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


our country. fully believe that all classes Q
people will soon feel the beneficial effects oil tn'
prosperity and confidence that will MI me miha'
| of The people during his administration.
A SMALL VOICE FROM THE SUI u
Ala large meeting OF The people o. NoTthamp
ion and Stale OF Virginia, held al The CouI
House in Eas,vc, on Monday, The o'h day 0
JANUARY ls49, James M. Nicholson, Esq, was
ON motion, called 10 the Chair and William l
Ficheil, Esq, appointed Secretary
| The Chairman, in appropriate remarks, slaiet
ihr object OF the meeting 10 be the Consideration
Of N. recent proceedings Of the House OF Repre-
senialiyes OF The United States upon Mr. Cot
attempt 10 break up the institution oil slavery III
the District OF Columbia.
Alter The meeting had been addressed by Miefs
w. Fisher Esq and others, motion was uaut
10 adjourn The meeting 10 February Couri, iol
the purpuse oil waiting for the report q me
commi lee Of the Sou hern members OF Inc
House Of Representatives and OF The sen
ale The motion was voted down by an al
most unanimous expression, and The following
ma med persons were appointed committee y
prepare matter for the consideration OF inc meg,
ing, VIZ: Henry P. c. Wilson, DR.; Jonn NJ ',
T
Soady. James Saunders, Or. Thos. ii. basweiI,
DR.. William Alexander Thom, Thomas K. jar
Wis, Gen. Smith Nottingham, William w: m
kins, Nathaniel Gofigon, John /. wilkins,
Thomas K Dunton, Louis ID. Heath, Leonard
| B. Nottingham and on motion of Di. Ihom, VI
VIM. G. Smith Mers w. Fisher and Or. Jesse
] Simklns were added 10 the commillee.
The committee after consultation, reported
through Their chairman, Il. P. c. Wilson, Esq,
the following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas proceedings have been commenced
in The House Of Representatives oil The unitec
States 10 abolish The institution OF Slavery wiInin
The District ii Columbia, district ceded oy me
slave States Maryland and Virginia 10 The Gen
eral Government, Tor The purposes no'E olhef
than The accommodation OF The Federal Govern
meni, Tor its residence and IL legitimate exercise
o; functions only necessary 10 lis administration
0. powers con,errei upon il by The Constitution
and mt for an administration OF power which
can ma ,pisye be found in The Cession Deeds Of
Maryland and Virginia; stale Of alarm has
been produced which calls for an expression Of
the voice OF Southern people in their primary as
semblies
Therefore we the people OF the county OF
Nouhampron and Safe OF Virginia, now met in
Convention, DO declare, that however we may Dc
divided by parry lines upon oncr questions
which nave heretofore, and do still excite US, We
know no division Of sentiment on the question 81
our rights under The Constitution Of he Uni
ted States in and 0rer The Institution OF Sld-
very. We believe that Congress has no pow
er over the subject, and We insist that none
shall ever be exercised ny II.
However unlimited the terms of language
employed by the STATES Maryland and Virgi-
MIA, in their deeds Of cession, we have no doubt
that at the time Of cession, the idea that Con
gress might ever claim power ever slavery had
never entered the head Of any one Of the palri-
otto rulers Of these generous and confiding old
Siates-saye States as they were then, and slave
States as they item expected 10 r,main
We furthermore declare TO our fellow citizens
of thee United STATES, that in reference 10
this claim OF power over the District, whilst
we are not 10 be understood as admitting in the
least gree legal power, we plant ourselves
on the position that Congress has no moral pow
cr whatever; and that We will never submit to
emancipation in that District without The con-
sent Of the pc pie OF SAID District, and OF the
people of the States Of Mary land and Virginia.
aad we shall not hesitate 10 stigmatse any and
every one Of The American People, who may
ever be willing TO perpelrate on Virginia and
MARYLAND fraud, that would be as monstrous
and as hleous would be that Of the man who
could abuse his friends confidence By inserting
IN "cGrte Hanche" something about which that
friend had never been consulted
Therefore, Resolved, That we cordially ap
prove and commend the course OF all the South
ern members of Congress, VINO have recently
met in convention for the purpose of resisting tho
| slavery agllators, and Of considering and adopt
ing what action il ecomes them 10 take for the
preservation of the rights Of the South.
Resolved, That upon all occasions which arc
forced upon u for the expression Of our views,
OF our rights in and over slavery, we viii en-
ploy such language only as shall carefully indi
cate our proposed action and that in our here
,o(ore expressions, thai Congress neither has nor
shall exercise any rowGr over slavery we de
sire to BE- understood that We will resist, even II
il be at the cost Of our lives.
The Preamble and Resolutions were con
sidered BY tie meeting and unanimously adopt
ed:
Resolved, That copy Of the foregoing Pre-
| ambc and Resolutions be forwarded to our Sc
nators and Representative in Congress, and &c
our Senator and Delegate in the Legislature Of
| Virginia
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meet
| ing be sent TO the Union" and "NatlonaI In
| ielligencer," al Washington, and 10 the Rich
mond Enquirer" and "Whig," at Richmond
with request for their publication.
On motion, the mectir, then adjourned.
JAMES NJ. NICHOLSON, Chairman
| VIZ. T. fITcHETr, Secretary.
| - Richmond Wing requested TO copi
L