The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-12-19
Message of the Governor of Louisiana


The Legislature a Louisiana assembled in
J extraordinary session on Monday last, with
view to the sectional issues. The Message
of the Governor takes higk. strong ground and
encourages the hope that Louisiana viii stand
upright in the mighty cq1ainn of States thai
are Fastening forward to rescue their rights
and institutions from the clutches OF the
fanatical, intolerant and INSCRIPTIONS North.
ern Black Republican majority which has
seized the reins of the federal government.
After brief but clear statement OF South
ern grievances, and of the thick-gatherlng
calamities which must flow upon the South
as tie resultof Black Republican rule, Gov
Moore recommends the immediate call OF a
Convention of the people of Louisiana with q
view to the adoption of such measures iof
their safety and protection as the occasion de
mands. He states, that while 4 Conference
or Conyentfzl of the slaveholding States
is.desirabe, the get ion of Isls4;sss ss.s'sIs4st
be "unreasonably postponed" to secure suz83a
conference, and that IN any tgent the final step
shoald be taken 'Befs3e the day arrives for
the Inauguration Of Black Repsst}Rican Pres
ident," @
This policy, if adopted by the pee#1e of
Louisiana, will secure to Mississippi and the
other States that design acting, their co-opera-
tion. That it will be adopted, is manifestly in
dicated by the temper of their Legislature. a
Baton Rouge correspondent of the Picayune,
paper of exceedingly moderate tone, writes /:
Most of the members have already arrived.
They are generally very quiet IN the enuEaaEe
atoms of their sentiments in regard TO the
question of secession; but the fact that a
large majority are in favor OF the convention
that is ~ be calledSdetAssiing an kDror of aspa@
rate Stae action, aid is'nsediate secesSio, is
at,adOuJted. @
The following extracts from the Message
of Gov. Moore. setting forth his recommends
tion for call of Convention-his opinion
that secession should be fact accomplished
before the 4th of March-and that in any
event Louisiana should go to the assistance of
any sister Southern State upon which the
arm of federal power might be laid to prevent
her assumption of her reserved powers-will
be perused with much satisactios by the
great body Of our readers:
IBorder therefore, that the future position
and proper policy of the State of Louisiana
may receive the thoughtful and calm consid-
Grafton which it deserves, and that her citizens
may have an opportunity of giving form and
expression to their views in this regard, l
recommend to your honorable bodies, to pro-
vide for the election of members Of a conyen-
ton, as soon as may .hc proper with due regard
to time, to whom shall be committed the, duty
and responsibility Of determining that position
and shaping that policy SO far as affects
the relations of Louisiana to the Federag
Government That csnyention will meet.
consult and decide 9sy&hout regaEd TO my
opinions a4contained IN this message, but |
do not tfTank it proper, under existing emer-
gencies, that /, the Chief Executive officer oil
the State, should omit the expression of my
convictions as to the course which Our State
ought to pursue.
| have earnestly desired that confeasnce
.ar convention Of the slavehslaing Hsates
should h. held in order that they might
counsel together and act us5tedly in this grave
crisis. still desire that such conferences
shall be had, If practicable in point Of time.
Louisiana ought not to refuse to meet her Sis
ter saveholding States in5Eounci, and there
.anitedly determine upon q firm demand to be
made of the Northern States foa4a repeal of
their obnoxious legislation, and the guarantee
and security 81 those rights which have so long
been persistenfysefuscd. Still, although such;
a course has seemed to my mind desirable, y
and had hoped that a practical ss1d praGfSca-s 1
Bile plan might ere lhis. Save been suggest4E tos
accomplish this object, do aat tRSsak the a9Son
of louisiana should beaareasoad0ly POSTPONED
under the mere hope or expectation that such
a body would be at some distant day convened.
II should meet az once, and determine at oItst5,
before the day arrives for the inauguration Of
a Black Republican President.
do not think it comports with the honor
and self-respect of Louisiana, as slavehold-
ing State to iiUe under hieG Government of q
Black Republican President l will not dis
pute the fact that Mr.. Lincoln is elected ac-
cording to the forms Of the constitution; but
the greatest outrages, both upon public and
privsAe rights, have been perpetrated under
the forms of law. This question rises high
above ordinary POLITICAL considerations. 1t
involves our present honor and our future
existence Us free and independent people.
1t matg be said that, wken this Union was
formed, it was intended to be perpetual. So
it was, so far as such A term can be applied to
anything human: but it was also intended to
be administered in the same spirit in which it
was made, with scrupulous regard to the
equality of the soyereignties composing it.
We certainly are not placed in the position of
subjects of European despotism, whose only
door of escape from tyranny is the right of
revolution. lmaintain the right Of each State
to secede from, the UnicR. and, thessfore. Rthat-
euer course Louisians may puraee nor, u any
attempt should Je paade by the Faieral GHssef7ss
ment to coercc a. Gt4srsreign Stata and compel
her to Submissions to sisi authority which she
has ceased to recognize, 1 should ,ltlaesitating-
ly recommend that Louisiana assist her sister
State Nth the same alacrity and courage that
the Colonies assisted each other in their strug-
gle against the despotism of the Old World
If | am not mistaken in public opinion, the
| convention, if assembled, uiH decide that Lou
tsiaaa lciH not submit TO the Presidency Of !Nr.
| Lincoln.
Warren County.