Ladies and Gentlemen,

73 years ago in Philadelphia, our great state renounced a tyrannical colonial power and entered into a compact with 13 other faithful, separate and distinct states. The great state of Georgia agreed with all of our Constitutions benevolent values. However, we held one in particularly high regard: the reserved rights of states. The Constitution guaranteed states their reserved right to govern, under a limited national power. This was a pivotal component to our agreement.

Recently, however, this agreement has been compromised. The Northern elite has attempted to defy the Constitution and impose their foreign values on our peculiar industry. The agreement we once thought inviolable has been trampled on by the boots of the Northern Union. They consider states rights a privilege given to us by their establishment. However, contrary to their aristocratic ideals, our reserved right is a fundamental component of our nation.

For we did not join a United State of America, but rather, a United States of America.

A continual disregard for this essential ingredient of nationhood has resulted in sectionalism and disunity. Unless, our Constitutional agreement is revisited and renewed, sectionalism will evolve into secessionism.

Mr. President, Congress, and fellow citizens, heed our warnings! This agreement we once willingly entered into has corroded. The principles we valued so dearly have been abandoned.

This common document that once united our nation has been lost, and our ability to govern effectively has been dismantled.

The Norths disregard for our agreement has been demonstrated frequently and publicly. They forget that our nation, the United States of America, was founded upon core principles. It was not intended to be a nation of one strong, federal administration, but rather, the Union of states tied to a limited federal government. The Lincoln elite want to impose their strong, powerful, and tyrannical central government on our people.1 Georgia, we will, rather we must retain our independence. Our state is much unlike the North. Our plantations, our peaches, out people, our beauty is sacred and fundamental to this society. It is our responsibility as Georgians to preserve and protect these values foreign to the North.

The Norths intentions are clear. If an Abolitionist be chosen President of the United States, you will have presented to you the question of whether you will permit the government to pass into the hands of your avowed and implacable enemies.2 The frightening reality that a Abolitionist may hold our nations greatest office exemplifies tyranny. The election of Lincoln would be a regressive solution to our problem. Georgia, we need a President who will represent us. A President who will be for the people, by the people. A President that will embodied the democratic principles we agreed to 73 years ago.

However, the election of a democratic president will not fully resolve our great debate. Our problem, our struggle against the North is much greater. We the People of Georgia require

1 Anson D. Morse, The Cause of Secession, Political Science Quarterly 2(3): 482. 2 Glenn M. Linden, Voices From the Gathering Storm (Scholarly Resources, 2001), 177. 2

constitutional protections to preserve our prosperity and cultural integrity. Our demands are quite simple we require two Constitutional provisions: The recognition of slavery where the people choose it, and the remedy for fugitive slaves.3 Only through these can we guarantee that our right to self-governance is preserved. These clauses will protect that peculiar industry the Northerners will never understand and reinforce our protected right to property. I am not claiming that these will totally resolve our grievances with the North. However, they will take the first step in securing our future ties to the Union.

This great nation was built on the backs of Southerners. The great states of the South, including our dear Georgia, contributed heavily to the economic, political and social development of this nation. Now, we are being taken for granted. Ours, and the Unions economic success has relied heavily on our institution of slavery.4 Throughout the years, this peculiar institution has created prosperity and wealth throughout the United States. Yet now, the falsely altruistic Northerners want to take this institution away from us, threatening our livelihoods. I for one, will not let this stand! The United States of America was founded on democratic principles. Our nations fathers fought to ensure that we would never suffer from undemocratic, repressive decisions. Unfortunately, these principles are being trampled upon by a group of elitist foreigners.

Many great states of this Union have openly accepted slavery, while others have not. The States denying our peculiar institution have been allowed to continue their tradition. While, the states accepting slavery have been demonized and are being forced to abandon their property.5

3 Robert W. Johannsen, The Union in Crisis, 1850 - 1877 (The Free Press, 1965), 24. 4 Ralph A. Wooster, The Secession Conventions of the South (Princeton University Press, 1962), 260. 5 Donald R. Hadd, The Irony of Secession, The Florida Historical Quarterly, 41(1), 25. 3

Ladies and gentlemen, what kind of democracy is this? What kind of democracy infringes on a states rights and demonizes their fellow citizens?

Furthermore, in newly admitted territory the North insists, that while the territory was partly acquired by Southern men, is partly owned by Southern men, that they shall be excluded from its soil - that they shall not carry their property into their own land - land which is theirs by right.6 Friends, these are the anti-democratic principles our Union has succumb to. They are abolishing slavery throughout the nation and newly acquired territories without the consent of its residents. They are banishing Southern men, who rightly own territory in new lands, from possessing slaves. This is the bleak state of our Union.

There is only one solution to the cited problems - constitutional provisions. This nation is losing sight of its constitutional obligations. The ruling North is becoming more and more disconnected with the integral South. Our nation, as it stands, is divided and en route to ruin. America, Georgia, we must revisit that revered agreement made 73 years ago. The United States of America has changed rapidly since those founding fathers sat in Pennsylvania. Our constitution must be amended to ensure continued strength and unity. A provision to accept slavery where people choose it would strengthen the Constitutions core principles and relieve many of the Southern states.

Along with an agreement to allow states to choose their destiny, the Union can save our bond through the perpetual, national enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act.7 Since its inception, the

6 Johannsen, 35. 7 Wooster, 80. 4

Fugitive Slave Law has not been upheld in many parts of the nation. This demonstrates our Unions great decline. Friends, we have reached a point where not even the rule of law exists. This disgusts me. The failure of certain states to uphold their national obligation is terrifying. The question I ask is: If they are not ready to hold their end of the bargain, are we? A Constitutional provision would be the only adequate measure to guarantee that the rule of law is upheld. Georgia, we need to ensure that our property is protected. Unless there is a constitutional provision to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act, we will have lost control of our property.

Slavery is a peculiar institution. It was not founded by us, but our fathers. It is not a nicety, but a necessity.8 The state of Georgia as well as the United States has relied heavily on this institution. Our citizens and families rely on it to make a living. I, for one, will not let some foreign Northerners take this away from us. They do not, nor will they ever, understand the intricacies of slavery. We need this. I will not let them take it away from us.

Today, we stand at a crossroad. We can choose union or secession, each of which has their advantages and disadvantages. However, if we continue in a union, we must prepare ourselves for the possible consequences. We must prepare ourselves for a disconnected, undemocratic government willing to inflict their Abolitionist agenda on our free loving state. We must be prepared for a declining economy, starving families and the end of freedom.

Personally, this is not a nation I want to live in.

8 Johanssen, 38. 5

Now, I am not saying that the Union is doomed. Rather, today, Ive shown you - the American people, the great state of Georgia - that there are solutions. We need to revisit and renew our national agreement. We must ensure that the principles that founded this great Union remain strong.

My friends, if this does not occur, I believe that stronger action must be taken. We must ensure that our property, our culture, our livelihoods are protected.

Ladies and gentlemen, we need to unite around the principles that made this nation great. If the North accepts my proposition, I believe we can remain a strong Union. If they do not, we, Georgians, will defend our rights. I want to send a message to Washington. Georgia, along with the rest of the South, will do whatever it takes to preserve our inalienable rights. So, if they continue to abuse our great state, they will face the consequences. Either way, together, we will we will renew that sacred document we signed on to 73 years ago. We will renew America. Thank you.