The Lexington advertiser., 1962-09-27
Text: Gov. Ross Burneft's TV
And Radio Address, September 18Th

of the United States of Ame-
rica provides that each state
is sovereign with respect to
certain rights and powers;
and |
Whereas, pursuant to the
Tenth Amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States
the powers not specifically
delegated to the federal gov
ernment are reserved to the
several states; and
Whereas, the operation of
the public school system is
on of the powers which WAS
not delegated to the federal
government but whcih was
reserved to the respective
states pursuant to the terms
of the Tenth Amendment;
and I
Whereas, We are now face
to face with the direct usur-
patton of this power by the
federal government through
the illegal use of judicial de-
cree: q
Now, therefore, I, Ross r.
Barnett, as governor of the
SOVEREIGN state of Mississippi
bv authority vested in me, do
hereby proclaim that the op-
Grafton of the public schools,
universities and colleges of the
state of Mississippi is vested in
the duly elected and appoint
ed officials of the state; and
I hereby direct each said Of
ficial to uphold and enforce
the laws duly and legally en-
acted by the legislature of the
state of Mississippi, regard
less of this unwarranted, il
legal and arbitrary usurpation
of power, and to interpose the
state sovereigntv and them
selves between the people of
the state and any body polite
seeking to usurp such power.
The state of Mississippi has
become the keystone in the
fight for states rights. Our
nations survival as a republic
of sovereign states depends en-
what we do in this crisis.
Should we fail and the key
stcne be removed, our system
of government will crumble
and fall. and American liber-
ty will be lost forever in the
ruins.
Therefore, my friends, let
us stand together as loyal
Mississippians and IS patri-
otic Americans; and hold fast
against this grave threat to
our liberties. ,.T s..--
M!ssissippians have never
faltered in times of crisis, and
we shall not fail now.
Generations ago our ances-
ters pledged their lives, their
fortunes, and their sacred hon
or to establish on this conti-
nent a government of the peo-
pie, by the people, and for the
people. Succeeding generations
defended their liberties with
blood and sweat and tears at
Valley Forge, at Shiloh and
at Vicksburg, in the Argonne,
a: Guatemala and on the
heartbreak hills of Korea.
Our generation now faces
this new challenge to our Ii
berries. The burning question
in the minds of all Americans
today is whether, in this crisis,
We will exhibit the same
courage, the same devotion to
deathless principles, and the
same determination to qua
rantee the blessings of liberty
to future generations. as was
sl.own by those patriots who
have gone before.
Fellow Mississippians, 'et
us stand together, hand in
hand, mind to mind, unyield-
ing and unafraid. We know
that our cause is just and
right. Let us meet this crisis
with dignity, courage and
fortitude, and show to the
world that we are people Of
honor, that we do not, We will
not surrender to the evil and
ILLEGAL forces of tyranny.
Should the actions on the
part of anv of the public Of
ficals of Mississippi be con-
strued as contempt of federal
COURTS. then, in such event.
humblv and RESPECTFULLY s1Ig-
pest that the CHARGE be laid
upnn the governor of our SOW
ereign state and not against
anv of her public officials or
citizens
LET us invoke the blessings
of divine providence as we
s+ruoo1e to maintain our liber-
ties With the help of A1migh-
tv God. and with the un-
bounding determination of our
peon1e to remain free. we
shall be invincih1e. and we
shall keen the faith.