Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-11

9aiIy AppeaI,
GoNERNoR,s MESSAGE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
NASHVILLE, Oct. :. 1861.

Since the adjournment of the last regular ses-
sion, | have deemed it my duty 10 convene the
Legislature twice in extra session.
Nv messages TO, and the legislation by those
extra sessions, viii furnish full information as to
the action OF the State IN the most important
period in It's history, resulting in the resumption
Of her original sovereignty by the almos gnsu-
imous action OF her people, and union 18th the
government OF the Confederate States OF America.
Impelled to this action by long train OF
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the
same object evincing a settled purpose on the
part Of those controlling the Federal govern
meut 10 degrade the Southern States below the
level Of equality, dspreciate and destroy their
property, II open violation Of the plainest guar
antees of the Constitution, leaving those Satcs
no alternative but humiiating submission, or
manly resistance to the tyranny OF usurpaiion.
In contemplating the present condition Of the
country, and the exciting and Important events
which are now transpiing, ii mlv Not be- nm
profitable 70 review, briefly, lhe history Of the
past and follow step by step the progress of
that revolution in the public sentiment Of the
North, which has cUlminated IN the utter repu-
diati0n OF those vital principles of personal free
dom, political equality and State sovereignty.
upon which the union of the States was oTi-i-
nailv established.
A. our country expanded ntothe magnificent
proportions OF a great empire, majority OF The
northern people were aazzlrd hv the opening
Splendor oI the nation as s. amt In coutsm-
plating with pride and satisfaction the develop
lnent Of gigantic power, capable OF coutcn&ug
upon equal terms with anv other nation oi ih.
,:irth, they overlooked the important truth ihai
Inns colossal government was indebted for It's
greatness 10 the aggregated power Of the S,pa-
raJe sovereign States which compose IT, develop
ell by their respective local laws and ndinStitutiun-
The country being naturally divided by geo
graphical distinctions-dissimilsTity of pursuits
institutions, local laws, and diversity OF inter
ests-Into two great sections, upon the very iu-
slant when the equality and sovereignty Of the
States were denied by a majority of the members
composing the Coniederaev, the tendency OF the
stronger section was TO widen the breach between
theu aud 70 stimulate sectional animosities IN
order thai 4 might seize upon the exclusive con
Jroi ct the power and purse et the general gov
eminent.
The struggle for supremacy. Therefore was
soon narrowed down 10 contest between these
two great sections, the South gallantly battling
tor tie maintenance Of constitutional liberty.
STATE sovereignty and political equality, while
the North, disTegarding these great cardinals.
sought 10 obtain power and sPoils upon their
ruins.
IN such a contest the victory al the ballot box
necessarily Injured 10 Chat section which was
numerically the stronger.
Inc exclusion Of the Southern States from all
practical participation in the control Of the gen
eTal government was the immediate and unayoid-
able consequence.
tPon the election OF President Lincoln nnd-r
sueh auspices, the southern people were left in q
condition Of dependence as hopeless as thar held
~ their fathers when they occupied the position
81 provincial subjects Of the British crown. AID
positions Of Influence and power In the govern
rs.raH rft. .7- 4 d
were Immediately filled with those who were the
most bitter and clamorous enemies OF the Sonth
lie who had manifested the greatest degree of
yiTulence against the domestic institutions and
weli-defned constitutional rights Of the Southern
States and people, WAS regarded as possessing the
highest claim 70 executive favor and patrcnage.
" hat hope could the southern people Indulge for
iustice az the hands of such rulers
The Congress which was In session at the IN
Sucursti5n Of the President, enacted a tariff lsv-
for the lndisguised purpose of transferring lhe
earnings Of the farmers and planters OF the south
into the pockets Of the manufacturers AT the
North
The executive, legislative and diplomatic fInc-
tons Of the government were IN the possession
Of party, backed by the power Of dominant
ssetigni dfetgTing and lg1llsrg policy. 4.y
olutionsry in itself and destructive of the rights
and liberties OF the people OF the southern States
Ont their oft repeated threat to Teorgauize the
Judiciary, so as to make that last and only re-
naming bulwark Of constitutional liberty sujSer-
Went TO their selfish and sectional purposes.
Having exclusive control Of the government.
they refused 70 listen 10 any 0verlures on the
psH Of the South lor peaceful solution ot ,be
difficulties and dangers which they had thus pre-
cipitaied upon the country. in the blind wan
toHness Of sectional pride aud imaginary power,
compromise or to abate IN the smallest degree
their arrogant prcteHsions.
They insultingly proclaimed that the viii Of a !
majority was the win Of the government. and /
hence, the viii Of majority Of the people OF the
Northern STATES must be regarded as the law OF |
the Union, regardless Of constitutional r-stTic- /
tons, justice and equality.
Having exhausted every peaceful measure I
which the most deroted friends of the Union /
could devise, in fruite.S efforts 10 induce this /
sectional party 70 pause in its career OF unjust !
aggression, the people of the South, almost g.,
one man, prepared 20 meet the crisis ae becama
descendants OF a brave and liberfy-loy ing an
cestry. Eleven States have resumed the pow
cTs which they bad Delegated 10 the general /
government, and IN the exercise of their in /
alienable rights, have united themselves togeth- |
er and stsrfed out upon theiy career under |
the auspices Of a new Coniederacy.
Our late associates, dissenting from our
course. and ma3denee by unexpected Resistance /
10 their assumptions Of authority, have hurled !
upon orr unOhending people their i,-gioHs Of
niercenaTy soldiers IN order 10 bend the necks |
Of the freenen of the South 70 the CALLING yoke
o. military despOtism
Their President has officially announced |
through the medium Of his message the mon /
strous heresy that the several States of the In
ion are indebted 70 the federal government tor
4 Il s.r
authority, in effect assigning % them the same
relation to the Union that countes bear to States
and foreshadowing the policy Of consolidating
such States as submit TO il into a single s0ver-
eigntv while suchas have the spirit to resist are
10 be subiugated and held as conquered prov
incee.
Let us for a moment survey the humiliating
spectacle which is presented by the present con-
dition of the people Of the North, who. in their
suicidal efforts to aid the despotism which has
heen established al Washington. have suffered
themselves to be despoled Of the last vestige of
that real liberty which they Inherited from their
isthers.
However bitterly the opponents Of the Repub- |
lican party NAV have resisted It's advent 10 pow
or. who Of is NEST determined enemies could
have believed that within SIX short months after
the Inauguration of their chosen President the
freedom Of the press would have becu utterly an
minated, and tic CIRCULATION OF al newspapers
through the mails prohibited which dared to
question the wisdom OF his policy or lis Inea-
sllresl Who could have believed That within 50
brief period, the citizen who veutTed TO cX-
press his disapproval Of the policy Of the Presi-
dent, or even 10 utter words Of peace and good
viii, would have been regarded as guilty OF a
crime sufficient 70 eonsign the offender TO dun
geon
Who could have imagined that the writ Of ha-
beas corpus, that great bulwark Of personal free
dom, would have been suspended or denied, and
entire States placed under martial lap' by the
mere proclamation Of military chief
Almost every public journal throughout the !
North, whether political or religious. = hich |
failed refused 20 give lis support to The policy
Of the PfesidenT, has been sispliressea q com |
PEELED 70 yield its support to Che government. |
Editors who have declined yielding obedience TO |
theiF demands have been committed 10 prison /
Citizens agaiust whom there was no imputa;ion
OF crime have been dragged from their beds al |
midnight and hurried away 10 distant fortrasses |
without warrant OF law, and without the Door
consolation Of knowing the charge upon which |
'thev were arrested. The sanctty Of the church
has beeh invaded and their ministers driven from
-ffieir pulpits. Woman, whose person has been
held sacred By all civilized nations, has been
<iaFan from herhome and imprisoned under the
Faiqn Of ths brutal despotsm. And in mere
yvantonngss of oraelty they have denied to these
victims of tyranny the privilege OF communica-
fiGn with their families and friends even IN the