Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-01-17
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
THURSDAY, January IL 4. lS49
SLAVERY QUESTION tCoNWAY'S RESOLU-


THURSDAY, January IL, lS4o.
SLAVERY QUESTION tCoNwAY's REsOLU-
TIONS.
Whereas the institution of slavery was fully dis
cussed in the Convention which formed the Con
st,ution Of the United States, and the rights Of
Shareholders recognized and protected by the pro-
visions Of tina. instruments that, without the com
promises then sUemnly entered into, the union Of
the States could never have been formed and
whereas, the General Assembly OF Virginia, regard
ing wha, is known the "\Nimot Proviso," as
law in palpable disregard of,he compromises of the
Constitution, did. ON the 9th day Of March. iS47,
adopt series OF resolutions. distinctly Indicating the
course which the State ofVirgna would pursue in
the event Of its passage by the Congress Of the u
nited States, applicable To territory to be acIuir
ed from Mexico: and Whereas tie present General
Assembly have seen with deep concern dispoS
lion manifested by the Horse &c Representatives of
the United States To violate the principles embed.
ediu said resolutions, and Ia max, still further az
greSsions upon the righls'uf the Southern States:
under these circumstances, this General Assembly
deemt the occasion TT 10 affirm said resolutions
and most respectfully, out most earnestly 10 call
the attention oY all those who are attached 10 the
union of the Safes, to the serious and inevitable
Consequences which must follow such action upun
the part o. the Gencya Government. BE il there
fore,
|. Resolved, by the General Assembly of Vir-
e.
consideration of the resolutions adopted on the Sh
of March, 1871 by this body. we do consider said
resolutions as founded in train, consonan, with the
Constitution, and conducive 10 its preservation, and
therefore. feel it Ia be Indispensable duty 10
adhere To and reaf1irm ihem as follows:
Resolutions rsiatire 10 The prohibition Ly the Cen
gress Of The United States Of Slavery III anu ter
riiory to lie acquired by conquest or heaty-IA a.
dop,ed March S.h, 1917.
1 Il IL. 80,
eral Assembly of Virginia, Tha, the Government
Of the United States hasno c,ntrol, directly or in
directly, mediatey or Immediately, over the inst
tuition OF slavery so a. tn impair the rights of the
Stakeholder; and that, in taking any such control,
il trausceads the limits of It's cgi,ima te functions,
by destroying the Internal organization of the suver
! eign,es who created il.
"2. Resolved, unanimously, That all territory
which may be acquired by the arms Of the United
States or yielded by treaty with any foreign power
bciungs 10 the several States Of this Union, as
their JOINT aud common property, in which each and
all have equal rights; and that the enactment, by
the Federal Government, or any law which should
directly, or by lis effects, prevent the citizens Of
any Stale from euigrang, with their property. Of
whatever description into such territory. would
make Il discrimination unwarranled BY and in vio-
lation ot the compromises Of the Constitute and
the rights of the States from which such citizens
engrsed, and in derogainn of that perfect cuua!-
~ that belongs To the several States as members sf
this Union, and would tead directly TO subvert the
| Union itself
IS. Resolved, That it, in disregard alike Of the
spirit and principles Of the act cfC0ngless ON the
admission Of the State of Missouri into the IJnon
generally known as the Missouri Compromise and
of every consideration of justice, of constitutional
right and oflraternal feeling, the fearful issue shall
be forced upon the country, which result from
the adoption and attempted enforcement OF the pro-
J aforesaid of the raj
the people OF Virginia can have nodIfcuiiy in choos
Ing between the only alternatives that will then re-
main, o! ahiect submission to aggression and ont,
/ rage on The one hand, or determined resistance on
the other at a hazards and to the last extremity
! "a. Resolved, unanimously, Tina; the General
Assembly holds il TO be the duty of every man. in
every section of this confedeacy, Gf the Union is
dear to him) to Oppose The passage of any law, for
whatever purpose, by which territory to be acquired
may be subject 10 such restriction
%. Resolved. unanimously, That the passage
OF The above mentioned pr,viso makes il the duty of
every slaveholdng State, and of all the citizens
thereof as they value their dearest privileges their
sovereignty their independence, their rights Of prop
erty, 10 take firm, united and concerted action in
this emergency"
III. Resolved. That regard the passage of a
law by the Congress of the United States abolish
Tag slavery or the slave trade in the District of Co
unba, as direct attack upon the institutions of the
/ coh'bttH S'itS, W ne resisted al every hazard.
| I'LL. Resolved. That in the ent OF the pass,oe
by Congress Of the "Wilmo Proviso'' or any law
aboiish,ng slavery or slave trade in the District of
| Columbia, the Governor of this common wealth is
requested immediately 10 convene the Legislature
OF this State Gf shall have adjourned) 10 consider
Of the mode and measure of redress.
/ Nv. Resolved, That the Governor OF this Com
monwealth be requested To send copy oflhese res
"luions to each OF the States of this Union and AL
SO to our Senators and Representatives in Congress
Mr.. Syme offered The following as substitute
for the resolutions Of the joint Committee:
-, hcscfced by Tie General assembly Of Ttrg;,ia,
That fifinIy IA we are attached 10 ihe union Of Inc
/ States, we shall regard the passage ofany law by
Congress aboishlng slavery tn, elaveirad in the
! District OF Columbia, or prohibiting slavery in the
territories lately acquired by treaty with Mexico as
an aggression on the rights OF the Southern States.
winch VIII Justify them IN resortirg In any and ey-
cry measure calculated 10 preserve their institutions
! Some remarks were made by Mr. Conway, MIR.
Syme, MIR. Pannili and Mr.. Pits in res pect 10 adj
JouInment, the importance of early action Sc when
on motion of the latter the House ADJOURNED