The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1849-10-19

man and Gov. J. w, Matthews. alternates from
the county of Lowndes, we spread upon the
| journals. ass gb
/ DR.. A. G. Roberts appeared and took bis seat
in the convention, as the proxy of w. 5. Jones,
from Kinds county.
Gen. Quitman and Col. jeff Davis were invi-
ted 10 seats within the bar.
1 The report of the committee was taken up
for consideration, and the minority Of the COM
mittee having withdrawn their report, the ma
jority report was put upon its passage.
After various amendments, it was unanimous
j ly adopted as follows:
i We the delegates te convention, called by
the people Of the State of Mississippi to delbe-
rate on the means to prevent the unfounded pEe-
tension. that Congress has power to legislate on
the subject of domestic slavery. and to prohibit
its introduction and existence in the territories
of the United States, have duly considered the
important subject committed to our charge, and
make the following report, as expressive of the
voice of Mississippi.
1t is boldly asserted, that congress possesses
an unlimited power of legislation over all the
territories belonging in common to the people of
these United States--that it, consequently. has
power to prohibit slavery in these territories
that the exercise of such power is expedient
and necessary, inasmuch as slavery is an evil
which must be eradicated from the land. With
a few patriotic and honored exceptions, the pen-
pie OF the Northern States seemasdetermined
to adopt the Wilmot pEoViso, or the principle it
contains. Every succeeding year brings forth
new expedients for the accomplishment o! the
object. The press, the pulpit, and the ballot
box, have all become tributary to the fanatical
hostility to the South. 1t is vain to hope for an
abandonment of this settled design. Submis-
sion TO our wrongs, provokes perseverance on
The part of the aggressors, and it is wise in
States, as it is in individuals 10 resist encroach-
ment. Unfortunately, we have been but too
passive under former encroachments. Our op-
ponents exult in the passage Of the Oregon bill,
, as full acknowledgement of the principle, and
} build their hopes of farther success on that In
this unfortunate controversy there are but two
alternatives--the one is submission and the
other is resistance. To the one we cannot-we
! will not consent; the other, we are reluctant to
! adopt.
' In the name of our constituents, we solemn
!, ly deny the existence Of the power claimed, and
e protest against its exercise: We assert that il
will violate the Constitution and " i'll lead to a
n dissolution of the Union.
e We hove not met to discuss the questions o.
power or expedIency. They have been argued
and re-argued, in and ont Of Congress, by oul
statesmen and by our people. We have rea
soned and demonstrated in terms OF Cancellation
with our Northern brethren, until forbearanct
has ceased to be virtue. We have warnet
them of the consequences of perseverance,
They have disregarded all our remonstrances
# and our warnings; they have disregarded tn
most solemn compromises, in which we yielde
| tnn how fn 70 "a,
o dicial determination, preferring to decide by tn
!. force of numbers. There is no common arbiter
. and, we too, must decide for ourselves. Tha
!. decision is made We take our stand on th
plain principles of the Constitution, ard intent
i TO maintain it. or sink in the effort.
. We assert that Congress has no power owe
f the subject of slavery, within the States or ii
h the territories. That these States by the reyo
luton, by the declaration of independence, ant
+ by the treaty Of peace, became separate and in
: dependent soveregnties; With all the politica
power of separate and distinct nations; that theJ
are still so, except so far as they may have dele
q gated part Of their power to the general govern
: ment; that they have not delegated their sove
: regnty; the federal government is not sove
9 reignty, but limited federative system, posses
! sing only such powers as have been expressl,
a granted TO it by the constitution, with such i'm
! piled powers as may be indispensaby necessary
. as incidents to the express grant, 1t follows
. that it can egislate only on the subjects conf
ded to it; and, On them, only in strict subordina
n ton TO every principle of the Constitution.
. As power is constantly tending to the legisla
tive department, it is inexpedient that Congress
= should encroach on the liberties of the peopl
J. and the sovereignty Of the States by exercising
= doubtful powers.
No that fta n c1o
: recognized by the constitution--slaves were re
i cognzed as property, the full enjoyment Q
D. which was guarded md protected; guarantee
IA by that compact. That Congress has no powe
= over such property.--The right of property pre-
,t Csded the constitutional is cueVal with tn
\. history o. man; it exists by paramount law {
:. nature. 1t is the subject of control by Stat
81 sovereignty only THIS Union never woul
20 have been formed, without the full and entir
recognition OF slavery, and property in slaves
=. and the guaranty to the owner which 10 contain
10 ed in the constitution.
- We assert that the territories acquired by th
- late war with Mexico, are the common propert
e E of the United States; that the people of tn
be States have right to move to it, and enjoy
:. and to take with them their property, their rel
gion, and their liberty. Congress did not creai
or property in slaves, nor can it say they sha
of cease to be property. 10 abolish slavery
80 the territories, 10 to diminish their value, an
:" limit their value in the States. 1t is approprii
ting the whole of the territory to the use OF OF
es portion Of the people Of the United States
,ot the exclusion Of another. The power Of Coz
al gress to egislate for the territories is power
es protect the citizen and his property, not to q
Nv clare what is property. Therefore
ev 1st. Resolred, That we continue to enterta
ot devoted and cherished attachment to Il
of Union, but we desire to have it as it was form'
ps and not as an engine of oppfession
-, 2. That the institution OF slavery in the So
thern States is left, by the constitution, excl
he sively under the control of the States in whil
va it exists, as a part of their domestic polio
which they, and they only, have the right
m. regulate abolish or perpetuate, as they mi
II. severally Judge expedent; and that all attemp
ye on the part 0: Congress, or others, to interfs
70 with this subject, either drecllyor indirectly, a
cb in violation OF the Constitution, dangerous
ba the rights and safety of the South, and ought
alf be promptly resisted.
M 8. That Congress has no power to pass AZ
law abolishing slavery in the District OF CoiuI
bia, or to prohiot the slave trade between t
several States or to prohibi. the Introduction
,ri slavery into the territories of the Unlled Stats