The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-31
The Attitude OF the south.

ing important and powerful article from the Richmond
Enquirer OF Friday last, showing what believe TO
be the very general, if not the unanimous, of the
southern portion of Coniederacy in relation 10 the
movements and the manifestations recently made in
Congress and elsewhere upon the subject of slavery We
see that some of the northern pressesespecally the
New York Evening Post, in article which may
comment upon herealter-profess wholly to dsbe-
leve that the South will act unitedly upon this
subject. The expressions Of opinion which have
appeared in the leading presses Of all the southern
States as fast as the intelligence of the recent
meeting of the southern members has reached them,
must, however think, by this time have gone far TO
convince the Post that its conclusions upon this
subject have been too hastily formed To it seems
most manifest from these and all other indications OF
public sentiment that. in the Judgment of the entire
South the crisis has come, in which stand in defence
Of rights deemed by the southern people equally clear
and vital must be calmly and deliberately assumed and
then maintained uni,edly at all and every hazard.
Mr. Hoyds Resolutions.
These resolutions reported by Mr. Floyd a member of
the select committee on the subject of the Wilmot Pro-
yiso, published by at length Saturday last
We have been informed that they were unanimously APP
proved by the committee, consisting of both wings and
democrats
The movement is one OF the highest Importance, and
may involve the gravest consequences The eyes of
representatives, and of every saveholdng State, upon
us By common consent our sister States look to Viz
gna to take the lead in the present momenous crisis
behooves then, 10 exercise the greatest caution and
prudence 10 act with no ndscreet haste TO ponder to
deberae 10 forget that we patilsans and to invoke
the wisdom and the patriotism OF all men, of all parties
to 10 rescue. when equal rights under the
constitution, rights of property very liberties
stake; for believe that the very existence OF those
Liberties depends upon the maintenance of the equality of
the States. and OF the integrity of the constitution
For one, we think that should be guided, in this
emergency, by the principles which have been handed
down to US by the fathers of the constitution and the
founders of the republican party. Under the elder Ad
our Liberties assailed, and the constitution
violated by the nactmen of the alien and sedtlon laws
Virginia, under the guidance of Jefferson and Madison
spoke out and protested against those unconstitutional
acts She should speak out now Her voice was then
heard and respected her protest had the desired elect
and those odous and unconstitutional enactments
erased from the statute book And her voice may be
SO heard and respected now. From that time down to
the present, Virginia has ever watched over the consu
on and demonstrated against any nraction of that sa
cred charter of our liberties
At the present day, nearly all men of both parties at
the South profess to yield their assent to the doctrines
contained in the celebrated resolutions drawn by Mr.
Madison As those resolutions will, doubtless, be
Tered TO on the present occasion, we take the liberty of
presenting the substance OF some OF them, and exact
copy OF others.
In their first resolution, the general assembly resolved
10 maintain and defend the constitution of the United
States against every aggression either foreign dones
uc In their second resolution they declared at
achment to the Union; and that cit is their duty to
Wloh over and oppose Of those principles
winch constitute the only basis OF that Union" Their
hTu resolution is IN the following words
That this assembly doth explicitly and peremptory
declare that it views the powers of the federal
as resulting from The compact 10 which the States par
ues as limited by the plain and intention of the in
arument constituting that conpact further valid
Man they authorized by the grants enumerated that
compact; and that in OF deliberate. papable, and
dangerous exercise OF other granted by said
right and duty bound TO intepose for arestrng The
pogre" q the epd and tor maintaining within their re-
pecuVe UNITS tne authorities, rights and liberties appcr
tanning TO them"
In their fifth resolution " the general assembly doth
particularly protest against the papabe and alarming IN.
fractions OF the constitution in the two late cases OF the
h'en and Sediton acts, passed at the last session of
Congress- &c.
The next to the last in the series is in the following
words: mo
That the good people of this Commonwealth bav vino
lett and continuing feel sincere on
o 'he brethren OF the States the true etv for
establishing and perpetunting the union of ali and the
o1t scr1puous fidelity constitution which is the
uge OF mutual friendship, and the instrument of mual
happiness the general assembly doth soemnlv nneal 70
inc like dispositions other States in confidence Ina,
Va WIN concur with this Commonwealth declaring as
does hereby declare the acts aforesaid are uneon
ional and that the necessary and proper measures
a DC aken by each Tor cooperating with this State
' resevedin the States respectively, people
hese resolutions, which the bible of our political
ana TO which all parties at present, profess sub
,S solemny declare that the States sovereign :,
a hey are the high contracting parties to The censiitu-
al compact and that it is not only their right but
ef duty TO resist whenever Congress shall attempt the
H.snhiGa exercise of powers not granted by that com
PoS The degree of that resistance, its measure and
oue follows OF course that the States must deter
ue ioT themselves In cases, simple protest or
poSluaon may be sufficient in others, where the law
p1seo Is a most hagrant usurPatIon solemn warning
l oe necessary, OF the disastrous consequences which
al follow Its enactment The States are to be consd-
al as lhe guardians of our liberties; to them is intrust
ME- e DUTY OF interfering, not upon every frivolous
EeeNl out whenever the enactment by Congress OF a
law seriously impairng rights, our safety and secu-
bg may De appfehended for the purpose OF "anesting