Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-01-23

Reso!Ued, That the Union of these
States rests upon the virtue and ntelII-
gence Of the citizens in supporting the
Constitution of the United States, and
not upon any supposed advantages it |
may affordt to any particular State and
that it is the solemn duty of all, more
especially of this body, which repre-
sents theStates in their sovereign char
actcr to resist all attempts to discrlm-
mate between the States; and that 1t
would be unwise, unjust, and contrary
to the constitution to annex any new
Territory. or States to this conteder-
ac1-, with view to the advantage OF
any State, or its peculiar domestic IN
stitutions; that such an attempt would
be contrary to that equality of rights
which one object of the Constitution
was to secure alike to all the States:
and if done to favor the slaveholdng
States, for the purpose of giving to
those States a !preponderance in this
Government would i'll effect, be to es-
tablish slavery in all the States.
ReSozved, That to regulate com
merce among the several States is an
express power granted by the Constr.
tuition to the Congress of the United
States. That in the exercise of this
power, Congress may rightfully pro-
hibit any article, though made property
by the laws of State, from being used
in such commerce, If the same would
be detrimental to the general welfare.
Resolved, That Congress has pos
sessed the power since the year 1908
to prohibit the importation of persons
into any State as articles of commerce
or merchandise.
ResozUed, That the political condi-
ton of the people within the District
of Columbia is subject to State rogula-
ton; and that Congress, in the exercise
ofits legislative powers over the Dis
trict, are bound by the will of their
Constituents in the same manner as
when legislating for the people of the
United States generally.
ResOlUed, Tha: this Government
was founded and has been sustained
by the force of public opinion, and that
the free and full exercise Of that opin-
on is absolutely necessary:for its health
ful action; and that any system which
will not bear the test of public investi-
CATION is at war with its fundamental
principles; and that any proceedings
on the part of those who administer
the Government of the United States,
or any citizen thereof, which are inten-
ded or calculated to make disreputab!e
the free and full exercise of the thoughts
and opinions of any portion Of our cit
zens on any subject connected with
the political, moral, or religious institu
tons OF country, whether expressedby
petitions to Congress or otherwise, by
attaching to the character of such citi-
zens odious and reproachful names and
eplthets, strikes at the very foundation
OF all civil Institutions, as well as our
personal safety: poisons the very foun-
datlons of public justice, and excites
mobs and other unlawful assemblies to
deeds of violence and blood. That our
only safety is in tolcrating error of opin-
ion while reason is free to combat It.
ResotOed, That the ndisputable
right ofany State, or any citizen there
OF, as well as Indispensable duty, to
endeavor,by all legal and constitutional
means, to abolish slavery, and the slave
trade IN this District or any of the Ter
ritories of the United States; and the
right of petition, of speech, and of the
press, to accomplish this object. is not
to be questioned, and that act of Con
gress on this subject would be within
its constitutional powers.