Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-01-17

justice done to the people of the South, by the
passage OF these measures, and in obedience to
what he conceived to be his bounden duty, in ac-
cordance with the 9th resolution of the series pas
sed by the Legislature the 9Th of March, $3.50,
my predecessor, Gov. Quitman, convened the Leg
islature in special session, to take into considera
ton the to be pursued by this State for the
security of her rights as member of the confcd-
eracy. The Legislature passed act for the call
of convention of delegates, to be elected by the
people, to take into consideration our State and
Federal relations, and to declare the will of the
people in the most solemn. and august manner
That Convention met on the second Monday in
November last, and resolved that the people of
Mississippi were willing to acquiesce in the mea-
sures of adjustment, passed by the Congress of
the United States Whatever may be our ndivid
ual opinions as to the wisdom of this resolution,
We are bound to respect it as the voice of the peo
pie; and it is the duty of all good citizens hav-
ing at heart the quiet, peace and good order of
society, and who feel the necessity of union and
harmony upon great question in which their
dearest interests are involved, to yield willing
and cheerful obedience to the will of the majority
when thus solemnly made known. The day,
fear, is not far distant when it will become neces-
sary for the Southern States to unite for the pro-
lection of their constitutional rights-nay, for the
preservation of their existence as people but
from all considerations connected with the past it
is time that all further agitation should cease not
only in the National and State Legislatures, but
in the primary assemblies of the people. The
country requires repose after the intense excite
ment which has agitated the public mind for the
last two years, and it could derive no benefit from
a course which would be only calculated to embit-
ter the anmostes of different sections, and keep
alive the asperity of rival parties.
These matters connected with the compromise
constitute portion of the history of the country,
and are familiar to the minds of our people, and
only refer to them in order to impress upon the
Legislature the necessity of passing such measures
rs will tend to make our State independent Such
as giving liberal encouragement to manufacturing
.enterprize, and promoting the efforts being
made for direct trade between foreign countries
and our Southern seaport cities. we'll digested
series of measures of this character would not
only render more independent as State, and
prosperous as a people, but would also convince
the people of the North that to their interest
to carry out in good faith compromise forced up
on the South contrary to its wishes, and in spite
of its remonstrances, and do more than anything
else to preserve the integrity of the constitution,
perpetuate the Union, and promote harmony be-
tween the States.
have then, in the discharge of duty impos-
ed upon me by the constitution, given you all the
information In relation to the public service to be
found in the Executive Department or that has
been communicated to me during the very short
time in which l have discharged the duties of
Chit Magistrate of the State. l have also laid
before you for legislative action, such matters as
l considered necessary for the public good, and
feryently pray that in the consideration of these
as well as all other matters upon which you may
be called to act, wisdom and harmony may preside
over your deliberations, and that all your actions
may rebound to the good of your constituents, and
to the glory and welfare of our common country.
JAMES WHITFIELD.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Jackson, Jan. e., 1852.