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JOURNAL 
 
 of the; : .'r: »\? ; 
 
 CONVENTION 
 
 OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI 
 
 ASS 
 
 THE ACT CALLING THE SAMS; 
 
 WITH TBI 
 
 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 AND 
 
 WASHIX&TOX'S FAREWELL OIUM. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY ORDSR OT THS COXYHSTIOX. 
 
 JACKSON! 
 
 TK9XAI PALMER. CO^TEXTIC^ 
 
JOURNAL OF THE CONTENTION 
 
 OP THE 
 
 STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Convened at the Capitol, in the City of Jackson, on Monday, tlte 
 10th day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 eight hundred and fifty-one, and of the Independence of the United 
 States of America the seventy -sixth, in pursuance of " an act " of 
 the Legislature of said. State, entitl-d" An Act to provide for a. 
 Convention of the People of the State of Mississippi,^ approved 
 November 30th. 1S501 
 
 MONDAY, Np.TE^BER 10th, 1S51. 
 
 At twelve o'clock, M, Stephen Adams, a delegate elect from 
 the county of Monroe, called the Convention to order, and 
 
 On his motion, William A. Lake, a delegate elect from the coun- 
 ty of Warren, was called to the chair. 
 
 On motion of James Alexander Ventress, of Wilkinson, Flsm- 
 ins:L. Swarm was appointed Secretary, pro tern. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Cobb, of Lowndes, the Secretary was reques- 
 ted to call the roll of Delegates, by counties. 
 
 Whereupon the roll being called, and a quorum appearing. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnston, of Hinds, the Convention proceeded 
 to the election of a President, under the direction of Mi% Haie and 
 Mr. Adams, as tellers. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs, of Marshall, placed in nomination Mr. Cornelius 
 Carmack, of the county of Tishomingo. 
 
 Mr. Johnson, of Warren, proposed the name of William A. 
 Lake, of Warren. 
 
 Mr. Jones, of Franklin, nominated James A. Ventress. 
 
 Mr. Adams, nominated William L. Sharkey, of Hinds. 
 
 Mr. Robertson, of De Soto, nominated J. W. C. Watsoni of 
 Marshall. 
 
 Mr. Hurst, of Amite, nominated Patrick Henry, of Madison. 
 Messrs. Sharkey, Watson, Ventress and Henry, haying declined, 
 
the Convention proceeded to the election, by ballot, and the tellers 
 reported the following as the result : 
 
 For Cornelius Carmack 61 votes; William A. Lake 11, do.; 
 Wiley P. Harris 2, do.; William R. Cannon 11, do.; William L.' 
 Sharkey 1, do.; Stephen Adams 2, do.; James Alexander Ventress 
 1, do. 
 
 Mr. Cornelius Carmack having received a majority of all the 
 votes, 
 
 It was announced by the Chairman that he was duly elected; and 
 having been conducted to the chair by Messrs Lake and Adams, 
 he addressed the Convention as follows : 
 
 Gentlemen of the Convention : 
 
 Be pleased gentlemen, to accept my most grateful 
 acknowledgments for the rich tribute of respect, just paid by you, 
 to the patriotic citizens of the county which I have the honor in 
 part to represent, and be assured, that I hazard nothing when I say 
 to you, that your generosity will be duly appreciated by them, the 
 more especially when they take into consideration, the evident 
 feet, that your liberality is manifested through the promotion of ths 
 most humble individual of their delegation. 
 
 I have not a sufficient stock of vanity, to persuade myself, that 
 I shall be competent upon all occasions, to discharge the duties of 
 the dignified station to which 1 have been called by your partial- 
 ity in strict conformity to the most approved parliamentary usa- 
 ges, but, I promise you that I will discharge those duties, to the 
 utmost of my very humble capacity, without favor to either person 
 or party. 
 
 My conviction of your intelligence, renders it unnecessary that 
 I should ofTer a single suggestion in relation to the propriety and 
 importance of calmly, dispassionately and deliberately investigating 
 the grave subject or subjects which may demand the attention of 
 the Convention, with an eye single to the advancement of the in- 
 terests of the State of Mississippi, and to the good of our common 
 — our whole country. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Ventress, 
 
 The Convention proceeded to the election of a Secretary. 
 Mr. Sharkey nominated Fleming L. Swann, of Hinds county,, 
 and 
 
 No other person having been put in nomination, Mr. Ashe moved 
 that he be elected by acclamation, which was decided in the affir- 
 mative. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the vote was reconsid- 
 ered, and the Convention proceeded to the election, by ballot, under 
 the direction of the same tellers. 
 
 Upon counting the ballots, it appeared that Fleming L. Swann 
 had received 78 votes ; and that Mr. Russell had received 8 votes. 
 
Mr. Swarm having received a majority of the votes, was declared 
 by the President, duly elected Secretary of the convention. 
 On motion of Mr. Clark, 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary be authorised to appoint such num- 
 ber of Clerks as the President of the Convention may deem neces- 
 sary. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the several Reporters 
 for newspapers present, were permitted to seats within the Bar of 
 the House. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the Convention proceeded to the 
 election of a Doorkeeper, viva twee. 
 
 Mr. Ventress nominated C. M. Waldron, and the vote being 
 taken, he was declared duly elected. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnston, of Hinds, 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention proceed to the election of a Ser- 
 geant-at-arms, viva voce. 
 
 Mr. Johnston, of Hinds, nominated D. M. Wilkinson, and no 
 other person being proposed, the vote was taken and resulted as 
 follows : forD. M. Wilkinson 7S votes ; Mr. Craft 8 do. 
 
 Mr. Wilkinson having received a majority of all the votes, was 
 declared elected Sergeant-at-Arms. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Collins, 
 
 Resolved, That the rules adopted by the Lower Branch of the 
 State Legislature, for the government of that body, be, and are 
 hereby adopted, so far as the same are applicable to govern the pro- 
 ceedings of this Convention. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Lake, the Convention proceeded to the elec- 
 tion of a Printer, viva voce. 
 
 Mr. Johnston, of Hinds, proposed the name of Thomas Palmer, 
 and there being no other nomination made, the vote was taken and 
 resulted as follows : 
 
 Those who voted for Tho's Palmer were, Mr. President, Messrs 
 Adams, Ashe, Banks, Barksdale, Billups, Butler, Boatner, Bailey, 
 Burrus, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Collins, Cole, Duncan of Ita- 
 wamba, Duncan of Lafayette, Duncan of Tishomingo, Dabney, 
 Davis, Evans of Chickasaw, Evans of Lauderdale, Easterling, 
 Edwards, Fox, Foote, Griffin, Gwin, Garner, Golladay, Hurst, 
 Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Huie, Hale, Henry, Holmes, James, 
 Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of Warren, Jones of Madison, Jones 
 of Pontotoc, Jones of Tippah, Kinyon, Lowry, Lake, Montgom- 
 ery, Myers, Muse, McMurran, McLeod, McAllum, McDonald, 
 McDowell, Niles, Purdom, Phillips, Powe, Robertson, Rankin, 
 Sawyer, Scruggs, Sharkey, Snedecor, Stovall, Sullivan, Yeazie, 
 Tick, Vaughan, Ventress, Watson of Marshall, Watson of De So- 
 to, Wells, Williams, Wilson of Claiborne and Wilson of PontotoG 
 —77. 
 
 Those who voted for Messrs J. G. & J. B. Morey were, Messrs 
 Cherry and Jones of Franklin — 2. 
 
 L107788 
 
6 
 
 Those who voted for Messrs Barksdale & Jones were, Messrs 
 Cannon, Connelly, Miller and Scales — 4. 
 
 Mr. Palmer having received a majority of all the votes, was de- 
 clared by the President, duly elected. 
 
 Mr. Duncan, of Tishomingo, submitted the following resolution, 
 which was adopted : 
 
 " Resolved, That, this Convention do now proceed to elect a 
 Committee to consist of Thirteen members, three from each Con- 
 gressional District, and one for the State at large as chairman of the 
 same, to consider and report resolutions or preamble and resolutions 
 for the consideration of this Convention." 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the Convention adjourned until 3 
 o'clock^ P. M. 
 
 3 o'clock p. m. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 Mr. Cobb offered the following resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That, in order duly to organise this Convention, 
 the Secretary be directed to call, alphabetically, the names of Mem- 
 bers elect from each county of the State, who at the same time, shall 
 present their certificates of election according to law, and make oath 
 or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States. 
 
 But, before the question was taken, Mr. Clark offered the fol- 
 lowing amendment : 
 
 Amend by striking out all after the word resolved, so as to read, 
 
 "That a Committee on Elections, to consist of five members, be 
 appointed, and that the Delegates present to the Chairman of said 
 Committee, their Credentials of Election. " 
 
 Which was los t. 
 
 The question was then taken on the adoption of the resolution 
 offf-red by Mr. Cobb, and decided in the affirmative. 
 
 Whereupon, the roll being called, the following gentlemen pre- 
 sented their credentials and took the oath proposed in the resolu- 
 tion, to-wit : 
 
 From the county of Adams, John T. McMurran and James H. 
 Veazie. 
 
 Amite, David W. Hurst and W. L. Huff. 
 Attala, Samuel N; Gilliland and J ason Niles. 
 Bolivar, Wm. Vick. 
 
 Carroll, Collins F. Hemingway, Samuel Hart and Isaac Sulli- 
 van. 
 
 Chickasaw, J. T. Griffin and T. S. Evans. 
 Choctaw, George Huie and Thomas Fox. 
 Claiborne, William S. Wilson. 
 Copiah, Robert Miller and Frank Sturges. 
 Clark, Allen McLendon. 
 
 De Soto, J. C. N". Robertson, J. J- Williams and Samuel Watsoss. 
 
T 
 
 From the county of Franklin, James N. Jones. 
 Green, Norman McLeod. 
 Hancock, Robert Mongomery. 
 
 Hinds. \V. L. Sharkey, Amos R. Johnston and G. G. Banks, 
 Holmes, Wilson A. Purdom and James M. Gwin. 
 Harrison, William A. Champlin. 
 
 Itawamba,. George W. Stovall, John F. Duncan and Drury 
 Sawyer. 
 
 Issaquena, William T. Lowry. 
 Jasper, William P. Cherry. 
 Jefferson, Charles Clark. 
 Jones, John Easterling. 
 
 Kemper, William R. Vaughan and Duncan P. McAUum, 
 Lafayette, Isaac A. Duncan and William Hale, 
 Leake, David S. McDonald. 
 
 Lauderdale, Sylvanus Evans and William L. Cole. 
 Lawrence, Wiley P. Harris. 
 
 Lowndes, Joseph B. Cobb, William Barksdale and Thomas C. 
 Billups. 
 
 Madison, Patrick Henry and Montfort Jones, 
 Marion, William J. Rankin. 
 
 Marshall, John W. C. Watson, Phineas T. Scruggs and Richard 
 Phillips. 
 
 Monroe, Stephen Adams and James A. Butler, 
 Neshoba, James L. Backstrom. 
 Newton, John H. Wells, 
 
 Noxubee, George H. Foote and Anderson W. Dabney. 
 Octibbeha, William R. Cannon. 
 Perry, P. J. Myers. 
 Pike, Thomas J. Connelly. 
 
 Pontotoc, Jefferson Wilson, James C. Jones and Benjamin S, 
 Edwards. 
 
 Rankin, Joseph McDowell. 
 Scott, Seaborn J. Smith. 
 Simpson. Henry Sturges. 
 Smith, Samuel Keown. 
 Sunflower, W. N. Scales. 
 Tallahatchie, James S. Bailey. 
 
 Tippah, Orlando Davis, Benjamin Collins, John Boatner and 
 Stephen B, Jones. 
 
 Tishomingo, William L. Duncan, William H, Muse, Benjamin 
 N, Kinyon and Cornelius Carmack. 
 
 Warren, William A. Lake and William H. Johnson. 
 
 Wayne, Samuel H. Powe. 
 
 Wilkinson, James Alexander Ventress. 
 
 W 7 inston, George G. Snedecor and John C. Holmes, 
 
 Yalobusha, John B. Ashe, Samuel R. Garner and R. H. Golladay. 
 
 Yazoo, Phillip J. Burrus and Daniel A. James. 
 
 L107788 
 
s 
 
 Mr. McDowell then offered the following resolution, to-wit r 
 
 Resolved, That, this Convention do now adjourn sine die. 
 
 And the question being taken thereon, by yeas and nays, it was 
 decided in the negative, as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative were, Messrs. Backstrom, 
 Cherry, Cannon, Connelly, Cole, Easterling, Gilliland, Hurst, 
 Harris, Jones of Madison, Keown, McLendon, McLeod, McAllum, 
 McDowell, Niles, Purdom, Scales, Smith, Sturges of Simpson, 
 Vaughan and Wells — 22.\ ^| 
 
 Those who voted in the negative were, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Adams, Ashe, Banks, Barksdale, Billups, Butler, Boatner, Bailey, 
 Burrus, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Collins, Duncan of Itawamba, 
 Duncan of Lafayette, Duncan of Tishomingo, Dabney, Davis, 
 Evans of Lauderdale, Evans of Chickasaw, Edwards, Fox, Foote, 
 Griffin, Gwin, Garner, Golladay, Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Huie, 
 Hale, Henry, Holmes, James, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of 
 Warren, Jones of Franklin, Jones of Pontotoc, Jones of Tippah, 
 Kinyon, Lowry, Lake, Miller, Montgomery, Myers, Muse, Mc- 
 Murran, McDonald, Phillips, Powe, Robertson, Rankin, Sawyer, 
 Scruggs, Sharkey, Snedecor, Stovall, Sturges of Copiah, Sullivan, 
 Veazie, Vick, Ventress, Watson of Marshall, Watson of De Soto, 
 Williams, Wilson of Claiborne and Wilson of Pontotoc — '70. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the Convention adjourn- 
 ed until 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 TUESDAY, November 11, 1851. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and its delibera- 
 tions opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Jackson. 
 
 Mr. Caruthers, the delegate elect from the county of Tunica, 
 presented his credentials, was qualified and took his seat. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Phillips, 
 
 Resolved, That the President of the Convention, be requested to 
 inform the Ministers of the different religious denominations of 
 this place, that it would be highly acceptable to the members of 
 this Convention, to have one of them each day, to open our pro- 
 ceedings with prayer. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the Convention proceeded to the elec- 
 tion of a chairman of the Committee of Thirteen, pursuant to the 
 resolution previously adopted. 
 
 Mr. Adams placed in nomination J. A. Ventress, of Wilkinson 
 county. 
 
 There being no other nomination, on motion of Mr. Johnson, 
 of Warren, Mr. Ventress was declared elected by acclamation. 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the Convention took a recess of one 
 
 bour. 
 
9 
 
 The recess having expired, the Convention resumed its session. 
 Owing to indisposition, Mr. Caruthers was granted leave of 
 absence. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the Convention proceeded to the elec- 
 tion of the Committee of Thirteen. 
 
 Mr. Duncan, of Tishmoingo, for the first district, nominated 
 Messrs. Davis of Tippah, Wilson of Pontotoc and Watson of 
 Marshall. 
 
 Mr. Huie, for the second district, nominated Messrs. Heming- 
 way of Carroll, Cobb of Lowndes and Cannon of Oktibbeha. 
 
 Mr. McDowell, for the third district, nominated Messrs. Wm, 
 L. Sharkey of Hinds, Samuel L. Gilliland of Attala and Wm. H. 
 Johnson of Warren. 
 
 Mr. Wilson, of Claiborne, for the fourth district, nominated 
 Messrs. McMurran of Adams, Harris of Lawrence and Champlia 
 of Harrison. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the several nominees were elected by 
 acclamation unanimously. 
 On motion of Mr. Huie, 
 
 Resolved, That, the committee of thirteen, be requested to re- 
 port to this Convention at the earliest possible period. 
 
 Mr. Dabney offered the following resolution, to-wit : 
 
 Resolved, That, all resolutions, memorials and petitions, that 
 any delegate may desire to present, be offered in Convention, and 
 referred to the committee of thirteen. 
 
 Pending the question on said resolution, Mr. Hurst moved that 
 the Convention adjourn until 12 o'clock to-morrow, which motion 
 did not prevail. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the Convention adjourn- 
 ed until 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 WEDNESDAY, November 12th, 1851. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and its delibera- 
 tions opened with prayer by the Reverend Meyer Lewin, of the 
 Episcopal Church, of this city. 
 
 On motion, leave was granted to the Committee of Thirteen to 
 retire and deliberate, and on motion of Mr. Davis, the Committee 
 was authorised to employ a Clerk. 
 
 The question then recurred on the resolution of Mr. Dabney, 
 pending the adjournment on yesterday. 
 
 Which, on motion of Mr. Scruggs, was laid on the table. 
 
 Mr. Garner offered the following resolution, 
 
 Resolved^ That the Committee'of Thirteen be instructed to re- 
 port to this Convention, the platform adopted by the Union party of 
 
10 
 
 this State on the 18th day of November JS50, and recommend its 
 passage. 
 
 Which was on motion of Mr. Hurst, laid on the table. 
 Mr. Foote, offered the following preamble and resolutions, to-wit: 
 Whereas j By the recent election in South Carolina for Delegates 
 to a Southern Congress, a decided majority of the citizens of that 
 State have manifested feelings and principles of loyalty to the Fed- 
 eral Union — and whereas, said State has already elected to its 
 State Convention, a majority of members who are in favor of se- 
 cession, either jointly, with other States of the South, or separately; 
 and 
 
 Whereas, This Convention, representing the will of the 
 sovereign people of the State of Mississippi, having assembled 
 to register their feelings of loyalty and devotion to the Union of 
 their fathers, which a majority of the citizens of this State feel 
 and entertain, and also, to contribute all it can to disseminate a love 
 and devotion to the Federal Union : 
 
 Therefore, be it resolved by this Convention, That two Delegates 
 be immediately elected by ballot, whose duty it shall be to proceed 
 to the State of South Carolina, and in such manner as they may 
 think proper, represent to the authorities of said State, the wish 
 and desire of the State of Mississippi, that South Carolina should 
 acquiesce in the recent compromise or adjustment measures, and 
 remain as she has heretofore, and now is, a member of this Union. 
 
 Resolved, That said Delegates shall be entitled to the same mile- 
 age and per diem as the members of the House of Representatives. 
 
 Which was, on motion of Mr. Phillips, laid on the table — by 
 yeas and nays, as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative were, Messrs. Ashe, Butler, 
 Backstrom, Boatner, Bailey, Burrus, Cherry, Connelly, Duncan of 
 Itawamba, Duncan of Lafayette, Duncan of Tishomingo, Evans 
 of Chickasaw, Easterling, Edwards, Fox, Foote, Griffin, Gwin, 
 Garner, Golladay, Huff, Hart, Huie, Hale, Henry, Johnston of 
 Hinds, Jones of Madison, Jones of Pontotoc, Keown, Miller, 
 Montgomery, Muse, McLendon, McLeod, McAllum, McDonald, 
 McDowell, Purdom, Phillips, Powe, Rankin, Sawyer, Scales, 
 Smith, Stovall, Sturges of Copiah, Sturges of Simpson, Sullivan, 
 Vaughan, Wells — yeas 50. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative were, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Adams, Barksdale, Billups, Clark, Collins, Cole, Dabney, Hurst, 
 Holmes, James.Jones of Franklin, Jones of Tippah, Kinyon, Low- 
 ry, Lake, Myers, Niles, Robertson, Scruggs, Snedecor, Veazie, 
 Tick, Williams and Wilson of Claiborne — nays 25. 
 
 Mr. Sturges of Simpson moved that the Convention adjourn 
 until 3 o'clock, which was lost. 
 
 Mr. Kinyon offered the following preamble and resolutions, 
 to-wit : 
 
 Whereas, by the election of delegates by the people of this State,, 
 
11 
 
 in the several counties of the same, on the 1st Monday and day 
 following in September 1851, to meet in Convention on the 2d 
 Monday of November of the same year, to take into consideration 
 the then existing relations between this State and the people of the 
 same and the government of the United States, and people of 
 the different States, in view of the " adjustment measures " or 
 " compromises " upon the slavery and territorial questions of the 
 31st Congress, it is manifest that the people of the said State of 
 Mississippi have expressed their willingness and disposition to ac- 
 quiesce in said " adjustment measures " or " compromises," as a 
 final settlement of the sectional question of slavery, and the prin- 
 ciples in relation to the territories (though not entirely satisfied 
 with all and every portion of said " adjustment measures " or 
 " compromises ;") and whereas, it is the opinion of this Conven- 
 tion, that no serious change for the worse at least, has occurred 
 since said election, by the people, in our Federal relations, as be- 
 tween the government, and people of this State and the government 
 of the United States and the people and government of the differ- 
 ent States. — This Convention assembled in order to let the position 
 of this State be distinctly understood by the government of the 
 United States and the people and government of the different States 
 of this Union, by virtue of their election aforesaid. 
 
 Resolved, 1st, That the people of the State of Mississippi, have 
 manifested and entertain the most profound attachment for the 
 Union of the States under and according to the Constitution of the 
 United States, and amendments thereto, and will faithfully main- 
 tain and support the same, so long as the government of the United 
 States shall be administered in accordance w T ith said Constitution 
 and amendments thereto, and the same shall be regarded and con- 
 formed to by the people and government oi the several States of 
 this Union. 
 
 Resolved, 2ndiy, That the people of this State by the election 
 aforesaid, have expressed their willingness and manifested their 
 disposition to acquiesce in the u adjustment measures" or com- 
 promise of the 31st Congress as a final settlement of the sectional 
 question of slavery, and the principles as regards the territories of 
 the United States, so long as the same are duly and fully observed, 
 continued and executed, according to the true intent and meaning 
 of the same, and each and every of the same. 
 
 Resolved, 3rc%, That upon the due observance and faithful 
 maintenance of the Constitution of the United States and amend- 
 ments thereto, by the government of the same and the people and 
 governments of the several States, and the Laws made in pursuance 
 thereof, depends the perpetuation of the Union of the States and 
 all the blessings resulting or to result therefrom. 
 
 Which was, on motion of Mr. Snedecor, referred to the Com- 
 mittee of Thirteen. 
 
12 
 
 Mr. Clark offered the following resolution, and on his motioa 
 referred to the same committee : 
 
 Resolved, That the State of Mississippi, in the judgment of this 
 Convention, will oppose by all Constitutional means, and in con- 
 junction with the other Southern States, will and ought to re- 
 sist, even as a last resort, to a disruption of every tie which 
 binds her to the Union, any action of Congress upon the subject 
 of slavery in the District of Columbia, or in places subject to the 
 jurisdiction of Congress, incompatible with the safety, domestic 
 tranquillity, the rights, and honor of the slave holding States ; or 
 any act suppressing the slave trade between the slave holding 
 Sfates,or any refusal to admit as a State any territory hereafter ap- 
 plying, because of the existence of slavery therein, or any act pro- 
 hibiting the introduction of slaves into the territories of Utah and 
 New Mexico, or any act repealing the laws now in force for the 
 recovery of fugitive slaves. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs, offered the following resolutions, which were also 
 referred to the Committee of Thirteen. 
 
 Resolved, That the voluntary associations of our fellow-citizens 
 of the non-slave holding States, for the purpose of agitating the 
 subject of domestic slavery, or of enlisting either the State or 
 Federal Legislature against it, is, in the judgment of this Conven- 
 tion, fraught with imminent danger to the stability of the Govern- 
 ment, and if persisted in, will, in the opinion of this Convention, 
 result, at no distant day, in the most serious consequences. 
 
 Resolved, That, in view of the unanimity and promptness with 
 which the slave holding States have acted, in support of the late 
 acts of Congress, known as the " adjustment or compromise meas- 
 ures," it is in the opinion of this Convention, the duty of the non- 
 slave-holding States, if they intend to preserve the union of these 
 States, and keep faith with the slave holding States, to do the same 
 thing * and that we cannot regard their failure to do so, otherwise 
 than as an omen of evil. 
 
 The following resolution submitted by Mr. Veazie, was also re- 
 ferred to the same Committee : 
 
 Resolved, That the asserted right, on the part of a State, peace- 
 ably to withdraw from the Union, without denial or obstructioa 
 from any quarter whatever, is utterly unsanctioned by the Federal 
 Constitution, and that no secession can in fact take place without a 
 subversion of the Union established, and which will not virtually 
 amount in its effects and consequences to a civil revolution. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Foote, the vote was reconsidered, laying his 
 preamble and resolutions on the table. 
 
 And on his further motion, the preamble and resolutions were 
 referred to the Committee of Thirteen. 
 
 Mr. Alcorn, the delegate elect from the county of Coahoma ap- 
 peared, was qualified and took his seat. 
 
 Mr. McDowell offered the following resolution, to-wit: 
 
13 
 
 Resolved, That upon the subject of resistance or submission to 
 law, it is not the province of this Stale to attempt to influence the 
 policy of any other State in our Union. We live under a govern- 
 ment having power to sustain itself, and to enforce its laws, — ana 
 it is the imperative duty of all to submit, (until submission be- 
 comes a greater evil than resistance,) not to influence or persuasion^ 
 but to law. 
 
 Which was referred to the Committee of Thirteen. 
 On motion of Mr. Scruggs, the Convention adjourned until % 
 o'clock, p. m. 
 
 3 o'clock, ?. m. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 
 On motion of Mr. Burruss, 
 
 Resolved^ That the Committee of Thirteen be authorised and 
 requested to have printed for the use of the Committee, their re- 
 port, and such resolutions as they may recommend for adoption. 
 
 Mr. Veazie moved that the Convention adjourn until 10 o'clock 
 on to-morrow morning. Which was lost. 
 
 Mr. Lowry moved that the Convention adjourn until 1 1 o'clock 
 to-morrow. Which was lost. 
 
 Mr. Muse offered the following preamble and resolutions, to-wit; 
 
 Wliereas, The State of Georgia, one of the original thirteen, 
 whose Delegates in Convention formed our Federal Constitution, 
 having recently passed through an ordeal analagous to that through 
 which we are now passing, is entitled to due regard and a favora- 
 ble consideration, by this Convention ; and 
 
 Whereas, The resolutions passed by the Convention of the Stats 
 of Georgia, have, in the main, been recognised by the unionists of 
 every State in the Union; every propriety indicates that this Con- 
 vention should adopt resolutions substantially the same, of thoss 
 adopted by the Convention of the above named State : 
 
 Therefore, be it resolved, Fir.H, That we hold the Amerieaa 
 Union secondary in importance only to the rights and principles it 
 was designed to perpetuate. 
 
 Secondly, That u present fruition and future prospects, will 
 bind us to it so long as it continues to be the safeguard of those 
 rights and principles." 
 
 Thirdly, That if the people of the thirteen original parties form- 
 ing the Constitution and government of the United States of Amer- 
 ica, bordering the Atlantic in a narrow belt, while their separate 
 interests were in embryo, their peculiar tendencies scarcely devel- 
 oped, their revolutionary trials and triumphs still fresh in memory, 
 found union impossible without compromise, the thirty-one of this 
 day, may well yield somewhat, in the conflict of opinion and poli- 
 cy, to preserve that Union which has extended the sway of Repub- 
 lican Government over a vast wilderness to another ocean, and 
 
14 
 
 proportionally advanced the civilization of the people over whom 
 it has been extended. 
 
 Fourthly, That in this spirit, the State of Mississippi has ma- 
 turely considered the action of Congress, embracing a series of 
 measures for the admission of the State of California into the Uni- 
 on, the organization of territorial governments for Utah and New- 
 Mexico, the establishment of the Boundary line between New 
 Mexico and the State of Texas, and the suppression of the Slave 
 Trade in the District of Columbia, and the extradition of Fugitive 
 Slaves; and whilst she does not wholly approve, will abide by it as 
 a permanent adjustment of this sectional controversy. 
 
 Fifthly, That the State of Mississippi, in the judgment of this 
 Convention, will, and ought to resist, even (as a last resort how- 
 ever,) to a disruption of every tie that binds her to the Union, any 
 action of Congress on the subject of Slavery in the District of. Co- 
 lumbia, or places subject to the jurisdiction of Congress, or any 
 action of Congress suppressing the Slave Trade between the slave 
 holding States, or any refusal to admit as a State any territory 
 hereafter applying for admission, because of the existence "of slave- 
 ry therein, or any act prohibiting the introduction of slaves into the 
 territories of the United States, or any act repealing or materially 
 modifying the laws now in force for the recovery of Fugitive Slaves, 
 incompatible with the safety, domestic tranquillity, the rights, and 
 honor of the slave holding States. 
 
 Sixthly, That it is the deliberate and well defined opinion of this 
 Convention, that upon the faithful execution of, and acquiescence' 
 in,the whole of the above named measures, as other laws constitu- 
 tionally passed, depends the perpetuity of our Federal Union. 
 
 Seventhly, That the action of this Convention, be submitted to 
 the people at the Ballot Box for their approval or disapproval with- 
 in thirty days after its adjournment. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Clark, the preamble and resolutions were re- 
 ferred to the Committee of Thirteen. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Barksdale, the Convention adjourned until 10 
 a 'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 
 
 THURSDAY, November 13th, 1851. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and its delibera- 
 tions opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Henderson, of the Pres- 
 byterian church of this city. 
 
 Mr. Johnston, of Hinds, offered the following resolutions: 
 
 1st, Resolved, That the Printer of this Convention, prepare for 
 
 distribution copies of our Journal and proceedings, and that 
 
 lie attach thereto, a copy of the Act of the Legislature calling this 
 Convention ? and a copy of the Constitution of the United States. 
 
L5 
 
 2nd, Resolved, That whenever the Printer shall submit to the 
 President of this Convention, in vacation, a Certificate of the Sec- 
 retary of State, that the required number of the Journal and pro- 
 ceedings have been accurately and properly printed, and are in the 
 office of said Secretary, ready for distribution, the President of the 
 Convention shall audit and allow to said Printer, reasonable com- 
 pensation for such labor, and the certificate of such allowance, by 
 the President, shall be sufficient authority for the Auditor of Public 
 Accounts, to issue his warrant on the Treasurer for the amount 
 thus certified. 
 
 3d, Resolved, That the Journal and proceedings of this Conven- 
 tion, shall be distributed as follows, by the person or persons em- 
 ployed to distribute the Laws and Journals of the next session of 
 the Legislature, viz : Two copies to be deposited with the Clerks 
 of the Circuit and Probate Courts of each county in this State: 
 copies to be deposited with the Secretary of State, and the re- 
 mainder of such copies to each member of this Convention, in 
 equal proportion, for the use of his constituents, to be delivered to 
 him in person, or deposited to his address with the Clerk of the 
 Circuit Court of his county, and one copy to each of the Governors 
 of the States composing the American Union, to be transmitted by 
 the Governor of Mississippi. 
 
 Mr. Adams moved to amend the first resolution, by striking out 
 the words " Constitution of the United States." 
 
 But before any action was had, 
 
 On motion of Mr. Scruggs, the resolutions with the amendment 
 were referred to a select Committee of Three. 
 
 The Chair appointed as said committee, Messrs. Scruggs, John- 
 ston of Hinds, and Dabney. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Barksdale, 
 
 Resolved, That the Chairman of the Committee of Thirteen, be 
 requested to inform the Convention, at what time a report from the 
 Committee may be expected. 
 
 In answer to the above resolution, the chairman of the Commit- 
 tee, replied as follows : 
 To the President of the Convention : 
 
 Sir : — The Committee have instructed me to say, in reply to 
 the resolution of the Convention, askingat what time a report might 
 be expected from them, that the Committee hope to be able to ire- 
 port this afternoon. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 J. ALEXANDER VENTRES S, Chairman. 
 Mr. Garner, offered the following resolution 
 Which was, on motion of Mr. Scruggs, laid on the table : 
 Resolved, That this Convention will adjourn sine die at 11 o'clock 
 to-morrow morning. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs, from the select committee, made the following re- 
 port: 
 
16 
 
 Mr. President : — The select Committee, to whom was referred 
 certain resolutions relating to the printing the Journals of this Con- 
 vention, beg leave to report : 
 
 That, they have considered said resolutions, and have rilled tie 
 blank in the 1st resolution, with the number 20,000, and the re- 
 maining blank in the 2d resolution, with the number 25. The 
 Committee report back said resolutions, as amended, with a recom- 
 mendation that they be adopted. 
 
 And, having fully reported, the committee pray to be discharged 
 
 P. T. SCRUGGS, CVn Com. 
 
 Which was received. 
 
 Mr. Sturges, of Simpson, offered the following amendment to 
 the report of the committee, to-wit : 
 
 Amend by striking out " reasonable compensation for such labor T? 
 and insert " such compensation as is now allowed by law, to th« 
 State Printers for such services." 
 
 Before the question was taken thereon, 
 
 On motion of Mr. Clark, the report and amendment was recom- 
 mitted to the same committee. 
 
 Mr. Robertson, offered the following resolution : 
 Resolved, That the select committee, to whom was referred the 
 resolutions in relation to the printing of the Journals of this Con- 
 vention, be instructed to add after the words, " Constitution of the 
 United States," the words " and the Farewell Address of Wash- 
 ington." 
 
 Mr. Alcorn moved to amend the resolution by striking out 
 " Washington " and inserting " Jackson." 
 Before the question was taken, thereon, 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the resolution and amendment was 
 laid on the table. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Clark, a call of the House was had. 
 
 The absentees without leave, having been announced, 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the call was dispensed with. 
 
 Mr. Niles, offered the following resolution, 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention adjourn, sine die, this eveniag 
 at three o'clock. 
 
 Mr. Snedecor, moved to lay the resolution on the table. 
 
 Pending the question, on motion of Mr. Adams, the Convention 
 adjourned until 3 o'clock, p. m. 
 
 3 o'clock, p. m. 
 
 The Convention re-assembled pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 The question was then taken on laying the resolution of Mr 
 Niles on the table, pending the adjournment, and decided in the af- 
 firmative. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs, from a select Committee, made the follow! B£ 
 report : 
 
17 
 
 Mr. President : — The special Committee to whom was re- 
 committed certain resolutions, relating to the printing of theJournals 
 of this Convention, with the amendments proposed to said resolutions, 
 in Convention, beg leave respectfully to report : 
 
 That, they have again investigated the subject referred to them, 
 and on reflection, have rejected that feature of the resolutions which 
 proposes to leave the amount of compensation for the Printer to the 
 discretion of the President of the Convention. 
 
 In lieu of that provision, we have established the compensation 
 of the Printer, on the basis adopted by the Legislature, for printing 
 executed for that body. 
 
 The Committee have also provided, that the Farewell Address of 
 Washington, be printed with the other documents mentioned in 
 the 1st resolution. 
 
 The committee, with the view of avoiding confusion, and ren- 
 dering an engrossment of the resolutions necessary, herewith pre- 
 sent to the Convention the said resolutions in which are inserted 
 the amendments made by the committee, and above referred to, 
 which resolutions, the committee recommend to the Conventkm 
 for adoption. 
 
 And having fully reported, the committee ask to be discharged. 
 
 1, Resolved, Thai the Printer of this Convention prepare for 
 distribution, 20,000 copies of our Journal and proceedings, and 
 that he attach thereto, a copy of the Act of the Legislature calling 
 this Convention, a copy of the Constitution of the United States, 
 and a copy of the Farewell Address of Washington. 
 
 2, Resolved^ That, whenever the Printer shall submit to the 
 President of this Convention, in vacation, a certificate of the Sec- 
 retary of State, that the required number of the Journal and pro- 
 ceedings, have been accurately and properly printed, and are in the 
 office of said Secretary, ready for distribution, the President of this 
 Convention shall audit and allow to said Printer, compensation for 
 such labor, at the rate established by the Legislature, by the act of 
 January 19, 1846, for public printing, as the said act relates to prin- 
 ting the Message of the Governor, Reports of the Secretary of 
 State, Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer of the State, Keeper 
 of the Penitentiary, Reports of Committees, &c, &c, and issue to 
 said Printer, his certificate of such allowance, pursuant to the act 
 of the Legislature, calling this Convention. 
 
 3, Resolved, That the Journal and proceedings of this Conven- 
 tion, shall be distributed as follows, by the person or persons em- 
 ployed to distribute the Laws and Journals of the next session of 
 the Legislature, viz : Two copies to be deposited with the Clerks 
 of the Circuit and Probate Courts of each county in this State ; 
 25 copies to be deposited with the Secretary of State, and the re- 
 mainder of such copies to each member of this Convention, in equal 
 proportions, for the use of his constituents, to be delivered to him. 
 in person, or deposited to his address, with the Clerk of the Circuit 
 
IS 
 
 Court of his county, and one copy to each of the Governors of the 
 States composing the American Union, to be transmitted by the 
 Governor of Mississippi. 
 
 Mr. Adams moved to amend the report of the committee, by 
 striking out "twenty" before thousand, which was decided in the 
 affirmative. 
 
 Mr. Vick, moved that the blank be filled with " ten." Which 
 was lost. 
 
 Mr. Hart, moved that the blank be filled with eight. Which 
 was lost. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Barksdale, the blank was filled with five. 
 
 Mr. Sturges, of Simpson, moved to amend the report by striking 
 out in the first resolution, the words " Constitution of the United 
 States" and " Washington's Farewell Address." 
 
 A division of the question was called for, and the question was 
 first taken on striking out the words " Constitution of the United 
 States," 
 
 And decided in the negative, by yeas and nays as follows : 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Backstrom, 
 Cherry, Clark, Connelly, Easterling, Edwards, Golladay, Huff, 
 Jones of Madison, Jones of Franklin, Keown, Miller, McLendon, 
 Phillips, Scales, Smith, Sturges of Simpson, and Sturges of Copi- 
 ah,— yeas 18. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, were, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Adams, Ashe, Bailey, Banks, Barksdale, Billups, Boatner, 
 Burrus, Butler, Caruthers, Cole, Collins, Dabney, Davis, Duncan 
 of Lafayette, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Tishomingo, Evans 
 of Chickasaw, Evans of Lauderdale, Fox,Foote, Garner, Griffin, 
 Gwin, Hale, Hart, Henry, Hurst, Huie, James, Johnston of Hinds, 
 Jones of Tippah, Jones of Pontotoc, Kinyon, Lowry, Montgomery, 
 McLeod, McDonald, McDowell, McAlium, Muse, Myers, Niles, 
 Powe, Purdorn, Rankin, Robertson, Scruggs, Sawyer, Snedecor, 
 Stovall, Sullivan, Vaughan, Veazie, Vick, Watson of De Soto, 
 Williams, Wilson of Claiborne, and Wells, — nays 61. 
 
 The question was then taken on the amendment, striking out 
 the words "and Washington's Farewell Address." 
 
 Which was decided in the negative, by yeas and nays as follows: 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Backstrom, 
 Cherry, Connelly, Evans of Chickasaw, Easterling, Edwards, Fox, 
 Golladay, Huff, Hart, Jones of Madison, Jones of Franklin, Keown, 
 Miller, McLendon, Phillips, Rankin, Scales, Smith, Sturges of 
 Copiah, and Sturges of Simpson, — yeas 21. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, were, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Adams, Ashe, Banks, Barksdale, Billups, Butler, Boatner, 
 Bailey, Burruss, Clark, Caruthers, Collins, Cole, Duncan of Ita- 
 wamba, Duncan of Lafayette, Duncan of Tishomingo, Dabney, 
 Davis, Evans of Lauderdale, Foote, Griffin, Gwin, Garner, Hurst, 
 Huie, Hale, Henry, Holmes, James, Johnston of Hinds, Jones of 
 
Pcntotoc, Jones of Tippah, Kinyon, Lowry, Montgomery, Myers, 
 Muse, McLeod, McAllum, McDonald, McDowell, Niles, Purdpm, 
 Powe, Robertson, Sawyer, Scruggs, Snedecor, Stovall, Veazie, 
 Vick, Vaughan, Wells, Williams, and Wilson of Claiborne, — nays 
 
 57.. 
 
 The question was then taken on the adoption of the first resolu- 
 tion as amended ; and decided in the affirmative. 
 
 And the question being taken on the 2nd and 3d resolutions sep- 
 arately, as reported by the Committee, they were adopted. 
 
 Mr. Ventress, from the select Committee of Thirteen, made the 
 following report : 
 
 Mr. President : — The Committee of Thirteen, appointed by 
 the Convention "to consider and report resolutions, or preamble 
 and resolutions for the consideration of the Convention," beg leave 
 to report the following resolutions. 
 
 J. ALEXANDER VENTRESS, Ch'n. 
 
 1st. Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Convention, the peo- 
 ple of Mississippi, in a spirit of conciliation and compromise, have 
 maturely considered the action of Congress, embracing a series of 
 measures for the admission of California as a State into the Union, 
 the organization of Territorial Governments for Utah and New 
 Mexico, the establishment of the boundary between the latter 
 and the State of Texas, the suppression of the Slave Trade in the 
 District of Columbia, and the extradition of Fugitive Slaves; and 
 connected with them, the rejection of the proposition to exclude slav- 
 ery from the Territories of the United States, and to abolish it in the 
 District of Columbia ; and whilst they do not entirely approve, will 
 abide by it as a permanent adjustment of this sectional controversy. 
 
 2d. Resolved, That we perceive nothing in the above recited 
 legislation of the Congress of the United States, which should be 
 permitted to disturb the friendly and peaceful " existing relations 
 between the Government of the United States and the Government 
 and people of the State of Mississippi." 
 
 3d. Therefore, Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Convention, 
 the people of the State of Mississippi will abide by the Union as 
 it is. and by the Constitution of the U. States without amendment. 
 
 4ih. Resolved, further, That, in the opinion of this Convention, 
 the asserted right of secession from the Union on the part of a 
 State or States is utterly unsanctioned by the Federal Constitution, 
 which was framed to " establish " and not to destroy the Union 
 of the States, and that no secession, can, in fact, take place with- 
 out a subversion of the Union established, and which will not vir- 
 tually amount in its efiects and consequences to a civil revolution. 
 
 oth. Resolved, further, That, whilst in the opinion of this Con- 
 vention, such are the sentiments and opinions of the people of the 
 State of Mississippi, still, violations of the rights of the people of 
 the State, may occur, which would amount to intolerable oppres- 
 sion, and would justify a resort to measures of resistance, amongst 
 
20 
 
 which, in the opinion of the Convention, the people of the State 
 have designated the following : 
 
 1st. The interference by Congressional Legislation with the In- 
 stitution of Slavery in the Slates. 
 
 2d. Interference with the trade in Slaves between the States. 
 
 3d. Any action of Congress on the subject of Slavery in the 
 District of Columbia or in places subject to the jurisdiction of Con- 
 gress, incompatible with the safety and domestic tranquillity — the 
 rights and the honor of the slave-holding States. 
 
 4th. The refusal by Congress to admit a new State into the Union 
 on the ground of her tolerating slavery within her limits. 
 
 5th. The passage of any law by Congress prohibiting slavery in 
 any of the territories. 
 
 6th. The Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law, and the neglect or 
 refusal by the General Government, to enforce the Constitutional 
 provision for the reclamation of Fugitive Slaves. 
 
 6th. Resolved, further, That, in the opinion of this Convention, 
 the people in the recent elections have been governed by an abid- 
 ing confidence that the said adjustment measures of Congress would 
 be enforced in good faith in every section of the land. 
 
 7th. Resolved, further, That, as the people of the State of Mis- 
 sissippi, in the opinion of this Convention, desire all further agita- 
 tion of the Slavery question to cease, and have acted upon and 
 decided all of the foregoing questions, thereby making it the duty 
 of this Convention to pass no acts within the purview and spirit of 
 the law under which it was called, this Convention deems it un- 
 necessary to refer to the people for their consideration, approval 
 or disapproval at the Ballot Box, its action in the premises. 
 
 Slh. Resolved, further, The Convention having declared in the 
 foregoing resolutions, the position which the people of Mississippi 
 have taken, and which, in the opinion of this Convention, they will 
 continue to occupy, on the great subjects embraced in the resolu- 
 tions, deems it a duty alike incumbent on us and equally important 
 to the rights of the people to declare that, in our deliberate judg- 
 ment and in their deliberate judgment, as we believe, the call of 
 this Convention by the Legislature at its late extraordinary session, 
 by the act of the 30th of November, 1850, was unauthorized and 
 unnecessary, and that said act, in peremptorily ordering a Conven- 
 tion of the people of the State, to be held, without submitting to 
 them to be settled by the popular vote of the State, the question 
 whether there should be a Convention or no Convention, was an 
 unwarranted assumption of power by the Legislature ; at war with 
 the spirit of republican institutions, and an encroachment on the 
 sovereign power of the people. 
 
 Which, on his motion, was received. 
 
 And on motion of Mr. Niles, 500 copies were ordered to be 
 printed for the use of the Convention. 
 
 Mr. Watsonof Marshall, offered the following preamble : 
 
Whereas, An act was passed by the Legislature of the State of 
 Mississippi, on the 30th day of November, 1850, entitled " An act 
 to provide for a Convention of the people of the State of Missis- 
 sippi," — the principal object of which act, as set forth in the 5th 
 Section thereof, was "to consider the then existing relations be- 
 tween the Government of the United States and the Government 
 and people of the State of Mississippi ; and to devise and carry into 
 effect the best means of redress for the prist, and obtain certain se- 
 curity for the future; and to adopt such measures for vindicating 
 the Sovereignty of the State, and the protection of its institutions, 
 as shall appear " to said Convention to be demanded : 
 
 And, whereas, the said act of the Legislature of' Mississippi, was 
 passed with special reference to a series of acts of the Congress of 
 the United States, commonly known as the Compromise or adjust- 
 ment measures : 
 
 And, whereas, the right of a State or States, " peaceably to 
 withdraw from the Union, without denial or obstruction from any 
 quarter whatever," and also the question, whether the " Union of 
 these States had been so grossly perverted from its original pur- 
 poses, as to render its further continuance incompatible with the 
 honor, the prosperity and the safety of the slave holding States, 
 unless some correction of past aggressions, and some additional and 
 more effectual guarantees for our future protection, be obtained from 
 our associates in the Confederacy," and particularly, whether the 
 State would acquiesce in the said Compromise measures of Con- 
 gress, were distinctly presented to the people for their considera- 
 tion, at the late elections ; and the people, in their sovereign capac- 
 ity, having decided at said elections in favor of the Union as it is, 
 without insisting on further amendments to the Constitution of the 
 United States, or additional and more effectual guarantees for their 
 future protection, — in favor of acquiescing in the said Compromise 
 measures of Congress, — and against the right of a State or States, 
 peaceably to withdraw from the Union without denial or obstruc- 
 tion from any quarter whatever. 
 
 Which, being read, was referred to the committee of thirteen. 
 
 Mr. Cobb offered the following preamble for the consideration 
 of the Convention : 
 
 The people of the State of Mississippi, responding to a law 
 passed at the late extraordinary session of the Legislature, entitled 
 " An Act to provide for a Convention of the people of Mississippi," 
 have assembled in conformity thereto ; and being required through 
 their delegates to consider the matters contained in said Law, as 
 touching the " existing relations between the Government of the 
 United States, and the Government and people of the State of 
 Mississippi," as also the proper manner to " devise and carry into 
 effect the means of redress for the past and obtain certain security 
 for the future, and to adopt such measures for vindicating the 
 sovereignty of the State and protection of its institutions as shall 
 
appear to them to be demanded," do hereby adopt the following 
 report and resolutions, as a suitable discharge of all proper require- 
 ments of said law of the Legislature. 
 
 To proceed orderly and understandingly, we must premise by 
 remarking that this law appears to have been enacted solely in 
 conformity with a recommendation contained in the message of the 
 then Governor of the State, sent into the Legislature at the open- 
 ing of its late extraordinary session. The framers of the Law have 
 even adopted and incorporated the language, word for word, em- 
 ployed in the Executive message alluded to, and the Convention is 
 confined, so far as the letter of the law may confine it, strictly to act- 
 ing within the bounds of the recommendations and suggestions made 
 from the same source. The intent of the Legislature and the 
 meaning of the Law in question, may therefore, be best understood 
 and construed by measuring the same with the terms of the Execu- 
 tive message, on which said law is evidently based. It is then 
 essentially necessary and requisite in furthering the objects of this 
 Convention that the history of this Message should be explained 
 and succinctly set forth, especially as it is well understood that 
 the large majority of this body has been elected in express oppo- 
 sition, both to the sentiments of the Message and to the evident 
 intent and spirit of the law. 
 
 The series of Congressional measures known as the Adjustment 
 or Compromise bills of 1850, became laws of the land early in the 
 autumn of that year. Soon after their passage through both Houses 
 of Congress had been published to the nation, the then Governor 
 of this State issued his proclamation bearing date 26th day of Sep- 
 tember, in which, as a pretext, are recited some of these measures of 
 Congress as being; " aggressive" on the rights and institutions of 
 
 O O DO 5 
 
 this State, and which convoked the Legislature in extra session, on 
 the eighteenth day of November. The Message and it| re- 
 commendations followed, were promptly acted on by the majority 
 of that body, and the law " providing " for this Convention, in 
 conformity with the Executive suggestion, was duly passed^ 
 approved, and published. It is not our opinion that the passage 
 by Congress of the Adjustment bills, constituted such an "emergen- 
 cy" as is contemplated by the Constitution of this State, where it 
 gives to the Governor the power to convene the Legislature in 
 extra session. Nor are we, by any means, quite sure that the 
 Legislature, in mare accordance with an Executive recommenda- 
 tion, possesses the Constitutional authority to call a popular con- 
 vention and prescribe and restrict its action by law. We have 
 been unable to find .any clause in the Constitution of this State 
 which confers such power on the Legislature, and the absence of 
 any prohibition to that effect, carries along, in our judgment, noth- 
 ing which would recognise or warrant aught else than the privi- 
 lege of inviting or recommending such an assemblage, separate 
 and apart from its legislative functions. The appropriation of 
 
23 
 
 funds to meet its expenses in the event of assemblage, is all that 
 the Legislative department could assume to do, preliminarily, in 
 the passage of any laic in connexion with such body. Whether the 
 omission to incorporate such power in connexion with the Legis- 
 lature, was the result of accident or design on the part of the 
 framers of our State Constitution, is not for us to enquire or say. 
 What we know is, that no such power is enumerated, while the 
 Constitution is remarkable for the total absence of all general 
 clauses whatever, except alone a single power in connexion with 
 that to make rules for, and punish and expel members from either 
 " branch of the Legislature. 5 ' If then, having shown the absence 
 of any such power, the then Governor of the State was right when 
 he asserts in his message that such Convention " represents the 
 sovereignty of the State," and the "majesty of the people" would 
 possess " plenary powers," and is beyond the control of any "in- 
 structions or restrictions which the Legislature might interpose," 
 it is scarcely to be conceded, we think, that this body can be legal- 
 ly restricted to the action as prescribed, not advised or recommended 
 in the 5th Section of the bill to ''provide for a Convention of the 
 people of Mississippi." 
 
 But at the same time we hold, that the constituency of this body, 
 by having conformed to the requirements of said Law, so far as it 
 provides for an election of popular delegates to "consider the ex- 
 isting relations between the Government of the United States and 
 the Government and people of the State of Mississippi," as con- 
 cerns the propriety of acquiescing in or resisting certain laws of 
 Congress, known as the Adjustment bills, by having duly elected, 
 such delegates as therein prescribed, and by having in so far 
 apparently ratified the call of a people's Convention, have instruc- 
 ted us to assemble, to organize, and without regard to any instruc- 
 tions, restrictions or injunctions of the Legislature, (so far as the 
 same may have been designed by the said Law, to compel this 
 body to any particular course of action,) to give expression to the 
 decision and will of the people on the questions mooted in the recent 
 Convention elections. In accordance with this view, therefore, 
 we shall be careful to comply with the forms prescribed by the 
 law under which we are convened, but we must protest against 
 being held bound to act on the evident spirit and intent, not to say 
 injunctions of the same. In this last event we should consider 
 that our action had been already pre-ordered by the Legislature - 
 The preamble to the bill clearly contemplates resistance to the 
 action of Congress in some shape. Hostile State interposition of 
 some sort, is clearly presupposed. It would appear to have been 
 taken for granted that the people of Mississippi were equally 
 hostile as the Legislature, to the General Government. This may 
 be shown in few words. 
 
 If the ,; legislation of the Congress of the United States " was as it 
 is averred in the preamble to this bill, " controlled 4 by a dominant 
 
24 
 
 majority regardless of the constitutional rights of the slave-holding 
 States," aud did as is therein declared, reflect {only) the will of a 
 section whose population are hostile in feeling, and opposed in feel- 
 ing to a long established and cherished institution of these States 
 of the South" there would be truly, " alarming evidence of a 
 settled purpose to destroy said institution." This would, indeed 
 justify a "sovereign State in resorting to the most efficient means 
 for the maintenance of its sovereignty and the preservation of its 
 constitutional rights." Let the assertions of the preamble referred 
 io be admitted, and we would surely agree that it would be time as 
 the then Governor intimates in his message, for us to " look solely 
 to remedies, not merely palliative but effectual and permanent , 3 '? and 
 such could only be as he again intimated" the prompt and peaceable 
 secession of the aggrieved States." Both the preamble and its key 
 (the then Governor's message) must have looked then, to hostile 
 State action of some sort through this Convention — a course which 
 the decision of the highest power recognized under our Republican 
 Government, the expressed will of the people, has been most em- 
 phatically made known through the ballot box. 
 
 The 5th Section of the Bill itself, framed to suit the significant 
 recitation of the preamble, as also to accord with the suggestions 
 of the message, prescribes that the delegates elected, under its 
 provisions " shall proceed to consider the then existing relations 
 between the Government of the United States and the Government 
 and people of the State of Mississippi, to devise and carry into effect 
 the means of redress for the past and obtain certain security for the 
 future, and to adopt such measures for vindicating the Sovereignty 
 of the State and the protection of its institutions as shall appear to 
 them to be demanded." This language is not to be misunderstood 
 and does not allow of misinterpretation. It is clear that the injunc- 
 tions of the law are based on " efficient means" (or as the message 
 of the Governor expresses it " efFectal and permanent v ) of resis- 
 tance to the " legislation of the Congress of the United States," 
 SO broadly denounced in the preamble as being "a settled purpose 
 on the part of said majority to destroy the institutions and subvert 
 the sovereign power of this State." To "vindicate" does not 
 inean merely to assert the "sovereignty of the State," because 
 that being undenied such mere assertion would be altogether super- 
 erogatory and unseasonable as language of a law. The phrase means 
 to redeem, to defend forcibly, to make good against objection or as- 
 sault and, of course, presupposes what the preamble clearly im- 
 plies, that such " sovereignty " has been actually "assailed" by 
 the "legislation of the Congress of the United States." Nor can 
 " redress for the past " look to any thing else than the revenging 
 or resisting this " legislation ;" while " security for the future " im- 
 plies not only a wrong done by " the Congress of the United 
 States " but evidently contemplates a " demand for concessions" 
 us intimated in the Governor's message. 
 
Such being the clear interpretation of the inteiU [spirit ${ 
 the law " to provide for the convention of the people Jos ASississip- 
 pi,"we must decidedly express our dissonance with the same, as 
 also decline to act accordantly, believing that the people of this 
 State, have never desired and would now especially discountenance 
 and repudiate any such action or demonstration in connexion with 
 the " legislation of the Congress of the United States." As inti- 
 mately connected with the convocation and assemblage of 
 this body, we should deem that our duty had not been entirely ful- 
 filled, dfd we fail to notice briefly, the " legislation ,} alluded to in 
 the law of the extra session of our Legislature. The legislation 
 here recited, can only refer to that portion of the adjustment 
 measures of 1850, which embraces the bills to admit California as 
 a State, to purchase and dispose of certain territory claimed by the 
 State of Texas, to provide governments for the territories of Utah 
 and New Mexico, and to prohibit, under penalty of emancipation, 
 the introduction of slaves into the District of Columbia, for the pur- 
 poses of sale or merchandize. It is this '-legislation " which had 
 been recited in the Executive proclamation, as the pretext of con- 
 vening the Legislature in extraordinary session. It is the same, 
 which subsequently was so harshly denounced in the Executive 
 message. It is the same, which has been so extensively discussed 
 before the constituency of this body, in common with the law " to 
 provide for a Convention of the people of Mississippi.' 1 
 
 If this, then, constitutes that " legislation of the Congress of the 
 United States " denounced by the Legislature in the law which 
 convokes this body, as having been " controlled by a dominant ma- 
 jority, regardless of the constitutional rights of the slave-holding 
 States " and as " reflecting the will of a section whose population 
 are hostile in feeling and opposed in principle to a long established 
 and cherished institution of these Slates of the South,' 1 as well as 
 affording " alarming evidence on the part of said majority of a set- 
 tled purpose to destroy said institution and subvert the sovereign 
 power of this and other slave-holding States," we can neither 
 endorse such sentiments nor consent to act on the principles and in- 
 tent which prompted the denunciation. We can find nothing in 
 said "legislation " which will authorize us as intimated in the law 
 " to adopt any measures for vindicating the sovereignty of the 
 State " not considering the same to have been w assailed " by Con- 
 gress. We are the more confirmed in this course,when we reflect that 
 most of the c * legislation " in question, was in strict qpnformity with 
 the demands of the South, and was supported by her representa- 
 tives nearly unanimously, in the Senate, and even the most objec- 
 tionable parts of it, by about a' two-third vote in the House of 
 Representatives. 
 
 To the end, therefore, that the position of this State in Conven- 
 tion with such " legislation of the Congress of the United States," 
 may be fairly and fully understood, we the delegates of the people 
 
26 
 
 c o'f .Missis ^pi, Jo hereby adopt the following series of resolutions : 
 
 Whfcn being read, was referred to the Committee of Thirteen 
 
 Mr. Vick offered the following resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Convention, no preamble 
 to the resolutions of the Committee of Thirteen is necessary. 
 
 Whereupon, Mr. Collins offered the following as a substitute, 
 to-wit: 
 
 Resolved, That the Committee of Thirteen be and are hereby 
 instructed to report a preamble to accompany such resolutions as 
 may be passed by this Convention. 
 
 Which was adopted in lieu of that offered by Mr. Vick. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Montgomery, the Convention adjourned until 
 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 FRIDAY, November 14th, 1851. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and its delibera- 
 tions opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Walker, of the Metho- 
 dist Church, of this city. 
 
 Mr. F. D. Piner, the delegate elect from the county of Panola^ 
 appeared, was qualified, and took his seat. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Clark, the resolutions reported yesterday by 
 the Committee of Thirteen, were laid on the table. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs, of Marshall, was called to the chair. 
 
 And the folio wing resolution offered by the President of the Con- 
 vention, was on motion of Mr. Sturges, of Copiah, laid on the table. 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention respectfully recommend, to the 
 citizens of the State v of Mississippi, and the Southern States generally, 
 the urgent necessity of planting less of the great staple of the South, 
 of sowing and harvesting more of the staff of life, of rearing more of 
 every description of stock, and of the encouragement of every des- 
 cription of domestic manufactures. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Henry, the report of the Committee of Thir- 
 teen, was called from the table. — Mr. Lake in the chair. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs offered a series of resolutions, amendatory of the 
 report of the Committee of Thirteen, 
 
 Which was, on motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, laid on the 
 table for the present. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the Convention proceeded to the con- 
 sideration of the report of the Committee of Thirteen, by sections,. 
 
 The first Section having been read, Mr. Johnston, of Hinds, of- 
 fered the following amendment thereto, to-wit: 
 
 Amend the first resolution, by adding to the same, at its conclu- 
 sion, the following words, ''so long as the same, in all its features, 
 shall be faithfully adhered to and enforced.' 5 
 
 I 
 
27, 
 
 But before any action thereon, on motion of Mr:. 'Henry.- -the 
 report and amendment was laid on the table, and 
 
 On his further motion, the Convention adjourned until 3 o'clock 
 p. m. 
 
 3 o'clock, p. a* 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 Mr. Foote presented a memorial of sundry citizens of Noxubee 
 county, praying the Convention to appoint two delegates to the. 
 State of South Carolina. 
 
 Which being read, 
 
 Mr. Dabney, moved its reference to the Committee of Thirteen, 
 "which was lost. After some discussion, 
 
 On motion of ?vlr. Cobb, the memorial was referred to the Com- 
 mittee of Thirteen. 
 
 Mr. Johnson, of Warren, from the Committee of Thirteen, mads 
 the following report : 
 
 Mr. President : — The Committee of Thirteen, who were in- 
 structed to report a preamble, to the resolutions which they reported 
 to the Convention, on yesterday evening, beg leave to report the 
 following, viz : 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 The people of Mississippi, in Convention assembled, adopt the 
 following resolutions, as expressive of their deliberate judgment 
 on the great questions involving their Constitutional rights, as a 
 constituent part of the American Confederacy. 
 
 Which was received, 
 
 An:l on motion of ?>lr. Johnson, of Warren, five hundred copies 
 ordered to be printed, for the use of the Convention. 
 
 Mr. Cannon, from the minority of the Committee of Thirteen, 
 presented the following report : 
 
 Mr. President: — The minority of the Committee of Thirteen, 
 selected by the Convention, beg leave to report : 
 
 That, they took their seats in this body, with a sincere wish, that 
 its deliberations might result in harmonious action. They were 
 earnestly desirous to forward the action of the majority ,so as to se- 
 cure a consistent and defensible position for the State of Mississippi; 
 consequently they have sought to throw no obstacles in its course, 
 or attempted to embarrass its movements. Actuated by such a 
 spirit, it is a matter of profound regret, that they find themselves 
 constrained to differ, on many essential points, with those represent- 
 ing the majority. 
 
 They deem it inexpedient, that the State of Mississippi should 
 take any new* position on the subject of slavery. They hold, that 
 the rights and wrongs of the State, have been fully set forth and 
 expounded in the October Convention of 1S49. That they are 
 unwilling that any other or distant State, shall be permitted to make 
 
;a' pb&iticm ,..(#;• pledge the aetioo of the sovereignty of the State of 
 Mississippi, touching the Union or the slavery question ; as she has 
 already developed the principles upon which she can assert the one 
 and vindicate the other. 
 
 The minority of the Committee, deems it right, meet and proper, 
 that full weight should be given in the action of the Convention, 
 to the will of the majority of the people of Mississippi, as express- 
 ed in the election of September last, in regard to the slavery ques- 
 tion. Therefore, they state, that they consider acquiescence in the 
 measures of the late Congress, called the Compromise, as the fixed 
 and settled policy of the State of Mississippi, as indicated by that 
 election. 
 
 Yet, the minority feel bound to say, that they do. not and cannot 
 regard the election in September last, as an expression, by the peo- 
 ple, in favor of the justice or wisdom of the whole series of those 
 measures, but rather, as a reluctant assent to them, in preference to 
 any course which might endanger the union of the States, or jeop- 
 ardize the safety of the South. A high regard for the truth of 
 history, and a just sense of the rights of the South, demand the 
 assertion, that they consider the people as protesting against a por- 
 tion of the Compromise measures, and as being unwilling that those 
 measures, shall ever hereafter be invoked as precedents of right 
 against them in the future legislation of the general government. 
 
 The minority deem it wholly unnecessary to publish the loyalty 
 of Mississippi to the Union, and the Constitution without amend- 
 ment, when they are unable to perceive any thing in her past his- 
 tory, in the council hail, or upon the field of battle, which would 
 justify the world in arraying the one or questioning the other. She 
 regards the Constitution as the sacred bond of the Union. All she 
 asks, is, that it be fairly construed and righteously administered, in 
 order to secure the perpetual devotion of her people, and their 
 obedience to the laws of the land. Mississippi has never questioned 
 the wisdom of our form of government, and has only arraigned 
 the conduct of those who have shown themselves strangers to the 
 high and holy spirit in which it was framed, and traitors to the 
 honor and good faith in which it should be carried out. They 
 cannot further perceive the necessity which has led to the solemn 
 denial of a right to do that which no one is now proposing. We 
 are yet to be informed, what body of men among us proposes to 
 secede from the Union. We come to this Convention as represent- 
 ing the sovereignty of the State, not as a political body to assert 
 unmeaning abstractions, merely to color the present hour. But, 
 inasmuch as the majority has seen proper to express their views 
 upon the right of secession, they feel justified in asserting a prin- 
 ciple, announced in the earliest history of the Government, and 
 consecrated by the highest names of the Republic. We there- 
 fore assert " that the several States, composing the United States 
 of America, are not united on the principle of unlimited submission 
 
29 
 
 to the general government, but, by compact, under style and title 
 of a Constitution of the United States, and of amendments thereto, 
 they constituted a General Government for special purposes, dele- 
 gated to that Government certain definite powers, reserving each 
 State for itself the residuary mass of right to their own self gov- 
 ernment, and that whenever the General Government assumes un- 
 delegated powers, its acts are unauthorised, void and of no effect ; 
 that to this compact, each State acceded, as a State, as an integral 
 part} 7 , that this Government created by this compact, was not made 
 the exclusive or final judge of its powers delegated to itself, since 
 that would have made its discretion, and not the Constitution, the 
 measure of its powers. But, as in all other cases of compact 
 among parties, having no common judge, each party has an equal 
 right to judge for itself, as well of infractions, as of the mode and 
 measure of redress." The minority do further explicitly and per- 
 emptorily declare, that we view the powers of the Federal Gov- 
 ernment, as resulting from the compact to which the States are 
 parties, as limited by the plain sense and intention of the instru- 
 ment constituting the compact, as no farther valid than authorised 
 by the grants enumerated in that compact, and that in case of a 
 deliberate, palpable and dangerous exercise of other powers not 
 granted by said compact, (or the gross and flagrant abuse of those 
 granted,) the States who are parties thereto, have the right, and 
 are in duty bound, to interpose, for the purpose of arresting the 
 progress of the evil, and for maintaining within their respective 
 limits, the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them. 
 
 The minority cannot, out of self-respect, and in justice to them- 
 selves, conceive, with the majority, that the Convention, of which 
 we are a part, is an illegal or unconstitutional body. If this were 
 true, they should be bound by their oaths to adjourn. Our con- 
 tinued session would be a palpable fraud upon the rights of their 
 constituents. The date of our organization should have been the 
 date of our dissolution. They are unwilling thus to stultKy them- 
 selves, or to stigmatize those who refused a proposition to adjourn 
 on our first meeting. We regard the Convention as legally and 
 constitutionally assembled, and whether its deliberations should 
 meet our wishes or otherwise, we cannot hold their result as want- 
 ing in binding force Irom any defect in our organization. 
 
 In conclusion, the minority are forced to disagree with the 7ih 
 resolution of the Committee. They hold it to be their duty to 
 submit the action of the Convention to the people of the State. 
 An ordinary degree of respect for the people would seem to them 
 to call for such a course. Justice and fair dealing towards our 
 constituents demand it. The nature of our organization requires 
 it. We are holding and exercising the sovereignty of the State 
 Our opinions, our acts, become the solemn will of the people. It 
 is an universal rule, one never hitherto violated in the practice of 
 any State in the Union, that such should be submitted to the peo- 
 
30 
 
 pie for their judgment. In ordinary legislative action, no such ne- 
 cessity exists ; as the same power which makes, can repeal laws. 
 But when the sovereignty of the State has acted, it can never be 
 changed without calling into action again the powers of the people 
 through an organized form. Hence the palpable necessity that 
 their opinion should be had before any supreme rule of action, any 
 law, any great principle, should be imposed upon them. Distrust 
 of the popular will, does not become a popular representative- and 
 we have ever held that system of government the wisest, which 
 most frequently seeks an expression of the popular will. 
 
 And in pursuance of the foregoing report, the minority submit 
 for the action of the Convention the following resolutions : 
 
 1st, Resolved, That this Convention deems it inexpedient to 
 assume any new or farther position for the people of the State of 
 Mississippi on the slavery question, believing that their position 
 has been fully defined in the report and resolutions of the October 
 convention of 1849. 
 
 2nd. Resolved, That this Convention deems it right and proper 
 that full weight should be given in its action, to the will of a ma- 
 jority of the people of Mississippi, as expressed in the election ot 
 September last, in regard to the slavery question. 
 
 3c?, Resolved) That this Convention considers acquiescence in the 
 measures of Congress, called the Compromise, as the settled 
 policy of the people of Mississippi, as indicated by that election. 
 
 4th) Resolved, That this Convention does not regard the election 
 in September as an expression in favor of the justice or wisdom of 
 the whole series of those measures, but, rather as an assent yielded 
 to them, by the people, in preference to the adoption of any course 
 which might tend to endanger the Union of the States, and that 
 •while the people have thus yielded their assent to those measures, 
 in view of all the surrounding circumstances, they have in nowise 
 intended to sanctionthem, as that they shall be hereafter invoked ag 
 precedents of right against them. 
 
 oth, Resolved, That this Convention deems it proper to declare 
 that the Government of the United States is one of delegated pow- 
 ers, formed by delegates from the several sovereign States, and 
 limited by a written Constitution, which was ratified by the States 
 separately ; that all powers not expressly delegated, or necessary 
 to carry out the delegated powers, were reserved to the States res- 
 pectively, and it necessarily follows, that any State possesses the 
 right to judge of infractions of the Constitution; and whenever an 
 exigency shall arise, which, in the opinion of the people of the 
 State, is sufficient to justify the step, such State has an unques- 
 tionable right to resume the delegated powers andSvithdraw from 
 the Union. All of which is respectfully submitted bv, 
 
 WM. R. CANNON, 
 W. P. HARRIS, 
 SAM'L N. GILLILAND. 
 
31 
 
 Which was received, and on motion of Mr. Cannon, 500 copies 
 ordered to be printed, and the report laid on the table. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the Committee of Thir- 
 teen were discharged from the farther consideration of the subjects 
 referred to them. 
 
 Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Ventress during his indis- 
 position. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the report of the Com- 
 mittee of Thirteen was called from the table. 
 
 The question recurred on the amendment offered to the first res- 
 olution in the report, by Mr. Johnston, of Hinds. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs moved that the amendment be laid on the table ; 
 which was decided in the negative, by yeas and nays as follows: 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Ashe, Billups, 
 Bailey, Burrus, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Davis, Evans of Lauder- 
 dale, Easteriing, Garner, Golladay, Johnson of Warren, Jones of 
 Tippah, Kinyon, Lowry, Lake, McMurran, McAllum, Piner, 
 Robertson, Scruggs, Vick, Vaughan, and Watson of Marshall, — 
 yeas 25. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, are, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Adams, Banks, Barksdale, Benton, Butler, Backstrom, 
 Boatner, Cherry, Cannon, Connelly, Caruthers, Collins, Cole, 
 Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan -of Lafayette, Duncan of Tishomin- 
 go, Dabney, Evans of Chickasaw, Edwards, Fox, Foote, Griffin, 
 Gwin, Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Huie, Hale, Henry, Holmes, 
 James, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of Washington, Jones of Frank- 
 lin, Jones of Madison, Jones of Pontotoc, Keown, Miller, Mont- 
 gomery, Myers, Muse, MoLendon, McLeod, McDonald, McDow- 
 ell, Niles, Purdom, Phillips, Powe, Rankin, Sawyer, Scales, Shar- 
 key, Smith, Snedecor, Stovall, Sturges of Copiah, Sturges of Simp- 
 son, Sullivan, Veazie, Watson of De Soto, Wells, Williams, Wil- 
 son of Claiborne, and Wilson of Pontotoc, — nays 67. 
 
 The question was then taken on the adoption of the amendment 
 of Mr. Johnston, of Hinds, and decided in the affirmative ; and 
 
 On motion of Mr. Alcorn, the 1st resolution in the report of 
 the Committee was adoptpd as amended. 
 
 The second resolution reported by the Committee was then read. 
 
 Mr. Jones, of Pontotoc, moved to amend the same so as to read, 
 " That the above recited acts of legislation of the Congress of the 
 United States, do not afford sufficient cause to disturb the friendly 
 and peaceful 'existing relations between the Government of the 
 United States and the Government and people of the State of 
 Mississippi.' " 
 
 Which was lost. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the second resolution as 
 reported by the Committee, was adopted. 
 
 The third resolution reported by the Committee was then read. 
 Mr. Adams offered the following as an amendment thereto :-— 
 
32 
 
 Amend the third resolution by adding to it, as follows : 
 " That they hold the Union secondary in importance only to the 
 rights and principles it was designed to perpetuate ; that past asso- 
 ciations, present fruition and future prospects will hind them to it 
 so long as it continues to be the safeguard of those ri°hts and 
 principles." 
 
 Which was adopted. 
 
 The question then recurred on the adoption of said resolution as 
 amended, and decided in the affirmative. 
 The fourth resolution having been read, 
 
 Mr. Barksdale moved that it be stricken out from the report, but 
 before the question was taken thereon, 
 
 On motion of Mr. Henry, the Convention adjourned until 7 
 o'clock, p. m. 
 
 7 o'clock, p. m. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 
 Mr. Lake w r as called to the chair. 
 
 The question recurred on the motion of Mr. Barksdale, to strike 
 out the fourth resolution reported by the Committee. 
 
 Mr. Sturges, of Copiah, moved that the Convention adjourn un- 
 til 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. • 
 
 Which motion failing, Mr. Barksdale withdrew his amendment. 
 
 After some discnssion, Mr. Barksdale renewed his amendment. 
 
 Whereupon, Mr. Cobb offered the following resolution as a sub- 
 stitute, to-wit: 
 
 Amend the amendment, by striking 6ut the fourth resolution and 
 inserting the following as a substitute: 
 
 Resolved, That while admitting the doctrine of the fourth reso- 
 lution of the series, reported by the Committee of Thirteen, it is 
 inexpedient, (in as much as it is unprecedented,) to adopt an open 
 and abstract question as the permanent position of a sovereign 
 State; but, that the doctrine of said resolution may, and should be 
 asserted as a matter of opinion by the members of this Convention, 
 apart from the main body of its action, in connexion with the '< le- 
 gislation of the Congress of the United States," recited in the first 
 resolution of the series. 
 
 A division of the question being demanded, the question was 
 taken on striking out, and decided in the negative, by yeas and nays 
 as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Barksdale, Bil- 
 lups, Brackstrom, Cherry, Cobb, Cannon, Connelly, Evans of 
 Lauderdale, Easter! nig, Edwards, Gilliiand, Golladay, Jones of 
 Franklin, Keown, Miller, McLendon, Phillips, Scales, Smith, 
 Sturges of Copiah, Sturges of Simpson, and Wells, — yeas 22, 
 
 Those who voted in the negative were, Mr. President, Messrs 
 
33 
 
 Alcorn, Adams, Ashe, Banks. Benton, Butler, Boatner, Bailer, 
 Barrus, Champlin, Clark, Collins, Cole, Duncan of Itawamba, 
 Duncan of Lafayette, Dabney, Davis, Fox, Foote, Griffin, Gwm' 
 Garner, Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Huie, Hale, Henry, Holmes' 
 James, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of Warren, Jones of Madison,, 
 Jones of Pontotoc, Jones of Tippah, Kinyom Lowry, Lake, Mont- 
 gomery, Myers, Muse, McMurran, McLeod, McAlium, McDonald 
 McDowell, Isiies, Purdom, Finer, Powe, Robertson, Rankyj. 
 Sawyer, Scruggs, Sharkey, Snedecor, Stovail, Sullivan, Veazie, 
 Vick, Vaughan, Watson of Marshall, Watson of De Soto, Williams, 
 Wilson of Claiborne and Wilson of Pontotoc, — nays 67. 
 
 The question then recurred on the adoption of the fourth resok - 
 tion in the report of the Committee. 
 
 Mr. Backstrom then offered the following amendment, tb-wit 
 
 Amend by adding the following : 
 
 " But that the Federal Government has no power conferred upou. 
 it by the Constitution to coerce a sovereign State of this confede- 
 racy." 
 
 Mr. Alcorn called for the previous question, and the question 
 was, M shall the main question be now put?" 
 Which being sustained, 
 
 The question was then taken on the adoption of the fourth reso- 
 lution, in the report of the Committee, and decided in the affirma- 
 tive, by yeas and nays, as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative are, Mr. President, Messrs, 
 Alcorn, Adams, Ashe, Banks, Benton, Billups, Butler, Boatner, 
 Bailey, Burrus, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Coie,gCollins, Lr.nean of 
 Itawamba, Duncan of Lafayette, Dabney, Davis, Evans of Lauder- 
 dale, Evans of Chickasaw, Fox, Fooie, Griffin, Gwin, Garner, 
 Golladay, Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Huie, Hale, Henry, Holmes, 
 James, Jobnston of Hinds, Johnson of Warren, Jones of Madi- 
 son, Jones cf Pontotoc, Jones of Tippah, Kinyon, Lowry, Lake. 
 Montgomery, Myers, Muse, McMurran, McLeod, McAlium, Mc- 
 Donald, McDowell, ]N~iles, Purdom, Piner, Powe, Robertson, R£n- 
 kin, Sawyer, Scruggs, Sharkey, Snedecor, Stovail, Sullivan. Yea- 
 zie, Vick, Vaughan, Watson of Marshall, Watson of De Soto, 
 Wells, Williams. Wilson of Claiborne and Wilson of Pontotoc, — 
 yeas 73. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Barksdale, Back- 
 strom, Cherry, Cannon, Connelly, Easterling, Edwards, Gilliland, 
 Jones of Franklin, Keown, Miller, McLendon, Phillips. Scales , 
 Smith, Sturges of Copiah and Sturges of Simpson. — nays 17. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the Convention adjourn- 
 ed until 9 o'clock, to-morrow morning. 
 
SATURDAY, November 1% 1851. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 
 Leave was granted to Mr. Harris to make a personal explanation. 
 After which, the Convention proceeded to the consideration of 
 the fifth resolution reported by the Committee of Thirteen. 
 Which being read, 
 
 Mr. Sturges, of Simpson, offered the following amendment : 
 Add after the word " resistance," in the fourth line, the words 
 M even to a disruption of every tie^ which binds us to the Union." 
 Mr. Foote, moved to lay the same on the table. 
 But before any action thereon, 
 
 Mr. Harris offered the following as a substitute therefor, viz : 
 
 " That in view of the declaration contained in the 5th resolution, 
 this Convention deems it expedient to declare that in the event 
 that the people of Mississippi shall determine to withdraw from the 
 Union, on the happening of any one of the contingencies enumer- 
 ated in said resolution, that the Federal Government would have 
 no right, in such event, to compel the people of Mississippi to re- 
 turn to the Union.'' 
 
 Mr. Piner moved to lay the same on the table. 
 
 Mr. Foote called for the previous question, which was sustained. 
 
 Mr. Banks moved to reconsider the vote on the previous ques- 
 tion. Which motion prevailing, 
 
 The question then recurred on the adoption of the amendment 
 submitted by Mr. Harris. 
 
 Mr. Clark moved to lay the amendment on the table, which was 
 decided in the affirmative, by yeas and nays, as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative were, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Adams, Ashe, Banks, Benton, Billups, Butler, Boatner, 
 Bailey, Burrus, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Caruthers, Collins, Cole, 
 Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Lafayette, Duncan of Tishomin- 
 go, Dabney, Davis, Evans of Chickasaw, Evans of Lauderdale, 
 Edwards, Fox, Foote, Griffin, Gwin, Garner, Golladay, Huff, 
 Hart, Huie, Hale, Henry, Holmes, James, Johnston of Hinds, 
 Johnson of Warren, Johnson of Washington, Jones of Franklin, 
 Jones of Madison, Jones of Pontotoc, Jones of Tippah, Lowry, 
 Lake, Montgomery, Myers, McMurran, McLeod, McAUum, Mc- 
 Donald, McDowell, Niles, Purdom, Phillips, Piner, Powe, Rob- 
 ertson, Sawyer, Scruggs, Sharkey, Snedecor, Stovall, Sullivan, 
 Yick, Vaughan, Watson of Marshall, Watson of De Soto, Wells, 
 Williams, Wilson of Claiborne and Wilson of Pontotoc, — yeas 74. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative were, Messrs. Barksdale,Back- 
 strom, Cherry, Cannon, Connelly, Easterling, Gilliland, Heming- 
 way, Harris, Keown, Kinyon, Miller, Muse, McLendon, Rankin, 
 Scales, Smith, Sturges of Copiah and Sturges of Simpson,—- nays 
 19. 
 
 ■ 
 
35 
 
 Mr. Banks moved to amend the third clause in the fifth resolu- 
 tion. 
 
 After the words " any action of Congress," the following : 
 
 "Abolishing Slavery in the District of Columbia, or in the Forts 
 and Arsenals of the United States, and all legislation incompatible." 
 
 Mr. Finer moved to lay the amendment on the table, which was 
 decided in the affirmative, by yeas and nays, as follows : 
 
 Those voting in the affirmative were, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Billups, Butler, Boatner, Baily, Burrus, Champlin, Clark, 
 Caruthers, Collins, Cole, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Lafay- 
 ette, Dabney, Davis, Evans of Lauderdale, Easterling, Edwards, 
 Fox, Foote, Griffin, Gwin, Garner, Golladay, Hemingway, Hart, 
 Huie, Hale, Henry, Holmes, James, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson 
 of Warren, Jones of Madison, Jones of Pontotoc, Kinyon, Lowry, 
 - Lake, Montgomen 7 , Myers, Muse, McMurran, McAllum, McDon- 
 ald, McDowell, Niles, Purdom, Phillips, Piner, Powe, Robertson, 
 Sawyer, Scruggs, Snedecor, Stovall, Sullivan, Veazie, Vick, 
 Vaughan, Watson of Marshall, Watson ofDe Soto. Wells, Williams, 
 Wilson of Claiborne and Wilson of Pontotoc, — yeas 66. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, were, Messrs. Adams, Ashe, 
 Banks, Barksdale, Backstrom, Cherry, Cannon, Connelly, Duncan 
 cf Tishomingo, Giliiland, Huff, Harris, Jones of Franklin, Jones of 
 Tippah, Keown, Miller, McLendon, Rankin, Scales, Sharkey, 
 Smith, Sturges of Copiah and Sturges of Simpson, — nays 23. 
 
 Mr. Evans, of Chickasaw, offered the following amendment to 
 the 3d clause of the 5th resolution: 
 
 Amend by striking out the words " on the subject of," and insert 
 the word "abolishing." 
 
 Mr. Footedemanded the previous question, which being sustained; 
 
 The question was then put on the adoption of the 5th resolution, 
 as reported by the Committee of Thirteen, and decided in the af- 
 firmative, by yeas and na} T s, as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Mr. President, Messrs, 
 Alcorn, Adams, Ashe, Banks, Barksdale, Billups, Benton, Butler, 
 Boatner, Bailey, Burrus, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Caruthers, Col- 
 lins, Cole, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Lafayette, Duncan of 
 Tishomingo, Dabney, Davis, Evans of Chickasaw, Evans of Lau- 
 derdale, Edwards, Fox, Foote, Griffin, Gwin, Garner, Golladay, 
 'Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Huie, Hale, Henry, Holmes, James, 
 Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of Warren, Johnson of Washington, 
 Jones of Franklin, Jones of Madison, Jones of Pontotoc, Jones of 
 Tippah, Kinyon, Lowry. Lake, Montgomery, Myers, Muse, Mc- 
 Murran, McLeod, McAllum, McDonald, McDowell, Niles, Pur- 
 dom, Phillips, Piner, Powe, Robertson, Rankin^ Sawyer, Scruggs, 
 Sharkey, Snedecor, Stovall, Sullivan, Veazie, Vick^. Vaughan, 
 Watson of Marshall, Watson of De Soto, Wells, Williams, Wilson 
 of Claiborne and Wilson of Pontotoc, — yeas SO. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs, Backstrom, Cher- 
 
 I 
 
36 
 
 ry, Cannon, Connelly, Easterling, Giliiland, Harris, Miller, Mc- 
 Lendon, Scales, Smith, Sturges of Copiah and Sturges of Simp- 
 son, — nays 13. 
 
 Mr. Benton, a delegate elect from the county of Marshall, pre- 
 sented his credentials, was qualified and took his seat. 
 
 The Convention then proceeded to the consideration of the sixth 
 resolution, as reported by the Committee of Thirteen, 
 
 Which was read, and adopted. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Sturges, of Simpson, leave of absence was 
 granted to Mr. Harris. 
 
 The seventh resolution was then read, as reported by the Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Veazie, the word " consideration" in the sixth, 
 line was stricken out. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs then offered the following amendment to the 7th 
 resolution ; viz : 
 
 " Strike out the 7th resolution, and insert the following as the 
 last of the series, viz : 
 
 "Resolved, 8th, That the foregoing resolutions can be submit* 
 ted to the people of the State, for their approval or disapproval, at 
 such time and in such mode as the Legislature of the State may., 
 at its next session, provide." 
 
 Mr. Dabney offered the following as an amendment; which was 
 read: 
 
 " Amend by striking out the 7th resolution, and insert in lien 
 thereof, the following : 
 
 " That in pursuance of the act of the late extraordinary session 
 of the Legislature of this State, approved November 30, 1850, that 
 these resolutions be submitted to the people of this State at the 
 ballot box, at the next general election, to be held on the first Mon- 
 day and day following in November 1853, for their approval or 
 disapproval, and that the Sheriff" or other proper officer of the sev- 
 eral counties,in holding said election, shall submit to each qualified 
 voter, specially the question : "Do you approve of these resolu- 
 tions ?" and the Clerk or Clerks of said election shall record the 
 sense of the voter by writing opposite his name if in favor of the reso- 
 lutions, the word, "approved," and if opposed to said resolutions, the 
 words, u not approved," the returns of which said election, so held 
 as aforesaid, shall be made by the Sheriff, or other proper officer of 
 the several counties in this State to the Secretary of State, and it 
 shall be the duty of the Governor of this State, upon a comparison 
 of the polls, to issue his Proclamation declaring the result of said 
 election." 
 
 Mr. Cobb, offered the following as a substitute therefor ; 
 
 Amend the 7th resolution, so that it may read, 
 
 Resolved, further, 7tfa, That, as the people of the State of Mis- 
 sissippi, in the opinion of this Convention, desire all further agita- 
 tion of the slavery question to cease ; and have acted upon all the 
 
37 
 
 foregoing questions, thereby making it the duty of this Conven- 
 tion to pass no acts within the purview and spirit of the law under 
 which it was called, this Convention deems it unnecessary to re- 
 fer to the people, its action in the premises, further than to invite 
 its constituency to express their approval or disapproval of these 
 resolutions, at the next general State elections to be held in this 
 State. 
 
 Mr. Alcorn, offered the following proviso, which having been 
 read, was accepted by Mr. Cobb : 
 
 ^Provided, however, that in enumerating the votes cast in favor 
 of said resolutions, those voting for representatives at said election, 
 who may not vote upon said resolutions, shall be considered and 
 counted as voting therefor." 
 
 Mr. Montgomery called for the previous question, and the ques- 
 tion was, " shall the main question be now put ?" 
 
 And decided in the negative by yeas and nays, as follows : 
 , Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Adams, Banks, 
 Butler, Bailey, Caruthers, Collins, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of 
 Tishomingo, Evans of Chickasaw, Easterling, Edwards, Foote, Gar- 
 ner, Huff, Hemingway, Henry, James, Johnston of Hinds, Jones of 
 Madison, J ones of Pontotoc, Jones of Tippah, Kinyon, Montgomery, 
 Myers, Muse, McMurran, McLeod, NUes, Phillips, Piner, Powe, 
 Rankin, Sawyer, Sharkey, Stovall, Sullivan, Veazie, Watson of 
 Marshal], Wilson of Claiborne, and Wilson of Pontotoc, — yeas 40. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, were, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Ashe, Barksdale, Billups, Benton, Backstrom, Boatner, 
 Burrus, Champlin, Clark, Cherry, Cobb, Cannon, Connelly, Cole, 
 Duncan of Lafayette, Dabney, Davis, Evans of Lauderdale, Gilli- 
 iand, Griffin, Gwin, Golladay, Hurst, Hart, Hale, Holmes, Johnson 
 of Warren, Jones of Franklin, Lowry, Lake, Miller, McLendon, 
 McAllum, McDonald, McDowell, Purdom, Robertson, Scruggs, 
 Smith, Snedecor, Sturges of Copiah, Sturges of Simpson, Vick, 
 Vaughan, Watson of De Soto, Wells, and Williams, — nays 49. 
 
 Mr. Henry moved to adjourn until 3 o'clock, which was lost. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Piner, the Convention adjourned until half 
 past two o'clock, p. m. 
 
 2J o'clock, p. m.^ 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 And the question recurred on the adoption of the amendment of- 
 fered to the 7th resolution by Mr. Cobb, as amended. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Clark, the amendments were laid on the tab !e. 
 
 Mr. Clark offered the following amendment : 
 
 u Amend by adding at the end of the resolution, these words, 
 
 " But the Legislature can at its next session, if it deems it necessa- 
 ry, provide for the submission of these resolutions to the people." 
 Which, on motion of Mr. Watson, of Marshall, was laid on the table, 
 
3S 
 
 Mr. Niles moved that the amendment be called Trom the table. 
 Which was lost. 
 
 Mr. Watson, of Marshall, moved the adoption of the 7th reso- 
 lution as reported by the Committee of Thirteen. 
 
 Mr. Niles moved that the vote laying the amendments on the 
 table, be reconsidered, which was decided in the affirmative, by- 
 yeas and nays, as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Mr. President, Messrs 
 Alcorn, Adams, Ashe, Barksdale, Billups, Benton, Butler, Cham™ 
 plin, Clark, Cherry, Cobb, Cannon, Connelly, Caruthers, Duncan 
 of Lafayette, Dabney, Davis, Evans of Lauderdale, Easterling, 
 Foote, Gilliland, Griffin, Gwin, Golladay, Harris, Hale, Henry, 
 Holmes, James, Jones of Franklin, Jones of Madison, Jones of 
 Pontotoc, Keown, Myers, Muse, McLendon, McLeod, McAllum ? 
 McDonald, McDowell, Niles, Purdom, Piner, Powe, Robertson, 
 Rankin, Scruggs, Scales, Snedecor, Stovall, Sturges of Simpson 
 Vick, Vaughan, Ventress, Watson of Marshall, Watson of De 
 Soto, Wells, Williams and Wilson of Pontotoc, — yeas 60. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Banks, Boatner, 
 Bailey, Burrus, Collins, Cole, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of 
 Tishomingo, Evans of Chickasaw, Edwards, Garner, Hurst, Huff. 
 Hemingway, Hart, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of Warren, Jones 
 of Tippah, Kinyon, Lowry, Lake, Miller, Montgomery, McMur- 
 ran, Phillips, Sawyer, Sharkey, Smith, Sturges of Copiah, Sulli- 
 van, Veazie and Wilson of Claiborne, — nays 32. 
 
 Mr. Butler then moved that the Convention adjourn until Mon- 
 day morning, 10 o'clock. Which was lost. 
 
 Mr. Snedecor offered the following resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention do now adjourn sine die. 
 
 Which, on motion of Mr. Clark, was laid on the table. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the Convention adjourned until seven 
 o'clock, p. m. 
 
 7 o'clock p. m. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Adams, the regular business was suspended 
 to enable him to introduce the following resolution, viz : 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary of thisConvention.be and he is 
 hereby allowed, not exceeding three days after the adjournment, in 
 order to complete the Journals and furnish the same to the Printer 
 of this Convention. Which was adopted. 
 
 The question then recurred on the adoption of Mr. Cobb's amend- 
 ment and proviso, to the 7th resolution. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs called for a division of the amendment, but before 
 any action thereon, 
 
 Mr. Niles moved to lay the amendments on the table, which 
 was decided in the affirmatively yeas and nays, as follows : 
 
Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Mr. President, Messrs 
 Banks, Butler, Backstrom, Boatner, Bailey, Burrus, Cherry, Can= 
 non, Connelly, Caruthers, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Tish- 
 omingo, Davis, Evans of Chickasaw, Easterling, Gilliland, Garner, 
 Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Harris, Hale, Johnston of Hinds, John- 
 son of Warren, Jones of Tippah, Keown, Kmyon, Lowry, Lake. 
 Miller, Muse, McMurran, McLendon, Kites, Phillips, Rankin. 
 Sawyer, Scales, Sharkey, Smith, Sturges of Copiah, Sturges of 
 Simpson, Sullivan, Veazie, Vick, Watson of Marshall and Wilson 
 of Claiborne, — yeas 4S. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Alcorn, Ashe, 
 Billups, Benton, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Collins, Cole, Duncan of 
 Lafayette, Dabney, Evans of Lauderdale, Foote, Griffin, Gwin, 
 Golladay, Hurst, Henry, Holmes, James, Jones of Franklin, Jones 
 of Madison, Jones of Pontotoc, Montgomery, Myers, McLeod, 
 McAUum, McDonald, McDowell, Purdom, Piner, Powe, Robert- 
 son, Scruggs, Snedecor, Stovall, Vaughan, Watson of De Soto, 
 Wells, Williams and Wilson of Pontotoc, — nays 41. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs called for the previous question, which being 
 sustained, 
 
 The question was taken on the adoption of the 7th resolution as 
 amended, and decided in the affirmative, by yeas and nays as follows: 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Mr. President, Messrs., 
 Adams, Ashe, Banks, Butler, Boatner, Bailey, Burrus, Champlin, 
 Clark, Caruthers, Collins, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Tish- 
 omingo, Davis, Evans of Chickasaw, Foote, Gwin, Garner, Hurst, 
 Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Hale, Henry, James, Johnston of Hinds, 
 Johnson of Warren, Johnson of Washington, Jones of Pontotoc, 
 Jones of Tippah, Klnyon, Lowry, Lake, Montgomery, Myers, 
 Muse, McMurran, McLeod, McDonald, JXiles, Purdom, Phillips, 
 Powe, Sawyer, Scruggs, Sharkey, Sullivan, Veazie, Vick, Watson, 
 of Marshall, Wilson of Claiborne and Wilson of Pontotoc,-yeas 53, 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Alcorn, Barks- 
 dale, Billups, Benton, Backstrom, Cherry, Cobb, Cannon. Connel- 
 ly, Cole, Duncan of Lafayette, Dabney, Evans of Lauderdale, 
 Easterling, Gilliland, Griffin, Golladay, Harris, Holmes, Jones of 
 Franklin, Jones of Madison, Keown, Miller, McLendon, McAUum, 
 McDowell, Piner, Robertson, Rankin, Scales, Smith, Snedecor, 
 Stovall, Sturges of Simpson, Sturges of Copiah, Vaughan, Ven- 
 tress, Watson of De Soto, Wells and Williams, — nays 40. 
 
 The Sth resolution reported by the Committee was then read, 
 
 Mr. Scruggs called for the previous question, i which being 
 sustained, the question was then taken on the adoption of the Sth 
 resolution and decided in the negative, by yeas and nays, as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Ashe, Boatner, Bailey, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Caruthers, 
 Cole, Dabney, Davis, Evans of Chickasaw, Foote, Griffin, Gar- 
 ner, Golladay, Hale, Henry, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of War- 
 
40 
 
 ;reu, Jones of Pontotoc, Jones of Tippah, Lowry, Myers, Muse, 
 Mc Murran, McLeod, McAlIum, McDowell, Niles, Purdom, Powe, 
 Robertson, Sawyer, Sharkey, Vaughan, Ventress, Watson of Mar* 
 shall, Wilson of Claiborne, and Wilson of Pontotoc, — yeas 41. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Adams, Banks, 
 Barksdale, Biliups, Benton, Butler, Backstrom, Burrus, Cherry, 
 Cannon, Connelly, Collins, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of La- 
 fayette, Duncan of Tishomingo, Evans of Lauderdale, Easterling, 
 Gilliland, Hurst, Huff, Hemingway, Hart, Harris, Holmes, James, 
 Jones of Franklin, Jones of Madison, Keown, Kinyon, Lake, Mil- 
 3er, Montgomery, McLendon, McDonald, Phillips, Piner, Rankin, 
 Scruggs, Scales, Smith, Snedecor, Stovall, Sturges of Copiah, Stur- 
 ges of Simpson, Sullivan, Veazie, Vick, Watson of De Soto, Wells, 
 ■and Williams, — nays 50. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Bailey, 
 
 Resolved, That William Hilzheim, the Page of this Conven- 
 tion, shall be allowed the sum of twelve dollars, which shall be 
 paid him upon the certificate of the President. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Collins, the preamble reported by the Com- 
 mittee of Thirteen, was called from the table. 
 
 Which being read, Mr. McMurran offered the following amend- 
 ment, viz : 
 
 Amend by striking out the preamble and insert, 
 
 " The people of Mississippi in Convention assembled, as expres- 
 sive of their deliberate judgment, on the great questions involved 
 in the sectional controversy between the slave holding and non- 
 slave holding States of the American Union, adopt the following 
 resolutions :" 
 
 Mr. Sturges, of Simpson, called for the previous question, which 
 was not sustained. 
 
 Whereupon, Mr. Watson offered the following amendment to 
 the amendment of Mr. McMurran, to-wit : 
 
 " PREAMBLE. 
 
 Whereas, An act was passed by the Legislature of the State of 
 Mississippi, on the 30th day of November, 1850, entitled " an act 
 to provide for a Convention of the People of the State of Mississip- 
 pi," the principal object of which act, as set forth in the 5th sec- 
 tion thereof, was " to consider the then existing relations between 
 the Government of the United States and the Government and 
 people of the State of Mississippi ; and to devise and carry into 
 effect the best means of redress for the past and obtain certain se- 
 curity for the future ; and to adopt such measures for vindicating 
 the sovereignty of the State, and the protection of its institutions, 
 as shall appear " to said Convention to be demanded: 
 
 And, whereas, The said act of the Legislature of Mississippi, 
 was passed with special reference to a series of acts of the Congress 
 
41 
 
 of the United States, coxamonly known as the compromise or ad- 
 justment measures : 
 
 .And, whereas, The right of a State or States " peaceably to with- 
 draw from the Union, without denial or obstruction from any quar- 
 ter whatever," and also the question, whether the " Union of these 
 States had been so grossly perverted from its original purposes, as to 
 render its further continuance incompatible with the honor, the pros- 
 perity and the safety of the slave holding States, unless some correc- 
 tion of past aggressions, and some additional and more effectual guar- 
 antees ior our future protection, be obtained from our associates in the 
 Confederacy," and particularly, whether the State would acquiesce 
 in the said compromise measures of Congress were distinctly pre- 
 sented to the people for their consideration, at the late elections ; 
 and the people in their sovereign capacity, having decided at said 
 elections in favor of the Union as it is, without insisting on further 
 amendments to the Constitution of the United States, or additional 
 and more effectual guarantees for their future protection — in favor 
 of acquiescing in the said Compromise measures of Congress — and 
 against the right of a State or States peaceably to withdraw from 
 the Union without denial or obstruction from any quarter whatever : 
 
 And whereas, also, in the opinion of this Convention, the people of 
 the State are opposed to all further agitation of the slavery question : 
 Therefore. 
 
 Which was lost. 
 
 The question was then taken on the amendment of Mr. Mc- 
 Murran, and decided in the affirmative. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Sturges, of Copiah, the neport of the minority 
 of the Committee of Thirteen, was called from the table. 
 
 Mr. Sharkey moved that the Convention adjourn until Monday 
 morning 9 o'clock. Which was lost. 
 
 Mr. Niles moved that the Convention adjourn sine die at eleven 
 o'clock on Monday next. 
 
 Mr. Clark moved to lay the Minority Report of the Committee 
 of Thirteen on the table. 
 
 Pending which, the Convention, on motion of Mr. Sharkey, ad- 
 journed until nine o'clock Monday morning. 
 
 MONDAY, November 17th, 1851. 
 
 The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, and its delibera- 
 tions opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Lewin of the Episcopal 
 Church of this city. 
 
 The Journal of Saturday having been read, 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Warren, the consideration of the 
 regular business was suspended, to enable him to offer the following 
 resolution, which was read and adopted : — 
 
42 
 
 Resolved, That Charles H. Rogers be allowed the sum of Eigh- 
 teen dollars, for his services as Clerk of the Committee of Thirteen, 
 and the Auditor of Public Accounts, be authorised to issue his 
 warrant on the State Treasurer for the same, on Certificate of the 
 President. 
 
 The Convention then proceeded to the consideration of the ques- 
 tion pending the adjournment on Saturday, being the motion of 
 Mr. Clark " to lay the minority report of the Committee of Thir- 
 teen on the table." 
 
 And the question being put, the report was laid on the table, by 
 yeas and nays, as follows: 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Adams, Ashe, Banks, Barksdale, Billups, Benton, Butler, 
 Boatner, Bailey, Burrus, Champlain, Clark, Cobb, Caruthers, 
 Collins, Cole, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Lafayette, Dun- 
 can of Tishomingo, Dabney, Evans of Chickasaw, Evans of Lau- 
 derdale, Edwards, Foote, Griffin, Garner, Golladay, Hurst, Huff, 
 Hale, Henry, Holmes, James, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of War- 
 ren, Jones of Franklin, Jones of Madison, Jones of Pontotoc, Jones of 
 Tippah, Kinyon, Lowry, Lake, Montgomery, Myers, Muse, Mc- 
 Murran, McLeod,McAllum, McDonald,McDowell, Niles, Phillips, 
 Piner, Powe, Robertson, Rankin, Sawyer, Scruggs, Sharkey, Sned- 
 ecor, Stovall, Vick, Vaughan, Ventress, Watson of Marshall, Wat- 
 son of De Soto, Wells, Williams, Wilson of Claiborne, and Wilson 
 of Pontotoc, — yeas 72. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Backstrom* 
 Cherry, Cannon, Connelly, Easterling, Gilliland, Harris, Keown a 
 Miller, McLendon, Scales, Smith, Sturges of Copiah, and Stur- 
 ges of Simpson, — nays 14. 
 
 The following resolution offered by Mr. Butler, was read and 
 adopted, unanimously. Mr. Vick in the chair. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be returned to the 
 President of this body, for the faithful, prompt and able manner in 
 which he has presided over our deliberations. 
 
 Mr. Kinyon, offered the following resolution, which was also 
 read and adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That the President of this Convention be allowed and 
 paid, the same per diem compensation, for each day that it shall 
 be necessary for him to superintend the preparing of the Journals 
 of this Convention, for the hands of the Printer, after the adjourn- 
 ment of this Convention, as during its session, to be audited upon the 
 certificate of the Secretary. 
 
 Mr. Scruggs offered the following resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That the voluntary associations of our fellow-citizens 
 of the non-slave holding States, for the purpose of agitating the 
 subject of domestic slavery, or of enlisting either the State or Fed- 
 eral Legislature against it, are, in the judgment of this Convention ? 
 fraught with imminent danger to the stability of the Government, 
 
43 
 
 and if persisted in, will result, at no distant day. in the most seri- 
 ous consequences. 
 
 Resolved, That, in view of the unanimity and promptness with 
 which the slave holding States have acted, in support of the late 
 acts of Congress, known as the " adjustment or compromise 
 measures," it is in the opinion of this Convention, the duty of the 
 non-slave holding States, if they intend to preserve the Union of 
 these States, and keep faith with the slave holding States, to do the 
 same thing : and that we cannot regard their failure to do so, other- 
 wise than as an omen of evil. 
 
 Mr. Henry offered the following amendment to the second res- 
 olution, which was accepted by Mr. Scruggs : 
 
 Strike out all after the word " measures" and insert, 
 
 " It is the imperative duty of the people of the non-slave hold- 
 ing States, if they intend in good faith to preserve our present hap- 
 py Union, and to observe their constitutional obligations, to give 
 to these measures the same united support and that we should regard 
 a failure to do so, as an omen of evil to the peace, the happiness 
 and the perpetuity of our republican institutions." 
 
 Mr. Watson of Marshall, called for a division of the question, 
 
 And the question being put on the adoption of the first resolution, 
 it was decided in the affirmative, by yeas and nays, as follows : 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Alcorn, Adams, 
 Ashe, Banks, Barksdale, Billups, Benton, Butler, Backstrom, Boat- 
 ner, Bailey, Burrus, Champlin, Clark, Cherry, Cobb, Cannon, 
 Connelly, Collins, Cole, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Lafay- 
 ette, Duncan of Tishomingo, Dabney, Davis, Evans of Chickasaw, 
 Evans of Lauderdale, Edwards, Foote, Gilliland, Garner, Griffin, 
 Goiladay, Huff, Hale, Henry, Holmes, James, Johnston of Hinds, 
 Jones of Franklin, Jones of Madison, Jones of Pontotoc, Jones of 
 Tippah, Keown, Lowry, Miller, Montgomery, Myers, Muse, Mc- 
 Murran, McLeod, McAllum, .McDonald, McDowell, Niles, Phil- 
 lips, Powe, Rankin, Robertson, Scruggs, Sawyer, Scales, Sharkey, 
 Smith, Snedecor, Stovall, Sturges of Copiah, Sturges of Simpson, 
 Vaughan, Ventress, Watson of De Soto, Wells, Williams, Wil- 
 son of Claiborne, and Wilson of Pontotoc, — yeas 75. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, were, Mr. President, Messrs 
 Caruthers, Easterling, Johnson of Warren, Kinyon, Lake, McLen- 
 don, Piner, Vick, and Watson of Marshall, — nays 10. 
 
 The question then recurred on the adoption of the second res:- 
 lution as amended, 
 
 But before the vote was taken thereon, it was, on motion of Mv 
 Kiles, laid on the table. 
 
 Mr. Johnson, of Washington, appeared, was qualified and took 
 his seat. 
 
 Mr. Vick moved to re-consider the vote by which the 8th reso- 
 lution as reported by the Committee of Thirteen, was laid on t ra- 
 table on Saturday evening 
 
44 
 
 And it was decided in the affirmative, the yeas and nays be- 
 ing demanded. 
 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Ashe, Banks, Billups, Benton, Boatner, Bailey, Burrus, 
 Champlain, Clark, Cobb, Cole, Duncan of Lafayette, Dabney, 
 Evans of Chickasaw, Foote, Griffin, Garner, Golladay, Hale, Hen- 
 ry, Holmes, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of Warren, Jones of Tip- 
 pah, Lowry, Montgomery, Myers, Muse, McMurran, McLeod, 
 McAIIum, McDonald, McDowell, Niles, Piner, Powe, Robertson, 
 Sharkey, Snedecor, Vick, Vaughan, Ventress, Watson of Marshall, 
 Watson of De Soto, Williams, Wilson of Claiborne and Wilson of 
 Pontotoc, — yeas 49. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Adams, Barksdale, 
 Butler, Backstrom, Cherry, Cannon, Connelly, Caruthers, Col- 
 lins, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Tishomingo, Davis, Evans 
 of Lauderdale, Edwards, Gilliland, Hurst, Huff, James, Johnson 
 of Washington, Jones of Franklin, Jones of Madison, Jones of 
 Pontotoc, Eeown, Lake, Miller, McLendon, Phillips, Rankin, 
 Scruggs, Scales, Smith, Stovall, Sturges of Copiah, and Wells, — 
 .nays 34. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Johnson of Warren, 
 
 Mr. Johnson of Washington, was permitted to record his vote 
 on the resolutions of the Committee of Thirteen, and on the amend- 
 ments thereto. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Scruggs, 
 
 Mr. Benton of Marshall, was also allowed the same privilege, 
 both gentlemen having been unavoidably detained on their way to 
 the Seat of Government. 
 
 The vote rejecting the 8th resolution having been reconsidered, 
 Mr. Benton offered the following amendment : 
 Amend by striking out the 8th resolution and insert, 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention, without in- 
 tending to call in question the motives of the members of the Le- 
 gislature, the call of this Convention by the Legislature, at its late 
 extraordinary session, was unauthorised by the people ; and that 
 said act, in peremptorily ordering a Convention of the people of the 
 State, without first submitting to them the question whether there 
 should be a Convention or no Convention, was an unwarranted as- 
 sumption of power by the Legislature, at war with the spirit of 
 republican institutions, an encroachment upon the rights of the 
 people, and can never be rightfully invoked as a precedent. 
 Which was adopted, by yeas and nays as follows : 
 Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Mr. President, Messrs. 
 Alcorn, Ashe, Billups, Benton, Bailey, Champlin, Clark, Cobb, Ca- 
 ruthers, Collins, Cole, Duncan of Itawamba, Duncan of Lafayette, 
 Dabney, Davis, Evans of Chickasaw, Edwards, Foote, Griffia, 
 Garner, Huff, Hale, Henry, Holmes, Johnson of Warren, Jones of 
 Pontotoc, Jones of Tippah, Lowry, Montgomery, Myers, McMur- 
 
45 
 
 ran, McLeod, MeAIIurn, McDonald. Niles, Finer, Powe. Robertson, 
 Rankin, Scruggs, Sharkey, Snedecor, Stovali, Yick. Vaughan. Ven- 
 tres^, Watson of Marshall, Watson of De Soto. Williams, Wilson 
 of Claiborne and Wilson of Pontotoc, — yeas 52. 
 
 Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Adams, Banks, 
 Butler, Backstrom, Boatner, Burrus, Cherry, Cannon. Connelly!, 
 Duncan of Tishomingo, Evans of Lauderdale, Giiiiland. Golladav, 
 Hurst, James, Johnston of Hinds, Johnson of Washington, Jones of 
 Franklin, Jones of Madison, Lake, Miller, Muse, McLendon. Mc- 
 Dowell, Phillips, Scales, Smith, Sturges of Copiah and Wells, — 
 nays 29. 
 
 The question then recurred on the adoption of the resolution as 
 amended, and decided in the affirmative. 
 
 Mr. Clark offered the following resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary of this Convention engross the re- 
 port of the Committee of Thirteen as amended and adopted, and 
 have the same printed in a body in the printed copies of 
 the proceedings of the Convention, and that he be instructed to 
 furnish each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress with 
 a copy. 
 
 Mr. Davis, offered the following amendment thereto : 
 Resolved, That 5000 copies of the preamble and resolutions 
 adopted by this Convention upon the subject of the relation of the 
 State to the General Government, be printed under the superinten- 
 dence of the Secretary, and that he be instructed to address a copy 
 to each Senator and Representative in the Congress of the United 
 States, and to transmit the remaining copies to the members of this 
 Convention, and that he be allowed one week Po perform the said 
 service. 
 
 Which was lost. 
 
 The question then recurred on the adoption on the resolutioa 
 offered by Mr. Clark, and decided in the affirmative. 
 
 Mr. Piner, moved that the Convention do now adjourn, sine 
 which was adopted. 
 
 Whereupon, the President addressed the Convention, as follows : 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 The very flattering resolution which I find on my desk this 
 morning, renders doubly impressive to my mind, the solemnity of 
 the present hour — the parting hour. 
 
 I regret exceedingly my want of language to express the emo- 
 tions of my heart on the present occasion. 
 
 I most sincerely congratulate you upon the harmony which has 
 characterized your deliberations, and especially upon their happy 
 result, it has been, to me, a source of peculiar gratification, to find 
 so many gentlemen cf equal, if not superior ability, who have (du- 
 ring the few days past of my slight, but continued and increasing 
 indisposition,) so promptly and so generously upon every call, divi- 
 ded with me the labors of the chair, — and for which, I beg they 
 
46 
 
 will accept ray most cordial thanks : and likewise, for the kind for- 
 bearance which has been extended towards me by each and every 
 member of the Convention, i hereby tender to you my most un- 
 feigned thanks, accompanied with my fondest hope for your speedy 
 return to the bosom of your families and the society of your friends, 
 and that you may be greeted by your constituents with the wel- 
 come plaudit, " well done good and faithful servants." 
 
 On leaving this chair, Ibid adieu to all public service. I feel 
 admonished that my race is well nigh run ; and being satisfied that 
 many younger gentlemen may be found of equal patriotic devo- 
 tion, and superior ability to fill my place in the public service, I feel 
 justified in claiming to be hereby honorably discharged; with an 
 abiding assurance that I have u fought the good fight, and have 
 kept the faith,' 1 and I now bid you an affectionate and a final fare- 
 well. 
 
 At the request of the President, the deliberations of the Conven- 
 tion were closed with prayer by the Reverend Mr. Butler of 
 
 Monroe. 
 
 And the President adjourned the Convention sine die. 
 
 CORNELIUS CARMACK, 
 
 President. 
 
 Atteste : 
 
 Fleming £. Swann, Secretary, 
 
PREAMBLE AXD RESOLUTIONS 
 
 A S 
 
 ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION. 
 
 Tee people of Mississippi in Convention assembled, as expressive 
 of their deliberate judgment on the great questions involved in 
 the sectional controversy between the slave holding and non- 
 slave holding States of the American Union, adopt the following 
 resolutions : 
 
 1st. Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Convention, the peo- 
 ple of Mississippi, in a spirit of conciliation and compromise, have 
 .maturely considered the action of Congress, embracing a series of 
 measures for the admission of California as a State into the Union, 
 the organization of Territorial Governments for Utah and Xew 
 Mexico, the establishment of the boundary between the latter 
 and the State of Texas, the suppression of the Slave Trade in the 
 District of Columbia, and the extradition of Fugitive Slaves; and 
 connected with them, the rejection of the proposition to exclude slav- 
 erv from the Territories of the United States, and to abolish it in the 
 District of Columbia ; and whilst they do not entirely approve, will 
 abide by it as a permanent adjustment of this sectional controversy, 
 so long as the same in all it features shall be faithfully adhered to 
 and enforced. 
 
 2d. Resolved, That we perceive nothing in the above recited 
 legislation of the Congress of the United States, which should be 
 permitted to disturb the friendly and peaceful i; existing relations 
 between the Government of the United States and the Government 
 and people of the State of Mississippi/' 
 
 3a 1 . Therefore, Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Convention, 
 the people of the State of Mississippi will abide by the Union as 
 it is, and by the Constitution of the United States without amend- 
 ment — that they hold the Union secondary in importance only to 
 the rights and principles it was designed to perpetuate ; that past 
 associations, present fruition and future prospects will bind them to 
 it so long as it continues to be the safeguard of those rights and 
 principles. 
 
 4th. Resolved, further, That, in the opinion of this Convention, 
 the asserted right of secession from the Union on the part of a 
 State or States is utterly unsanctioned by the Federal Constitution, 
 which was framed to " establish " and not to destroy the Union 
 of the States, and that no secession, can, in fact, take place with- 
 
48 
 
 out a subversion of the Union established, and which will not vir- 
 tually amount in its effects and consequences to a civil revolution. 
 
 blh. Resolved, further, That, whilst in the opinion of this Con- 
 vention, such are the sentiments and opinions of the people of the 
 . State of Mississippi, still, violations of the rights of the people of 
 the State, may occur, which would amount to intolerable oppres- 
 sion, and would justify a resort to measures of resistance, amongst 
 which, in the opinion of the Convention, the people of the State 
 have designated the following : 
 
 1st. The interference by Congressional Legislation with the In- 
 stitution of Slavery in the States. 
 
 2d. Interference with the trade in Slaves between the States.. 
 
 3d. Any action of Congress on the subject of Slavery in the 
 District of Columbia or in places subject to the jurisdiction of Con- 
 gress, incompatible with the safety and domestic tranquillity — the 
 rights and honor of the slave-holding States. 
 
 4th. The refusal by Congress to admit a new State into the Union 
 on the ground of her tolerating slavery within her limits. 
 
 5th. The passage of any law by Congress prohibiting slavery in 
 any of the territories. 
 
 6th. The Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law, and the neglect or 
 refusal by the General Government, to enforce the Constitutional 
 provisions for the reclamation of Fugitive Slaves. 
 
 6th. Resolved, further. That, in the opinion of this Convention, 
 the people in the recent elections have been governed by an abid- 
 ing confidence that the said adjustment measures of Congress would 
 be enforced in good faith in every section of the land. 
 
 7th. Resolved, further, That, as the people of the State of Mis- 
 sissippi, in the opinion of this Convention, desire all further agita- 
 tion of the Slavery question to cease, and have acted upon and 
 decided all the foregoing questions, thereby making it the duty 
 of this Convention to pass no acts within the purview and spirit of 
 the law under which it was called, this Convention deems it un- 
 necessary to refer to the people for their approval or disapproval 
 at the Ballot Box, its action in the premises. 
 
 8th. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention, without 
 intending to call in question the motives of the members of the Leg- 
 islature,the call of this Convention by the Legislature, at its late extra- 
 ordinary session, was unauthorized by the people; and that said act, in 
 peremptorily ordering a Convention of the people of the State, with- 
 out first submitting to them the question whether there should be a 
 Convention or no Convention, was an unwarranted assumption of 
 power by the Legislature ; at war with the spirit of republican in- 
 stitutions, an encroachment upon the rights of the people, and 
 can never be rightfully invoked as a precedent. 
 
 Approved, C. CAR MACK, 
 
 Atteste : President of the.Converdi(m s 
 
 Fleming L, Swank, Secretary. 
 
To provide for a Convention of the people of the 
 State of Mississippi. 
 
 Whereas, the Legislation of the Congress of the United States, 
 controlled, as it -was, at its last session, by a dominant majority, re- 
 gardless of the constitutional rights of the slave holding States, and 
 reflecting the will of a section whose population are hostile in feel- 
 ings and opposed in principle to a long established and cherished in- 
 stitution of this State and our sister States of the South, affords 
 alarming evidence of a settled purpose on the part of said majority 
 to destroy said institution and subvert the sovereign power of this 
 and the other slave holding States : and whereas it is becoming and 
 proper that a sovereign State should promptly resort to the most 
 efficient means for the maintenance of its sovereignty and the pre- 
 servation of its constitutional rights, as a member of the confede- 
 racy when assailed, by the exercise of the highest power recognised 
 under our Republican form of Government: the expressed will of 
 the sovereign people : — Therefore, 
 
 Section L Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Mis- 
 sissippi, That an election for delegates to a convention of the peo- 
 ple of the State of Mississippi, shall be held in the several counties 
 thereof, on the first Monday and day following in the month of 
 September, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty one, that said 
 election shall be held at all the precincts established by law, and 
 shall be managed and conducted by the sheriffs or other proper 
 officers of the counties respectively, in the same manner and accord- 
 ing to the same rules and regulations as are prescribed by law for 
 the election of members of the Legislature : And it is hereby de- 
 clared to be the duty of the Governor to issue his proclamation to 
 the several sheriffs of the State, at least ninety days before the time 
 appointed for holding said election, requiring them to hold and con- 
 duct the same according to law, and the said sheriffs shall advertise 
 the time and place of holding said election for at least twenty days, 
 by publishing the same in the several newspapers of their respec- 
 tive counties, and by posting notices at at least four public places 
 in their counties. 
 
 Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That each county shall be repre- 
 sented in said convention by the same number of delegates as such 
 county has of representatives in the House of Representatives, in- 
 cluding the representation of any city or town of any county. 
 
 Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That no person, not a citizen of 
 the State of Mississippi, who shall not at the time of said election, 
 have resided for twelve months previous thereto in the county, and 
 shall not have attained the age of twenty five years, shall be eligi- 
 ble to a seat in the said convention. 
 4 
 
 AX ACT 
 
53 
 
 Sec. 4. Re it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the 
 sheriff or other proper returning officer of each and every county, 
 within twenty days after said election, to make a full and complete 
 return to the Secretary of State, of the votes cast for delegates in 
 his county; and the certificate of election of the returning officer of 
 the proper county or of the Secretary of State, in favor of any 
 delegate, shall be evidence of his right to a seat in said convention, 
 subject, if contested, to decision by said convention in such man- 
 ner as they may prescribe. 
 
 Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That the delegates elected under 
 the provisions of this act, shall assemble at the Capitol of the State, 
 on the second Monday of November, A. D. eighteen hundred and 
 fifty one, and organize themselves into a convention by the election 
 of a President and such other officers as they may deem necessary, 
 and the appointment of a suitable number of assistants, and shall 
 proceed to consider the then existing relations between the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States and the Government and people of the 
 State of Mississippi, to devise and carry into effect the best means 
 of redress for the past, and obtain certain security for the future, 
 and to adopt such measures for vindicating the sovereignty of the 
 State, and the protection of its institutions as shall appear to them 
 to be demanded. Said convention shall adopt such rules and regu- 
 lations for its government and for the proper transaction of business 
 as they shall think proper. The officers, members and assistants of 
 said convention shall receive the same compensation as is now al- 
 lowed by law to the officers, members and assistants of the Legis- 
 lature, and the Auditor of public accounts shall issue his warrant 
 on the Treasury therefor, upon the certificate of the President, of 
 the amount due. 
 
 Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That in case of any vacancy oc- 
 curring in said convention by the death, resignation or removal of 
 any member, it shall be the duty of the Governor to cause such 
 Tacancy to be filled by issuing his writ of election to the sheriff of 
 the proper county, requiring him, on ten days' notice, to hold an 
 election according to law, to fill the same. 
 
 Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the acts of the conven- 
 tion proposed to be held by this act, before they become binding on 
 this State, shall be submitted to the people at the ballot box for 
 their approval or disapproval, at such time, and in such manner, as 
 the Convention may determine. 
 
 JOHN J. McREA, 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 JOHN I. GUION, 
 President of the Senate. 
 
 Approved November 30th, 1850, 
 
 J, A. QUITMAN. 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 WE the People of the United States, in order to form a more per- 
 fect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide 
 for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure 
 the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain 
 -mid establish this CoxsTiTUTioN/br the United States of America, 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Section I. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested 
 in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and 
 House of Representatives. 
 
 Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of 
 Members chosen every second year by the People of the several 
 &ate«, and the Electors in each State shall have the qualifications 
 requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State 
 Legislature. 
 
 No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained 
 to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of 
 the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant 
 of that State in which he shall be chosen. 
 
 Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the 
 several States which may be included within this Union, according 
 10 their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to 
 ihe whole number of free Persons, including those bound to Service 
 for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths 
 of all other Persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within: 
 three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United 
 States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in sucli 
 manner as they shall by Law direct. The number of Representa- 
 tives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State 
 shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration 
 shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse 
 ihree, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations 
 one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania 
 eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina 
 five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. 
 
52 
 
 When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the 
 Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such 
 Vacancies. 
 
 The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and oth- 
 er Officers: and shall have the sole power of Impeachment. 
 
 Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two 
 Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six 
 years j and each Senator shall have one vote. 
 
 Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the 
 first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three 
 classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated 
 at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expi- 
 ration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of 
 the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; 
 and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the 
 recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may 
 make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legisla- 
 ture, which shall then fill such vacancies. 
 
 No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the a^e 
 of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and 
 who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which 
 he shall be chosen. 
 
 The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the 
 Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. 
 
 The Senate shall chuse their other offieers,>and also a President 
 pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall' 
 exercise the office of President of the United States 
 
 The Senate shall have the sole power to try ail Impeachments. — 
 When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. 
 When the President of the United States is tried, the. Chief Justice 
 shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concur- 
 rence of two-thirds of the members present. 
 
 Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than 
 to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any 
 office of honor, trust or profit under the United States: but the party 
 convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial 
 judgment and punishment, according to Law. 
 
 Sec, 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for 
 Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the 
 Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make 
 or alter such regulations, except as to the places of chusing Senators. 
 
 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such 
 meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall 
 by Law appoint a different day. 
 
 Sec. 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, returns 
 and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall 
 constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may ad- 
 journ from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attend- 
 
03 
 
 anoe of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as 
 each House may provide. 
 
 Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its 
 members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two 
 thirds, expel a member. 
 
 Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and from 
 time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their 
 judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of 
 either House on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those 
 present, be entered on the Journal. 
 
 Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the 
 consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor at any 
 other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen* 
 sat ion for their services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the 
 Treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except trea- 1 
 son, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during 
 their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going 
 to and returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in ei- 
 ther House, they shall not be questioned in any other place. 
 
 No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he 
 was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of 
 the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments 
 whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no person 
 holding an office under the United States, shall be a member of either 
 House during his continuance in office. 
 
 Sec. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House 
 oi Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with 
 amendments as on other bills. 
 
 Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives 
 and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the 
 President of the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it, but if 
 not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it 
 shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their 
 Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration 
 two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, 
 together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall 
 likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that 
 House, it shall become a Law. But in all such cases the 
 votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and 
 the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be en- 
 tered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any bill shall 
 Dot be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) 
 after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a Law, in 
 like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their 
 adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a Law, 
 
 Every older, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the 
 
54 
 
 Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a 
 question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the 
 United States ; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approv- 
 ed by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two 
 thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the 
 rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. 
 Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power 
 
 To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the 
 debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the 
 United States ; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform 
 throughout the United States ; 
 
 To borrow money on the credit of the United States; 
 
 To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the sev- 
 eral States, and with the Indian Tribes; 
 
 To establish an uniform rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws 
 on the subject of Bankruptcy throughout the United States; 
 
 To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and 
 fix the standard of weights and measures; 
 
 To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and 
 current coin of the United States ; 
 
 To establish Post Offices and post Roads; 
 
 To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing 
 for limited times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive right to their 
 respective Writings and Discoveries; 
 
 To constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court: 
 
 To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the higli 
 Seas, and offences against the Law of Nations; 
 
 To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make 
 rules concerning captures on land and water: 
 
 To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that 
 use shall be for a longer term than two years: 
 
 To provide and maintain a Navy ; 
 
 To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and 
 naval forces ; 
 
 To provide for calling foith the Militia to execute the Laws of 
 the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions: 
 
 To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, 
 and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the ser~ 
 vice of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the ap- 
 pointment of the officers, and the authority of training the Militia ac- 
 cording to the discipline prescribed by Congress; 
 
 To exercise exclusive Legislation in all cases whatsoever, over 
 such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of 
 particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat 
 of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like author- 
 ity over all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the 
 State in which the same shall be, for the erection of Forts, Magazines, 
 Arsenals. Dock-Yards, and other needful buildings:' — And. 
 
55 
 
 To make ali Laws which shall be necessary and proper for car- 
 rying into execution the foregoing powers, and ali other powers vested 
 by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in 
 any department or officer thereof. 
 
 Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of 
 the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be 'pro- 
 hibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred 
 and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not 
 exceeding ten dollars for each person. 
 
 The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspend- 
 ed, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety 
 may be require it. 
 
 No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed. 
 
 No capitation, or other direct, tax shail be laid, unless in propor- 
 tion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. 
 
 No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. 
 
 No preference shall be given by any regulation of Commerce or 
 Revenue to the ports of pne State over those of another: nor shall 
 vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay 
 duties in another. 
 
 No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence 
 of appropriations made by Law : and a regular statement and account 
 of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shail be pub- 
 lished from time to time. 
 
 No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no 
 person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without 
 the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, of- 
 fice, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign 
 State. 
 
 Sec. 10. No Stateshall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confede- 
 ration : grant Letters of Marqueand Reprisal : coin money : emit bills 
 of Credit: make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in pay- 
 ment of debts ; piss any bill of attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law- 
 impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. 
 
 No Stateshall. without the consent of Congress, lay any imposts 
 or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutelv ne- 
 cessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net produce of alt 
 duties and imposts, laid by any State on imports or exports, shall be 
 for the use of the Treasury of the United States: and all such Laws 
 shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress. 
 
 No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of 
 tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any 
 agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign power, 
 or engage in war. unless actually invaded, or in such imminent dan- 
 gers will not admit of delay. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 Sec, 1. The executive power shall be ves'.el in a President of the 
 
United States of America, He shall hold his office during the term 
 of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the 
 same term, be elected, as follows: 
 
 Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature there- 
 of may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of 
 Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in 
 the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding 
 an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed 
 an Elector. 
 
 [*The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by 
 ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabi- 
 tant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a list 
 of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which 
 list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the 
 Government of the United States, directed to the President of the 
 Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the 
 Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and 
 the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest 
 number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority 
 of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if there be more 
 than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, 
 then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by ballot 
 one of them for President ; and if no person have a majority, then 
 from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like manner 
 chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the votes shall 
 be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one 
 yote;a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or mem- 
 bers from two thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States 
 shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the 
 President, the person having the greatest number of votes of the elec- 
 tors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or 
 more who have equal votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by 
 ballot the Vice President.] 
 
 The Congress may determine the time of chusing the Electors, 
 «nd the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be 
 the same throughout the United States. 
 
 No person except a natural born citizen, ora citizen of the United 
 States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligi- 
 ble to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to 
 that office who shall not have attained to the a^e of thirty five years, 
 and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. 
 
 In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, 
 resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said 
 office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress 
 may by Law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or 
 
 *This clause within brackets has been superseded and annulled by the 
 12th amendment. 
 
liability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what 
 officer shall then act as President, and such officer shah act acccri- 
 yagly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected. 
 
 The President shall, at slated times, receive for his services a com- 
 pensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the 
 period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive 
 within that period any other emolument from the United States, or 
 any of them. 
 
 Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the 
 following Oath or affirmation : — 
 
 •• I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the 
 •' office of President of the United States, and wili to the best of my 
 "ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United 
 "States^ 
 
 Sec. 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army 
 and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several 
 States, \fben called into the actual service of the United States: he 
 may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of 
 the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of 
 their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves 
 and pardons for onences against the United States, except in cases of 
 impeachment. 
 
 He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the 
 Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present 
 concur : and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and con- 
 sent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers 
 and Consuls, Judges of the supreme court, and all other officers of the 
 United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided 
 for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may 
 by Law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think 
 proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads 
 c: Departments. 
 
 The President shall have power to rill up all vacancies that may- 
 happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions 
 vhich shall expire at the end of their next Session. 
 
 Sec. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress informa- 
 tion of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration 
 such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, 
 on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, 
 and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of 
 adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think 
 proper : he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers : he 
 shall take care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Com- 
 mission all the officers of the United States. 
 
 Sec. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the 
 United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and 
 conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemean- 
 ors. 
 
ARTICLE lit. 
 
 Sec. I. The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested 
 in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress 
 may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of 
 the supreme and inferior Courts shall hold their offices during good 
 behaviour, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a com- 
 pensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in 
 office. 
 
 Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and 
 equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States., 
 and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; — > 
 to all cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers, and Con- 
 suls; — to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; — to con- 
 troversies to which the United States shall be a party; — to contro- 
 versies between two or more States; — between a State and citizens of 
 another State ; — between citizens of different States, — between citi- 
 zens of the same State claiming Lands tinder Grants of different 
 States, and between a State, or the citizens thereof, and foreign States, 
 citizens or subjects. 
 
 In all cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Con- 
 suls, and those in which a State shall be party, the supreme Court 
 shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before men- 
 tioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to 
 Law and Fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as 
 the Congress shall make. 
 
 The trial of all crimes, except in cases of Impeachment, shall be 
 by Jury; and such trial shall be held in the State where the said 
 crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within 
 any State, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress 
 may by Law have directed. 
 
 Sec. 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in 
 levying War against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving 
 them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason un- 
 less on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on 
 confession in open Court. 
 
 The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of trea- 
 son, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, oif 
 forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 Sec. 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the 
 public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State 
 And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the manner in 
 which such acts, records and proceedings shall be provided, and the 
 effect thereof. 
 
Sec. 2. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privi- 
 leges and immunities of citizens in the several States. 
 
 A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or other crime, 
 who shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall on. 
 demand of the executive authority of the State from which he fled, 
 be delivered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the 
 crime. 
 
 No person held to service or labor in one State, under the Laws 
 thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any Law or 
 regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall 
 be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor 
 may be due. 
 
 Sec. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this 
 Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the juris- 
 diction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the junction, 
 of two or more States, or parts of States, without the consent of the- 
 Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress. 
 
 The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all need- 
 ful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property 
 belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall 
 be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of 
 any particular State. 
 
 Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this 
 Union a Republican form of Government, and shall protect each of 
 them against Invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of 
 the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against 
 domestic violence. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it 
 necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the 
 application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall 
 call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either case, 
 shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, 
 when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, 
 or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other 
 mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that 
 no Amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand 
 eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth 
 clauses in the ninth section of the first Article; and that no State, 
 without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the 
 Senate. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the 
 adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United 
 {States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation, 
 
GO 
 
 This Constitution, and the Laws of the Unifed States which shall 
 be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall 
 be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the su- 
 preme Law of the Land ; and the Judges in every State shall be 
 bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to 
 the contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem- 
 bers of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial 
 officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be 
 bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no re- 
 ligious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or pub- 
 lic trust under the United States. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be suffi- 
 cient for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so 
 ratifying the same. 
 
 Pone in Convention by the unanimous consent of the States pres- 
 ent the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord 
 one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the Inde- 
 pendance of the United States of America the twelfth. IN 
 WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names, 
 
 GEO. WASHINGTON, 
 Presid't and deputy from Virginia. 
 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 John Langdqn, 
 
 Nicholas Gilman. 
 
 
 MASS A CH USE TTS. 
 
 Nathan Gorman, 
 
 Rufus King. 
 
 
 CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Wat. Saml. Johnson, Roger Sherman. 
 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 Alexander Hamilton. 
 
 
 NEW JERSEY 
 
 Wil. Livingston, 
 
 David Brearley, 
 
 Wm. Patterson, 
 
 Jona. Dayton. 
 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 B. Franklin, 
 
 Thomas Mifflin, 
 
 Robt. Morris, 
 
 Geo. Clymer, 
 
 Thos. Fitzsimons, 
 
 Jared Ingersoll, 
 
 James Wilson, 
 
 Gouv. Morris. 
 
 
 DELAWARE. 
 
 Geo. Read, 
 
 Gunning Bedford, Jun'r 
 
 John Dickinson, 
 
 Richard Bassett, 
 
 Jaco: Broom. 
 
 
61 
 
 MARYLAND 
 
 Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer 
 
 VIRGINIA. 
 
 James Madison, Jr. 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Rich'd Dobbs Spaigiit. 
 
 James McHenry. 
 Danl. Carroll. 
 
 John Blair. 
 
 Wm. Blount, 
 Hu. Williamson. 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 J. Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckkey 
 
 Charles Pinckney. Pierce Butler. 
 
 GEORGIA. 
 William Few. Abr. Baldwin. 
 
 Attest; WILLIAM JACKSON. Secretary. 
 
 The Constitution was adopted on the 17th September, 173 
 the Convention appointed in pursuance of the resolution of the 
 gress of the Confederation, of the 21st February, 1787, and vva 
 fied by the Conventions of the several States, as follows, viz : 
 
 By Convention or 
 
 . 'f . . . V M 
 
 Delaware, 
 Pennsylvania, 
 New Jersey, 
 Georgia, 
 Connecticut, 
 Massachusetts, 
 Maryland, 
 South Carolina, 
 New Hampshire, 
 Virginia, 
 New York, 
 North Carolina, 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 on the 7th December. 
 " 12th December, 
 " 18th December, 
 " 2d January, 
 " 9th January, 
 
 6th February. 
 " 2Sth April, 
 23d May, 
 21st June, 
 26th June, 
 " 26th July. 
 
 21st November. 
 29th Mav. 
 
 I by 
 Con- 
 
 s rati- 
 
 1787. 
 1787. 
 
 17S7. 
 1788. 
 1788. 
 1788. 
 
 1786. 
 
 1788. 
 1758. 
 1788. 
 1768. 
 17-; 
 1790. 
 
ARTICLES 
 
 IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, 
 
 THE CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 Proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several 
 States, pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. 
 
 (ARTICLE I.) 
 
 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of reli- 
 gion, or prohibiting the free exercise of ; or abridging the freedom of 
 speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assem- 
 ble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 
 
 (ARTICLE IL) 
 
 A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free 
 State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be 
 infringed. 
 
 (ARTICLE III.) 
 
 No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, with- 
 out the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner 
 
 prescribed by law. 
 
 (ARTICLE IV.) 
 
 The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, pa- 
 pers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not 
 be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, 
 supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the 
 place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 
 
 (ARTICLE V.) 
 
 No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infa- 
 mous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, 
 except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, 
 when in actual service in time of War or public danger ; nor shall any 
 person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of 
 life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a 
 witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, 
 
63 
 
 without due process of law: nor shall private property be taken for 
 public use, without just compensation. 
 
 (ARTICLE VI.) 
 
 In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a 
 speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district 
 vherein the crime shall have been committed, which district 
 shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of 
 the nature and cause of the accusation : to be confronted with the 
 witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining wit- 
 nesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of Counsel for his defence. 
 
 (ARTICLE VII) 
 
 In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall ex- 
 seed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, 
 and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court 
 of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. 
 
 (ARTICLE VIII ) 
 
 Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed., 
 nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 
 
 (ARTICLE IX.) 
 
 The enumeration in the Constitution, of ceitain rights, shall not 
 oe construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 
 
 (ARTICLE X.) 
 
 The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, 
 por prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respective- 
 ly, or to the people. 
 
 (ARTICLE XI.) 
 
 The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to 
 extend to any suit at law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against 
 one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens or 
 subjects of any foreign State. 
 
 (ARTICLE XII.) 
 
 The Electors shall meet in their respective States,and vote by bal- 
 lot for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not 
 be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves ; they shall name 
 ,n their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct bal- 
 
64 
 
 lots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make dis- 
 tinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons- 
 voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, 
 which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat 
 of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the 
 Senate; — The President of the Senate shall, in presence of the Senate 
 and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes 
 shall then be counted : — The person having the greatest number of 
 votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a ma- 
 jority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person 
 have such majority, then from the persons having the highest num- 
 bers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, 
 die House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by Ballot, 
 the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be 
 taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote: a 
 quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from, 
 two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be ne- 
 cessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not, 
 choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon 
 them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice- 
 President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other con- 
 stitutional disability of the President. The person having the great- 
 est number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if 
 such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, 
 and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers 
 on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President ; a quorum for 
 the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Sena- 
 tors, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a 
 choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of 
 President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United 
 States. 
 
 Department of State, j 
 
 July 20th, 1816. ) 
 
 This edition of the Constitution and amendments has been critically com- 
 pared with the originals in this Department and found to be correct, in text, 
 letter and punctuation. It may, therefore, be relied unon as a standard, edi- 
 tion. JAMES BUCHANAN, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 By the Secretary. 
 
 N. P. Trsst, Chief Clerk. 
 
The following is prefixed io the first ten of the preceding 
 amendments. 
 
 CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday, the fourth 
 of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. 
 
 The Conventions of a number of the states, having at the time of 
 their adopting the Constitution.expressed a desire, "in order to prevent 
 misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory aad 
 restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of 
 public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent 
 ends of its institution : « 
 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of 
 both Houses concurring, That the following Articles be proposed to 
 the Legislatures of the several states, as amendments to the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States, all, or any of which articles, when ratified 
 by three-fourths of said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and pur- 
 poses, as part of said Constitution : viz. 
 
 Articles in addition to, and amendment of the Constitution of the 
 United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the 
 Legislatures of the several states pursuant to the fifth article of the 
 original Constitution. 
 
 The first ten amendments of the Constitution were ratified by the 
 states as follows, viz : 
 
 By New Jersey, 20th November, 1789. 
 
 Bv Maryland, 19th December, 1789. 
 
 By North Carolina, 22d December, 1789. 
 
 By South Carolina, 19th January. 1790. 
 
 By New Hampshire, 25th January, 1790. 
 
 By Delaware, 28th January, 1790. 
 
 By Pennsylvania, 10th March, 1790. 
 
 By New York, 27th March, 1790. 
 
 By Rhode Island, 15th June, 1790. 
 
 By Vermont, 3d November, 1791. 
 
 By Virginia, 15th December. 1791. 
 
 5 
 
The following is 'prefixed to the eleventh of ihep eceding 
 amendments : 
 
 THIRD CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: 
 
 At the first session begun and held at the city of Philadelphia, in 
 the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the second of December, 
 one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three. 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both 
 Houses concurring, That the following Article be proposed to the 
 Legislatures of the several states, as an amendment to the Constitution 
 of the United States; which when ratified by three-fourths of the said 
 Legislatures shall be valid as pah of said Constitution, viz: 
 
 The following is prefixed to the twelfth of the preceding 
 amendments : 
 
 EIGHTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: 
 
 At the first session, begun and held, at the city of Washington, in the 
 Territory of Columbia, on Monday the seventeenth of October, 
 one thousand eight hundred and three. 
 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of 
 both Houses concurring, That in lieu of the third paragraph of the 
 first section of the second article of the Constitution of the United 
 States, the following be proposed as an amendment to the Constitution 
 of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fouiths of the leg- 
 islatures of the several states, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, 
 as part of said Constitution, to -wit : 
 
 The ten first of the preceding amendments were proposed at the 
 first session of the first Congress, of the United States, 25 September, 
 1789, and were finally ratified by the constitutional number of states, 
 on the 15th day of December, 1791. The eleventh amendment was 
 proposed at the first session of the third Congress, 5 March, 1794, 
 and was declared in a message from the President of the United States 
 to both houses of Congress, dated 8th January, 1798, to have been 
 adopted by the constitutional number of states. The twelfth amend- 
 ment was proposed at the first session of the eighth Congress, 12 De- 
 cember, 1803, and was adopted by the constitutional number of states 
 in 1804, according to a public notice thereof by the Secretary of 
 State, dated 25th September, of the same year. 
 
FAREWELL ADDRESS 
 
 OF 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON, 
 
 PRESIDENT, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES'. 
 September IT, 1796. 
 
 Friends and Fellow-citizens : 
 
 The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the 
 Executive Government of the United States being not far distant, and 
 the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in 
 designating the person who is :: be r i v-i:h that important trust, 
 it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more dis- 
 tinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprize you 
 of the resolution I have formed, to decline being considered among 
 the number of those out of whom a choice is to be made. 
 
 I beg you. at the same time, to do me the justice to be assured that 
 this resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the 
 considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful citizen 
 to his country: and that, in withdrawing the tender of service, which 
 silence, in my situation, might imply, I am influenced by no diminu- 
 tion of zeal for your future interest : no deficiency of grateful respect 
 for your past kindness: bat am supported by a full conviction that the 
 steri is compatible with both. 
 
 The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto m. the office to which 
 your suffrages have twice called me. have been a uniform sacrifice 
 of inclination to the opinion of duty, and to a deference for what ap- 
 peared to be your desire. I constantly hoped that it would have been 
 much earlier in my power, consistently with motives which I 
 vfis not at liberty to disregard, to rr.a.-n to to. a: retirement from which 
 I had been reluctantly drawn. The strength of my inclination to do 
 this, previous to the last election, had even led to the preparation of 
 aa address to declare it to you : but mature reflection on the then per- 
 plexed and critical posture of our affairs with foreign notions, and the 
 unanimous advice of persons entitled to my confidence, impelled me 
 to abandon the idea. 
 
I rejoice that the state of your concerns, external as well as inter- 
 nal, no longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible with, 
 the sentiment of duty or propriety; and am persuaded, whatever par- 
 tiality may be retained for my services, that, in the present circum- 
 stances of our country, you will not disapprove my determination to 
 retire. 
 
 The impressions with which I first undertook the arduous trust 
 were explained on the proper occasion. In the discharge of this 
 trust, I will only say, that I have with good intentions contributed to- 
 wards the organization and administration of the Government the 
 best exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable. Not 
 unconscious in the outset of the inferiority of my qualifications, ex- 
 perience, in my own eyes — perhaps still more in the eyes of others — 
 has strengthened the motives to diffidence of myself; and every day 
 the increasing weight of years admonish me, more and more, thai; 
 the shade of retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome, 
 Satisfied that if any circumstances have given peculiar value to my 
 services, they were temporary, I have the consolation to believe that, 
 while choice and prudence invite me to quit the political scene, patri- 
 otism does not forbid it. 
 
 In looking forward to the moment which is intended to terminate 
 the career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend 
 the deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude which I owe to 
 my beloved country for the many honors it has conferred upon me; 
 still more for the steadfast confidence with which it has supported 
 me; and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of manifesting 
 my inviolable attachment, by services faithful and persevering, 
 though in usefulness unequal to my zeal. If benefits have resulted 
 to our country from these services, let it always be remembered to 
 your praise, and as an instructive example in our annals, that, under 
 circumstances in which the passions, agitated in every direction, were 
 liable to mislead; amidst appearances sometimes dubious, vicissitudes 
 of fortune often discouraging; in situations in which, not unfrequent 
 }y, want of success has countenanced the spirit of criticism, — the coa- 
 stancy of your support was the essential prop of the efforts, and a 
 guarantee of the plans, by which they were effected. Profoundly 
 penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a 
 strong incitement to unceasing vows, that Heaven may continue to 
 you the choicest tokens of its beneficence; that your union and broth- 
 erly affection may be perpetual; that the free Constitution, which is 
 the work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained; that its ad 
 ministration, in every department, may be stamped with wisdom and 
 virtue ; that, in fine, the happiness of the people of these states, under 
 the auspices of liberty, may be made complete, by so careful a pree 
 ervation and so prudent a use of this blessing as will acquire to them. 
 the glory of reeomnundino- it to the applause, the affection, and the 
 adoption of every nation which is yet a stranger to it. 
 
 Here, perhaps, I ought to stop; but a solicitude for your welfare. 
 
09 
 
 which eannot end but with my life, and the apprehension of danger 
 saturat to that solicitude, urge me, on an occasion like the present, to 
 offer to your solemn contemplation, and to recommend to your fre- 
 quent review, some sentiments, which are the result of much reflec- 
 tioa, of no inconsiderable observation, and which appear to me all- 
 important to the permanency of your felicity as a people. These 
 will be offered to you wiih the more freedom, as you can only see 
 ia them the disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can pos- 
 sibly have no personal motive to bias his counsel : nor can I forget, as 
 an encouragement to it, your indulgent reception of my sentiments 
 on a former and not dissimilar occasion, 
 
 Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your 
 hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm 
 the attachment. 
 
 The unity of government which constitute you one people, is also 
 now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice 
 of your real independence — the support of you r tranquillity at home, 
 your peace abroad, of your safety, of your prosperity, of that very 
 liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, 
 from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be 
 taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the convic- 
 tion of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against 
 ■which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most con- 
 stantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed. 
 — it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the im- 
 mense value of your national union to your collective and individual 
 happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immova- 
 ble attachment to it ; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it 
 as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity: watching 
 for its preservation with jealous anxiety : discountenancing whatever 
 may suggest even a suspicion that it can, in any event, be abandoned : 
 and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to 
 alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the 
 •sacred ties which now link together the various parts. 
 
 For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. — 
 Citizens by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has 
 a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which 
 belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just 
 pride of patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local dis- 
 criminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same re- 
 ligion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have, in a. 
 common cause, fought and triumphed together : the independence and 
 liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels and joint efforts, of 
 common dangers, sufferings, and successes. 
 
 But these considerations, however powerfully they address them- 
 selves to your sensibility, are greatly outweighed by those which ap- 
 ply more immediately to your interest: here every portion of our 
 
70 
 
 country finds the most commanding motives for carefully guarding 
 and preserving the union of the whole. 
 
 The North, in an unrestrained intercourse with the South, protected 
 by the equal laws of a common government, finds, in the productions 
 of the latter, great additional resources of maritime and commercial 
 enterprise, and precious materials of manufacturing industry. The 
 South, in the same intercourse, benefitting by the agency of the North, 
 sees its agriculture grow, and its commerce expand. Turning partly 
 into its own channels the seamen of the North, it finds its particular, 
 navigation invigorated ; and while it contributes, in different ways, 
 to nourish and increase the general mass of the national navigation, 
 it looks forward to the protection of a maritime strength to which 
 itself is unequally adapted. The East, in like intercourse with the 
 West, already finds, and in the progressive improvement of interior 
 communication, by land and water, will more and more find, a valua- 
 ble vent for the commodities which it brings from abroad, or manu- 
 factures at home. The West derives from the East supplies requisite 
 to its growth and comfort; and what is perhaps of still greater con- 
 sequence, it must, of necessity, owe the secure enjoyment of indispen- 
 sable outlets for its own productions, to the weight, influence, and the 
 future maritime strength of the Atlantic side of the Union, directed 
 by an indissoluble community of interest as one nation. Any other 
 tenure by which the West can hold this essential advantage, whether 
 derived from its own separate strength, or from an apostate and unnat- 
 ural connexion with any foreign power, must be intrinsically 
 precarious. 
 
 While, then, every part of our country thus feels an immediateand 
 particular interest in union, all the parts combined cannot foil to find, 
 in the united mass of means and efforts, greater strength, greater 
 resource, proportionably greater security from external danger, a less 
 frequent interruption of their peace by foreign nations; and what is 
 of inestimable value, they must derive from union an exemption from 
 those broils and wars between themselves, which so frequently afflict 
 neighboring countries, not tied together by the same government; 
 which their own rivalship alone would be sufficient to produce, but 
 which opposite foreign alliances, attachments, and intrigues, would 
 stimulate and imbitter. " Hence, likewise, they will avoid the neces- 
 sity of those over-grown military establishments, which, under any 
 form of o-overnment, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be 
 regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty; in this sense 
 it is that your union ought to be considered as a main prop of your 
 liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the pres- 
 ervation of the other. 
 
 These considerations speak a persuasive language to every reflect- 
 ing and virtuous mind, and exhibit the continuance of the Union 
 as a primary object of patriotic desire. Is there a doubt, whether 
 a common government can embrace so large a sphere ? Let experi- 
 ence solve it. To listen to mere speculation, in such a case, were 
 
71 
 
 criminal. We are authorized to hope, that a proper organization of 
 the whole, with the auxiliary agency of governments for the respec- 
 tive subdivisions, will afford a happy issue to the experiment. It is 
 well worth a fair and full experiment. With such powerful and ob- 
 vious motives to Union, affecting all parts of our country, while expe- 
 rience shall not have demonstrated its impracticability, there will 
 always be reason to distrust the patriotism of those, who, in any 
 quarter, may endeavor to weaken its bands. 
 
 In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it 
 occurs, as a matter of serious concern, thai any ground should have 
 been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discrimina- 
 tions — Northern and Southern — Atlantic and Western: whence 
 designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a^real 
 difference of local interests and views. One of the expedients of party 
 to acquire influence within particular districts, is to misrepresent the 
 opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves 
 too much against the jealousies and heart-burnings which spring from 
 these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien from each other 
 those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection. The 
 inhabitants of our western country have lately had a useful lesson on 
 this head : they have seen the negotiation by the Executive, and in the 
 unanimous ratification by the Senate, of the treaty with Spain, and 
 in the universal satisfaction at that event throughout the United States, 
 a decisive proof how unfounded were the suspicions propagated 
 among them, of a policy in the General Government, and in the At- 
 lantic States, unfriendly to their interests in regard to the Mississippi : 
 they have been witnesses to the formation of two treaties — that with 
 Great Britain, and that with Spain, which secure to them every thing 
 they could desire in respect to our foreign relations, towards confirm- 
 ing their prosperity. Will it not be their wisdom to rely for the 
 preservation of these advantages on the Union by which they were 
 procured ? Will they not henceforth be deaf to those advisers, if such 
 there are, who would sever them from their brethren, and connect 
 chern with aliens? 
 
 To the efficacy and permanency of your Union, a Government for 
 the whole is indispensable. No alliance, however strict between the 
 parts, can be an adequate substitute; they must inevitably experience 
 the infractions and interruptions which all alliances, in all time, have 
 experienced. Sensible to this momentous truth, you have improved 
 upon your first essay, by the adoption of a Constitution of Govern- 
 ment better calculated than your former for an intimate Union, and 
 for the efficacious management of your common concerns, This 
 Government, the offspring of our own choice, uninfluenced and nn- 
 awed, adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation, com- 
 pletely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting 
 security with energy, and containing within itself a provision for its 
 own amendment, has a just claim to your confidence and your sup- 
 port. Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquies- 
 
 f 
 
72 
 
 eence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims 
 of true liberty. The basis of our political systems, is the right of 
 the people to make and to alter their constitutions of Government: 
 but the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an ex- 
 plicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory 
 upon all. The very idea of the power, and the right of the people 
 to establish Government, pre-supposes the duty of every individual to 
 obey the established Government. 
 
 All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and 
 associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design 
 to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and ac- 
 tion of the constituted authorities, are destructive to this fundamental 
 principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to 
 give it an artificial and extraordinary force, to put in the place of the 
 delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but 
 artful and enterprising minority of the community : and, according 
 to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public ad- 
 ministration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects 
 of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans, 
 digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests. 
 
 However combinations or associations of the above description 
 may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course 
 of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, am- 
 bitious, and unprincipled men, will be enabled to subvert the power of 
 the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of Government; des- 
 troying, afterwards, the very engines which had lifted them to unjust 
 dominion. 
 
 Towards the preservation of your Government, and the perma- 
 nency of your present happy state, it is requisite, not only that you 
 steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged au- 
 thority, but also that you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon 
 its principles, however specious the pretexts. One method of assault 
 may be to effect, in the forms of the Constitution, alterations which 
 will impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what 
 cannot be directly overthrown. In all the changes to which you 
 may be invited, remember that time and habit are at least as necessary 
 to fix the true character of governments as of other human institutions; 
 that experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tenden- 
 cy of the existing constitution of a country; that facility in changes, 
 upon the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to perpetual 
 change,from the endless variety of hypothesi'3 and opinion; and remem- 
 ber, especially, that for the efficient management of your common in- 
 terests,in a country so extensive as ours, a Government of as much vig- 
 or as is consistent with the perfect security of liberty, is indispensable. 
 Liberty itself will find in such a Government, with powers properly 
 distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian. It is, indeed, little else 
 than a name, where the Government is too feeble to withstand the 
 enterprises of faetion, to confine each member of the society within 
 
73 
 
 ihe limits prescribed by the laws, and to maintain all in the secure 
 and tranquil enjoyment of the rights of person and propertr. 
 
 I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, 
 "with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical 
 discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, 
 and warn you, in the most solemn manner, against the baneful 
 effects of the spirit of party generally. 
 
 This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having 
 is root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists un- 
 der different shapes, in all Governments, more or less stifled, con- 
 trolled, or repressed ; but in those of the popular form it is seen in 
 its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. 
 
 The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened 
 by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which, in dif- 
 ferent ages and countries, has perpetrated the most horrid enormi- 
 ties, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads, at length, to a 
 more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries 
 which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security 
 and repose in the absolute power of an individual ; and, sooner or 
 later, the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortu- 
 nate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of 
 "his own elevation on the ruins of public liberty. 
 
 Without looking forward to any extremity of this kind, (which, 
 nevertheless, ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and 
 continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the 
 interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. 
 
 It serves always to distract the public councils, and enfeeble the 
 public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded, 
 jealousies and false alarms ; kindles the animosity of one part against 
 another ; foments, occasionally, riot and insurrection. It opens the 
 door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated 
 access to the Government itself, through the channels of party pas- 
 sions; Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected 
 w the policy and will of another. 
 
 There is an opinion that parties, in free countries, are useful checks 
 upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep 
 alive the spirit of liberty. This, within certain limits, is probably 
 true ; and in Governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may 
 look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. 
 But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elec- 
 tive, it is a spirit not to be pncouraged. From their natural ten- 
 dency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for 
 every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, 
 the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and 
 assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigi- 
 lance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, 
 it should consume. 
 
 It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking, in a free 
 
74 
 
 country , should inspire caution in those intrusted with its adminis- 
 tration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional 
 spheres, avoiding, in the exercise of the powers of one department, 
 to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to 
 consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to 
 create, whatever the form of Government, a real despotism. A 
 just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it which 
 predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the 
 truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the 
 exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into dif- 
 ferent depositories, and constituting each the guardian of the public 
 weal, against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experi- 
 ments, ancient and modern ; some of them in our own country, and 
 under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to 
 institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or 
 modification of the constitutional powers be, in any particular, 
 wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the 
 Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpa- 
 tion ; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of 
 good, it is the customary weapon by which free Governments are 
 destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance, in 
 permanent evil, any partial or transient benefit which the use can 7 
 at any time, yield. 
 
 Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosper- 
 ity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would 
 that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to sub- 
 vert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of 
 the duties of men and citizens. The mere political!, equally with 
 the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them. A volume could 
 not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let- 
 it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputa- 
 tion, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths 
 which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? 
 And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can 
 be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to 
 the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, 
 reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morali- 
 ty can prevail in exclusion of re ? igious principles- 
 It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary 
 spring of popular Government. The rule, indeed, extends with 
 more or less force to every species of free Government. Who, that 
 is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts 
 to shake the foundation of the fabric ? 
 
 Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions 
 for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the struc- 
 ture of a Government gives force to public opinion, it is essential 
 that public opinion should be enlightened. 
 
 As a very important source of strength and security, cherish 
 
75 
 
 public credit. One method of preserving it is to use it as sparinglv 
 as possible; avoiding occasions of expense by cultivatingpeace, but 
 remembering also that timely disbursements to prepare for danger, 
 frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it ; avoid- 
 ing, likewise, the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning oc- 
 casions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to 
 discharge the debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned ; 
 not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we 
 ourselves ought to bear. The execution of these maxims belongs 
 to your representatives, but it is necessary that public opinion should 
 co-operate. To facilitate to them the performance of their duty, it 
 is essential that you should practically bear in mind, that towards 
 the payment of debts there must be revenue ; that to have revenue 
 there must be taxes: that no taxes can be devised, which are not 
 more or less inconvenient and unpleasant ; that the intrinsic embar- 
 rassment inseparable from the selection of the proper objects/ which 
 is always a choice of difficulties,) ought to be a decisive motive for 
 a candid construction of the conduct of the Government in making 
 it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the measures of obtaining rev- 
 enue, which the public exigencies "may at any time dictate. 
 
 Observe good faith and justice towards ail nations ; cultivate 
 peace and harmony with all ; religion and morality enjoin this con- 
 duct ; and can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it ? It 
 will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a 
 great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel 
 example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and be- 
 nevolence. Who can doubt that, in the course of time and things, 
 the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advan- 
 tages which might be lost by a steady adherence to it ? Can it be 
 that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation 
 with its virtue ? The experiment, at least, is recommended by 
 every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas 1 is it ren- 
 dered impossible by its vices ? 
 
 In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than 
 that permanent inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and 
 passionate attachments for others, should be excluded ; and that, in 
 place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cul- 
 tivated. The nation which indulges towards another an habitual 
 hatred, or an habitual fondness, is, in some degree, a slave. It is a 
 slave to its animosity or to its affection ; either of which is sufficient 
 to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one 
 nation against another, disposes each more readily to offer insult and 
 injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty 
 and intractable, when accidental or trilling occasions of dispute oc- 
 cur. Hence frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody 
 contests. The nation, prompted by ill will and resentment, some- 
 times impels to war the Government, contrary to the best calcula- 
 tions of policy . The Government sometimes participates in the 
 
76 
 
 national propensity, and adopts, through passion, what reason 
 would reject ; at other times it makes the animosity of the natioa 
 subservient to projects of hostility, instigated by pride, ambition, 
 and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, some- 
 times perhaps the liberty, of nations has been the victim. 
 
 So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation to another 
 produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, fa- 
 cilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases 
 where no real, common interest exists, and infusing into one the en- 
 mities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the 
 quarrels and wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or 
 justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of 
 privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the nation 
 making the concessions ; by unnecessarily parting with what ought 
 to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill will, and a dis- 
 position to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are 
 withheld ; and it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens 
 (who devote themselves to the favorite nation) facility to betray, 
 or sacrifice the interest of their own country, without odium ; 
 sometimes even with popularity ; gilding with the appearance of a 
 virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public 
 opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish com- 
 pliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation. 
 
 As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such at- 
 tachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and 
 independent patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to 
 tamper with domestic factions, to practice the art of seduction, to 
 mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils i 
 Such an attachment of a small or weak, towards a great and power- 
 ful nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter. 
 
 Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to 
 believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to 
 be constantly awake ; since history and experience prove that for- 
 eign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican Govern- 
 ment. But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial; else it 
 becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead 
 of a defence against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, 
 and excessive dislike for another, cause those whom they actuate to 
 see danger only on one side, and serve to veil, and even second, 
 the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, who may resist 
 the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and 
 odious ; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence 
 of the people, to surrender their interests. 
 
 The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, 
 m extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little 
 political connexion as possible. So far as we have already formed 
 engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let 
 us stop. 
 
77 
 
 Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have Bone, or 
 a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent 
 controversies, the cause of which are essentially foreign to our con- 
 cerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate our- 
 selves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, 
 or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or 
 enmities. 
 
 Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pur- 
 sue a different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient 
 Government, the period is not far off when we may defy material 
 injury from external annoyance ; when we may take such an atti- 
 tude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upoe, 
 to be scrupulously respected ; when belligerent nations, under the 
 impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard 
 the giving us provocation ; when we may choose peace or war, as 
 our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel. 
 
 Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation ? Why quit 
 our own to stand upon foreign ground ? Why, by interweaving 
 our* destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and 
 prosperity in the toils of European*- ambition, rivalship, interest, 
 humor, or caprice ? 
 
 It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any 
 portion of the foreign world ; so far, I mean, as we are now at lib- 
 erty to do it ; for let me not be understood as capable of patronising 
 infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less ap- 
 plicable to public than private affairs, that honesty is always the 
 best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be ob- 
 served in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unneces- 
 sary, and would be unwise to extend them. ' 
 
 Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, 
 on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to tempora- 
 ry alliances for extraordinary emergencies. 
 
 Harmony, and a liberal intercourse with all nations, are recom- 
 mended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commer- 
 cial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand ; neither seek- 
 ing nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the 
 natural course of things ; diffusing and diversifying, by gentle means, 
 the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing ; establishing, witk 
 powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to defies? 
 the rights of our merchants, and to enable the Government to sup- 
 port them, conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present 
 eircumstances and mutual opinions will permit, but temporary, and 
 liable to be, from time to time, abandoned or varied, as experience 
 and circumstances shall dictate ; constantly keeping in view, that it 
 is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another : 
 that it must pay, with a portion of its independence, for whatever 
 it may accept under that character ; that by such acceptance it may 
 
place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for 
 nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for 
 not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect, 
 or calculate upon, real favors from nation to nation. It is an illu- 
 sion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to 
 discard. 
 
 In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and 
 affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and 
 lasting impression I" could wish ; that they will control the usual 
 current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the 
 course which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations ; but if I 
 may even flatter myself that they may be productive of some par- 
 tial benefit, some occasional good ; that they may now and then recur 
 to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs 
 of foreign intrigues, to guard against the impostures of pretended 
 patriotism ; this hope will he a full recompense for the solicitude 
 for your welfare by which they have been dictated. 
 
 How far, in the discharge of my official duties, I have been guid- 
 ed by the principles which have been delineated, the public records, 
 and other evidences of my conduct, must witness to you and the 
 world. To myself, the assurance of my own conscience is, that I 
 have at least believed myself to be guided by them. 
 
 In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my proclamation 
 of the 22d of April, 1793, is the index of my plan. Sanctioned 
 by your approving voice, and by that of your Representatives in 
 both Houses of Congress, the spirit of that measure has continually 
 governed me, uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or divert me 
 from it. 
 
 After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best lights I 
 could obtain, I was well satisfied that our country, under all the 
 circumstances of the case, had a right to take, and was bound in 
 duty and interest to take, a neutral position. Having taken it I 
 determined, as far as should depend upon me, to maintain it with 
 moderation, perseverance, and firmness. 
 
 The considerations which respect the right to hold this conduct, 
 it is not necessary on this occasion to detail. I will only observe, 
 that, according to my understanding of the matter, that right, so 
 far from being denied by any of the belligerent powers, has been 
 virtually admitted by all. 
 
 The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, without 
 any thing more, from the obligation which justice and humanity 
 impose on every nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to main- 
 tain inviolate the relations of peace and amity towards other nations. 
 
 The inducements of interest, for observing that conduct, will 
 best be referred to your own reflections and experience. With me, 
 a predominent motive has been to endeavor to gain time to our 
 country to settle and mature its yet recent institutions, and to 
 progress, without interruption, to that degree of strength and 
 
79 
 
 consistency which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the 
 command ot its own fortunes. 
 
 Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am 
 unconscious of intentional error ; I am, nevertheless, too sensible 
 of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed 
 many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Al- 
 mighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I 
 shall also carry with me the hope, that my Country will never cease 
 to view them with indulgence : and that, after forty-five years of 
 my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of 
 incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must 
 soon be to the mansions of rest. 
 
 Relying on its kindness in this, as in other things, and actuated 
 by that fervent love towards it which is so natural to a man who 
 views in it the native soil of himself and his progenitors for several 
 generations, I anticipate, with pleasing expectation, that retreat in 
 which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoy- 
 ment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign 
 influence of good laws under a free Government — the ever favorite 
 object of my heart — and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutu- 
 al cares, labors, and dangers. 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 United Stater, 17th September, 1796. 
 
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