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http://www.archive.org/details/resolutionsofleg1860legi

[Document GG.]

BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES,

March Ist, 1860. Read and ordered to be printed.

— <W^ ' -S, T--^-'

RESOLUTIONS

OP THE

LEGISLATURE OF MISSISSIPPI,

IN FAVOE OF A SOUTHERN CONVENTION.

(copy.)

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

Jackson, Miss., February 20th, 1860.

Sir : I herewith transmit a copy of the Resolutions, passed by the Legislature of this State, agreeably to the requirements of the fifth of said Resolutions. Very respectfully,

JOHN J. PETTUS,

Governor of Mississippi.

RESOLUTIONS.

Ist. Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi^ That the Constitution of the United States recognizes proper- ty in slaves, and the Oovernment created by it cannot, nor can any tribunal acting under its authority, whether it be executive, legislative, or judicial, within its appropriate sphere, justly withhold from the owners of slaves that ade- quate protection for their slave property, to which the owners of property of other kinds are entitled, or which from its na- ture they may further require to secure them in its possession and enjoyment.

2nd. That the election of a President of the United States, by the votes of one section of the Union only, on the ground that there exists an irreconcilable conflict between the two sections, in reference to their respective systems of labor, and with an avowed purpose of hostility to the institution of sla- very as it prevails in tlie Southern States, and as recognized

by the compact of Union, would go threaten a destruction oi the ends for which the Constitution was formed as to justify the slareholdiug States on taking counsel together for their separate protection and safety.

3rd. That in order to be prepared for such a contingency, Mississippi accepts the invitation of South Carolina to her sis- ter slaveholding States, to meet in convention, and proposes the first 3Ioaday in June next, and Atlanta, G-eorgia, as a suitable time and place, to meet to counsel together, and re- commend the action they should take in such an event — which, shall be reported to the Grovernor, who shall convene the Legislature, if in his judgment it may be required, and that this Legislature, at its present session, proceed to elect seven delegates to the convention at Atlanta.

4th. That a commissioner be appointed by the Governor to proceed to the capital of Virginia ; and express to the people of that Commonwealth, th.rough her Executive, the indigna- tion that Mississippi feels at the outrage committed in the re- cent invasion of her soil, and the readiness and determination of 3Iississippi to unite with her, or any other slaveholding State, in repelling any assailment of their people or their rights ; and that said commissioner also present to her Exe- cutive a copy of these resolutions, and invite her co-operation in the proposed convention.

5th. That the GJ-overnor of this State be requested to trans- mit a copy of these resolutions to the Governors of each of the slaveholding States of the Union, to be laid before their Leg- islatures, and invite their co-operation.

Approved, February lOth, 1860.

JOHN J. PETTUS,

Governor. .

A. B. DiLWORTH.

Secretarv of State.

JULY 75

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