The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-11-19
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF MIS-
SISSJPPL

the 7,h inst, applicable to federal relations.
Ike Gov. speaks in the language of fidelity to
the South and true love for her institutions in
presenting to his fellow citizens the considera-
tions which should guide her sons in the event
Of an election of an abolition President in
1860. He thinks that his recommendations
will be considered by some as looking to a
dissolution Of the Union, but at the same time
differs in toto with all such, and says:
II aver that the measures which l have
recommended are conservative in their char
acter, and involve the only remaining chanc.
for the preservation Of the Union-I mean oI
course, the Union Of coequal sovereign States
such as our fathers left us,-and such Us the
Constitution, properly understood and carried
out, has made us-aDd not a Union Of suEe
rior and inferior States-a governed aud gov
erning section"
He asserts that his opiE1ons have beer
formed upon mature delibera,ion, that no mar
loves The Union more ardently than he does
and that the adoption Of bis suggestions is the
only means by which the Union can be pre-
served. He says:
SIN the contingency contemplated-that is
the election of an abolition President-the
issues which | propose must be made and met
The dangers 10 the Union are not to be found
at the South but at the North. The position
If the South is entirely defensive. The nggres-
sion and sectional agitation exists only in the
non-slavehnlding States. We have no section
al organization but, on the contrary, seek by
every means in our power, to make our action
national. We assail no Northern institutions
of any description whatever nor hare we thu
power or will to do So"
The Gov. next recites the concessions which
have been made to the North from the founda.
ton Of the government, and the surrender OF
the Northwestern Territory, ont Of which
have been carved the States of Ohio, Indiana
Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. He adyerts
to the agitation of the slavery question in the
halls Of Congress since 1885, and sees in all
this nothing but continued and increasing hos
tility to the South and her institutions. lie
adds Will not the election of an Adolf.
Zionist to the Presidency on a purely sectional
issue, make it full time to ask ourselves the
question what will be our situation with such
a result accomplished There is, or can be
but one answer, and that is, that we are q con.
quered people. Yes, ms much a conquered
people as if we had been conquered by the
Sword. 1t is true that the form and mockery
of voting, and sending members to Congress
will still be allowed to US, but OF, what real
value will the be? What good will we derive
from the fact Of having members there, who
on all questions affecting our true interests
must forever vote in a minority? Ibis would
be to MS no protection whatever ; and wcnld
be a position Of degradation to which no man
who was worthy to represent you could or
would stoop. In this view Of our position on
the election Of an Abolition President, will it
not be time /" to put our house in order and be
prepared to carry out fully, the following
resolution of the Democratic party of this
State. That is Resolved, that in the event
of the election Of q Black Republican candi-
date to the Presidency, by the suffrages Of one
portion of the Union only, to rule over the
whole United States, upon the ayowed pur-
poses Of the organization. Mississippi will re-
gard it as o declaration Of hostility and will
hold herself in readiness, to cooperate with
her sister States Of the South, in whatever
measures they may deem necessary for the
maintenance Of their rights as co-equal mem.
bers Of the Confederacy."
~ rNq%.E., s.t2& ENE IE 49, L..#
For the purpose of being prepared for the
contingency provided for in the above resolu.
ton, Gov. Melville suggests to the Legisla
tnre at its present session the passage Of an
act making it his duty to order an election for
delegates to q State Contention to be holden
on the first Monday Of December 1860, in the
City Of Jackson, for the purposetof adopting
such measures as may meet thf exigency Of
the accession. And he farther A~sggests tina,
the present Legislature Shout seadopt resolu.
tons inviting the other Southern States ia
cooperate with the State Of Mississippi in
taking such steps as will protect the rights q
the South effectually and efficiently.
The Gov. concludes his remarks on this
lmomentoas question as follows: II have
thought it better to give the Union another
chance for life. Secession or disunion is death
while 2 refusal to pay taxes Tor resistance ia
the revenue laws) is but q violent disease, from
which the body polite may recover. Deple.
ton Of the Treasury may do good. 1t, at
least, is worth trying, before any final act Of
disruption to the Union. It will give time for
new compacts or guarantees, which ought to
be made. What possible objection can the
North have 10 giving us such security, unless
she intends our assailment under the forms Of
the Constitution, BY action of the Federal
Government The refusal wonld be eouiya-
lent to . declaration of such intent, and ought
to be met accordingly. The measures l have
suggested may by some be thought to be too
strong but in my opinion they are the mildes.
that can be offered with any hope of curing
the disease-th the whole body polite is sick, . and
homeopathic medicines will do no good.
LOUISIANA ELRcrloN.-We have received
the returns from about one half Of the Parishes
in the State, in which the vote polled for
Moore is about 10000, and for Wells 1000.
In the same Parishes the Democrats have
elected 80 members, the Opposition 20, and