The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-11-21
The Right Of Secession.

The right Of secession is one question; the
propriety of resorting to it is quite anoth
er. 1t does not necessarily follow that a mar
ought to exercise every power that he may
rightfully exercise unmolested by any Other
person.
According to the indications now before us
nine-tenths of the people of Mississippi are
impressed with the belief that the election oi
Lincoln by the Northern States upon the
single idea of hostility to the South, requires
that she should take immediate steps to alb
solve her relations with the government he
will be speedily called to administer. The
primary object JEgoyernment is to protect the
| citizen in his person and property. The gov
ernment of the U. S. as now organized, when
administered by a Black Republican dynasty,
will not only not afford rejection to the persons
and property of the citizens of the slave States,
but will secure the destruction of both. 1t is
worse than folly therefore, for the people whose
rights are imperilled, and whose all is at
stake, to indulge for moment the thought of
living under such a government. It would
give US the protection which the WOLF gives to
the lamb-which the famished lion, with the
scent Of blood to whet his appetite, gives to its
prey.
What, then, is the remedy. It is in 'the
prompt and peacea5le secession ofthe aggriev.
ed States"-the resumption by each of them
of the powers delegated to the federal head
and the release of all its citizens from the al
legance which through the action Of their SOW
ereign States respectively, they owe to that
government.
The abstract right is clear and unquestion-
able. II was placed upon an enduring basis
by the fathers who achieved the independence
which their children now enjoy. As sepa-
rate and distinct colonies they fought the war
of the Revolution. At its close their indepen-
dence was acknowledged by the northern
country as separate and distinct States
Each of the States mutually acknowledged
the separate and independents sovereignty of
the other. As separate and independent SOW
ereignties, they formed the compact or league
which creates the federal government, delega-
ting to it certain clearly defined poseers ,for-
specific purposes, and reserSing to themselves
the powers not expressly delegated. As Sc
parate States they joined this confederacy, and
some of them to make assurance doubly sure,
in so many words joined upon the condition |
OF their right to withdraw. The others re-
this right as clearly deducible from
the nature fthe compact, received them upon
that condition. The tenor of the constitution
in its provision for amendment, as well as for
its. ratification, recognises the sovereignty of
each State. The power to dissolve the govern |
ment, belongs to the States-vthey are the sole
judges, and their will is the only measure of
their right.
Thousands of covert acts" have been COM
mitted by the Northern States. which would |
long since have justified tia Southern States
in discontinuing the co-partnership but they |
have borne long and suffered patiently in the |
hope of a returning sense of justice. Thir- !
teen fthe Northern States have nullifed the |
law for the rendition of fugitive slaves and the
constitutional provision -aPen-wisi -
is founded. But the convincing proof that the
government viii not answer the purpose for |
which it was organized, SO far as the
Southern States are concerned, is furnished |
in the election Of Lincoln to the Presidency to
conduct it for the purposes of wrong and out
rage, and not ito establish justice"
SECESSION Is THE REMEDY. Let us take
our own rights and institutions in our own
keeping. There is safety in no other course.