The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-07
Response of the Governor of Tennes.
see to South Carolina and Mississippi.

We Gull from our Nashville exchanges the
following letter of Gov. Harris to the Tennes-
see Legislature, transmitting the resolutions Of
South Carolina and Mississippi on Federal Re-
lations.
1t will bc~reen that while Governor Harris
advises respectful consideration of the reso-
lutlons, he does not approve of the policy
which is therein recommended lie is in IA
vor of maintaining the rights Of the South un-
der the Constitution. and though not indfler-
ent to the aims of her ASSISTANTS, he thinks
the time has not arrived for the action which
is contemplated in these resolutions. He suns
himself in the light of a blissful hope that the
Glnatics who have obtained control of the
Northern State governments, will yet reason
themselves into moderation. We know moth
ing in the history Of their agFessions to JUS
tfy such contented condition Of mind on the
part of Southern men.
Tennessee has long served as a sort of re-
frigerator to thepatriotism OF her Southern Sis
tiers, and is only to be thought of with chilly
emotions:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Feb. %, 1860. {
Gentlemen Of tie Senate and House Of Repre-
sentdtiUes:
| herewith transmit resolutions adopted by
the Legislatures Of South Carolina and Missis-
sippi upon Federal relations.
And whilst do not concur in their re-
commendatons-not seeing the necessity or
propriety Of a convention Of the slaveholding
States of the Union at this time, neverthe-
less, deem 1t proper that should commune
cate, and that you should respectfully consid-
er the suggestions of our sister States.
Believing as | do that the people of Ten
nessee are loyal to the Constitution, in all its
parts, and with each and all Of its guarantees;
possessing a jealous regard for the rights Of
the States, and feeling justly apprehensive Of
encroachments upon them, they would feel
and demonstrate, when necessary, their iden-
tity with any Of her sister States in resisting
any unjust and unconstitutional warfare upon
them or their institutions.
This resistance should be, first by the use Of
all the constitutional means in our power, to
the end that the Union may be preserved as
it was formed, and the blessings of a govern
ment of equality, under written constitution
perpetuated. But if the hope Of thus obtain
ing justice shall be disappointed, and the Fed
erai Government, in the hands of reckless ia
natics, shall at any time become an engine of
power to invade the rights Of individuals and
of States to follow the example OF our fathers
Of l776 will be the only alternative left us.
Whilst there is much in the present atti-
tudc Of parties, States and public men IN the
Northern portion of the Confederacy. to cause
apprehension as to the security Of our rights
and the continuance Of fraternal feeling, yet
there is probability, and hope strong one,
that wise, temperate and firm councils may
avert the impending evils. Therefore, before
widening the breach in the manner designa-
ted in the resolutions herewith submitted, our
policy should be to exhaust every means, con-
sistent with honor and the constitution, in an
earnest effort to check the tide of aggression
and restore the era of good feeling and frOter-
nifty throughout the whole country.
Respectfully,
ISiIAM G. HARRIS.