Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-23


appeal made to him that we should present
an unbroken front, SO as 10 stay the aggressions
OF the Northern fanatics. Since then he had
come 10 the conclusi9k first, that il Congress
did not have The POI TO pass the wilmo,
Pro'iso. it was at 10y very doubtful ques-
ton; and secondly, ttfal whether the Provi.o
passed or not, it was an mma,erial question.
On one occasion in the Senate in the discus.
sion Of Federal Relations, no had refused TO
VOC but he Ind repented of it and had deter
mined ever afterwards 10 record his vote, come
what might He had always been of opinion
that this was mol q proper forum for the dis
cussion and settlement Of Federal Relations
We had our Representatives in Congress, who
could manage them sufficiently we'll -[Mr. RS
speech substantially amounted to this, viz: he
had once lodged vote; was once dragged in BY
Mr.. Stanard, SC; and was lastly dragged ou
by Messrs. Scott, Harrison, &C.
Mr.. WiIcher believed that the North was pre-.
pared to abolish slavery in The District, The lorls
dockyards, &C., and that If there had been nd
opposition from The Soulh lie Wilmot Proyisc
would have passed Congress. He had one word
10 say about Federal Relations. Every one mus
admit that there is Limitation on The powers OIL
Congress; and that il they came over our line
and usnrped our rights, Senators would not de.
serve 10 have their seats here, il they did not re
monsirar ard resist. This idea OF Congress
alone having The power 10 decide on Federal Re-
laions, was 10 admit that Congress could do
every thing, attend TO our business as well
as their own. MIR. Witcher could not IN
derstand, how, under The lair construction Of the
limited grant OF power u Congress, learned
gentlemen could believe The Wmot Proviso 10
be constitutional. The Oh amendment 10 the
Constitution declares that Congress can do moth
ing 10 impair the rights OF The Sales and the pco-
pie. Among these rights is the right OF property;
(properiy in slaves is particularly guaranteed in
The Cons'itulion) and the Government cannot
go any where, without retaining he L.nlifat m
alluded above. Mr.. w. was prepared 10 vote
for The resolutions, and 10 give the reasons Tor his
vote. Mr.. Wichers remarks were brief-but
pithy, 10 the point, conclusive
Mr.. Rogers rose TO say that he was utterly op.
posed 10 The e1creiss Of The power by Congress, as
entirely wrong. As 10 The ant.slavery attempts on
The District OF Columbia, he would oppose them
by all constitutional means.
Mr.. SIanard suggested that The question b. Ill
vided, So as 10 allow The Sena or from Loutoun
to vote TO! he resolution in regard TO the DIS.
rrict Of Columbia Mr.. Rogers not ex-
presseing his acquiescence in that resolution, the
vote was taken on The whole preamble and reso-
luticns al once, and they were adopted, as they
came from The House, as follows, 81 10 3:
AYEs-MesSrs. Scott, Speaker, } Riyes, Woods,
Tribe, Jr., Tyler, Barbee, Daniel, Averet Is
bell, Pits, Shackelord, Opie, Tate, French, Den.
mis-, Wiicher, Stanard, Smith, Deneale, Sloan,
S!rinscr, Kane, Crump, H,rwood, Amber, Nc
Cauley aud Fiy-27.
NoEs-Messrs Thompson, Kinney Rogers-3.
[Mr. Parriott i not in The city, and Mr. Car
Isle was eo'ii"s. n "v Sf 4or The resouiions
sem, ne ~ou,u :. r,.euble AMI resolutions,
which now stand as the soemnly de iberaled and
recorded sentiments Of Virginia. We have anx-
iously watched their progress, and We rejoice 10
assure the friends oil The Union every where, iha
Virginia is sound on this question, and will do
her whole duty. Let The Federal Government
keen within lis constitutional orbit md not vic
lale the rights OF the States, the Unior will be PEE
served and our glorious Republic mce on peace
fully and tiumphauily:
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, the institution Of slavery was fully
discussed in the Convention which formed thu
Constitution of the United States and the rights
of Shareholders recognized and protected By
the provisions of that instrument; And without
the compromises then solemnly enteed into, the
union of the States never could have been
formed: Aud, whereas, the General Assembly
Of Virginia, regarding what is kmwn az the
Wilmot Proviso." as in palnblc disre-
gard Of the compromises of the Constitution,
did. on the 9Th day Of March, ls47, adopt
series Of resolutions. Distinctly indicating the
course which the State of Virginia you'd pur-
sue in the event Of its passage by ths Congress
of the Omitted States, applicable TO territory 10
be acquired from Mexico: And whereas the pre-
sent General Assembly have seen with deep con-
Germ disposition manifested by the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES OF the United State. TO violate
The principles embodied in said resolutions, and
TO make still further agsressions upon the rights
Of the Southern States; under these circumslan-
ces. this General Assembly deem the occasion
fit TO re affirm said resolutions and most re- pect-
fully, but most earnestly to call the attention Of
all those who are attached TO the union of the
States, 10 the serious and inevitable consequcn
ces which must follow sucn action upon the
part Of the General Government. Be it, there
fore,
|. Resolved, By the General Asse nbly of
Virgins, That after the fullest reorganization
and re reconsideration Of the resolutions adopted
on The 9th of March, Is47, by this body, we do
consider .aid resolutions as founded in truth,
consonant with the Constitution, and conducive
10 its preservation, and, therefore, we feel it to
be our indispensable duty to adhere TO and re-
affirm them, as follows:
uReulutinrs rclatlre 10 the prohibtion Jy the Con
oress of The United Stats Of Slarery IN any
fr,ritoru 10 be acquired By conquest or treaty.
IAdnpled March 9Th, lS47]
81. BE il Resolved, unanimously, by the Generai As,
sembv OF Virginia, That the Governm' mt OF the United
States has no control directly indirectly, medately
or Immediately the institution Of s'avery; 20 a
IN i,nnair the rights OF Shareholder and at, IN tax
ne any such control it transcends the limits Of its
legitimate functions, by destroying the internal orean
cation of the sovereigntes who created u.
ts2. Resolved, unanimously, HAT nv 1e'ii.oiy WHICH
NAV be ACQUIRED by The of the United states, OF
Welded ny treaty with any foreign power belongs 10 the
several States Of this Union their joint and common
property in which each aud all have equal rehis and
thai the enactment by The Federal Government OF an,
law which should directly, or NY It's enecis, preven
the citizens Of any State from ENGRAVING with the
property of whatever descriptions INTO snen territory
would make discrimination unwarranted ny, and ir
violation Of The compromises of The Constitution ana h'
rinhs the States from which such CITIZENS emlgrard
and in delegation Of that perfect equality that belong
To the several States as members Of this Union, AM
would tend directly TO subvert the Union itself
90 Resolved, That IL, in disregard alike OF the spi
rit and principles of the act Of Congress on The adms
sion of The State of Missouri into the Union, general!
known ms the Missouri Compromise, and OF every con
sd.raon Of JUSTICE Of constitutional rshi and Of fra
iorna feeling the iea issue shall be forced upon III
country which must result from the adoption and at
tempted enforcement. of the Wiimo' Provso az an &C
of he General the people Of Virginia
have no difficulty In choosing between the only alter
natives that will then remain, oil abJect submission L
resistance ON the other all hazards aud TO the las
extremity. r.. - c
semby holds il To be duty OF every man, IN ever
l flte Enip t,d nar