not the author of "popular sovereignty," was
absent on account of illness, and there were a few other absentees.

The conclusion of a speech, in reply to Mr. Douglas, a few days before
the vote was taken on these resolutions, is introduced here as the best
evidence of the position of the author at that period of excitement and
agitation:

Conclusion of Reply to Mr. Douglas, _May 17, 1860_.

"Mr. President: I briefly and reluctantly referred, because the
subject had been introduced, to the attitude of Mississippi on a
former occasion. I will now as briefly say that in 1851, and in
1860, Mississippi was, and is, ready to make every concession
which it becomes her to make to the welfare and the safety of
the Union. If, on a former occasion, she hoped too much from
fraternity, the responsibility for her disappointment rests upon
those who failed to fulfill her expectations. She still clings
to the Government as our fathers formed it. She is ready to-day
and to-morrow, as in her past and though brief yet brilliant
history, to maintain that Government in all its power, and to
vindicate its honor with all the means she possesses. I say
brilliant history; for it was in the very morning of her
existence that her sons, on the plains of New Orleans, were
announced, in general orders, to have been the admiration of one
army and the wonder of the other. That we had a division in
relation to the measures enacted in 1850, is true; that the
Southern rights men became the minority in the election which
resulted, is true; but no figure of speech could warrant the
Senator in speaking of them as subdued--as coming to him or
anybody else for quarter. I deemed it offensive when it was
uttered, and the scorn with which I repelled it at the instant,
time has only softened to contempt. Our flag was never borne
from the field. We had carried it in the face of defeat, with a
knowledge that defeat awaited it; but scarcely had the smoke of
the battle passed away which proclaimed another victor, before
the general voice admitted that the field again was ours. I have
not seen a sagacious, reflecting man, who was cognizant of the
events as they transpired at the time, who does not say that,
within two weeks after the election, our party was in a
majority; and the next election which occurred showed that we
possessed