Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-02
,ocEEnINGs OF A CONVENTION OF SOUTH
ERN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
,.ns.a OF ia. s.s.r. OF THE Urrrro sr.sss,

III
II Aoreeahly 10 previous notice, at O'Clock,
NJ, the following Senator's and Representa-
Ives in Congress from the Southern States as
Ambled in the Chamber of the United STATES
enate, to wit:
b or 1a. sx,Arr-Messrs Hunter, Foote, Houston,
Hchison, Metcalfe,l Fitzpatrick, Turney, knsk, Ca'
Mup, Butler, Davis of Mississippi, Yuiee, "ss.eo.s'
bhnson of Louisiana. Underwood seoas''a" D'"A''
Or nSsiiousr~Messrs Inge, Gayle, Harris, hSus-
n Of Alabama, Cobb Of Alabama, Bo~dph s"n
Ion, Tompkins Brown of Mississippi, na' r,as ~
q Sere Morse Morehead, Boyd, Psytoh, G S VI
teHtucky Thihodeaux, Kaufman, Piiisoury, na,.om'
bomas Staunioo, Chase, Hill, Johnson o. ,e
nr of Georgia. Iverson Jones Of Geo! Tnnmhs Wal,
s&umpkn Cobb of Georgia, Stephens. io"mos, cs
Ice. Simpson, Woodward, Burt, Holmes oil sousn va
blina, Vsnabie, Meade, Flournoy, becock, gay'y'
rale, Pendleton, Bsdins.i, rres'on' u'''"' "' -
fhompson, Chapman and McLane
General THOMAS MErcALFs, Senator from
Kentucky, was elected President; Mr.. GAYLE
II Alabama, first Vice President; and Mr.. At
aIsos. of Missouri, second Vice President. -
k,r. yKsAsLE, Of North Carolina, was chosen
Secretary.
The President having taken the Chair, Mr..
BAYLY, of Virginia, presented the following
Preamble and Resolutions
R1solred, That this meeting, composed OF a portion
III The Senators and Representatives from the slave
holding States, In the Congress Of the United states
10th upequivocav express firm determination 10
uiutain and dsfead the Constitution OF the United
states against every aggression, and that they VIII
kupport the government of the United States In all inca
lures warranted by that instrument
That they most solemniy declare warm attac hmen,
IL Union of the States agreeaby TO Its obvious ana
ntenon manifested by the Constitution OF tne
lned States and the history of its formation 10 hn
IAN which they pledge their individual honor; anu .na
Nor this end is their duty TO watch over anu opps
Every infracton OF those principles when oonslisao
The only basis Of that union; because iaithu ~
ance of them alone secure its existence anu '
BLESSINGS OF liberty TO themselves and ther posloy
j That the government Of the United States u ono VI
powers limited by the plain sense and inten
uon of tho Constitution of the United states, winch Is
The only legitimate source Of them; ana all powets NO.
dele gated by il to the General Government nor prom
bed TO the States are by the express terms oil tat IN
ument reserved to the States respectively, OF 70 ''e
people. ,.. r
That no authority is conferred by the Constitution Oh
R,he United States upon the Congress OF the united
4s,ates 10 impair or destroy the right OF properly In
saves either in the States, the District OF Coumo'a,
he Territories Of the United States or any other place
kwhalever; nor 10 prohibit the transfer OF slaves from
place TO another except in the power delegated 20
HI yer the foreign e.trade which has eeen e1-
Aausted.
rhat any act Of Congress designed TO impair or de.
oy the right of property slaves in any OF the rIaces
oresaid or prohibit the transfer of slaves from one
k6 of the United States another, would be papa
s and dangerous violation of the Constitution oil .ne
Emitted States, and inconsistent with It's compromises
guarantees, without which ii could not have been
Adopted.
That the favor the late efforts made In the Congress
o the United States and elsewhere to interfere with
subject Of domestic slavery in the District OF 20.
and the Territories of the United Staes and the
3iansfer Of slaves between different sections OF inc
3lnIon have met with from large portion OF the Poo
Of the States and their representa-
8ves Of the most alarming and dangerous cnaracei
Hand IL those efforts are persisted n must ineVhaoy
cad 10 dissolution of the union of these states.
That in view OF the rapid strides with which those
Efforts have progressed OF late years. IN spite OF aIsu
n.nt and remonstranee our part, we canno, be IN
sensible the mischief that Is impending or Of the ne
e,ssy of more eectual nerpostion, for the purpose
d aresng the evil and maintaining the rights OIL Inc
: citizens OF the slaveholding States
That fundamental principle Of the Union is, perfect
equality Of rights among the states which compose ~
,h lesislaling relative to The common properly Oh
4, 10 impose conditions and restrictions, IN the enjoy
m-nt of IT, upon the citizens Of some of them men -
u imposed upon the citizens OF others would place the
ormer IN condition of Inequality, inferority and de-
radiation, Incompatible with that essential principle OF
A ,ae Union.
THAT the passage Of a law by Congress prohibiting
The citizens Of any of the States from residing, WIN
such property as they possess in territories oil the onl
I'd states acquired in war waged with the common
hood and Of ALL would be to impose such con
iions and restrictions TO which II would De lmpossioe
i or freemen. with honor, To submit
That in all Of the character OF the one In ques-
ton threatening the rights Of the States and their cit
where their IN Is % ", n.
States whose people aggeved TO propose the moae
and measure Of redress But as We their representa-
ives near the theatre of action the extent oil the
constituents; Therefore
Resolrtd further, That committee Of one from each
avehodng State DO appointed, TO draw an address 10
the people Of those States setting forth the progress OF
the evil which in our opinion threatens tnen, anu au
vsine them 10 adopt prompt and efficient measures io
the protection ofthe property Of their citizens the main
snance of the guarantees OF the CONSTITUTION, tnoH
rights under them, and the union of the states
On motion OF Mr. STEPHENS Of Georgia, the
resolutions we're referred to a select commiltee
Of one from each slaveholding Stale, 10 repor 10
an adjourned meeting OF the Senator'S and repre-
senlatiyes of the slave-holdns States, 10 be held
in this chamber al seven o'clock, The 18th oil ia.
nuary, lS49.
On motion of Morse, OF Louisiana, it was
Resolved, That The aforesaid meeting on the
18th OF January be advertised in the Union and
Inlelisencer, in this city.
The President appointed The following gent'e-
men as The special committee: Messrs. Stephens,
Calhoun, Cabell, King Of Alabama, Fooie,
Downs. Rusk, Sebastian Atchi>on OF Missouri,
Morehead, Clayton, Chapman Bayly, Gentry
and Vsnable.
Adjourned to meet a, seven P. M, 18th Janu-
airy, iS49. A. w. VENABLE, Secretary.
ANTE-RooM OF THE SENATE CHAMBER,
December 80, 1913.
Al the call oflhe Chairman OF The special COM
miuee of one from each OF the slave holding
States appointed at The general meeting held in
the Senae chamber, on The 23i OF December,
lS43 The committee assembled in the an,e.room
Of The Senate Chamber. Ali Of The commi tee
were present but Mr.. Cabell, who was sick, and
Mr.. Chapman, who was absent from The city =
Mr.. Stephens having expressed desire that the
committee should elect lis own chairman, ne was
on notion unanimously elected by the commit
lee
On motion, Mr. Venable was elected Secre,a-
On motion of Mr.. CALHOUN, a subcommittee
of FIVE was appointed, to take into consideration
the subject matter referred TO the special com
mittee; and the Chair appointed The said com
miuee, TO wit: Messrs. Calhoun, Clayton, King
Morehead, and Bayly, who were TO signify Il
the chairman Of the general committee whe'
they were ready to report. The committee ad
journed to meet on the call Of the chairman
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS, Charm
A. W. yENABLE, Secretary.
ANTE ROOM OF THE SENATE CHAMBER,
January TO- lS49.
The committee met. On the call Of the chair
mar, - quorum being present, Mr.. Calhoun
froa-Xse subcommittee, reported an address {
the people Of the savehodiog States, whic
was considered and discussed in committee, VIII
rose without coming to any conclusion thereon
and adjourned TO NEE, on Saturday, the 18th, a
10 o'clock, a. N.
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS, Charm.
A. w. VEsAgLE. Secretary.
ASrE-RooM OF TIE SENATE CHAMBER.
January Is, l6i9.
The committee met according TO Adjournment
Present: Mr.. Stephens, chairman; Messr'
Cdbell, Calhoun, Downs, Foote, Gentry, More
head, Alchson Of Missouri Clayton, Chapman
Bayly, Venabe, Rusk Mr.. King appeared b
proxy, by Mr.. Downs; and Mr.. Sebastian by NJ
Fooe.
Upon statement of Mr.. Downs and Nj
FooTr 'ha, they were authorized, The commute
pefmWIed them TO vote for the aforesaid gentle
men
The address was further discussed and con
sidered.
Whereupon Mr. CHAPMAN offered the follow
Ing resolution: