apostles of liberty that formed it; entertaining with ardor and sincerity, a Reeling of horror at all attempts by one section of the Union to violate the rights of another; and cherishing the spirit of liberty and equality, actual and positive, in government, above and far beyond unequal laws and odious oppression, I may be permitted here to reaffirm the sentiments with which I went before the People of the State, in the late election, as containing my opinion that further aggression is not to be endured, and, if attempted by the Federal Government, must be repelled, all amicable means being first exhausted, by all the power, moral and physical, at the command of the State.
With the confident belief that the opinions here expressed, accord strictly with those of the great body of our constituents, I feel it my duty to ask of you the passage of an act investing the Executive with the authority to convoke a convention of the people of the Slate to take into consideration the measures proper for their safety and preservation, in the event of the passage of the Wilmot Proviso, or other kindred measure, by the Congress of the United States.—Relying upon the purity of our motives, and feeling deeply impressed with the magnitude of the duties that devolve upon us, let us ever be mindful that our strength and capacity for usefulness come alone from that Being, whose favor is success, whose aid is omnipotence.
On motion of Mr. Bryan, one hundred and fifty copies of the message just read, were ordered to be printed for the use of the House.
A Committee on the part of the Senate, consisting of Messrs Cochran, Sanford, and Chisolm, appeared at the bar of the House, and announced to the Speaker, that in pursuance of an order of their body, they then attended to deliver to the House the returns from the several counties in this State, of the election of Governor, the same having been sent to the Senate by his excellency the Governor, which were received.
Mr. Wiggins offered the following resolution, which was adopted, to-wit:
Resolved, That the Clerk be directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives are now ready to receive them in their Chamber immediately, for the purpose of counting out and adding up the votes polled at the last gubernatorial election.
The President and members of the Senate attended in the House of Representatives, and the General Assembly proceeded to examine and count the votes returned from the several counties in this State for Governor, and on counting up and consolidating the same, it appeared that George W
