Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-09
VIRGINIA RESOLUTIONS.

|, is with grea! pleasure that we repu bsh The
admirable ADD appropriate remarks OF Senator
Hun,er on Monday last, in introducing 10 the
Uni.ed States Senate the resolutions passed by
Inc legislature OF our Stale. Mr.. h. has, IN
LANGUAGE as truthful as it is beautiful, pour!ray-
ed the altitude oil Virginia:
Hr. Hunter, in presenting the resolutions, said:
prcsenl 10 YOU a series OF resolutions recently
oassed by the General Assembly OF Virginia IN
relation 10 the subject .! slavery. Some Two
wears since. That State tell il 10 be her duty, un
dor The circumstances which surrounded her, 10
declare her opinions as L. the right oil Congress 10
prohibit slavery in territory 10 De acquired tlinei
by conquest or treaty. These resolutions denied
lie mower OF Congress 10 control uifecuy OF lhui-
rec,!v The institution oil slavery so as 10 iiDPdil
the rights Il lhe sla Yehold.T; they declared that
The leIrilury IN be acquired By The United Sla.cs
from any reign Power would be the common
nroper,y d. the States, and that any Federal le-
yslalion which directly or indirectly prevented
Inc citizens OF any OF he States from emigfalins
10 i, win their properly, OF whatever description,
would violate the Constitution and The f'gh's OF
the States, would heioeate from mat periect
equality which belongs 10 the States Of tns cone-
,,eracy and ,enG 10 subyerl the Union itself, they
proclaimed that il the Wilmot Prov,o should
re adopted, in disregard OF the spirit aud princi-
cl.s Of he Missouri compromise, and OF every
cpnsdera ion IF right, justice, and ira'eTnal leel'
ing, the people al Virginia could have no cifii-
Gully in choosing between the only alternatives
hat wond then remain, Of AFFECT submission 10
aggression AMI outrage on the one hand. OF de-
ternnet resistance on the other, al all haZaTcs
and to The last extremity. They declare il TO DC
The duty Of every man from every section Of this
contedetacy, il he loves the Union, 10 oppose the
passage OF such a law; and, in The event OF lis
enactment they warned The slayeholding Sta les.
and every citizen thereof, that il would be their
duty, as they valued their dearest privileges their
sovereignty, their independence, and their rights
Of properly, TO take firm, united, and concerted
action n that emergency. Snch were The rcso-
uions unanimously adopted by the General As.
sembly of Virginia in lSl7. Since that period,
there have been two general elections by the peo-
pie; and again, al tae present session OF the Le-
sis AZURE, these resolutions have been soemnlyTe-
affirmed, with he addition ot another, made ne.
cessaIy by the progress oil events. That resoiu-
ton declares il 10 be The opinion OF The General
Assembly that any alaw ahoshing slavery or
the slave-'rade in the District OF Columbia would
be a direct attack upon The institutions OF The
Southern States, to be resisted al every hazard"
The adoption Of these resolutions, Mr.. Piesi.
dent, was perhaps due from The Stale not only 10
the rights OF her own citizens, but 10 The Union,
which she has ever sought 10 cherish and pre-.
serve If she entertained these opinions, il was
her duty TO warn her sister States OF her feelings
and intention in The most solemn form known
TO her proceedings.
To manifest The sincerity OF her desire 10 pro-
mote concord she approaches her conedetaies
no, ony in the spirit, but in lhe very language oil
COMPROMISE and submits to their consideration
The fearful alternatives between which She must
choose il she cannot be permitted 10 retain her
position OF equality in this Union, even by The
sacrifice OF her rights and nere>ls Ii was once,
it NAV be perhaps, sill-wihin the range OF
possibility, that such course on the part OF Inc
Southern STATES might induce pause in the pro-
eress OF what we ieel 10 b. aggression and insult,
however differently il NAV have been intended.
Atany raie, il, is due from Virginia 10 make every
effort 10 save both the Union and The indspensa-
biz rights of her people. II is due from her. be-
cause no State has contributed more than she
did tn make and maintain The Union as Il now
exists In almost every battle Of the Revolution;
from the nights OF Abraham 10 the plains oil Geor-
eia-irom what was then the remote northwest
from Kaskaskia and Vincennes 10 Jersey aud
the Carolnas-her blood was poured; and 10 the
extent of her means, her treasure was as tfeely
expended.
She not only sacrificed to make, but also 10
maintain the Uaion oil The States. To secure
harmony and promote i,aernal feelings, she
G. ded away her northwestern territory, and Sub
med 10 conditions which gave, forever, The
preponderance ol political power 10 The non->lave-
holding Saes-so lule was she jealous oil their
progress, or doubtful OF their disposition al all
times 10 DO her justice. Unier all circumstance,
and at all times, she has manifested her attach
ynenl 10 The Union. She has reared her sons 10
,,cb and
ed. Il has ever been as household word with
us-sacred for lis domestic associations, and
which never passed the lips that il did moi stir
tn. heart.
Sir, we have been taught to believe that our
constitution, if administered truly, and in sPir.
i, of justice and fraternal feeling, contained
more securities for human happiness and the IL
berty of the citizen, than any other instrument
ever devised by the art of man. But the Union
which we love is confederacy of equals. The
constitution which we cherish makes no invidi-
Gus distinction between States or citizens, but
distributes equally its blessings and its burdens