Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-11
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF MIS-
SOURI,.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Jeferson City, May /, 1861.
Gentlemen Of The Sendt, and
khe Hnusr nf RnnrfSf niniipcS

SOURI,.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Jeferson C,ty, Nay l, 1861.
Gentlemen Of The Sendt, aud
tie House Of Representatives.
had no reason 10 anticipate when you adjourned
that circumstances would so soon arise which would
render it my imperative duty to call you together again
1t is deeply to be regretted that such step has TO be
taken at of the year when time Is so precious
and the loss of it in your private affairs must occasion
such serious Inconvenience | am confident, however,
that You have not reluctantly responded 10 the call ana
that the objects for which you have assembled can be
promptly aud unanimously accomplished IN very lew
days.
Since your adjournment events affecting the peace and
safety of the country have been Transporting almost with
the rapidly of thought and OF nature well CALCULATED
| TO awaken in the bosom OF every patriot the most
gloomy apprehensions. Manifestations from every
quarter, and of character neither 10 De over
| looked or disregsrded, indicate but too plainly
that our whole country, its Constitution and laws,
are in imminent danger of disorder and destruction
Our Federal Constitution the bond OF Union OF once
united and happy people, framed by the delegates OF
distinct and separate States, end severaly ratified by
them in their sovereign capacity as States Ih Cons
tuition emanaed from men who were guided by intell
gence and patriotism and taught by the lessons OF expe
rierce in history, and whose minds were Illuminated ny
the lights of philosophy aud wisdom Its object was 10
establish equality and justice between tue states; ana TO
insure domestic arquity within them. bad the same
spirit of Justice and patriotism which animated the men
who devised it. guided the people OF the Tree States IN
the proper observance of its obligations to the present
hour would have united, prosperous and happy
Union instead of distracted and broken Confederacy
There has been necessary conflict OF interest between
the North and the South the East and the West Nari-
cites of climate locality and products involved Is true
contrasting but not conflicting organizations oil labor and
social structures animated by Different but not adverse
principles
But the progress of anaticsm, sectionalsm and Gu
pidty in the Northern States for the last quarter Of
century has with accumuang force eliminated in the tr
umph of purely sectional faction, which, under the
forms but 10 violation Of the principles OF the Constitution
threaten to destroy the sovereignty of the States and
practically convert the Government CT the Cuited States
| into an overshadowing consolidated Gcspotsm. The
present Executive of United States to regard
the States in their relations TO the Federal Government
as similar those which counties bear to State sovereign
ties. peGverdOn INDUSTRIOUS and so dangerous, all
wi and rejecting foTesaw must end lin dissolution
of the conederacy and that result has lot taken US by
surprise.
Pror to the Inauguration of President Lincoln
States had seeded. They had united with each other
under new Constitution elected their officers organ
lied armies instituted Judicial tribunals and asserted
all the powers righully belonging to sovereign States.
To this they were impeed by wellfcunded apptchen-
sons OF imminent danger to all their vital Interests, and
by a consciousness that everything dear to them was
directly menaced By the predominance OF faction
ayowedly hostile to their very existence as communi-
ties For cllamities so deploahle the people of Mis-
souri, cannot be rcproached They have preserved with
scrupulous fidelity their attachment to the Cons itl-
ton and the Union. They have asked for nothing
which was not their right they have done no hing in
derogaon of the rights of Others they have patiently
submitted to many and great Injuries FOR the sake Of
peace they have couns led concord and fraternity
Their statute books have not been deaced by enactmens
in contraventOn of the Constitution aud the laws made
in pursuance thereof They have been slow to believe
that designs destructive OF their rights and Interests
could be entertained by the administration Of Mr. Lin
coln They refused to in his inaugural any purpose
OF introducing the horrors OF civil war. They have
cordially united in every effort OF the people OF the boT-
der States 10 effect such compromise would secure
the rights and honor OF all restore raernal feelings
construct the Union, and mpart new vgor to the Con-
stitu,ion Their counses aud their rights have been
alike unheedod.
The old Confederacy il broken new one has been
organized by portion Of the States, and President Lin
coin by his PROCLAMATION, calling out force OF u 900
men TO subdue the secadcd States has threatened de-
.,rucve civil war between sl,es. On the 10Th day
of April | received dispatch from the Secretary OF
War calling on 10 furnish the Government ct Wash
ng;on with .Ogr regiments, 10 aid in the prosecution OF
the civil war about to be inlrguraed am sure hu;
cave u.terrce 10 the uni,eSsIl heart of the people
when replied that Missouri would not furnish one man
to assist In such a war The action o. the President is
evidently unconstitutional and Illegal, AID will OILY tend
TO still further ALLEVIATE tue people OF the free aud slave
holding States in their opinions and sentiments. In con-
frnaton of this opinion, it is sufficient 10 say that the
power 10 coerce State by the Federal Union vas pro-
posed in Convention that framed the Constitution, in
several different forms and rejected and 1t an insult
IN the common sense OF the people TO asser that q
war uoon individuals acting under the authority OF
State and by virtue OF Its commission, III obedience
to It's government, Is not war upon the State. The
President il appears has not only di covered the power
In the government to make OF the States bat has
assumed that w .cutye Department can initiate that
war Neither Washington, nor Jefferson, nor Jackson,
ever for moment imagined that they were clothed with
such Q d-sp0tic power as this. On the soETary, we
have been taught 10y the following language in the fare
well address OF General Jackson, that the harmony aud
permanence of the Union could only be perpetrlted by
such a policy as would command the love and conf
derc, of the people OF the several States. He said:
But the Constitution cannot be miintainci, nor the
Union preserved in opposition to public feeling, by the
mere exertioh Of the cOerCye power couilcd to the
Goyerhment. The Foundations must be hid in The AT c.
tons Of tie people, ia tG security gives 20 lie lib rty,
character and property IN eVsrg yrcr Of tie country,
aud in the lterna attachments which tie citizens Of the
several States bear another members of onc
political family, mutually contributing to promote the
happiness Of each other"
We have sl.o been warned by John Qaincy Adams
that the p.rmaneucy OF the Union rested tie
Give powers Of the Federal Government but in the love
and affections Of the people. His opinions we're express
ed in regard to the peTpetuty OF HE Government al tie
following strong and truthful language:
"The inds,ouble link OF Un!oD between the people OF
the several States Of this corfedeatCd nation il after all
no, in the riqht but in the heart. If the day shosd
ever come (nay Heaven avert when the AFT et)ns OF
the people OF these States shall be aenatd from each
other; when the fraterna spirit shall give way TO cold
indifference or collision of interest shall tester into
hatred the bands Of political association will not longer
hold together parties longer attracted by the magnet
ism of conci lated Interests and kindly sympatbe and
far better will be for the people OF the dSHnted States
to part in friendship from each other than 70 be held to-
gether by constraiut"
In the meantime il is in my judgment, indispensable
to our safety that should emulate the policy Of all The
other States in armiug people and PLACING the State
Ia proper attitude for defense. The militia law SHOULD
be rev sed and rendered more efficient good system
of drill aud discipline should also be adopted in order to
place ourselves in position where our rights can be de-
Tended 10y strong arms and willing hearts
Missouri has al this time no war to prosecute. 1t is
not her policy to make aggression on any State people,
but in the present OF tue eolntry she would be
athess to her honor aud receGnt n hey duty she
to hesitate moment in making the most ample prepare
ton for the protection OF her people aganl. the aggres
sions OF all assailants.
therefore respectfully recommend the appropriation
Of sufficient sum OF money to place the State at the
earliest paacable moment in complete STATE OF defense
But the lessons of wisdom taught by the older and
purer statesmen Of the o0unty seem to be uneeded by
the present Administration Its POLICY is rapidly tend
ing TO revolution and unless speedily arrested, will end
in ruin and disaster 10 the hitherto prosperous and happy
people OF the American continent The great and pat
rioc State OF Virgiui after having failed in all her e
fots 20 readus the Union has at last yielded In despair
and has Saceded from the old Federal Union. North |
ClrOua Tanneaaee and Arkansas it s believed, will r
pidy follow in the footsteps of Virginia. and Kentucky
il profoundly moved this great question: Our inter-
ess aud sSmpaties identical with those oil the
slavehoing States and necessarily mite our dea iny
.,l ..fn al