Gazette and sentinel., 1860-12-15

they who, during a long life, have ever
cherished and cultivated ven6ration to
the Government with All almost relig-
ious f~ervor, are driven to the contem-
plation Of its disruption. The Constitu-
ton is the only bond of Union. But If it
is to be respected and obeyej by the
Northern people only when it chimes
with their theoretical opinions, OF con-
serves their ~interestS--if We ure practi-
cally assigned the position Of interiors,
when the letter aud spirit Of the bond is
that WI are equals-if we are t. be OPP
pressed and dcspoilcd Of our property,
and to be tyTannized over by a hostile
Government, and expected to submit
because the outrage Is ptrpctratcd I'M
der the forms Of law, then it is better
we should retire from an association
which has ceased to benefit US through
perversion from its original design.
In order, therefore, that toe future
position and proper policy Of the State
OF louisiana may receive the thoughtful
and calm consideration which it de-
serves, and that her citizens may have
an opportunity Of giving form ard cy-
preston 10 their views in this regard. |
recommend to your HOuable Bodies, 10
provide for the election Of members ofa
Convention, as soon us may be proper
with due regard to time, to whom shall
be committed the duty and response
bility of determining that position, and
shaping that policy SO far as affects the
relations Of Louisiana to the Federal
Government. That Convention will meet.
consult, and decide without regard to
my opinions as contained in this Mes
sage, but do not think it proper. uu-
der existing emergencies, that /, the
Chief Executive Officer of the State,
should omit the expression Of my con-
victions as to the course which our State
ought to pursue.
have earnestly desired that a Con
ference or Convention of the slavehold.
ing States should be held, in order that
they might counsel together, and act
unltedly in this grave crisis. still de-
sire that such Conference shal! be- had,
If practicable, in point Of time. Louis
lana ought not to refuse 10 meet her
sister slaveholding States in couciI, aud
there unitedly determine upon a firm
demand to be made of the Northern
States for the repeal of their obnoxious
Legislation, and the guarantee and Sc
curity of those rights, which have so
long been persistently refused Still.
although such q course has seemed to
my mind desirable, and | had hoped
that a practical and peaceable plan
might ere this have been suggested TO
accomplish this object, | do not think
n action of Louisiana should be I'M
reasonably postponed under the mere
hope or expectation that such a Body
would be at some distant time convened.
1t should meet at once, and determine
at once, before the day arrives for the
Inauguration Of u Black Republican
President.
l do not think it COMFORTS with the
honor and self.respect Of Louisiana, as
a slaveholding State, to live under the
Government of u Black Republican
President. | will not dispute the fact
that Mr.. Lincoln is elected according to
the forms of the Constitution but the
greatest outrages, both upon public and
private rights, have been perpetrated
undo the forms of law. This question
rises high above ordinary political CON
siderations. 1t involves our present
honor, and our future existence as a
free and independent people. 1t may be
sad That when this Union was formed.
II was intended to be perpetual. So it
was, SO far as such Atern can be ap-
piiled to anything human /; but Il was
also intended to be administered in the
same spirit i'll which it was made, with a
scrupulous regard to the equality of the
soVerelgntles composing it. We GER
Iainiy are not placed in the position of
subjects of a European despotism.
whose only door of escape from granny
Is the right of revolution. | maintain
the right OF each State to secede from
the Union. and therefore whatever
course Louisiana may pursue now, if
any attempt should be made by the
Federal Government to coerce a severe
Ign State, and compel her to submission
TO an authority which she has ceased to
recognize. should unhesitatingIy re-
commend that Louisiana assist her Sis
ter State with the same a~lacrity and
courage that the Colonies assisted each
other in their struggle against the des-
potism Of the Old World.
II am not mistaken in public opin-
ION, the Convention, if assembled, will
decide that Louisiana will not submit
to the Presidency of Mr.. Lincoln. In
the temper of the Northern mini il is NOT |