Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-01-06
etc prosecution Of the war remains.

TO- RESOLVED, That we have just right
to satisfaction and indemnity for the past and
security for the future; and that it will be time
enough 10 sympahise with Mexico, when she
learns to respect the rights of her neighbors do
justice 10 all repair the injuries she has nflic
ted. and respect herself
II. REsoLyAp, That the etforts of Presi
dent i'u!k and his administration to sustain the
honor OF the country by A firm vndication Of
fHr rights, In the war With Mexico, have met.
and will continue to receive. the appreciation of
the people. That however treason and de-
traction may :ear its head, the people of the
country, wherever an opportunity has offered,
have given the most signal evidence of their
firm reliance in The policy and measures Of the
administrations
J. Randolph Tucker, Esq addressed the
meeting, and offered resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted:
Mr.. Il. said in introducing these res buttons,
that whatever disposition the meeting might
choose to make of the other resolutions which
had just passed it was not for him TO speak of it
whether 10 approve or to disapprove. 1t was
hisohject to introduce to the meeting res buttons
upon question deeply involving, more 50
than any other question. the interests and
rights OF southern people. He alluded to the
question of slavery, mixed up as as it was in
the question of territorial indemnity for the en-
penses of the war.
In briefly discussing tie question he alluded
to the grooss Injustice of an indemnity FIR the
costs of a war, to " hich the slave States had
contributed, entirely for the benefit of the nor
e.. IL Hare
were TO be entirely excluded. The result wou'd
be that southern blood would flow freely to
to enforce terms upon the enemy, by which
terms, in order to repay the expenses OF the
war, vast domain would be acquired for the
benefit of the north, exclusive Ut any partlcl-
patton on the part Of the sou'h. Was not this
unjust? could II be called indemnity to the
south!
But he took the constitutional ground, mere
y abiding to il! las it would carry him to great
er lengths than he desired to discuss it. He
took the ground which he believed to be tena-
BILE, that all such interference was unconstitu-
tional land involved principle which if carried
to its legitimate consequences, involved inter
ference in the question of slavery in the States
themselves. Were we prepared for this?
But he took the still broader ground that this
was not single isolated question. twas one
of series of aggressive steps, which northern
aboliionism was making to attain its ultimate
object, of destroying slave property in the
SOUTH To illustrate this proposition, he traced
the history of This federal interference in the
Slavery question. More than sixty years ago,
before the adoption of the present Constitution,
of the State of Virginia, with all Of her liberal
ty & public spirit, made a eesson of the great
domain of the north west to the United States,
and how, he asked, had she been repaid?-
Like king Lear in the play, by his ungrateful
offspring The ordinance of 1877 had exclu-
ded her people from all participation in it by
declaring that slavery should never be allowed
therein. This is the first act Of legislation by
the federal Government upon the principle of
the Wilmot Proviso. WITHOUT ANY POWER OR
AUTHORITY, whatever, TO pass it.
The constitution was adopted, wherein the
States carefully reserved all rights not granted
to tho fad4,r.l G4.,--~..,e...- Tho Prinoi Pile of
slavery was acknowledged, and even incorpo-
rated in the very constitution of the Govern
ment, and still is so incorporated in its very
existence. Slaves were admitted to a share of
representation in the federal Government, as
such, and still are represented And yet what
has been the result? Has the opposition to the
rights of shareholders been put down! Passing
over the intermediate time, down to the year
1919, we are met by the agit AXIOM upon the
Missouri question; an agitation which even
disturbed the repose of the retired Statesman of
Moaticello, the great Jefferson. 1t fel! upon
his ear :'like fire bell at night" sounding the
knell of the Union.
That agitation arose from the assertion Of
the right on the part of Congress to refuse ad-
mission into the Union to State, amless it abol-
ished slavery, and to impose that restriction
upon any State applying for admission. This
struck a decisive blow at the institution OF
slavery, az ii determined that no more slave
States SHOULD be admitted, and that the limits
of slavery were fixed within the boundaries of
the old States k also involved, in Mr. rs
opinion and he thongAs it conld be maintained,
the right to exercise jurisdiction over slavery
within the States The south was alarmed,
and the Union was shaken to its centre by this
monsrous aggression upon southern rights and
interests. The great pacficator, Henry Clay,
arose, and by dexerous surrender (under the
name of compromise) of the principles we con
tended for, alayed the (erment, and for short
time, slaked the thirst of aboltionism. He
can never be forgotten for it. He fixed his
eve more nearly on the Presidency than ever.
He gained the affections Of the north by his
course.
But were sou,iern rights more secure? Had
the surrender of the principle, of the great re-
served rights, stopped the aggressive policy
of northern abolition? No. We now come to
the period of ABOLITION PETITIONS. question
which gained some support TO the abolition
cause from southern men, amongst whom was
the member from the Metropolitan district es
Virginia, Mr. Bolts. The cry was raised that
the right of petition was invaded. Never was
there more senseless alarm. Congress had
right to refuse action upon the subject. But
southern votes again surrendered the posii N
Of The south, and opened the flood gates to the
agitation on the floors of Congress of the aboli
ton question. Ii was said by southern men
that the lenment could be allayed, as soon as
lis connection with the right Of petition was
severed. How vain the pycdlcileN They
bad no, beer received by Congress more than
two or three years at most, when again the
faisS disease incur body poliaic breaks out in
the form of the W-.iinot Brovo. Southern
Doctors (WAgs) cure the slight complaint of
abolition petition .e7ment to bring the worse
disease upon the sonak o9this Wlmot Provfso.
The petition question was safety valve to the
steam engine ST abolition; that stopped by the