Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-09
THE ENQUIRER.
RICH MOND, VA.
Monday Morning, February 8. ls47.
THE VERMONT RESOLUTIONS.

tor Slanard, the Legislature Of Virginia would
have presented ian undivided front when they
met The fanatics upon The subject OF slavery"
and that, at all events, any divisions Of opinion
upon SO vital a subject would have been kept
from the public eye. But from the rather full
report Of Fridays proceedings Of The Senate in
Saturdays Whig it would seem that The Wing
Senator'S Bondurant and Gallaher could not lose
so fair an opportunity OF assailins the Admins
lralion and the Democratic party. But 10 the
facts.
Gov. Smith communicated 10 both Houses Oh
The General A ssembly the incendiary resolu'i ms
OF the Legislature Of Vermont, OF which the
following is an exact copy:
Resolutions relating 10 Siaray and the Mexican
Har.
aWasrces in our judgment, The existing war
with Mexico was not founded in any imperative
necessity, such as may justify or excuse chris
| lian nation for resOriing 10 arms and has now
manilestly become an offensive war against
neghborng Republic and whereas, We have just
grounds tor anticipating that the territory which
has ben, or may Re occupied or conquered, will
become slave territory, and as such claim ad-
mission TO the Union; and whereas, its admission
i 4
by ignorance and superstition and allied 10 us
neither in interests, character nor language, will
endaneer The harmony, welfare and perpetui;y
OF The Unior therefore, be il
| "Resoiucd by tie Senate and House 81 Representa-
tees Tia, The honor and bes! interests oil the ma
ton will be subserved by speedy end OF The war
with Mexico, and a settlement OF ali matters in
dispute, By arbitration nr negotiation.
"RcsOiued, That Vermont will mol give lis coun
\ 81.
Federal Union oil any new Stale whose cunslilu
! lion tu!erales slavery, and does hereby appeal 10
each Of her sister States 10 concur in lis own
| name in this decla ration.
"R6sivcd, That the Senators and Representa-
lives in Congress from Vermont will conform 10
The hearty wishes Of their constituents by FAR
nestly supporting The principles sci forth in The
| foregoing preamble and resolutions, and in Using
| all other just efieclual and constitutional means
10 avert the tremendous evils Of slavery, and re-
ssl its encroachmenls upon the rights and inter
! csls OF he non slaveholding States.
| "Reafred, That his Excellency the Governor,
be requested to forward copy Of these resolu-
lions 10 the Governor OF each Stale in The Union,
and TO our Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress, under The seal Of The Stale, ard with has
signature OF approval
HORACE EATON
When they were read in The Senate OF Virgil
MIA on Friday, the following proceedings took
place, as we find them reported in The Wing:
Mr.. WALLACE moved tina, the papers be laid
upon the liable.
Mr.. STRlNGER said he was sorry lha, he could
not agree with his TREND from Fauquer-he was
no! willing 10 entertain Them for moment.
Mr.. McMuLLEN thought il would be better 10
allow them TO lay on The table for short time Ii
they could see what DISPOSE ion would be made
OF them in the other House.
| Mr.. BAPTIST remarked, that the recent of these
resolutions reminded him OF Monsieur Tonson
come again" Il had BEEN blu. few weeks since
resolutions ul The some character had been SEM
from the Stale of New Hampshire He hoped
The Senate would adopt some melhcd Of dispcsing
| of them that would puta sop 10 communications
from Northern fanatics, so insulting TO The feelings
! Of The South. He would vote for returning Them
4 Wtthout oomineHt
| Mr. BoNnuRaHT concuIred with his friend Mr..
| Baptist, mos, heartily So lar as the resolutions
referred 10 the subject OF slavery; hut 10 that por-
lion Of the prea mbie which referred to the moral
| character Of The Mexican w:r, he could not dis
| sent. He concurred in the sentiment there ex-
pressed, 10 wit that The war was an unJus', al
unprovoked, and an unholy one, brought on en-
tirely by The President Tor party purposes alone.
| Since The war was upon US, ne was as ready as
any 10 prosecute It with vigor, and bring ii 10 a
| speedy termination yet entertaining The views
already expressed in relation to the justice OF The
war, he could not vote Tor returning that portion
| of The preamble which characterized il as il de-
| served ODE.
Mr.. McMrLtEN said he was surprised 10 hear
| any Senator express such sentiments al this time
he thought that The fact that slavery was con-
necled with the resolutions was sufficient OF itself
10 cause every Virginia Senator to vote for their
return. He though, ba the Senator from Buck
ingham had unnecessarily lueged politics into The
matter. For his part, were il parliamentary
motion he would move 10 lay The resolution nm
der the table, as il would slow the Northern ia
nalics what weight such communications had in
Virginia
Mr. BoNpURASr The Senator from Sect
feels authorized TO lecture members here when
ever he pleases He says he is surprised hat
should give ullerance 10 such sentiments. Now,
sir, reerae what have before sad-,hat the
war is an unholy and unnecessary war, and that
am opposed 10 i'll say 50 STILL agree with
the resolutions OF The Vermont Legislature 81 far
as they refer TO The character ofihis war; bur 81
far as The resolutions have reference 10 slavery,
totally disagree with them, and will vote for
their immediate return, without comment. wish
10 coun,enance no interference in our domestic
institutions 10y foreigners. As 10 the gentleman'>
surprise al my expressing M opinion upon the
subject now before The Senate Tor its considera
lion, assure yon, il makes no difference what
ever care not whether he is or is moi surprised
Fie SAYS threw frebrand into the Senate
Sir, merely exercised my rights as freeman
and as Virginia Senator, in giving my views
upon this subject When feel confident in nv
own mind that am acting correctly. the opin-
ions of others make little difference with me.
Mr. BoNDURANT moved that The resolutions be
referred TO a select committee.
Mr.. STaINGER said, we have here comnli.
ncalion upon the subject Of Slavery from Yer
nont-ihe hot bed of Federalism and Fanaticism
What disposition have we heretofore made OF such
communications What does my friend from
Buckingham wantl He wants 10 agree to par
of The tainted resolutions, and 10 reject The bal
ance. Do not, my dear Sir, torn any kind q
coalition with the sentiments there expressed up
on the subject OF Slavery. If you want 10 con
denim the war; bring il up rs sepa ale PROPOSE
lion-not leagued with This ianalicsn on The sub
jecl Of Slavery-and il you will convince m:
that it is wrong, will vote with you. | hope
the Senate will treat these resolutions with Ihs
contemp, they deserve. Even il wha, this com
munica,ion says of The war is true, is i, prone,
for us 10 mingle with any proposition lik. tha
coming from such souIce7 l hope the gentle
man will not support a resolution emanatinc
from Vermont. | propose 10 return il without
answer.
MIR. McMuLLsN said he did moi Sc, himself ur
for lecturer OF the Senator from Buckingham
or any other Senator He thought tina, The re.
marks Of that gentleman were in bad TASTE He
was opposed TO the commitment.
MIR. SrANARD hoped that there would be no d.
vision upon this subject. He wanted To see an
undivided front when We met fanatics upon ihe
subject OF Slavery. lie thought il best 10 wall
until they saw what disposition would he made
OF il in the other House.
AR W.,r.-. ,r..i ,..1i,,,ta, ,,..~
he thought The Senate could unile.
MIR. GaLL,HEa spoke at some length. taking
similar ground with the Senator from Bnckins-
ham.
MIR. SrANAsD moved an adjournment. Mega
lived-ayes II, noes IL.
Mr.. BoNDURAET moved that the roll ofrhe Sen.
ale be called. Mr.. SrRSasa opposed the mo.
ion and called for The ayes and noes. Motion
negatived-ayes Z, noes 10.
A message was received from The House, an
nouncing The passage of joint resolution, re-
guessing The Governor Of this Commonwealth 10