The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-10-03
Hon. W. A. Lake and w. c. Smedes
~ on Disunion. =

Notwithstanding the changes which arr
every day rung upon the disunion charge
against the Democratic party, by peripatltlt
Union-sayers in the interest of the Bell party
we imagine that there is nothing that sayors
half so strongly Of disunion even in Mr.. Yam
cey's Slaughter letter, as certain resolutions
submitted to the Legislature by none othel
than the distinguished Opposition leaders
whose names head this article.
On the 14th December 1859, Mr. Smedes
offered long and ably drawn string of reso
lutions in the Mississippi Legislature, embrac-
ing all the sectional issues pending between
the North and the South.
The 9th resolution OF the series refers di-
rectly to the election of Black Republican
candidate upon the platform to which Lincoln
is committed, and says that it would be "in
violation of the spirit Of the Constitution" and
would ''be calculated to drive the Southern
States into open and direct hostility to the
Government But let the reader peruse for
himself:
8. ResoEved, That the organization of Sec
tional party, based upon opposition to slavery,
and existing alone in the non -slaveholding
States. 1hether its objects be to pyoUent the
spread Of slavery into the territories of the
United States, or to effect its destruction in
the States where it now exists, is an organiza-
ton at war with the just and equal rights
of the slaye-holding States, destructive of the
peace and harmony which ought to prevail
among the members of a common government,
and offensive in every way to the people of
the Southern States. A President of
the United States elected by such party
and upon such principle, acouZd be the
President of a section, and not Of Nation !;
and would be by the very mode of his election
and the principles upon which it would be ef-
fected, odious to the Southern people !;
and his election, though according to the forms
of the Constitution, tcouM be an Uiolatton of
the spirit and be calculated to driue tie South
ern States into open and direct hostility to has
government. Therefore, for the sake Of our
common country, and to saUe the Union of
these States from peril, If not from certain
overtarotu, we urge the Northern people be-
fore it is too late to abandon such an organi-
zation, and once more to stand upon Natio2-
al ground. Any other course will hurry the
government to destruction House Journal
p. 241.)
So much for Mr.. Smedes
Mr. Lake is more pointed and emphatic.-
He leaves no room for controversy as to what
he thinks the South ought to do in the event
Of Lincoln's election. Nay, his resolution as
serts that it would furnish just ground for
separation" to elect to the Presidency can
didate upon the avowed principle" (whether
he proposed to carry it into practise or noD
that 'it is in the potoer Of Congress- or the ter
'itorial legislature, to prohibit the introduc-
tion of slavery into any of the territories of
the United States, or to interfere by unfriend-
y legislation with the institution of slavery
n such territories
This doctrine commits Mr. Lake to disso-
uion IN the event of the election of Lincoln,
Bell or Douglas! In his Pacific Railroad
speech, Mr.. Bell "avowed the principle" that
congress has 'plenary power" over the terri
ories; and in his Freeport speech and in his
ate Rochester speech, Mr.. Douglas claimed
or the territorial legislature the power to ex-
.lude or abolish slavery I-ineei,s says that
Congress not only possess this power but
should exercise it.
Here is Mr.. Lakes resolution, offered in
the Mississippi House of Representatives,
February 1st, 1860.
The House resumed the consideration Of
the unfinished business, to-wit:
The Senate resolutions upon Federal Rela-
tons.
- The question being on adopting the resolu-
lions as amended by the select committee.
Mr.. Lake offered the following amendment
to the resolutions
Strike out the second resolution and insert
in lieu thereof the following:
That the election of a President of the Uni
ted States upon the ayowed principle that it
is in the power of Congress or of the Terrific
rial Legislature organized under act of Con-
gress to prohibit the introduction of slave
~ in any Of the territories Of the United
States. or to interfere by unfriendly legisla
ton with the institution of slavery in such
territories, would be in direct conflict with
the rights of the Southern States to equality
in the confederacy of States and would be
Just ground for the Southern States to take
counsel for their separation, safety and pro-
lection.
So much for Messrs Lake and Smedes on
What more can the worst "lanatic''
say !? g