The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-22
Meeting of the Citizens of Central
Mississippi, May, 1s49.

a
mississippi, held in pursuance of previous
notice. without distinction of party, in Repre-
sentatiyes' Hall, in the city of jackson, on
MONDAY the 7th day of May, 1849, for the
nurpose of taking into consideration the course
of many of the Northern States. through
their Representatives and Senator's in Con-
gress and State Legislatures, upon the sub
iect of the extension Of slave labor to the
newly acquired Territories, and its existence
in the District Of Columbia:
| Upon motion OF D. w. Adams, ESQ, his
Excellency, Jos. w. Matthews; was unani,
mouslv chosen President of the meeting.
Upon motion of w. P9Anderson. ESQ.
and Hon. Anderson Hutchinson, Messrs.
Geo. T. Swami, Esq, and Col. 7. W. Dabney
were elected Vice Presidents.
Upon motion of Hon. A. Hutchinson, D..
W. Adams, Esq, was appointed Secretary of
the meeting.
The meeting being organized, upon request
the President proceeded to explain the objects
and intentions of the meeting in a brief and
appropriate manner.
The Hon. William L. sharkey then ad-
dressed the meeting in further explanation of
the objects for which it had assembled and
urged the propriety of making this pre!im-
mary meeting to Convention at some future
period, of the citizens Of the respective coun-
ties of the entire State; and concluded his
remarks by offering the following resolution,
which was unanimously adopted
Resolued, That committee of he
appointed to draft resolutions and prepare an
address explanatory of the objects of this
meeting
w. P. Anderson, ESQ. moved that the
blank in the resolution be filed with the num-
Der ten.
A. c. Baine, Esq, moved that it be filled
with the number seven.
Col. c. s. Tarpley moved that it be filled
with the number thirty; and addressed the
meeting in support of his motion, urging the
great importance of the subject before them
as reason for his proposing such number.
Hon. John /. Guion moved that the blank
be filled with the number fifteen, and support
ed his resolution with some remarks.
The motions being put in their order, the
blank was directed to be filed with the num-
Der fifteen.
The President then appointed the following
gentlemen to comprise said committee
Hon. VIM. L. Sharkey, Chaiyman-Hon.
John l. Guion, Hon. A. hutchinson, George
Yerger, Esq, Gen. J. d. Freeman, Gen. w.
r. Miles, Col D. c. Glenn, G. w. L. Smith,
Esq, Gen. A. B. Woodbridge, Col VIM. R.
Hill. Hon. Jefferson Davis, Casweil R. Cliff
ton, ESQ.,, Col. G. S. Tarpley, Il. T. Elicit,
Esq, Charles Scott, Esq.
Hon. w. L. Sharkey then moved that, in
order to give the committee time for due de-
liberation, in the preparation of their report,
this meeting do now adjourn until 8 O'Clock
this evening; which motion was adopted, and
the meeting adjourned until s O'Clock, P. M.
O'CLOCK, PM
The meeting was called to order by the
presiding officer
The report of the committee being called
for, the Hon. William L. Sharkey, in behalf
of the committee, and as chairman of the
same, presented and read to the meeting the
following
ADDRESS AND REPORT.
The committee to whom was referred the
subject of controversy between the Northern
and Southern States of the Unien have had
| the same under consideration, and beg leave
to report the following as an address to the
citizens of Mississippi, together with the ac-
companying resolutions.
| ne SuDicSt WAC dppipdClcu ny Go IL
should be by this meeting, in full view of its
solemnity and importance. Not as a common
place topic-not as mere question OF expe-
diency on matter OF secondary consdera-
ton, but as one in which our dearest rights
are involyed-rights which we possessed as
citizens of independent States and which are
reserved to US by the Constitution of the
United States. In our action on this impor'
tant subject, it is the dictate of prudence that
| we should place ourselves on that foundation
| which may be furnished us by the aid of calm
and deliberate reason. The time seems to b
propitious to dispassionate deliberatlon.- Tht
excitement which was aroused by the efforts
of our Northern brethren, in the last Con
gress, has passed away, and temporary calm
has succeeded. The poignant sting of fresf
wounds has subsidized. Reason has sweep
away the turbulence Of passion, and resumed
its accustomed dominion. We approach thu
subject, not in anger, but In sorrow. We
crate the Union-we venerate the memory ,
the illustrious men who cemented US rs
family of nations-as ose people and W.
would hold out as an example to thei: sons
the recollection of the spirit of forbearance-
of moderaton--of COMPROMISED equal jus
tice and true patriotism, which governet
them in their great work. Would that th'
same spirit could now prevail in the ditieren
portions of our Union.
Nor do we agitate unnecessarily this alarm
ing question. We cannot be justly charged
with such agitation. Gladly would we see j
put to rest forever. But we are admonishet
by the past what we may expect in the flu
tnre On former occasions we have been tolt
in the recess of Congress-that all cause o
alarm had ceased-that the question was a
rest, but as often have we been disappointed
At every succeeding session it has been re
yived with renewed energy and vigor, ant
with increased friends. We cannot be indif
ferent to the warning furnished by these ex
amples. We see no abatement of energy il
the pursuit of what seems TO be settled de
sign to encroach upon our rights until the.
shall be destroyed In the prospect of ap
preaching danger, it becomes us to avert it
possible, but to prepare to meet it if it mus
come. The true patriot will endeavor t
ward off the catastrophe which threatens t
be fatal to his country, before it does its worl
of destruction We have met, not only i
defence of our individual rights, but in de
fence Of our common country; and we woul
fondly hope that our timely warning ma,
save our Union unimpaired. We meet not t
4
when the occasion may be forced upon u.s.
We invade not the rights Of any.
This much we have deemed it proper to sa
in vindication of the objects and motives {
the present meeting We would briefly tur
our attention to the principles upon which W
place our reliance.
As early as 1888, Virginia coded to tn
confederation the territory which has sine
become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan an
Wisconsin, on condition that it should be lai
off into States which should be admitted int
the Union with "the same rights of sovel
eighty, freedom and Independence as the 9th
er States" In the ordinance of 1887, passe
by Congress for the government ofthe North
western Territory, was inserted, in direct in
fraction of the deed of cession, q provis
which prohibited African slavery in the cede
Territory The rights of the citizens of ths
Territory were thereby abridged, and q prir
, cple engrafted into the Territorial Cover
ment at war with the principles of Govern
ment which prevailed in the States, and whic
prevented even the citizens of the cedin
State from emigrating to the new Territor
with their property. Although slavery the
existed in all the States, the Southern STATE
, were more vitality interested in the question
A and the proviso was more oppressive to then
But in the hope of peace, security and pro-
f perity, under more stable government
: (then being forned) by which equality
right should be better secured, they too gel
t erously yielded to that proyiso.
In the Convention which formed the Coz
stitution, the question which is now conyul
J, ing the country, was second time raised
i. was then fully discussed and understood
/ The pre-existing rights of the Southel
States in their slave property, were acknow
II edged and specifically guarded by that Co
y stitution, which became at once the solen
covenant of the Union of these States, ar
the potent cause, under Divine Providence,
their subsequent prosperity. The secor
: section of the first article declares that re
resentation and direct taxes shall be apo
J toned according to numbers, to be dete
II mined by adding to the number of white pc
sons three-fifths of all other persons, inclu
> ing slaves. Slaves, then, constitute basis
representation, not confined in its applicants
II to any particular portion of the Union, but
=, a general rule. Can Congress alter or abe
q ish that basis, or limit its operation to the O
Il Il States? We think not Slaves were regard