Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-02-25


The following are the Resolutions re-
ported to the Legislature by the Com.
mittee upon the communications from
several of the Southern States, upon the
subject of the writings and proceedings
Of the Abolnionisls in the Norh-r,,
States; the consideration of hicl has
been post iponed to The neat session Of the
General Assembly.
Resoired, That in the people Of the
several States exclusively resides the
right and power Of Judging and deciding
upon all questions and concerns relating
TO slavery within their respective limits:
and any interference with that right and
power, by the United States or by indi-
v'dunl States, "r any Of their citizens,
would be an unwarrantable act ofaggres.
sion, which the injured State would have
perfect right to repel.
Resoired, That the obligat which,
ny the laws ofnati"ns, every indie pei ndent
State is under TO all others, to restrain
Hs own citizens and all persons within its
jurisdiction, from acts Of hostility, and
from all practices and Vaccinations af-
iecting their safety and welfare ought TO
be most strongly felt and most faithfully
regarded aud fulfilled by the States iu
this Union, bound together, as they are,
by their own solemn compact. On such
occasions, the warmest professions Of
sympathy, or the strongest expressions Of
disapprobntion Of such practices, are no
discharge of that obligation.
Resoirsd, That attempts, whether d..
rect or indirect, secret or open; by what
ever means carried .on; to render the
slaves Of the South discontinued with
their lot: TO influence them with hatred
and revenge against their masters; and
thus 10 excite them to insnrrection; with
all its train Of horrors, involving the de-
strnction Of the slaves themselves, are
enemies tor which no punishment can he
too severe. Those who shall be guilty
of such attempts will make themselves
conspirators against the peace, safety,
rights and lives of the whole white pop
ulation Of the slave holding States:-
against the governments and institutions
of those States, and against the Union
itself.
Rrsoired, That tn punish the authors
"f ire asonablc, scditious, or defamatory
libeIs, il the best preservation ofthe free
dom Of the press and the right Of free
discussion, as well as the only safeguard
80 private character, and 10 the peace
and good order Of civil society; and while
we insist upon the right of the citizens
at all proper times, and on all proper oc-
casions freely to discuss any matter Of
opinions, whether in politics or morals;
yet we deprecatc any attempt, by any
person or persons, to prostitute such free
dom Of discussion to the purposes Of dis
organization, or unprinciplrd defamation.
Resoired, That His Excellency, the
Governor, he requested to transmit CO.
pies of the foregoing resolutions tn our
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress, and tn the Executive Of each OF
the States in the Union.
The following is the bill reported with
the above resolutions:
BE H. enacted By the General assembly,
and By the authority thereof ~ hsrfoy
enacted, That all libellous publications.
and all sediii",. practices having man
iCest tendency and design to disturb the
peace OF any Of the States in this Union,
bv exciting the slaves to insurrection,
shall he deemed, and hereby are de-
clared to I've, public wrongs and criminal
offences; and every person who shall he
convicted of any such offence betnre the
Supreme Judicial Court, upon indictment
preferred against him hy the Attorney
General, shall be imprisoned not exceed
ing ---, and fined by said
Court not exceeding - dollars; and
for every subsequent offence of'he same
kind, every such offender, upon conv'c-
,ion as aforesaid, shall be imprisoned not
exceeding ---, and be fined by
sa;d Court not exceeding dol