Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-22
CONGRESS.

SOUTHERN CONGRESS-
special Correspondence Of the Consiituiionalist.1
MONTGOMERY, Ala, March Is, 1861.-Con-
gress met to-day at II N. Prayer was Of
fered.
The journals of yesterday we're read and
confirmed.
Mr.. Wright, of Ca, presented a communica-
iion on the SUBJECT Of the tariff, frsm Mr. B. F.
Jones, Of the firm Of E. M. s. z. A. Whitlock,
importers in the city Of New York. This gem
tleman was formerly a citizen Of the State of
Georgia, and a resident Of the town in which
7 reside. His communication is on a subject
that I do not consider myself skilled mat all.
] move its reference to the committee on
finance. The communica ion, ! know, is in
good faith, and contains what appears to me
10 be good, practical common sense. The wri-
ter is one Of those old and chronic cases OF
iire-eaters that has devoted much study to the
tariff question, and bis mind, at present, is
much exercised on the subject. The commu-
n~ication was referred to the committee On
finance
Mr.. Waul, of Texas, sent to the secretary's
desk a Communication from the president Of
the State convention of Texas, and also a GER
titled copy Of an ordinance adopted BY that
convention. The communication referred to
the vote in that State, by the people, on the
ratification Of the ordinance Of secession. The
NDLS HkuUu-iuE bEEtd1Auls 0lsalus against Sc
c~ession, 1865; majority for secession in the
counties heard from, 25,1S2. The president
announced that the ordinance had been rati-
fled, and that "the State Of Texas was, and
had been since March 2, 1861, a free, sovereign
and independent nation Of the earth, and that
her citizens were absolVed from all other ale
glance than to her as such" Dated Austin,
March 4, 1861.
The ordinance Is in relat on to a union Of
the State Of Texas with the Confederate States
Of America-deelares that it is expedient and
proper that Texas should Join such Confed-
eracv aud share its destinies-the delegates to
the Montgomery Congress are instructed to
apply for the admission Of TeKss into the
ConfederacY-the convention approves Of the
Provisional Constitution, and i~nstructs her
deputies to cooperate as members Of The Con-
gress, and in making a permanent Constitu-
ton, etc.
MI. Waul, Of Texas. / send TO your desk,
Mr.. President, a communication from the
president OF the convention Of the people Of
Texas, and an ordinance adopted BY her peo-
pie in convention assembled, by which that
State has become a member Of this Confed-
eracy.
The people Of that State, sir, did not know
ut the time Of the adoption OF that ordinance,
Of the confidence which this Congress had re-
posed in their fidelity and devotion to the
rights Of the South. They did not know that
you had already admitted the members Of that
State to a seat TO your eounssls ami delibera-
tioDs; a3d that even before the communication
which is submitted was made, her delegates
were admitted to all the privileges Of members
upon the floor of this Congress. The people
Of Texas will not soon forget such confidence
reposed in their patriotism; they @ill ever re-
member with pride the fact that before the
proclamation Of their secession was issued,
their State was already represented by one Of
he stars that shine in the galaxy Of this
confederacy.
The people of Texas began, sir, the Fsvo-
luton which has 30 gloriously resulted in the
confederacy OF States, under the guidance Of
those principles contained a in the Declaration
Of independence under which our fathers
maintained their liberty, that all Governments
must derive their inst authority from the con-
sent Of the governed.
This revolution, like the torrents down the
mountain side, gathered as they flowed, until,
as a mighty river, it swept irresistibly all be-
FORE it. The voice Of the people came up like
he roar Of many waters, drowning the gurg-
ing brooks and babbling Tilis that attenpted
TO swell their notes in opposition. It is known
that a distinguished citizen Of Texas was IN
fortunately at the helm Of State, and in this
hour Of triumph, e'eT the song OF victory has
HE'D from our ears, | would do Injustice 10
Texas and to my OWN feelings, did ! attempt
10 pluck one leaf from the wreath that sur
rounds bis brow, or place one blot upon the
page Of history Illuminated By his name He
and the people Of bis State have differed. He
appealed TO their generosity, and no man ever
made it in vain. He was elected cur governor.
Let us hope that it was devotion to a Union
that he loved not wisely, but too well, that
placed him in opposition TO a people who bad
ever honored him.
When the news fell upon the ears Of our
people that Lincoln was elected; when It was
lInewE that South Carolina, the farthest from
us In distance, would secede; that she stood
like a knight in srmor from head to heel, with
visor down and lance in rest-snother Curtius
ready to spring into the yaWning ehssm-
willing to sacrifice himself for the liberties Of
his country, Texas became Thoroughly aroused,
and like the we'll trained, high mettled war
stsed when the charge is sounded, who swells
beyond the measure Of bis girth, throws the
feeble horssman, and With Bit In bis tech,
fusbes to toe van Of battle, so Texas sought
Ter place in the grand array Of southern
chivalry. When she permitted her territory to
te divided in 1851, many Of her sons felt the
humiliation, and when she bowed her proud
neek and passed under the yoke, and permitted
TIE letters to be placed on her free limbs, be-
] eve not, sir, that she was less sensitive to
encroachment Of her rights than now. She
felt that she was a new member OF the Con-
fsdsracy, and should eT, IL at al, on the aide
OF peace; and was gnEilling to einbToil her
southern sisters in a quarrel that was chiefly
her own /; but mistaken indeed we're they who
supposed that her supinsness then would
become submission now. No, sis, ne soon as
the call went forth, HSamson, the khilistines
are upon theei' she sprang forth, bursting the
green aad slender withes, and stood like a
Young Samson, with biz unshorE locks, reveling
III bis manhood, bis beauty and bis power.
Nor is Texas ignorant Of tie position she
occupies by her act Of secession. Seven hun
dred miles Of frontier Ia left without protection
from the most waflke, cruel and f~erocious
rice OF uavages on the continent. On her
western boundary - apation gh0se lie 10 rev
olution, and whose support Is depreciation.
From the mouth Of the Sabine 10 the Rio
Grande, there is hardly one gun mounted to
defend her against such enemies as would
attack them from their home on the deep.
Texas knows al this, has counted the cost,
and ome : wiling member to this Confeds-
raey, choosing to share ell the periis OF a new
Government, than be less than equal amidst
her toTmerp GERS.
II an sstshed that the Constitution that has
been pnsujn iusly adopted BY this Congress for
! rs-rsnsnt Government, viii meet with the
asiver,SI srsrobstiSn 81 PIT State, You will
psreeiye Sy IL doeumen's Forwarded, that the
tsIre was Id a Govsrnmsnt should be based
s.itution Of the United States.