New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-12-04

NJ NJ N, Il.
THos. MURRAY w r. ADAMS,
ISAAC n. MARKS, j. NJ. BONNER,
A. p. AYEGNO, II. W. CONNER, JR,,
GEORGE SEYMOUR, Ereea'tee Committee.
At the Mass Meeting held in Odd Fellows Hall,
on the 23d of November, l860 the subjoined Pre-
amble and Constitution were unanimously adopted:
CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTHERN RIGHTS Asso.
CATION OF LOUISIANA.
Whereas, We, citizens of New Orleans and of the
State OF Louisiana ignoring all former political ties
names and associations, have met for the purpose
of declaring our sentiments on the present moment
crisis in the history of our country, and to form
Southern party and state its objects, feel that
due regard for the opinion of our fellow men impe
us to avow the reasons and causes for such STEP
which are made up by the history OF the insults,
aggressions and wrongs heaped upon Us as south.
eIn by those who should be our friends and
brethren, but who are really ana in fact our worst
enemies-we mean the Northern portion of this
Confederacy. In support Of which we submit the
following facts: 4...
They have for more than thirty years assailed
the institution of African slavery ID the South and
have made our Federal Legislature grand instru-
ment for incendiarism and Abolition.
They deny to us common property in our Ter
ritories acquired equally by our money and blood,
on the ground that the people Of the South, with
their institutions are not worthy to colonize them.
They have passed laws in majority of their
State Legislatures nullifying the provisions of the
Constitution of the United States for the recovery
Of fugitive slaves, and the laws OF Congress passed
Hereunder and made it q criminal offense in any
one to aid in the execution of these laws of Con-
gress. ....-.
They have rendered representation in Congress
of no avail to protect the interests of the South
and thus taxation without representation is prac
tcally enforced over us.
They have proclaimed that there is "highe7'
l1tr'' than the Constitution and laws of our coun-
try, and that they will disregard their oaths and
| tramDle upon our rights.
| They have organized associations to steal our
| slaves and prevent their reeapture, and have mur-
| dered their masters in seeking their rendition.
| They have invaded Southern soil and murdered
| our unofending citizens, and men among them,
| high in position and office, have bestowed praises
and eulogums upon the assasslnsLWhllst the Exe.
parties implicated in these crimes, upon proper
| and legalrequistions.
| They have sent seditious pamphlets and papers
| amongst ns-whilst sixty.six of their members of
| Congress endorsed g Helpers impending Crisis
| an ineendiary book and utterly subversive of
Southern rights and safety.
| They have sent emssares amongst US to burn
/ our towns, and distribute arms and poison amongst
| our slaves to desolate the South.
| By their fanaticism and intolerance, they have
compelled US to separate from them in our churches
| and other religious institutions.
/ And recentlE as if to add the erownng insult
and wrong to the long catalogue, and to compel
us to declare as severed the last tic that binds
together as nation, with the choice of three ma
tional and conservative candidates, they have, by
a large majority of strictly sectional vote, elected
i Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin to the high
offices of President and Vice-President of the
United Representative men of all that is
odous and unjust to the South-Black Republicans
in name and Abotionists at heart; the first o
whom is the author of the doctrine that there is al
irrepresstble conflict bet,reea the North oaat
So,ttht'' and has openly avowed that he will dsre
gard the decision of the Supreme Court Of tht
United States declaring it the right of the South t.
s,ltn tha tortn Ars
believing as we do that by these declarations ant
acts the Northern States have virtually subVertet
the Constitution and dissolved the Union, and tina
the only safeguard for our rights. property ant
liberties is in prompt action; therefore, agree
to form political association, as provided in the
following:
ARTICLE l. This Association shall be known ant
designated as the " Southern Rights Association o
, the State Of Louisiana
Art. Q. The objects of this Association shall b
! to encourage Southern independence of interes
, and feeling, and to promote concert of actio
. amongst the Southern States. And should an
State or States, in the exercise of their sovereig
t right withdraw from the Union, and the Fedora
1 Government attempt coercion, to extend to sue
State or States our cordial support and sympathy
to use all honorable means to bring about, unde
: the sanction of State Convention, the withdraw
, of the State of Louisiana from the present Unior
and the assertion of her independence and SOW
eregnty; and, finally to promote in every wa
= the establishment of confederated governmer
Z of the Southern States, or such of them as wi
unite for that purpose. 5.n=.==
n ART 3. This Association shall be composed
citizens of the State of Louisiana.
ART L. The officers of this Association shall col
sst of one President, one hundred Vice President
an Executive Committee, composed of seyentee
$ members, one Treasurer, three Correspondent
Secretaries and one Recording Secretary, VIII
shall be elected at the general meeting to be col
vened for the adoption Of this Constitution.
:, ART. 5. The Executive Committee shall h
charged with the general management of I'll
2 affairs of the Association !; they shall select the
v own chairman, and nine members of this eommitte
!, shall constitute quorum for business.
- ART. 6. Elections for officers shall take plac
annually commencing from the date of the adoptiC
n of this Constitution.
l. ART. Z. The Executive Committee shall have fu
# power to enact claws for the governments til
Association not conflicting with the provisions
: :, this Constitution. They shall have full power
Il appropriate the funds of this Association for Il
t advancement of the objects set forth in Article
is to fill vacancies occurring in their Committee #
,r the unexpired term; to appoint from their oW
y body or from the Association at large, suck Coz
mttees as may from time to time seem necessar
II and exercise generally all the powers contemplate
d in the formation of this Association.
IA ART. s. The Executive Committee shall meet n
l. less than once in each week, on such day and
= such hour as they may designate in their Bylaw
70 ART. 8. The President shall convene a gener
N meeting of the Association whenever required
ID writing to do so by twenty-five members, or
III the Executive Committee, or whenever he mi
.. deem necessary.
IL ART. 10, The Executive Committee shall,
early practicable after the adoption of this Go
70 stitution, issue an address to the people of t
er State setting forth the objects of this Assoeato
ts urging the organization of similar Associations
~ each parish, and inviting their prompt and cord
et cooperation, and earnestly recommending the
lc ganizaton of Minute Men and Volunteer Conn
nes throughout the State.
to After the adoption of the Constitution the folio