Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-01-23
MESSAGE or THE. GOVERNOR OF
MISSISSIPPI.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
TneEcuW Miss Ian Is 1891

JAsKs0N. Miss jan, IS, 1851
Gsnflemen Of ae Senate aad Of the House OF
Representatives.:
Regarding &c certain that tie convention
which is now in session, would dissolve the
connection between the Sta's Of Mississippi
and the United State, and make many and
important changes in the organic law Of the
State, thus rendering much ordinary legisla-
ton necessary to harmonise the statute law
With the amended Constitution, and to provide
for the wants Of the State in the new relation
she NAV assume, I have convened the legisla-
ture in extraordinary session. You meet IN.
der perDleying and novel circumstances, such
as never surrounded any former session Of the
legislature Of this state. Numerous, grave
Z and new questions growing out Of the present
relations Of Mississippi with The surrounding
States, must be met and solved at your pres
ent session.
Since your adjournment, events Of the grsv-
est moment have followed each other with TN
precedented rapiditT.
The hopes Of the most saRgpine friends Of
the southern cause seem about 10 be realized
IN the formation CT a southern ccnfederaev
embracing a very large msioritv, if not all
the slavehoidiBg States. South Carolina in
an ordinance passed on the ooh day Of De-
cembeT, 1860, has seeded from the Federal
Union. Tia conFention Of the people Of Mis-
sissippi, called at pour las session, passed an
ordinance Of secession on the sh day OF Jam
uary, A. D. 1861, a copy Of which is herewith
transmitted, marked A. Florida followed
with her ordinance Of secession on the lOsh.
Alabama took her place with the seeding
states on the eleventh day Of the present
month.
The States Of South Carolina, Georgia,
North Carolina, Alabama, and Louisiana have
taken possession Of the forts and a~rsenals
within their hnits, and Florida is now at
tempting to take possession Of such Of the
Tor e as she deems necessary for her safety.
Alabama has sent 10 her aid a considerable
force, and seven companies Of volunteers, Ct
this state, have been cent from the counties OF
Chickasaw5 Lowndes, Noxubee, and Clark, to
AID fiorsae and Alabama in taking possession
Of the forts and NAYS yard at Pensacola.
The result Of the expedition is nat vet
known to me.
Major Minis was sent BY me 10 meet The
Mississippi volunteers at Enterprise, With in
structions to provide them al necessary camp
eGuipsge and provisions, that the sens Of Mis-
sissippi might not be required to suffer more
rTivajions and hardships than are necessarily
Incident to the life OF a soldier.
Being advised by the Governor Of Louisi-
ana thathe had reason to believe that an ex-
petition would be sent down the Mississippi
river to reinforce the garrisons cf the forte
and a~rsenais Of that s.ste, ! sent Capt. Kerr
with sixteen Of ths jackson artillery company,
and ordered Capt. II. H. Miller 10 call out the
vollpteer companies Of Yicksburg, and take
such positi o Sc ROuld eEaSle him to prevent
any hostile expedition from the Northern
States descending the river. Learning that
the forts and arsenais were fully garrisonbd BY
Louisiana, { have directed Captain II. H.
Miller to bis forces from the position
tbey bad taken. As soon as 1 was Informed
thar the governor Of Louisiana had taken the
arsenal at Baton Rouge, ] sent Col. c.. G.
Armstead, with a letter 70 Governor Moore,
requesting bin to furnish Mississippi with ten
thousand stand Of arms, OF such terms as be
might deem jnsL. Col. AFmstead informs ne
that bis excsileney has responded 10 MY re-
quest BY ordering eight thousand nuskets, one
THOUSAND rihes, and six twenty-four pound
guns, with carriages, and a considerable
auoFnt Of ammunition 10 be delivered to him,
which wis Be shipped to Mississippi as soon
as possible.
This act Of friendship and confidence from
our sister State, / hope viii be fully sppreci-
ated and duly Acknowledged by the legislature
and people Of Mississippi.
FINDING tbs State pressed By emergencies
which were neither fefeeetn nor provided for,
] have done only what ! deemsa demanded by
ne interest, safety, and honor Of the people Of
hlssissippl; trusting that a maEnanimous con-
stituency would judge i~enientiy the acts OF an
executive officer placed ia 80 novel ana trying
apositions-
FrOE the treasurer's report, a copy Of which
Is herewith transmitted 10 he legislature, It
will be ssen thst have drawn from the treas
ury on account Of the appropriation, for the
purchase Of arms, ammunitioas, ats, thirty
nine thousand, three hundred and eleven dol
lers and twenly-one cents. Contracts for a
considerable amount Of arms, and munitions
Of war have been made, which have not $ yet
been complied witE, the arms not having been
received or paid for. Other contrasts have
probably been made by sgents appointed by
he for that purpose. After paying all con
tracts noT nate, or authorized TO be made,
there viii Be a considerable balance Of The sp-
preparation Of one hundred and dfty thousand
dollars, made az lhe last regular session Of the
iegisistuae. Patriotic citizene In various Por-
~ ststs, hays extended to me pecu-
ming the State, The Hon.Haa
BOILING. RIGGS 4 CO..