The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-03-29

state Uf aMIN| exists nov IN Texas. IL
wiii " fssona.lod that owing 10 Gov.
Houuion'a rcfilai TO convene the Legisla-j
turo IN order chat q STATE Convention
might Be called IN the regular manner,
The people By spontaneous movement
took tho mattcr into their hands. and
proceeded 70 Tho holding Of elections for
delegates.
The body thus chosen met and passed
an ordinances taking Texas out Of the
Union. Bot 20 silence any complaint on
the score Of The irregularity Of its pro
cecdings, u submitted IL action for ratif-
caiion Or rejection BY the people At tho
ballot box. The people with an unanimity
scarcely ever eQualled IN popular cleo
lion. sustained The Convention. and adopt
ed iia acts a. their own. u is thus made
plain that. " Inc secession Of any State
vas clearly authorized by the collected
VIII Of The people, Il was IN the case Of
Texas.
Gov. Houston. after ssrainins his au-
thoriiy IN order to throw every possible
impediment in The way Of the movement,
vas finally compelled "a yield before the
overwhelming sentiment which condemn
81 bic course. lie convened the Leeisla.
ture after the necessity Tor tie convoca-
lion had IN great measure ceased 70 ex.
ist and wrote some very pretty doclarma.
ZION about The duty 81 Texas n maintain
Che position she had assumed. and res,t
any Effort a. coercion BY tho Unit-d
States Government After the Conven-
lion however bad made Texas q member
Of The Southern C1ufsdsraoy. it passed an
ordinance. designed probably for Gov.
hou'tous benefit. requiring ~ State on.
GERS to take the oath OF allerisnca TO the
new Government. The Governor shrunk
from ihis test Of fealiy 10 the South. aud
refused % take the. oath. The Conven.
ton, IN consequence. passed an ordnance
declaring The Gubernaiorial chqir vacant,
and at iast accuuuts. ar. Clarke. The Lieu
teuat Governor, was about being sworn in
a. Govenor. Gen. Houston. 10 is under.
stood l. lndiapoled 10 yield 70 the action
ofthe Convention. and one account says
he Is endeavoring 70 raise troops 20 sus-
tain himself Whether this be true or
not. and whether he has been riahiiully
deposed or not Il Is very certain that he
must fail 10 maintain hia position in face
81 The almost universal sentiment oppos-
ed % him. But that which gives interest
20 The matter outside Texas, and which
attracts attention 10 it. i the question Of
whether the convention had the right TO
remove the Governor and declare his Office
vacant or in other words. to what limi-
iations is a body Of that Kind subject.
This opens up discussion involving the
entire theory Of our institutions and gov
eminent. and which is particularly inter-
osiing AZ this time. when the highest acts
Of political sovereignty are being perform
ed in the creation Of governments and
constitutions. and opinion Is divided as "a
the proper agency through which these
great duties are TO be performed. Weshall
pursue Tho argument no further than sim.
ply 10 state tho fact, known 10 every one
that The founders Of our system never
contemplated radical democracy that q
representative government, based on Oh,
idea Of popular authority was intended
and hence. that the popular viii and au
thority was intended. and hence. that th'
popular win and authority can only b
locitimaiely expressed through represen
taiive bodliea. In this way. body elecie,
, 20 represent the sovereignty Of the peopl
become. ior an political purposes. M
! people themselves. clothed with suprem
power. authorized 10 make and unmak
: contributions and governments, 10 abolisl
Offices and depose officers. to resolve 81
ciety. " they choose. into its original Ella
ments and DO away with al governments
There Is no higher power invested wit
the right 10 review. 10 reject, or approx
their action. unless they choose voluntar
+ ~ 10 resign their functions. These 81,
msntary principles. whatever mere polio
may be supposed 70 dictate. should b
kept In view In The discussions now roin
on respecting the question Of submittin
the constitution Of the Confederate State
20 the popular vote IN Mississippi. IN
Convention now assembled at Jackson
has better right 10 ratify that eonstiiS
lion than q mass meeting. composed {
I every man IN the State would have. b
cause the ratiacalion BY Convention woul
b formal and agreeable with he prime
pies on which our Institutions rest an
me other would not The constitufio
cannot b. properly ratified cxcepl By u
present o. some succeeding convention.-
To b rightly done. Il must Be- done .
y the representatives Of the people. or eli
We have deFsneraied into mobocracy hs
existed IN Grsecs. Which i the precur'l
i. Of anarchy. demaroeism. and al che evi
!. and vices incident 10 the unlimited sWl
{. Of an unrestricted majority.
(, nut ws hndoursslvss wondering Oh In
\. q discussion which We did not intend
A.