well-constructed and just Constitution, the Legislature may, with strict regard to truth, be said to be the true representative of the State. It has heretofore proved to be so in the appointment of Electors. In no instance has it deceived or betrayed the State in reference to it.

Nor am I aware of any formidable objection against continuing the present mode, growing out of the late act of Congress, which may not be met by an amendment of our State Constitution, fixing an earlier day for the meeting of the Legislature every fourth year; so that it may be in session to comply with its provisions, and in having a called session for that purpose, until the amendment can be made. But whether this should be done, or the district system adopted, notwithstanding the hazard of dividing the vote of the State, are questions to be decided, not so much by reference to principle as considerations of expediency, in reference to which the Legislature is the most competent to decide.

To this

But it is urged that a change must be made, because the Legislature has no right to appoint the Electors. it may be fairly answered, that the objection comes too late. The Federal Government has been in operation more than half a century, during which time there have been fifteen Presidential elections, in each of which one or more States have appointed their Electors by the Legislature, and in not a single instance have the two Houses of Congress, in counting votes, objected to receive the vote of a State because it was cast by Electors appointed by its Legislature.

But, waiving this answer, I cannot perceive any solid ground for the objection. The Federal Constitution expressly vests the power of appointing the Electors in the States; that is, as has been shown, in their organized character as constituting a body politic, and the power of directing the manner of appointing in their Legislatures, without qualification. It is left to their discretion to decide whether it shall be done directly by the people of the State, or indirect

ly through intermediate agents, provided the manner directed shall be such as to be fairly the act of the State; that is, of the people in the character above stated. The more perfectly and fully it would be theirs in that character, the more perfectly and fully will the intention of the Constitution be complied with, whether done through the direct vote of the people, or any intermediate agency, including the Legislature. But it is certain, that with us, whatever may be the case in the other States, no other agency can be constituted, or any other mode of appointment adopted, that would more perfectly and fully represent the State, or make the appointment more truly its act, than that by its Legislature.

I have now complied with your request, with as much brevity as possible, considering the importance and complex character of the question involved. I have, indeed, experienced no inconsiderable difficulty, in discussing some of the points, to express myself with sufficient clearness to be well understood, without going into a discussion of some of the fundamental principles of political science, if it may be so called, and thereby increase, unreasonably, the length of my answer to your request. As it is, I fear, in attempting to avoid prolixity, I have not sufficiently explained my meaning, on some of the points, to escape obscurity.

In conclusion, permit me to say, if what I have written should shed an additional ray of light on the nature and character of our excellent State Constitution, or contribute in any degree to guard against the adoption of any measure calculated to impair or weaken it, I shall feel myself amply compensated for the time and reflection I have bestowed on this communication.

I am, with great respect, yours, &c. &c.,

J. C. CALHOUN, "Messrs. JAMES L. ORR, WILLIAM SLOAN, A. EVINS and F. W. SYMMES."

ADDRESS

On taking the chair of the Southwestern Convention, Memphis, Nov. 13th, 1845.

I thank you gentlemen for the distinguished honor you have conferred on me in calling me to preside over your meeting.

The object of your deliberations, as announced in the Circular of your Committee calling the Convention, is the Development of the Resources of the Western and Southern States. It will be for you to determine, after a full deliberation, what their resources are; how they can best be developed; and how far the aid of the General Government may be invoked for that purpose. But I trust it will not

be deemed out of place for me to state my views on those points.

The region occupied by the Western and Southern States is of vast extent. It may be divided into three parts. The first and greatest is the magnificent valley in the midst of which we now stand, and which is drained by the mighty stream whose current rolls under the bluff on which your city is located. It extends north and south nearly through the entire breadth of the Temperate Zone, and east and west from the Rocky to the Alleghany Mountains; and occupies in its northern extension a position, midway between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The next is that portion which stretches east from the mouth of the Mississippi River along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, as far as cotton, rice and tobacco, are cultivated. The other stretches from the Mississippi westward, along the Gulf of Mexico to the Mexican line. I say the Mexican line,-for although Texas, is not yet annexed, the day is near at hand when she will shine as one of the brightest stars in our political constellation.

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The vast region comprehending these three divisions may be justly called the great agricultural portion of our Union. Its climate is so various; its extent so vast; its soil so fertile, that it is capable of yielding all the products of that zone in the greatest perfection and abundance. Already much has been done to develope its great resources. Already all the leading articles of food and raiment are produced in sufficient abundance, not only for its own wants and for those of other portions of the United States, but to require the demand of the markets of the world to consume. In addition, it produces the articles of tobacco, lead, tar, turpentine and lumber, far beyond the home consumption; and in a short time the fertile valleys and extensive prairies of the northern portions of this great valley, will add to the list of exports the important articles of hemp and wool, and the southern plains, when Texas is annexed, will add that of sugar.

I approach now, gentlemen, the important question. How shall we, who inhabit this vast region, develope its great resources? For this purpose there is one thing needful, and only one-and that is, that we shall get a fair remunerating price for all that we may produce. If we can obtain such a price, this vast region, under the active industry of its intelligent and enterprising inhabitants, will become the garden of the world! How is this to be effected? There is but one mode by which it can be, and that is, to enlarge our market in proportion to the increase of our production. This again can be obtained only in one way-and that is, by free and ready transit for persons and merchandise between the various portions of this vast region, and between it and other portions of the Union and the rest of the world.

The question then is, How shall we accomplish such a transit? For this purpose Nature has been eminently propitious to us.

I begin with this vast valley drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries. Nothing more is necessary to secure a cheap, speedy, certain and safe transit between all its parts, but the improvement of its navigation and that of its various great tributaries. That done, a free and safe communication may be had between every portion. To secure a like communication between it and the Southern Atlantic cities, the first and great point is, to adopt such measures as shall keep open at all times, in peace and war, a communication, through the coasting trade, between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. This is the great thoroughfare which, if interrupted would as certainly produce a revolution in the commercial system, as the stoppage of one of the great arteries of the body, would in the human. To guard against such effects in the event of war, it is indispensable to establish at Pensacola, or some other place in the Gulf, a naval station of the first class, with all the means of building and repairing vessels of war, with a portion of our Navy permanently attached. But this of itself will not be sufficient. It is indispensable to fortify impregnably the Tortugas, which lie midway between Florida Point and Cuba, and command the passes between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast. And to this must be added a naval force of steamers or other vessels, which will habitually command our own coast against any foe. It will also be necessary that the bar at the Balize shall be kept at all times open, so far as it can be effected, cost what it may.

But other measures will be indispensably necessary to facilitate the intercourse between this great valley and the Southern Atlantic coast. With all the advantages possessed by the coasting trade between the Gulf and the Atlantic, be it ever so well secured against interruption, there is one great objection to which it is liable. The Peninsula of Florida projects far to the south, which makes the voyage from New Orleans and the other ports of the Gulf to the Southern