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

the President They did not rest satisfied with the belief
or expectation that the would not receive the
sanction OF southern Pres dent They passed, unan
mously, with the exception of the third resolution, which
tailed 10 receive only vote, and that because il APP
proved the missouri compromised series OF resolutions
WIN preamble prehxed, in which they denounced the
WIlmo Proviso ''as destructive OF the compromises OF
The constitution of the United States "a an attack on the
dearest rights Of the Senth, and dangerous and
alarming usurpation by the federal government" The
third resolution, of which MIR. Sianard, of the Senate,
was the author and the fourth and fifth in the fol-
| lowing words:
Rsotred That if in disregard alike of The spirit and
principles of the of Congress the admission of
State OF Missouri into the Union, generally known the
Missouri compromise, and of every consideration of JUS
tce OF constitutional right and of fraernal feelings the
fearful Issue shall be forced upon the country which must
result from the adoption and
provlso aforesaid of the general government the
people OF Virginia have difficulty choosing be
tween the only alternatives that will then remain OF abec
snbniss ION TO aggression and outrage the hand,
determined resistance the other at ali hazards and 10
A. Resoiged, "nanimousy, That the general assembly
holds Il TO be the duty every man in every section Of this
coneeracy if the Union dear him, oppose the pas
sage of law for whatever purpose, by which territory
g. Res0irei unanimously, That the passage OF the above
mentioned pfoyiso makes il the duty OF every slavehodng
dearest privileges their sovereignty their Independence
their rights of property take r united and concerted
action IN this emergency
The resolutions reported by Mr., Floyd have been OBJ
eced to- he objection is equally applicable to those just
the Wilmot Proyso should become a law. These
dire altern itves, which the mind shrnks from conten-
plating with horror We acknowledge that the grave
issue may be pres ented and one which fear the
people of this State may be called upon decide, should
The free States OF the North persist ia their mad designs
For ourselves, are free to present views to what
ever weight they may be entitled, to the course which
we think the Souih ought to pursue IN case the attempt
at oppressive legislation by Congress the subject OF
slavery shall be successful, frankly, fully explicitly.
After such mature and deliberate reflection the import
of the subject demands we have come to the con-
clusion, that there certain laws, TO which, if they
should be enacted by Congress- the South. under cir
en- stan Der1l n I'M pnu
ate them as follows
/, A law in any interfering with the institution
of slavery in the States
@ law prohibiting the slave trade between the States
3. law abolishin. slavery or the slave IN the
District OF Columbia.
A. law prohibiting slavery in the territories
We not the advocates of immediate disunion upon
the passage of any of these Objectionable laws We yield
10 no one in ardent attachment and devotion to this Unon
and never Will that attachment and devotion until
the Union shall become a curse instead OF blessing
We should WISH therefore, every imaginable
resored to in order to avert dreadful cataro
phe. We should be in favor of general convention Of
the South, and OF the savehoding States Letsuch
vention try what be effected by expostuaton,
STRANGE, orewarnng of the fearful consequences OF
such oppressive legislation Let them remind our no rth
ern brethren of the difficulties which this subject of sla
very presented TO the lustrous trainers OF the constu
ton; of the compromises then sOlemnly entered INTO let
them remind them OF our past sugg es for our common
liberties, when the blood of the STAKEHOLDER mingled
with theirs against common foe of the past gores of
the Union; of the fidelity TO the constitution and attach
ment To the Union always manifested BY the South and
finally, let them tell them, in language which be
misunderstood that the South can never submit to inus
tee, oppression, and dishonor and that OF the
Union will be inevitable unless immediate reparaen
shall be made by repes! of the law complained Of
Should these and similar means fail in healing the
breach-whatever others may think-vhowever much we
may be denounced disunonsts, we say in the strong
and emphatic language of Mr. Sianard's resolution, "Fr-
gina have difficulty in choosing between the only
alternative that will then remaip-of AFFECT submission
10 aggression and outrage the hand, determined
resistance the other, at all hazards, and 10 the last
trsmHy"
Very few, if any, southern men would be willing to
submit the three first forms of interference by Con-
gres with the institution of slavery enumerated by US
We aware that there many who think that quiet
submission 10 the Wllmot provlso far preferable to
dissolution of the Union If such be the general seni
ment of the people OF the South far be it from
deayor change that sentiment If those who better
capable of Judging OF her interests than ourselves, par
ticulary if those who have the management of affairs
think that she retreat with honor and with safety
from the position which she has so soemnly taken we
will be the last to interpose any objection. We hope
however that we may be pardoned Tor stating briefly
However strong the probabilities may be that slave
~ will never exist in New Mexico and California il is
yet impossible say that the STAKEHOLDER may not desire
To carry his slaves to that region; and every State is
bound to protect Its citizens In the enjoyment OF all their
rights
3 If we submit in this instance, the North will claim
to exclude Us from all future territory which may be
acquired, and may acquire territory for that very pur
pose
g. Lastly and above all it is absolutely dangerous to
retreat AS we have seen, soon as the Wmot Pro-
first passed the House of Representatives, the gen.
eral assembly passed resolutions denouncng it fla
grant uspaton and attack the dearest rights OF
the South declaring that Virginia would resist such a
law at all hazards, and to the last extremy and urging
every slave State to oppose Its passage as they valued
he Union, "their dearest privileges, their independ
ence their sovereignty, their rights OF property Similar
resolutions passed by the legislature OF Georgia and
of South Carolina, and probably of the other savehod
ing States The Wmot Proviso was denounced through
out the South in the most unmeasured terms by all par
ties. The question considered one OF such magni
tude and Importance that the late presidential election
made upon it, Even admitting that we have been
contending for mere abstraction, will il not be abso
nely fatal for US TO yield in this instance. when by so
doing will certainly acquire the reputation oil DULLES
and bravadoes?
VIII remonsirances be needed any more than the
idle wind, when the North shall attempt any future az
dearest rights and privileges II was not the lrlng
value OF the duty tea and stamps which drove our
ancestors into rebellion against British rule was
princpie for which they contended and which, II they
had Yielded would have bound them hand and FOOT for
ever after, to the oppressor.
II we were make catalogue OF the wrongs, injuries
and ouages which have received at the hands OF the
North since they commenced, about twenty years ago,
their ceaseess upon the institution OF slavery
would be long and imposing the list OF grew
ances enumerated in the declaration of independence
Whilst smarting under the thousand wrongs OF our
northern oppressors, feel surprised that DO not
forget every dcate OF prudence and OF orbearance We
believe that have arrived al crisis in our history,
and that now if ever, the State should speak out IN
tones which will be heard to the arihes end OF the Con-
federacy in language which will neither be misappre-
hended nor misconstrued. Let no threats, no
bravado, buster; but let us manifest all the frmness