Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-02-23

executive department. they were fully
meeting and conforming to the exigen-
cies Of the situation. The acceptance o.
the oath, and voting, committed the peo-
ple to 8 recognition Of the fact that STA
very had been destroyed, and hat me
state government must be set up on the
basis of universal freedom IL iurthsi
committed them in the modes mos'
solemn among men, to the support OF the
constitution and the union OF the STATES
Hereunder.
All this has been done
The convention placed the stale as
/ they sincerely believed, IN accord anu
harmouv with the United States. 30
far a. that convention had knowledge OF
incarnation. it did everything that was
| claimed hv the national government.
The prompt action Of the people shows
! how ready they were to accept and con-
1 form to the situation, and how soIeitous
I thew were for amicable relations.
Although congress has proposed 70 the
states two amendments Of the eonstitu,
/ ton, bearing directly on the internal
/ affairs of the southern people, one OF
which has been, ard the other may ye'
be ratified, and although these PROPOSE
lions have been characterized, each in It's
furn. bv some parties in the loose and
general language OF political debate and
| controversy, as containing terms OF re-
| Cancellation, vet, as respects that which
/ has been ratified, it has been established
and as to that which is pending, II Is
manifest that they were not offered by
congress TO the southern states as the
conditions of restoration to their former
/ political rights, and their former relations
to the other states in the union.
1t NAV therefore be affirmed, that 50
! far a. congress has manifested any pur-
nose touching the affairs Of the southern
| states. it has not distinctly indicated or
prescribed what, if anything further
these states must door ought TO dO-tO
recover complete relations with the ma
tiOpal government and the other states
in the union: but, on the contrary, the
indications seem to be, TO vest IN con
gress q power to regulate the internal al
fairs Of said states,
The people have never intended or
manifested contumacy toward any de-
partment Of the government OF the
limited States. They have acted all
| along. I'D 10 & very recent period, on the
assumption, and in the confidence, that
what had been done was ali that was
necessary TO be done, or expected Of
them.
Mississippi, in the future, looks for the
welfare, happiness and prosperity of her
people in the union. She cannot and
does not expect to recover from the pros
tration and impoverishment, which the
war has entailed upon her, until consti-
tutional amity and comfy kave been ac-
corded to her. o
Every consideration Of present mate
rial Interest, every hope Of the future,
urge her to o solution Of present difi-
culties. which will be for the best inter
est Of constitutional liberty and govern
ment and the perpetual union Of people
and states, under q constitution dispens-
ing equal blessings to all.
It cannot be fOTshe permanent good Of
any state, north or south-surely must
be detrimental to agriculture, manufac-
ture and commerce, in every section,
that. things should continue in uncer-
taiuty.
This legislature would respectfully in
wife the attention Of congress to the
anomalous condition of affairs, and de-
G,ares that it viii, as will the people Of
the state, DO what is in its and their
power to bring existing complications to
4 lust. safe and final solution.
We appeal to the public political acts
Of the people, since May, 1855, to vindi-
cate the truth Of the statement, thatthey
are not dislOyal TO the government Of
the United States. that they are disposed
TO reform, and submit that they have,
their constitution aud laws in adapta-
ton to the new order.
We declare, representing, as we be-
lieve, the sentiments Of the legislature
and people, that both viii give the most
earnest and deliberate consideration to
propositions which congress may offer,
in the form Of constitutional amend
ments, or otherwise, embracing and
concluding all the matters that may
stand in the way OF tranquility, and q
more perfect concord and union.
They, therefore, recommend the adop-
ton of the following resolutions
RcsOlUed bV the Legislature Of the State
Of Mississippi, That The congress be, ami
is hereby respectfully requested to declare
and submit to this state, or the legisla-
tuTe thereof, a final plan for the adjust
ment OF state and federal relations, by
the terms whereof representation in con-
gress will be restored, and all other con-
stitution benefits assured.
ReS0lrcd, JurthcT, That the governor
be, and he is hereby requested to COM
municate a copy Of these resolutions 10
the president of the senate and speaker
Of the house of Representatives, with re-
quest that they will lay the same before
their respective houses Of congress.
SIMRALL, Chairman.
MINORITY REPORT
The undersigned members of the com-
mittee on state and federal relations,
e%Oucurring as they do, in the general
argument Of the report Of the majority,
cannot give their assent to the clause
in the fourth paragraph in these
words:
"The several propositions included in
the paper, would be taken into most
careful deliberatioD, if they came before
the legislature in the shape of a final
disposition Of the subject, d would
thereby bring stability and repose."
II these words are more than a repeti-
ton OF sentence Immediately preced-
ing, they are designed to convey, or at
least, do convey, the impression, that
the propositions would be acceded to as
a final disposition Of the subject. The
undersigned are not prepared to make
this declaration. The present session Of
the legislature is rapidly drawing to a
close, and q new legislature, to assemble
next fall, a better speak the wishes Of
the people than we can, upon a subject,
with reference 10 which so far, at least,
the people have shown an entire aud
hearty unanimity.
Respectfully submitted.
GILES n. HILLNER.