The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-03-06
To The People Of Mississippi.

} The undersigned committee were appointed
in accordance with the above resolution to pre-
pare an Address to you in relation to the subject
matter embraced in the same.
In doing So we disclaim any desire of dicta-
ton in bringing to your consideration a subject
involving. as we conceive, our true interest in
the present crisis of national affairs, and shall
content ourselves in submitting such thoughts
and suggestions as appear to us eminently pro-
motive Of the welfare and security of the State.
Mississippi, as you are aware with unparalleled
unanimity has disrupted those ties that so long
held her in political association with other States
and declared her independence Of the late Con
fedHacy.
Believing her rights under the Constitutional
Compact could no longer be maintained, and that
further submission to repeated aggression was
jeoparding her best interest she determined to
assume her distinctive nationality. The General
Government instead of securing equal rights to
her citizens, in common with other States has
| failed to inspire confidence of present security,
and only created apprehension Of greater evil to
her interests in the future
The States had formed the Union under the
express compact so establish Justice, insure
domestic tranquility, prorde. .J6r the common de-
tense, promote the gcnerdl reIare, and secure
the blessings Of HJeriy to Measelees and Aeir
posterity."
So long as these blessings were attainablc,
Mississippi was true to every provision of the
Compact-her treasure and the blood of her
citizens were not spared to promote the great
object Of the Conicdcracy.
The bones of her gallant sons that le bleed
ing on the battle plains Of Mexico, evidence the
spirit of devotion she cherished for the welfare
and honor Of the Union-the national faith aud
devotion has however failed to produce the fra
terna regard and consideration on the part Of
some Of her allied States, which might so reas.
onably have been expected. Thcpropcrty rights
of her citizens have been disregarded every fca-
turc and principle of the Compact have been
violated and last 10 her. Instead Of "jastice
heinz ostaJi;sbod," a dominant party in the
councils of the nation unrcStraincd by the con-
stitutiona provisions, and acting on the princi.
pie" siat pro rdtioae fJiHHtas' have denied
to her citizens the right of using their property
in the Territories; the common domain Of the
Confedcracy. Instead Of "iasarmg" TO her
people "domestic trdnqRHhy," this same party
have fostcrcd and stimulated a spirit of fanatic
cism, tending to destroy the domestic peace Of
the South, and seeking the destruction Of inno-
cent women and children by lawlcss attempts to
incite insurrectienary movements amongst a
class Of beings, who if undisturbed by lanatical
influences are contented and happy. Instead of
promoting the general welfare" by enacting
all laws necessary to give vitality TO the speci-
fioations of the compact, they have by the pass
age of State laws in contrayenton Of its provis.
ions, engendcred the most maleyolerrt feelings
between citizens of diGerent sections, frequently
producing acts Of retaliation and lawleSsncss in
iurious to the common veal of the country
| And to crown all instead of providing for the
common defense" they have elevated to power
! Chief Magistrate who has declared an "irrc-
prcssible conflict" between the accomplishment
of his partizan purposes and the destruction of
our property rights, and who now, through the
same party, threatens to turn the guns OF forti-
/ ications erected for the defense of Southern ci-
/ tics, to their own destruction.
These usurpatons and offensive acts by sis
ter States have destroyed all hope that the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity"
can be secured" through the ins,rumentality
I of the Conflderacy, and satisfy us that upon
ourselves alone, depend Tie maintainance and
pcrpctuity Of these inestimabie blessings. Act
ing under this conviction, Mississippi, by solemn
ordinance has Withdrawn from the federative
association, and resumed the power and functions
delegated by her to the same.
This act OF governmental independence viii ne
eossarily change in many respects former exist
I ing social and commercial relations between the
States. \ system Of trade and intercourse
equally beneficial had grown up, which must un-
dergo material notifications. In reference,
however, to this matter il is our purpose to dis
cuss an erroneous policy pursued by the people
Of this State in two particulars which VIC trust
the future may correct. Wealludeto the almost
exclusive cultivation and production of cotton;
first, to the neglect Of manuactural and CON-
merical pursuits; and second, the limited pro-
duction Of cereal and animal food, so impor-
tant to national security and human
comfort The adaptability of our soil and eli
mate to the growth of cotton-the great demand
Of civilized nations for the article, and the ready
cash market it always commands, has created in
the public mind an inordnate desire for its cul-
tivation. We have in too great degree by this
one idea system Of culture, lost sight Of the
great fundamental principles controlling capital
and labor for the advancement Of personal and
national prosperity. and have neglected adTanta-
ges deriyable from the use of capital and labor
which few States or nations possess in compari-
son with our own. In fact, we have abandoned
10 the industrial pursuits Of other nations, ben
Gifts within our own reach, and which should be
enjoyed by our people much greater as we shall
endcavor to show, than those VIC have retained
The three great general divisions Of labor into
i commerce, manufactures andagriculture depend
ing materially upon each other Cor the ruccess