The daily true Democrat., 1861-03-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Little Rock, March 2d, 1861.
Gentlemeaa of the ConpentiOn:

III COuNenllOll, ClOtHeu WltH pleHaiy Po"oi" to "alter, reform or abolish their govern ment" in such manner as you may think proper.
 The constitution of the State of Arkan- sas declares, "that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness" and to- these ends, may be abolished or reformed at pleasure. " 1
 In difference to uniform precedent, and with great respect to an assemblage, charg- ed with such important duties, have con ceived 1t to be my duty to address you touching the momentous questions that lm- peril the honor, the lives, and the fortunes of our people, 1o aset5fn1o1 'a'tf
 No period in American history, nor any connected with the administrative policy ot the civilized world, has imposed more so- lemn, more responsible, or more delicate duties upon an assemblage of men, than that which now devolves upon those whom ] have the honor of addressing-and though with infinite distrust of my own abilities, l have, in the past, and shall continue in the future, to meet the grave questions at issue--as an honest man should do, who is willing to devote his honor, his life and his fortunes to the cause of his country. Unfortunate it may prove in future for the cause of civil liberty, that the American government, made up of confederated States-peopled from common ancestry, and deriving the inestimable blessing of republican liberty from common fountain, have from antagonistic, domestic and soclal institutions become alienated-distrusttu and inimical to each other-until the liga ments of the Union, once like hooks of steel, have been severed so insensibly as almost to defy realization. On the l2th ot December last, then, whilst American his- tory had not recorded the separation of the United States-I communicated to the Ge- neral Assembly what seemed to my mind an inevitable result, to-wit: that the union of States was no longer an existing fact, and which succeeding events have too we'll testi fled; and that Arkansas, surrounded by in suspicious circumstances, should not hesi- tate to prepare for coming events, through a council of her people assembled in conven- tion. Procrastination, however, and delay ensued, the legislature seeming to rely chiefly upon the hand of Providence, to stay the wind and dissipats the storm.- Men and governments are the architects of their own fortunes, and success crowns those generally who endeavor to help them selves.
 The question at issue before the people of Arkansas is, whether their honor, their future safety and happiness now and for ever, impels them to separate from the Federal Union, and unite their fortunes with the seven seeding States, or, on the other hand, whether prudential motives shall admonish them to take refuge amidst the fragments of the old Union, hoping for reconstruction of the government upon terms of honorable equality to the slave holding States.
 Surrounding circumstances are the true indices of all human action. What might have been of dubious propriety on yester- day, often becomes of paramount impor. tance on tomorrow.
 The United States, as they originally stood, were composed of thirty three inde- pendent sovereignties-each one, the judge of its own wrongs, and of the mode and measure of its redress. Upon this princi- pie and none other, the original compact was formed, uniting each State with the general government. It was treaty, or alliance of separate and distinct govern. ments, for purposes of mutual protection against the inroads or aggressions of the more powerful European powers--each State preserving its equality with either, or all the other States combined -inferior to none-the voice of its own people being the Superior and ruling authority. The right of secession so implacably assailed is but the fruit of the American revolution, to the world by our fore-fathers in their declaration of Independence, and sealed by their blood at the battles of Mon- mouth, Bunker Hill and Lexington.
 In our. own State constitution, by the 's bill of rights. the right of the people to reform or abolish their government is dis tinctly amounted, :, and is the sheet anchor of their liberties, What would, ,Ame- rican liberty be worth, if the kingly spre-