The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-02-01
Imputations Of the Charleston Mercury
upon the Mississippi Democracy.

Mississippi has also a candidate for the
Presidency, in the person OF the Hon. JeIIer-
son Davis. The Democratic Convention, in
Mississippi, which nominated delegates to the
Charleston Convention, put him forward as
the candidate of Mississippi for the Presidency.
Judging from the indications of the pubic
press, and the platform laid down in conyen-
tons few months since, we did not doubt
that the delegates from Mississippi would be
instructed to make principles, and the rights
of the South, the criterion of her support OF
the Charleston nominee. For there is no
installing the feeling in that State. But, no.
That might destroy that nationality" which
is necessary for successful candidate for the
Presidency. So the Convention Of Mississ.p
pi, though bitterly opposed to Squattcr Soy
ereignty, leaves the Democratic party to infer
that Mississippi will possibly support any
nominee of the Charleston Convention with
or without any principles. In other words,
she bows to the wise policy of President
making. Place and power, not principles or
the rights OF the SoHth, are to be obtained and
secured by the Presidential election. Now,
that the Honorable jefferson Davis is a brave
soldier, and in the main good patriot, we are
not at all disposed to question. He only is an
adherent of the new philosophy, and he and
his friends act accordingly. Whether the
nomination be for compliment sake or bona
tide, the non committal course of the conyen-
ton is not in the old earnest line Of conduct
Charleston Mercury.
We owe it to justice to repell this gross i'm
putation upon the fidelity and good faith of
the Mississippi Democracy, and their devotion
to the rights and honor of their own section
and State. To do this successfully, we might
safely rely upon the indisputable fact that in
every movement having for its object the ad-
vancement Of her interests, and the maiaten-
ance of principles essential to her safety and
equality, the Democratic majority in Missis-
sippi have placed her among the foremost Of
| her sisters. Upon every issue Of the kind
her loyalty to Southern institutions viii suffer
nothing in comparison with the spirit which
has been displayed even by South Carolina.
In proof of which, we may confidently refer
to Lha LnnA Gf ilar- 44E4.@4; -zt.zl1 l4lI
| Legislature the declarations Of her primary
assemblages; the messages Of her Governors;
and last but not least, to the bold, decisive
| oAAA dbeatNNS Vi AAEl 0SalshtOlo anu
Representatives in Congress. Thank Heaven,
no accredited representative Of her sovereign
| ty in the Senate of the United States has ever
brought the mantle of shame to the cheeks OF
her chivalrous sons, or sOiled her escutcheon,
by the humiliating declaration in that august
body, or elsewhere, that the election OF Black
Republican to the Presidency will not justify
| the wronged and insulted States in dissolying
their present relations with the anatieal and
arrogant majority which shall have ceased to
respect the obligations imposed by the Con-
stitution. Can the Mercury say as much for
South Carolina
But the action Of the Convention ITSELF
upon which the Mercury rests its offensive
imputatiOn, amply refutes it. The writer
hereof, it is well known, was not of those who
thought it advisable for Mississippi to express
her preference in the matter Of the Presilen-
tial nomination. But he may safely assume
that the expression of choice for one who
has always been so true and so loyal to the
South-so unyielding in his demands for the
recognition of her rights to an equality Of
privilege in the Union-and SO able in his
championship of the.cause which has ever en-
listed all the energies of his nature-was in
itself an indication of sufficient significance to
dispell the decisions of the Mercury.
The resolution defining the position of the
Mississippi Democracy upon the territorial
"Squatter Sovereignty " issue, will put to the
blush the silly allegation of non-committal-
ism" so ostentatiously heTalded by the Her
curry. It's in these emphatic and unambigu-
Gus words
Resolved That the Democracy of Missis-
sippi in Convention assembled re-endorse the
Platform of principles laid down by the DEM
ocratic party in the National Convention OF
1856; and hence declare that the Democratic
party is the party Of the Constitution and re
cognizes the equality of the several States and
the right of the people of all the States to oc-
cupy and enjoy their common territory; that
it denies the power Of the Federal Govern
ment, or any authority deriuatire fran IT, to
discriminate between property in slaves and
other property, existing under the Constitu-
ton of the United Safes and the laws Of the
several States, and asserts The obligation IF
tie General Government to pyUvids adequate
protection for slave and all other property IN the
territories and toherever it has righttuI juris-
dictioR.
The Mercury will agree with US that this is
clear denial of the heresy of "Sluatter Soy
ereignty," about which it intimates the Con-
vention was Silent) and is an affirmation Of
the right of the South to the protection Of the
property of her citizens and the duty OF the
Federal Government in all its departments.
and by all its agencies, to afford such p,gtec-
ton.
And to this resolution, must be added j.
this connection, another no less significant Z
the orthodoxy of the Mississippi De,noc.
racy, which, as in the case of the one above |
quoted, was adopted by reclamation:
Resolved, That all the citizens OF tho State
here present, who coincide in opinion with the |
Democratic party of MiSsissippi-that it is the |
duty of the Federal Government to AFFORD pro |
lection sn1der the constitution to Stare property
in the territories or elsewhere equally with |
property Of any kind whatever, and who are !
willing to unite with the South In deaaadiRp !
at die proper time distinct recognition Of this
right By The Federal GoverRnlent--and also by |
any convention for the nomination Of candi- |
date for the Presidency Of the United States,
as preliminary essential to the union Of the |
delegates of the South with those Of the North |
and who are willing to unite with the De- |
Of this State in maintaining the equal |
ty and honor of the South in the Union-or /
her independence out Of it--and who would |
consider the election Of President by a par |
~ hostile to the institution of slavery in the |
South, as so nsasacing her equality and honor
rs to justify her in pro0idiag for future safety |
-be and are hereby invited to report their
names to the Secretary and take seats as men,
oers of the Convention, and cooperate with
he Democratic party.
These evidences are more than sufficient TO
indicate the Mississippi Democracy from the
lspersions Of the Mercury; and if that jour
lal is willing to do . simple act Of justice, it
viii hasten 70 make proper reparation.