Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-12
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER II, 1859.
mfssisszppi.

nearly nine columns in the 1HissisSRpian,
more than half oft being devoted to federal
politics The good example OF Gov. HARRIS
in sustaining from discussing federal politics
altogether, has had no influence with his
brother democratic executive OF Mississippi;
who only exhibits bad taste in not following
it. But what would Gov. MCWH.LIE have
done to spin out his message had he passed
over federal politics? Evidently he would
have "run out of soap" and been compelled
to limit his talk 10 three columns. How con-
venient for shallow Governors is the slavery
and other National questions?
Gov McWMLIE apprehends that the demo-
cracy will be beaten in the next Presden-
tial contest by the Black Republicans (aboli-
tionists he calls them) and he don't think
Mississippi, or the South, ought to stand it..
He, therefore, recommends as'necessary and
expedent that the Legislature make it the
duty of the Governor, in the event of the
election of black republican President, to
issue his Proclamation ordering an election
of delegates TO State Convention TO he
holden on the first Monday in December,
1860; and that the delegates be required to
assemble at the Capitol in Jackson on the
third Monday of the same month for
the purpose of adopting such measures
as may meet the exigency of the occa-
zion. The Governor makes no recommends
ton relative to the pay of the delegates.
That was great oversight They could mt
afford to serve from patriotic motives en-
tirely; four dollars day would stimulate
them wonderfully. We. therefore, suggest
modestly, to the Governor the propriety of
sending in a special message asking the
Legislature to provide for the pay of the
delegates. In addition to providing for a
State Convention Gov. MCWnLIE recon-
mends the Legislature to adopt resolutions
inviting the other Southern States to CO.
operate with Mississippi, in the adoption of
measures as may be necessary for the main
tenance of their, and MississiPpi's rights, as
coequal members of the confederacy. "This
is ALL for the present. he adds, Il would
recommend to be done" Having exhausted
his stock of recommendations :: for the pre-
sent" he proceeds to suggest" as fol-
lows:
But as the time has come at which the
public mind should be strongly directed to
the difficulties and dangers OF our position,
and the remedies for the same, | would sug
gest that in my opinion, in such event as
the meeting of a Convention or Congress of
the Southern States, we ought to insist upon
new constitutional guarantees for our protec
ton. This should be a sine qua nOn 1t is
absolutely necessary to our security. The
North will then, under the forms Of our
present Constitution. have the entire power
and control OF the Government-we will be
utterly powcrless. As men, or as patriots,
can we submit to this? No! We must have
the power of selfprotection. The simplest
and most practical form in which this can be
obtained, would, in my opinion, be by
amendment of the Constitution, requiring
that no law affecting the institution of
slavery or imposing indirect taxes, should
ever be enacted unless it should receive
majority of the votes 81 the Senators from
the slaveholding States. This would
lead to no new election. nor to the creation
of any new office, nor does it disturb
the present organization of the Government.
This much, to my mind, is due to our own
self respect. and the preservation OF the liber-
ty of the citizen. II is not only a principle
OF our own Government, but also Of that Of
Great Britain, from which ours is in part. de-
rived, that taxation and representation must
ciple, on the part of the mother country. that
led to the Revolution. II we submit to the
organization of a purely sectional govern
ment, without some amendment of the Con
stitutiOu. such rs | have suggested, the
Northern majority will have the unlimited
power of taxation. not only without our con-
sent, but against our most strenuous opposi.
ton, and by system OF Indirect taxation
under our present Constitution, will have
sha IN no uIpIn l,,rt ,C q.
Government upon the South and all the
teaching OF history, and all the experience of
the past, warn us that this would be done
Man is as prone to abuse power ais sparks to
fiy upwards. To this we cannot and we will
not submit. The present Constitution has
apportioned direct taxes to representation
and upon this point We are secure. 50 far as a
written Constitution can make us so ; and
therefore we ought only to ask or seek pro-
lection against indirect taxation, and this we
must have in the event apprehended for.
repeat, that the election of IA Black Republi-
can to the Presidency, by an organized sec
tional majority, is n practical dissolution of
the Union. and the overthrow of our present
Constitution. IL is the separation of the
North nationally from the South and the
formation OF II new cunfederacy composed
entirely of the Northern States. and that too
for the avowed purpose OF the oppression and
plumber of the South thereby putting US
outside OF the pale OF the Union Will il not.
then, be time for Us TO demand new guaran-
ties! Will they not be Indispensable? To
us the proper solution OF this question is
vital. II involves the security not ONLY OF
more than $1,000. 900 900 of property. but
also social institutions. the safety of our fami-
lies aud our continued political existence;
while To the North ii involves no pecuuary
interest, no social institution, nor has IL. In
truth. any real existence there. except in "A |
morbid philanthropy or rabid ihnaticsm. |
Under these circu instances have We not |
the right 10 demand the amendment TO the |
Constitution which have suggested, or some |
other which will give To- us tue powers of self |
protection. And If such amendment should |
be refused does not our interest, our safety /
and our self respect require OF us 10 adopt |
some decisive measures by which this ques- |
ton will be brought to an Issue? With this |
view. in the event of il Black Republican or |
Abolitionist being elected Tea the rsidency |
would suggest that Convention of the |
Southern ,atcs should throw open all the /
Southern ports making them free to the COM
merce of the world. Thus putting the bur |
then of this new northern cOntederacY, upon !
the northern people This would be but iust, |
rs the Government would he OF the North, !
and for the North; consequently they ought |
to support their own Guvt rument. In addi- |
tiou To this, il mil Oh: be polite, rs IA measure |
Of warning. to impose a duty OF 25 per cent
on all articles of northern manufacture |
labout the present rate Of duty on foreign |
This would teach the north |
cru people what the Union is worth TO them
in money. even IL they cannot be made |
otherwise to apprt ciate its Importance. The /
moneyed value Of the UuiOu 10 the non-slave-
holding States l. incalculable. For instance, |
with the Union, no portion OF tile earth is
more prosperous thaa NJ. saehus etts--with-
out the Union, noue could he less So than
she would be. The grIss would grow in the
streets OF Boston. her manufactures would
stop, her commerce would perish, and her
ships woulI rot at her Nharis, aud wide
snread ruin would cover the State