The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-08
1re;appt 9efrrsoa Ila6is' 3t(cssage.

4HaItD o.. q
1nr2Bortions and upon its own substantial OASIS q
nc KIN remains that elections should be held for the
f+,rltion Of the officers 10 administer u.
Ira is every reason to believe that at no distant
thor States identified in political principles aho
Wy unity Of interests with those which you represent
this confe9eacy, giving to its typical consella-
W. ;rcrpased splendor--to its government q tree
to- and sovereign States wideFsphcre OF usefulness
e4 tfla friends of constitutional liberty greater
aHa Y IN m harmonious and perpetual existence.
$50 not however for the purpose OF making this
~ ,or,,nt that have deemedit my duty to con
o at an earlier day than that tizedby yourselves
fr rorr meeting.
w , ltrlon Of war made against this confederacy
Ir3lgm Lincoln president Of the United State, in
7. lacIsmation issued the 18th day of the past
h renders il necessary in my Judgment, that You
L-Ii convene at the earliest practicable momentsto
5g tie measures necessary for the defence OF the
country
rsffcs me in giving brief review Of the relations
foioe existing between US and the States which now
mite in warfare against US and succnct statement Of
a events which have resulted to the end that mankind
D9r pass intelligent and impartial judgment its mo-
lives and objects.
During the var waged against Great Britain by her
colonies on this continent danger impelled
Iam close alliance, and to the formation Of con
federation by the terms of which the colonies styling
themselves States, entered severay into firm league
Of friendship with each other for their common defence
de security Of their liberties and their mutual and
general welfare binding themselves to assist each Other
lnst all force offered to- or attacks made upon them
any Of them on account of religion, sovereignty,
aade or any other prctence whatever
In order to guard against any mscOnstrucon of their
compact the several States madean explicit declaration
IA Instant arcIe-that each State retain its sovereignty
freedom and independence, and every power Of jurs-
deon and right which is not by this said confederation
expressly delegated to the United States in congress
assembled under this contract of alliance.
The war Of the revolution successfully waged and
resulted the treaty of peace with Great Britain in 783
IN the Of which the several States each by
name recognised to be independent.
Theartice OfconederatiOnc contained clause whereby
araterations were prohibited unless confirmed by the
legislature of every State after being agreed to by the
congress- and in obedience to this provision under the
resolution Of congress az the Dist of February 1881
the several States appointed delegates for the purpose
81 revising the articles OF confederation, and reporting
0cOngress and the several legislatures such alterations
aad provisions therein as shall when agreed to IN con
ess and confirmed by the States, render the federal
constitution adequate to the eXgencies of the govern
nent, and the preservation Of the Union.
Twas by the delegates chosen by the several States
mler the resolution Just quoted that the constitution
N tile United States was formed in 1887, and submitted
% the several States for ratification shown by the
seventh article which is in these words: The ratca-
Ion Of the conventions Of nine States shall be sufficient
for the establishment of this constitution between the
States so ratfying the same
have alicised certain words in the resolutions Just
made for the purpose Of attracting attention to the
singular and marked caution with which the States en-
3eayored in every possible form to exclude the idea
at the separate and Independent sovereignty Of each
Nate was merged into common government or ma
tom and the earnest desire they evnced to impress on
hs constitution its true character-that Of d compact
between Independent States-the constitution Of 1877
however admitting the clause already recited from the
,r+ecs of confederation which provided IN explicit
terms that each State reclaimed its sovereignty and
Independence
Some alarm felt in the States, when invited to
a the constitution, lest this omission should be
sg5l into an Abandonment Of their cherished princ
PIES and they refused to be satisfied until amendments
were added to the constitution placing beyond any pre-
anco Of doubt the reservation by the States Of their
sovereign right and powers not expressly delegated to
die United States by the constitution
Strange indeed must it appear to the impartial obser
that II is none the less true that all these carefully
-r' '."s"' ""'"Nd H07vatiin@ to prevent the rise
.a .-.-e n' political school
.nr He government set
ran3aton created by
"l. blessings liberty and indie |
oe mas been gradually \
.l.L' control IN their do
E.s- re its creator-the .
..a ..'a1e 10 the agent ap- .
H.#
-e whose almost ex-
".l.aa. early perceived /
. render q common 4
- purposes by Impos- F
5tlon to their manu- 4
ee ew out Of these at .
enpI oItea successful u oeuon one section OF the
country at the expense OF the other and the danger OF
disruption arising from this cause was enhanced by the
@c. tnat tne northern population was increasing by
emigration aud other causes than the population Of the
'oaA
b! aegees as the northern States gained preponde-
rance IN Chg national congress- seEntere taught their
people TO yield ready assent to any plausible advocacy
o. taeIr right as a majority to govern the minority
Without control they learn to listen with Impotence to
1eslggcstion Of any constitutional impeachment to the
exercise of their WILL and utterly have the principles
q Ie constitution been corrupted in the northern mind
,llL IN the inaugural address delivered by president
lincoln in March last, he asserts a maxim which he
PLAINLY deems to be undenable that the theory Of the
constitution requires in all cases that the majority shall
govern And in another memorable instance the same
se magistrate did not hesitate iken the relations
1.Teen States and the United States to those which
exist between the country and the State III which it is
situated, and by which it was created
Asishe lamentable and fundamental error in which
rests the policy that has eliminated in his declaration of
9E against these confederate States In addition to
l long continued and deep seated resentment felt bv