The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-05-13

a state which acting for itself, has within its
own borders treated slavery as an evil both
in the abstract and in practice,- and 1t is
for the single purpose of expressing them
that this convention has been assembled.
It's members have been chosen at meetings
held without distinction of party in the sew
eral counties of the state, and most of them
have been especially charged by the Ian
guage of their commission to "assure our
brethren of the Southern states, that we, as
state, are opposed to the schemes of the
immediate abolitionists, and that we will to
the utmost of our ability defend and sus-
tain the constitution of the United States,
and that compact by which we are united
as one people,"
Sensible of the importance of declaring
frankly and accurately the general senti-
ment of Pennsylvania on this subject, the
convention, after full consultation; has a.
dopted, in the name of its constituents, the
following resolutions:
ResoLUed, That the government of the
United States, has no constitutional power
whatever, over the relation of master and
slave, in any ofthe states of the Union.
ReSoLUed, That whether congress does
or does not possess the right of legislating
on the subject of the abolition of slavery
within the district of Columbia, it would be
unwise and impolitic in the extreme, to as
sert or exercise such right; as any attempt
to do so would impair the harmony and
mutual confidence of the states, if not peril
the integrity of the Union.
RrsOtUed, That each state has the ex-
elusive right under the constitution, to Judge
of, establish and maintain within its own
borders, its own system of domestic rela-
tons and domestic policy; and that every
attempt by the citizens of one state to de-
nounce or invalidate the established institu-
tions of another, is unwarranted by the
constitution, and hostile to the peace and
harmony of the Union.
ReSotUed, That no state could be Justly
required to recognise as valid, under the
constitutional compact of the states, mea-
sure which should violate its internal secu-
rlty and peace, or abrogate the rights of
property of its citizens; and that we pledge
ourselves. to unite with the people of the
other states, in opposing such infractions of
the constitution, and in maintaining the do
mestic repose of every member of this con-
federation.
ResotOed, That the project of colonizing,
on the coast of Africa, free persons of color
and manumitted slaves, to be carried thither
with their own consent, does hold out to
the patriot and philanthropist, the hope of
the ultimate abolition of slavery, the eleva-
,s2fib of the African race to a state of equality
WIN 'n0 Iost "a .s-a7-----..-- c,..I 4
tension Of the blessings Of civiii2;fttJhlee tJhe & eX-
self-government, and the diffusion of the
principles of the Sacred Gospel of Peace
within that benighted region; and that the
praisworthy efforts of the colonization So
cieties, to bring about these most desirable
results, are entitled to the best wishes and
the hearty cooperation of all the friends of
the peace, order, harmony and integrity of
the union of these states.
Resolved, That a copy of these pro-
ceedings be forwarded to the President of
the United States, the governors of the sew
eral states and the members of the Senate
and House of Representatives of the Uni
ted States.