Democratic banner., 1849-07-09
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E17s

Congress q series Of resolutions which, at-
ter mature elaboration and warm discusA
sion, were adopted BY 9 large majority.-
Upon the principles contained in these reso-
buttons ali that have since been put forth
have been predicated. The Democratic
party Of that day were fully committed in
their support, and to show what they wefe,
I herewith give them:
l. ResolUed, That this government is
government of limited powers, and that, by
the Constitution Of the United States, Con-
Igress has no jurisdiction whatever over the
subject Of slavery in the several States Of
this Confederacy.
2. Rcsolyed. That petitions for the abe
|lition of slavery in the District Of Colum.
|bis, and the Territories Of the UnIed
States, and against the removal Of slaves
from one State to another, are . part Of q
plan Of operations set on foot to affect the
Institution Of slavery in the several States,
and thus indirectly destroy that institution
within their limits.
g.. ResoEced, That Congress has no right
to do thatindirectly which it cannot do de
rectly ; and that tie agitation, Of she spb-
ject Of slavery in the District Of Colunhbia,
or the Territories, as a means and vitha
view Of disturbing or overthrowiEg that IN
stitution In the several States, il against the
true spirit and meaning Of the Constitution,
an infringement Of the rights Of the States
affected, and a breach Of the public faith
upon which they entered into the eonfede-
,.s
4. ResoEved, That the Constitution rests
on the broad principles of equality among
the members Of this c~orfederacy, and that
Congress, in the exercise Of its acknowl-
edged powers, has no right to discriminats
between the institutions Of one portion Of
the States and another, with . view Of abol-
ishing the one and promoting the other.
5. Resokved, therefore, That all attempts
on the part of Congress to abolish slavery
in the District of Columbia, or the Terrific
ries, or to prohibit the removal Of slaves
from State TO State, or to discriminate be-
tween the institutions of one portion Of the
Ic~onfederacy and another, with the views
aforesaid, are in violation Of the constitu-
Ition, destructive Of the fundamental princi-
pie on which the union Of these States rests,
and beyond the jurisdiction Of Congress;
and that every petition, memorial, resolu-
Ition, proposition, or paper, touching or re-
lsting in any way, or to any extent whsts
ever, to slavery as aforesaid, or to the aboli-
ton thereof, shall, on the presentation there
of, without any further action thereon, be
laid upon the table, without being debated,
printed, or referred. go
These are the celebrated Atherton reso-
buttons. They were recognized as good
Democratic doctrine, at the time Of their
adoption. They were introduced BY . nortb-
en man,Eand sustained by the south. There
was no cry of disunion raised against them
then. It was believed that the safety Of the
Union depended on arresting the high hand
ed and unwarrantable conduct Of the aboli-
Itionists. These resolutions did so for stife.
So important and so just did they appear,
that the principles they contained were a.
dopted BY the Democratic National Con-
~vention in 1874. It is contained in the 7ih
resolution of that body and is as follows:
Z. "1hat Congress has no power under
the constitution to interfere With or control
the domestic institutions of the several
States, and that such States are the sole and
proper judges of everything appertaining
to their own affairs, not prohibited BY the
constitution; that ell efforts Of the abolition
lists or others made to induce Congress to
interfere with questions of slavery, or take
incipient steps in relation thereto, are cslcu-
lated to lead to the most alarming and dan.
gerous consequences; and that ell such 81
forts have an inevitable tendency to dihin-
ish the happiness of the people, and endan-
ger the stability and permanency Of the
Union, and ought not to be condemned
by any friend Of our political Institutions"
It was thought absolutely necessary to
adhere to these principles % that day, and
there has been no cause suficientto change
a principle, from that day to this. That
which would shave an inevitable tendency
to diminish the happiness Of the people, and
sndanger the stability Of the Union" Ave
years ago, villhave the same effect now
We heard no cry Of disunion then, for the
reason, that no one had the hardihood to
cast the frsbrand Of abolition in our midst.
The South was unanimous at that time in
defence of her rights. Seeing that she vas
resohte and determined, those 10 the north
IL