
respectfully to urge upon the two Houses OF the
Legislature as early action possible, in filing
both the vacancies lately cccasioned by resignation.
1t is particularly desirable, in my judgment, that
the State of Mississippi should be fully represent
ed in the Senate when the resolution, now pending
in that bedy declaratye of the tnalty OF the Com
promise shall be acted upon. Indeed, received
information bv the last mail, that the friends oi
the resolution referred to, will not be disposed tc
press the Senate to a vote upon the same, until
the two new Senators from Mississippi, expected
to be elected shall have arrived in Washington
I may here be permitted to say, that the inroduc-
ton of this resolution and the debate to which il
has riven rise have been productive already OF
the happiest effects, in restoring thoroughly good
understanding between opposite sections OF the
Union, touching reciprocal rights and obligations
growing out of the system OF domestic slavery
The spirit of acquiesence in the plan Of djustment
as final and irrevocable settlement of the ques
tions which have heretofore disturbed the public
repose has been constantly gaining ground, IL
every State of the Union for the last two months
in spite of every attempt which has been made, IL
various modes, by designing factionsts, to caus'
the true character and object of the resolution re
ferred to be misunderstood Legislative bodies
party conventions, and large public meetings hay'
adopted resolutions in harmony with this move
ment in the Senate | know, in fact, of only ont
conventional assemblage, which has been recent,
held in any part of the Republic, that has adjourn
ed without the adoption of a formal resolution c
conference.-the Convention which assemble
in this city on the 9Th January last, being the on
one known to me, which has failed to give its sane
ton openly to the scheme of adjustment.
4l,o in no
resolution of acquiesence, secession and Jreeso
have been alike compelled to unmask themselves
and both of them have grown more odlOus, In pro
portion as their deformity has been exposed TO th
popular view The South, especially, has becom
almost united, as one man, in support Of the pla
of Compromise, and the great principle OF non-I
tervention, embodied therein both of which, wei
at one time SO widely and unfortunately mlscor
ceived and nothing seems now to be wantln
but the adoption in the Senate, of the resouuo
there pending, by such decisive majority vott
as feel assured will be cast in its favor to brn
about such state of repose and general Tranquil
ity as will rejoice the hearts of all true patriots
and give additional assurances of the permanenc
of our republican institutions.
[ hope that / shall be pardoned for venturing
offer few observations, here, upon point Of I
little delicacy, but which hold to be essential
connected with the subject of this message
1t is known to me, and to the whole countr
that serious and unhappy disagreement has ari
en- between the two Houses of the Legislature,
regard to the form of proceeding, proper to
adopted in the election of Senators for the two u
expired terms, and for that which will commen
on the 4th March, 1853 However decided m
be the views which [ entertain, in regard to t
biph constitutional obligation, resting upon
two Houses of the Legislature, to fill all three
these terms, at their present session, l do not f
authorized, in my official position, to apply t
language of censure, dsapprobaton to eiti
of these bodies, on account of anything that
heretofore occurred but | beg leave to sugge
that whilst the present disagreement exists, ii
obvious that no election whatever, of United Sta
Senators can take place.
This being the condition of things | hope
viii not be regarded as intrusive in me, respe
fully, but earnestly, to recommend to the memb
of either House, the propriety of submitting,
the sake of harmony, and in consideration Of /
great public interest involved, to reciprocal s.
rifce of all preconceived prejudices partialiti
of nature merely personal, which may now o.
rato in to proloncr he oUle