Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-01-17
Mr.. cALHoUN's RESOLUTIONS.

The following resolutions offered by
Mr.. Calhoun, in the Senate, came up
IN order on the 2Sth ult, and after
considerable debate were postponed
till the Sd inst, when they were again
taken up, and the first, and after con.
siderable modification, the second, were
passed. The remainder, came up, az.
ter the transaction of other business on
the 4th and 9th, and were debated
pro and con on each Of those days, I'M.
til the hours of adjournment.
Resofped, That in the adoption of
the Federal Constitution, the States
adopting the same acted, severally, az
free, independent, & sovereign States /:
and that each, for itself, by its own
assent, entered the Union with the
view to its increased security against
all dangers, domestic as well as for.
eign, and more perfect and secure en-.
Joyment of its advantages, natural, 90.
l%itical, and social.
Resolved, That in delegating a por.
ton of their powers to be exercised bv
the Federal Government, the States
retained, severally, the exclusive and
sole right over their own domestic in.
stitutions and police, and are alone re.
sponslble for them, and that any inter.
meddling OF any one or more States,
or a combination of their citizens, with
the domestic institutions and police of
the others, on any ground, or under
any pretext whatever, political, moral,
or religious, with the view to their al.
teratlon or subversion, is an assump.
ton OF superiority not warranted by
the Constitution (; insulting to the States
interfered with ; tending to en1anger
their domestic peace and tranquility !;
subversive of the objects for which the
Constitution was formed and, by ne.
cessary consequence, tending to wea.
ken and destroy the Union itself.
Resolped, That this Government
was instituted and adopted by the seve-
raj States of this Union as a common
agent, in order to carry into effect the
powers which they had delegated by
the Constitution for their mutual secu-
rity and prosperity !; and that, in full
flment Of this high and sacred trust,
this Government is bound so TO exer.
else its powers as TO give, as far as
may be practicable, increased stability
and security to the domestic institu.
tons of the States that compose the
Union /; and that it is the solemn duty
OF the Government to resist all attempts
by one portion Of the Union to use it
as an instrument to attack the domes.
tic institutions of another, or to YEA
ken or destroy such Institutions, instead
Of strengthening and unfolding them,
as it is in duty bound to do.
RESOLVED, That domestic slavery, as
it exists in the Southern and Western
States of the Union, compose an impor-
tant part Of their domestic institutions,
inherited from their ancestors, and *
listing at the adoption Of the Constitu-
ton, by which it is recognized as con.
stituting an essential element in the
distribution Of It's powers among The
States /; and that no change of opinion
or feeling, on the part Of the other
States of the Union in relation to it,
can Justify them or their citizens in
open and systematick attacks thereon,
with the view to its overthrow and
that all such attacks are in manifest
violation of the mutual and solemn
] pledge TO protect and defend each 9TH
err, given by the States respectively,
on entering into the constitutional com.
pact, which formed the Union, and as
such are a manifest breach of faith,
and a violation OF the most solemn oh.
legations, moral and religious.
Resolved, That the intermeddling OF
any State or States, of their citizens,
10 abolish slavery in the District, or
any of the Territories, or the ground,
or under the pretext, that it is immor-
al or sinful, or the passage of any act
or measure Of Congress, with that
view, would be a direct and danger.
Gus attack on the institutions of all the
slave.holding States.
RESOLVED, That the Union Of these
States rests on an equality of rights
and advantages among its members
and that whatever destroys that equal
ity, tends to destroy the Union itself;
and that 1t is the solemn duty of all,
and more especially ofihis body /; which
| represents the States in their corporate
capacity, to resist all attempts TO dis
criminate between the States in exten.
ding the benefits Of the Government
to the several portions of the Union ;
and that to refuse TO extend to the
Southern and Western States any ad.
vantage which would tend to strength
en-. or render them more secure, or in.