Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-01-08


ened the session with prayer
| The Standing Cnnmtleps were called for reports
WILMOT PROVISO.
NE Scot said That at very early day of the session
Select committee had heen raised hat is known as
the Wllmut prnviSo and other kindred measures That
committee The result IF their debtra had report
t" the House certain solutions which they deemed TX
pedent To De adopted by he General Assembly. These
had been ordered to printed and were now on the ia
oe-lt as certainly desirable if action was to b.
taken on the subject 70 which the resolutions reat d. ,ha
1t should take shape in which all could une in no 9th
e' way was 1t possible fnr gnod to come of it,
lie did not know when those who had the matep pa,-
lcuay IN charge proposed to call up the resolutions for
consideration u certainly was not his desire to precpi
as the discussion OF then but, objrctng to the temper
and tone ~ The resolutions, dissenting from the c0ncu-
slons to which they led and feeling very strongly that
their adoption would commit the General Assembly 10 ,
sr stlonhe had fett to be his duty prepare rtan
other resolutions which he gned asa substitute
tor those reported by the committee He asked that thev
might he read tr the Information of the 9ose laid on
the table, and ordered to be printed
on the topic 10 which the committees resolutions re-.
lated the substitute would be fund.- he thought to ,sk.
pson free from suliuna ubjecriun and al the same
time b''ad enough and strong enough for all the friends
of the nnn and advocates Of Southern ohts 10 stand
upon. 1t would be found ID embrace an expression 0.
opinion or aroer matter not touched by former reso
utIons ife alluded 10 the action of the House Of
Columbia.
Mr.. Scott said whilst he felt very little interest in
any action that congress might rake in relation slave.
~ IN the territories conquered from Mexcn beIievino
mat It could end n ~ praclua result felt Tar other
wise on ne SUBJECT Of slavery in The District sf Colum
pa lhat was practical question it came home % Nc
al u 'he language OF one Of the resnuons he reQa,
ded 1t as direct attack up the Institutions of the South
ern States the first acl of nedaied war upon rights So
cured nv the constitution, hch ought be et .. the
thsrshhnd and resisted al any hazard
Ihe following are The resolutions
Resolved Ahat the Institution of slavery was fu y
discussed BY The convention which formed the cons,u
non ct me tnied sae~ ana that the riuhsu the slave
holders were fully rec1uIz N and propc ed BY its pro-
visions; that, without h- promises then soemnly en-
tered INTO. The mon Of he States could have beef
furmsd
That VII ther Congress posses%s The constitutional
power Ia prohlolt o. ahrldge The free immigration of
slave"oder with his slaves e,ril.sy Of the United
States, Is question which may and do hone It .
differ ia oplni,n.
s. lhst l'C"ngess does possess that power any .xe,
else OF IT. which would abrde the right ola STAKEHOLDER
tn lnM gate with his slaves territory ACQUIRED by
me cnnn1n blod and treasure of the whole nation would
be CONTRARY to The spirit IF Cancellation and compromise
under The influence OF which the Federal Government
was formed; unjust to the savehnding States and an
abuse OF power which would interrupt if not destroy the
harmony between the States. necessary the health
ton Of our glorious Union
T. That the fundamental principles Of our own and all
Hee governments are that the people capable Of self
gVefhneht-that all Legitimate power resides in and EN-
aateS from The penpe that governments are instituted
or the benefit OF the and are their trustees
ana agents; and consequently it would be unjust leo sa
nn ana tyrannical abuse Of power force domestic
slavt-y upon unwilling people. In the case Of Cal
lorna and New Mexico, II would aggravate he wounds
inflicted ny war and conquest, and SOW the seeds Of do
affection and re >ult.
D. That the Question slavery, in California and New
SeXlcU, is merely transient in nature and no mat
Ter how decided by Congress can never produce any
practical effect that these territories were free when &C
CURED. and So according every reasuna Die probability
must retnaln Congress egi>late slavery int,
practical existence within their limits aud il is matter
ofndI-Tence 50 far It's there is concerned
whether Congress ngra into their firm Of government
what is known he Wilm Provso the Missouri com.
promlSe.or the Sena,e's les lulin
b. That the unity Of government which constitutes
US one people, now dear US, it has BEEN 1t
IS justly So fIr il is main pillar the edtce of our
rea Independence, The support Of our tranquility home
our peace ahroad o"u safety Of prosperity; Of that
very liberty which we highly prize
q Thai we prize the Union Of these States too highly
10 ny TO arms and dissolve ii upon difference Of opn-
ION. on an abstract question Of constitutional law.
O. That as the passage of law by Congress prohlbi-
ung lhe Introduction OF slaves into California and New
W WISHES OF tne people OF those
ories, would be tyrannical abuse Of power The pas
sage Of such law, under existing circumstances being
wholly unnecessary even to accomplish 50 far as thus
etorles are concerned the wishes Of the most ardent
aoot"nsl, would be graluitUus outrage on Southern
feeling and manifest spirit of hostility the rights Of
the south, secured by The constitutions but too we'll ca
cua'ed to keep alive and increase the apprehension for
the safely OF thuse rghst already unhappy excited and
ultimately ALLEVIATE The attachment of the Southern STATES
to the t ederal government.
= That whilst we deprecate quarrel and still more
resort 70 arms i"r mere abstraction, stand ready
ess all lnvasons OF our rights whether BY the assump-
uon OF power not granted by the constitution or tyran-
nous abuse of granted powers.
H. That we consider any interference by CONGRESS
within the District of Columbia without the conspnt Of
It's inhabitants, With The rights Of the STAKEHOLDER a.
mongst which IS the right to buy and SELL at variance
WIN me fundamentaI principles Of free governments and
direct attack upon the institutions Of the Souhern States:
The st act Of medaled upon rights secured by the
constitution. which ought me, at the threshold and
reslsI ed at every hazard.
II. Resolved. That the Governor of this Common
wealth De requested 10 send copy of these resolutions to
each OF The States Of this Union and also To our Sena
s in Congress, and each the members of the Hous.
OF Representatives.
The resoluuns being read, Mr. Scott moved that
In be lad on the table, and ordered 10 be printed
Mr. More moved the printing Of 1000 copies, but Mr.
>t"va suggesting that il would be best 10 order the ad
donal cupes after the House had acted Mr. NJ with
drew his mo'inn.
Several bills We're read first and Second tine