The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-01-25
Tho Proposed Congress of Southern
States.

|
States.
Since the adjournment of the Legislature, a
very important change has taken.place in the
aspect Of affairs. 1t will be recollected that
the Committee on State and Federal Relations
reported that, upon the election of a Black
Republican to the Presidency of the United
States, "the Governor bc requested to convene
the Legislature in extraordinary session, in
case other slaveholding States shall haze md
Gated acilliagness to confer ,oiA Mississippi
in regar1 to the measures to be adopted for
the maintenance of their rights, or in case he
should deem it necessary to provide for the
public safety"
The clause which VIC have italicized was
objected to by many, for the reason that it
seemed to place in the keeping of other
States the honor and interests Of Mississippi;
and to deyolve upon her co-States the rcsson-
sibf.ity of determining when shc sAssssi fcs;st
aggression. But for the latter clause, request
| ing the Executive to act, should he deem it
necessary to provide for the public safety"
the resolution could have scarcely failed to
provoke wide spread dissatisfaction in the
State Rights party. Having confidence in the
tirmnass of the Executive, and knowing his
fixed resolve to exercise the functions Of his
office to the fullest extent in carrying out the
pledges upon which he was elected, we were
content to abide by the resolution as reported,
Notwithstanding the Objectionable feature 10
which dissent has been expressed.
Where many minds, equally sincere and
equally bent upon the proper performance Of
patriotic duty, are engaged in common OBJ
jsct OF mutual interest, the largest tolerance of
opinion must be observed. Ard he whose ar
dent nature carries him precipitately forward
to meet threatened dangers, must pause
in his march; while he who is iagging behind
must quicken his pace. Thus the front and
the rear viii b, brought together, and the
whole will move forward in 4 compact invin-
cble 10 ly, for the achievement of the end to
which all efforts are directed.
The changed condition Of circumstances to
which we have alluded, is the fact that the in
vitltjon contemplated in the Report the
Committee has already been extended. The
Legislature of South Carolina, after due de-
liberation, has unanimously invited her South
ern sisters to meet together to concert
measures for united action'-''to appoint dep
utics. and adopt such measures as in their
judgment viii promote the said meeting"
Shall this invitation be accented? We may
readily assume that there can be no conflicting
opinions upon this subject among those VINO
are not prepared to submit to the threatened
aggress!Ons-to say nothing Of the past out
raSSes-of the Abolition organization, which,
unfortunately for the stability of the Union,
is giving law TO nearly all the non-slaychold
ing States, and at this very hour holds palsied
the arm of TIE Federal Government The in
Yitation viii be accepted and the question
arises--when will Mississippi act ? Will she
postpone the election cf deputies until the
election of a Biaci; Republican to the Prcsi-
iency is thing accomplished #; oE will she act
now, Will, the Legislature is in session, and
when she can act free from the embarrass-
ment and excitement consequent upon the
actual existence of a fact so momentous and
startling? VIII she postpone the day of
counsel ami preparation, until tho very mo-
ment when she will be required to take de-
cided stand? Is it prudent to await the burst
ing OF the storm cloud before we cast our
eyes about ior place Of safety? To pro-
pound the inquiry, is TO answer ii, if adj
dressed to rational men.
We trust, therefore, that the Legislature
viii respond at once to the invitationo of South
Carolina, SO that no time may be lost, for the
consideration by the aSsaled States of plan
of action, and the timely adoption Of meas
ures for their common safety and protection.
1t seems to US that no better time for the
proposed Convention could be named than the
Fourth of July, 1860, and no moro convenient
place than Atlanta, Georgia
For the convenience of our readers we have |
rc-published below the resolutions of the !
South Carolina Legislature:
WHEREAS, The State of South Carolina,
by her Ordinance of 1852, affirmed her right |
to secede from the Confederacy whenever the |
occasion should arise jHstifying her, in her |
own Judgment, in taking that step; and in the
resolution adopted by her Convention, de-
clared that she forebore the immediate exRr-
else OF that right from considerations of expe-
diency only /; and whereas, more than seven
years have elapsed since that Convention ad
iourned, and in the intervening time the as
saGits upon the institution OF slavery, and up
on the rights and equality Of the Southern
States, have dhceasingly continued, with in
ereasing violence, and in new and more alarm
Ing forms; be it, therefore,
Resolrc}, unanimously, That South Caroli-
na, still deferring to her Southern sisters, nev
ertheless respectfully announces to them that
it is the deliberate judgment of this General
Assembly that the slavehoIding States should
Immediately meet together, to concert meas
ures for united action. Il
Reso'ueI unanimously, That the foregoing
preamble and resolutions be communicated by
the Governor to all the slayeholding States, |
with the earnest request of this State, that !;
they will appoint deputies, and adopt such !
measures as in their Judgment will promote |
the said meeting. 8
Resolued, .nasaaaously, That special COM
mltIec De appollteu u llS LAEellehey, tue
Governor, to communicates the foregoing pre-
amble and resolutions to the State of Virginia,
and to express to tho authorities Of that State,
the cordial sympathy of the people of South
Carolina with the people of Virginia, and their
earnest desire to unite with them in measures
Of defense. 4
Louisiana Legislature--Goyernor Mes /
sage. 4