The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1861-01-02
FuLToN. MISS. Dec. 9th. 1860.

y. w. Layton,
C. HUGHEY.
FULTON, MISS, Dec. oath, 1860
GESTLEMEN: The political position refer
req to IN your kind note of this date, is here
placed at your disposal The plan is given
with but few Of the arguments used by me to
sustain It 1t is in substance
/ think submission to the aggressions of the
Black Republican party runous and the
lrest method that could be adopted to de-
stroy the Union. Our submission to past and
present unconstitutional measures, and legis-
iatlon destructive Of Southern interests and
institutions, would only invite further usurpa-
IONS, and give an impetu'to Mse "Irrepressi-
Die conflict which woI n. flew years
Drive US out Of the Union in defence of our
lives and property. We cannot have peace or
property IN the Union, or even remain there,
divided as We now are and have for years
been. As l love this Union, / hate submis-
sion, for it tends to its destruction.
also oppose the secession of Mississippi, or
the secession of the Cotton States under ex-
istIns circumstances. While 1 admit the
rlght OF State to secede, | oppose the poll
cy, for the following and many other reasons:
LIST We claim that entitled to the
protection OF Or slave property in all the
Territories belonging to the Federal Govern
ment, and want this protection in the COM |
mon domain. 1t cannot be contended that q |
Territory has the right of secession from the |
nion- It cannot resume its sovereignty, for |
IL never had any. 1t is ike an unborn child,
II has It's existence alone through the mother.
revolution is the only means by which it
could be absolved rom the Federal Govern
ment am unwilling to secede leaving the
Territories inf no of to
impose on them Revolution and claim for our
selves peaceable secession. If we are COM
Pe!Ied TO 'seuttle the ship and take to the life
ooat,' let Us not leave our children on board,
ior We have ample accommodation and are
able to take them with us on equal terms and
with equal safety.
I'd We would have no outlet for our slaves
with their rapid increase and the impossibility
OIL their extension. they would at no distant
aay become valueless, the country appropria-
TED to their labor would not maintain them
Dy the secession of the cotton States alone,
ana the abandonment Of the Territories, we
close the door against the extension of slave
~ and doom it to ruin. Cuba we cannot get,
anu II we could. it is filled with Africans al.
read y Mexico is found not adapted to the
DEDUCTIONS, in the growth of which alone,
slave labor is found profitable
The States Of Virginia, North Carolina,
tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri believe the +,
political differences between the North and
South can be aInicably settled, and for that ,
reason would not now join US in any seces- :
slonary movement. Alabama, Florida, Lou :
lSlana and Texas, are all that would probably /,
JON US IN such movements. This would give !
US small, and from its shape, very much ex- .
posed COnfederaey. :
4th- Looking to the political condition of /.
Europe, knowing that this is the only Repub- :
lie OF consequence in the world, the only =
rebuke to the dynasty of kings, we must
know they have a common interest in the de-
struetlon of our Institutions. Turn our at
tenton to the two sections of our own coun-
try, we are forced to the conclusion that great K
hostility exists, and in case of collision, which b
seems inevitable, either section would form al c
Iances with foreign powers, for its own de- Il
fence, hence it is most probable that the great
powers of Europe would be engaged in the I
contest. Divided, we would be weak and no
longer able to enforce the Monroe doctrine of
mon interference of European powers with
the political condition Of any country on this y
Continent" Hence they would be able to
obtain the long desired Protectorate over Mex
leo and the South American provinces. And Of
having one common intereSt-the destruction v
OF this GoYernment-it is most probable that Ell
IN the end OF the fraternal contest like Po-
land, Hungary and Greece, we would be d.
vided out to pay the expenses of the war !,
Or they could then dictate to us form of ;,
government, give US King, and remove from u
the world the oniy argumentin favor of mans
capacity for enlightenment. These, with =
many other reasons, induce me to oppose the
secession of the cotton States under existing
circumstances :,
My policy then is-The Constitution of I
Mississippi should define her rights in the !.
Federal Government, and declare she will
have them and nothing less. Then recon-
mend Convention of all the Southern States
to be holden at an early day, and recommend =
that Delegates be elected BY the people, in the
same ratio and from the same districts that q
they are represented in the popular branch of d
Congress, provide for the election of her own Il
delegates, then let the Convention adjourn, to
meet on its own orders, so that it may re-as- q
semble on the happening of any necessary con-
tingency. The election of delegates should
be by the people, they would by this means
gain information, and keep the subject con- 4.
stantly before them, which they greatly need.
If the State Conventions went beyond, or fell
short of the wishes Of the people, the error
would be corrected in the subsequent election.
Let the South then be thoroughly canyassed,
by candidates for the Southern Convention--
When the Southern Convention assemblies, let
it declare the rights of the South in the Fed
eral Government, and what they will have
and nothing less, naming the obnoxious laws b
of the Northern States, the repeal of which, u
together, with the settlement of the right to i
protection of slave property in the Territories,
or the extension of some physical line that
will forever settle that question, as essential .
prerequisites to a longer continuance in the
HMM Then recommend ha calling of a j 4
National Convention to be holden as early as
possible, the delegates to be elected by the :
people in the same manner as those to the
Southern Convention. This will bring the i
whole subject before the whole of the United :
States, and if there are conser rative national
men enough in the nation to save it, it will be ;
known by the election of sound national men
to the National Convention if there is not
enough such men, the sooner it is known the
better for both sections.
When the National Convention assemblies
let it settle these questions if possible, lay
down programme for the administration of
the Government and recommend to the prop
er authorities to carry out such measures. If
in this Convention the questions cannot be
settled, it will then be evident to all that dis
ruption of the government is inevitable.-
Then let the Convention recommend peace
able dissolution; or if that cannot be effected,
our Southern sister States seeing no hope of
the preservation Of the Union will join US in
any movement for Southern Confederacy.-
So will the Northwestern States, the grana-
ries that feed the cotton growing region link
ed to US as they are by rivers and railroads.
The Territories will join us in the Revolution;
so will the district Of Columbia, and perhaps
the State of New York. We will then have
q powerful confederacy, and not more than
twelve or thirteen Black Republican States
will be left out Of the Union, which would
soon be anxious to repeal all obnoxious laws
and seek Union with US on trims Of equality.
am gentlemen,
Your fellow-citiZen,
and obedient servant,
A. B. RULLARD.
Thn Hharlanfnn Enrfa