The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-29

| characterized the corduct of the majority
 in this matter as giving evidence of wis- ! ciliation. As to the measure itself Cthe ordinance and resolutions), whatever merit !, 1t possesses, Is the result of consultation
 between the majority and the minority | of the Committee. am sure that the members of that Committee will indulge me in alluding to what passed in its ses- | sions. The majority decidedly preferred to adopt simple ordinance of secession. l to do all in their power to disarm preju- dice and to bring about a fraternal feel 1 ing: they did not hesitate to yield their | own cherished desire in this particular.
 when my friend from Madison, (air. clem- ens) proposed to amend our proposed ordinance by adding thereto the preamble and resolutions. which form a part of l this report It Is well known that some of the people have been led to believe that the friends of secession desired to erect Alabama into monarchy or into an .nde dependent State. repud.ating an all ance with otter States. As for myself. l can truly declare that I have never met with any friend of secession enter taining s;ich views. The proposition sub mitted by my friend from Madison (Mr. Clanens) peIng in perfect accordance with l the wishes and desires of the majority. and amply refuted these misconceptions, the one which we would have preferred to have voted upon separately, was at once agre ,d to and the result is the measure now before us for consideration | "On the first day of our session a res olution was unanimously adopted declar- | ing that the people of the .State would resist the administration of Abraham Lin- coin for the causes and upon the pr!nci- pies there enunciated. On the question of resistance. then, there is no difference in this body. All are for resistance: but there is a difference between members as to the mode the manner of resistance. Some believe that when the rights of our people are denied or assailed by the par iac tn ha i ..nr o0f Ar hS q government. that secession rom this com- pact is the rivhtful remedy. others be- lieye that secession is wrong, and that the remedy is revolution A careful read ing of the ordinance on your table will show that the resistance therein pro- vided may be called revolution. disuni on or secession, as each member may de- sire. The caption styles 1t an ordnance to disolve the Union. etc. In the body of the ordinance the people of the State arc withdrawn from the compact etc. It is true that the mode of resistance Is organic; it is an organic co-ope-ation. not of States, but of the people of this State in resistance to wrong. In this respect 1t harmonizsd differences. Another differ ence, both in the popular mind and in that of delegates, Is. that resistance should be by cooperation of States. and not by independent State acton. That difference has been harmonized by the conjunction of the ordinance and reso- lutions as reported by the Committee. Co., operation and separate State action,S as far as they can be effected under obli- gation to the Federal compact and in harmony with the principles of State sov- ereignty. have been joined in this meas urc. It is true there are a class of CO., operation!sts whoxe views are not met by this measure: those who have advocated cooperation to secure submission-to de- feat resistance. But there are none of that character here while the friends of independent State action in this ordinance do obtain a declaration as to the rights of the people of Alabama; and as to our determination to eaatain them. the friends of cooperation. for the purpose of ef- fectual resistance also obtain declara- tion of our desire and purpose to unite with all the slaEe-holding States who en- certain like purpose in confede.ated or cooperative resistance. and in Con- federate Government upon the principles of the Federal Constitution.
 'As far it was possible, then, to do so without yielding principles the friends of resistance have used every reasonable eftort to meet on common ground. And I rejoice in the belief that the effort has been successful, and that there will be a far greater unanimity manifested when tho vote shall be taken on this mea sure than was hoped for when we first met in this hall From the remarks of the gen tlemen today. many will be compelled to vote against this measure by reaSon of restrictions of their people. who other wise would vote for it. l sincerely respect these motives. and think those occupying
 
 tses
 ''Mr. President. we are fortunate in having the example of our Revolutionary fathers sustaining the plan of action here proposed-separate State action and then cooperation in confederating together. South Carolina, after several months de- liberation. with view of resisting Brit tsh aggression, formed a State govern l ment early in the year lT76. Virginia did | so in June. 1T76 declaring her separate 1 and independent secession from the gov ernment of Great Britain.
 Afterwards, on the 4th of July, l776, | the Congress of the United States agreed | upon and adopted joint Declaration of | Independence. It was after the colonies | that both the Declaration of Independ- | enco and the Articles of Confederation | and the Constitution of the United States | were severally adopted The friends of | to congratulate themselves. that as far | as the people of the Southern States have | spoken, they have unanimously expressed | in favor of independent State | action.
 South Carolina, Mississippi and Florida | have each already acted Independently. | In this Convention a majority are known to be in favor of that kind of action. We have already received information that | 3 majority of delegates in favor of such | action has been elected. both in Georgia and Louisiana. commend this signih- cant fact to all who feel disposed to con-
 
 Some have been disposed to think that his Is a movement of politicians, and not of the people. This is great error. Who, 1n calm review of the past. and reflec- ion upon what Is daily occurring, can suppose that the people Of South Carolina, Georgia, Fiortla, Ala 1ama, Mississippi and Louisiana. who nave already elected conventions favor lble to dissolution, and the people of Arkansas. Tennessee. North Carolina and VirEiria. who are contemplating an as- ,embling in their several Conventions. nave been mere puppets in the hands of politicians? Who can for a moment thus determine that all these peo- ,le In these various States, who are so attached to their government. have so title intelligence that they can be thus ,lindIy driven into revolution, without ,ause, by designing and evil minded men iglinst the remonstrances of conserva- i've men. No, sir: this is great popu- ar movement based upon a widespread. leep-seated conviction that the forms of have fallen into the hands
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