Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-12-01
Grlrttons.
From the National Anti Slavery Standard.
Mississippi Slavery Convention.

We find in our Southern exchanges the
Report of a State Convention held at Jack
son, Mississippi, OH the LIST of October, call
ed 10 consider the present aspect of the Sla-
very question, and the attitude it becomes
the Southern States TO assume at the APP
preaching crisis in the history of their pecu-
liar institution. The Convention, says a
South Carolina paper, was very large, and
made up of the most respectable portion Of
the citizens of Mississippi. 1t seens, never
theless, that only thirty out of the sixty of the
Counties were represented, and even these
were not altogether harmonious in their
views. A Committee of twenty was appoint
ed 10 report Resolutions, some of which were
adopted by the Convention-one rejected,
md one which they did rot report made the
first of the series. Those adopted were as
follows:
/. Resolved, That we continue TO enter
tain a devoted and cherished attachment to
the Union, but we desire to nave it as it was
formed, and not as an engine of oppression.
z. That the institution of Slavery in the
Southern States is left, by the Constitution,
exclusively under the control of the States in
which it exists, as a part of its domestic pol
icy, which they, only, have the right TO regu-
late, abolish or ~perpetuate, as they may sew
orally jsdge expedie,tt and that all attempts,
on the part of Congress, or others, to inter-
fere with this subject, either directly or indl-
rectly, are in violation of the Constitution,
dangerous to the rights and safety of the
South, and ought to be properly resisted.
3. That Congress has no power to pass
any law abolishing Slavery in the District Of
Columbia, or TO prohibit the slave trade be-
tween the several States, or 10 prohibit the
introduction of Slavery into the territories of
the United States; and that the passage by
Congress of any such law, would not only
be a dangerous violation of the Constitution,
hut would afford evidence of Il fixed aud de-
liberate design, on the part of that body, 10
interfere with the Institutions of Slavery in
the States.
a. That we regard the passage, by Con-
gress, of the "Wilmot Proviso," (Which
would, in effect, deprive the citizens of the
slaveholding States of an equal participation
in the territories acquired equally by their
blood and treasure,) as an unjust and INSULT
ing discrimination-t which these States
cannot, without political degradation, sub
nit, and to which this Convention, represent
ing the feelings and opinions Of the people OF
Mississippi, solcmnly declare they Will not
submit.
S. That the passage of the Wiimot Provi-
so, or any other law abolishing Slavery in
the District of Columbia, by the Congress OF
the United States, would, of ITSELF be such Q
breach of the federal compact, as, in thai
event, will make it the duty, as it is the right
of the slaveboldiug States, to take care o
their own safety, and to treat the non-slave'
holding States as enemies TO the slayehoid
ing States and their domestic institutions.
& That the Legislature is hereby request
cd to pass such laws as may, in their opinion
he best calculated TO encourage the emi
grafton of citizens of the slaveholdlng States
with slaves, to new territories of the United
States.
4. That in view of the frequent and in
crcasing evidence of the determination of tin
people of the non-slaveholding States TO dis
regard the guarantees of the Constitution
and agitate the subject of Slavery, both il
and out of Congress, avowedly for the pun
pose of e~ilecting its abolition in the States
and also in view of the facts set forth in tn
late Address of the Southern members Q
Congress-" this Convention proclaim the dc
liberate conviction that the time has arrive
when the Southern States should take cour
sci together for their common safety an
that a Convention of the slaVehOlding State
should be held at Nashville, Tennessee, o
the FIRST MONDAY IN JUNE next, TO dc
wise and adopt some mode of resistance I
these aggressions; and that this Conyenilo
do appoinst twelve Delegates and twelve a
ternates-being double the number of OF
Senators and Representatives in Congress
10 attend such Convention, and that the oti
.er slavchoidmg States be invited to appoil
delegates agreeably TO the same ratio OF rel
reservation. .
s. That in the language of an eminel
Northern writer and patriotS"The rights
the South in African service exist not on
under but oUer the Constitution. They exis
ed before the government was formed. III
Constitution was rather sanctioned by the
than they by the Constitution. Had not Ia
instrument admitted the sovereignty oftho
rights, it never would have been itself adm
ted by the South. 1t bowed in difference