Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-06-27

Resolved, By the General Assembly Of
the State Of Missouri, That the Federal
Constitution was the result Of compromise
between the conflicting interests Of the
States which formed it. and in no part of
that instrument is to be found any delega-
ton of power to Congress to legislate on
the subject ofslavery, excepting some special
provisions, having in view the prospectiveab
clifton of the frican slave trade made for
the securing the recovery oflugilive slaves;
any attempt, therefore, on the part OF Con-
gress, to legislate on the subject, so as TO
effect the institution of slavery in the States,
in the district of Columbia, or IN the terri
tories. is, to say the least, a violation OF
the principle upon which our institution
was founded.
2. That the territories acquired by the
blood and treasure of the whole nation
ought to be governed for the common ben
eft OF the people of all the States, and
any organization Of the territorial govern.
ments excluding the citizens of any part of
the Union from another, and tending ulti-
mately to disunion.
3. That this General Assembly regard
subject Of slavery, as releasing the slave
holding states from all further adherence
to the basis Of compromise fixed on by the
act of Congress, March l520-even if
such act ever did impose any obligation on
the slave holding States, and authorises
them to insist upon their rights under the
constitutions; but for the sake OF harmony
and for the preservation of our federal
Union, they will still sanctien the applica-
ton oflhe principles OF the Missouri Com.
promise to the recent territorial acqusi-
tions, if by such succession future oggres-
sions upon the equal rights Of the states
may be arrested, and the spirit Of anti-sla-
very fanaticism be extinguisbed.
4. The right to prohibit slavery in any
territory, belongs exclusively to the peo-
pie thereof, and can only be exercised by
them in forming their constitution for q
State government, or in their sovereign
capacity as an independent State.
5. That in the event Of the passage Of
any act Of Congress conflicting with the
principles herein expressed, Missouri will
be found in hearty cooperation with the
slave holding States, in such measures as
may be deemed necessary for our mutual
protection against the encroachments Of
northern lanaticism.
6. That our Senators in Congress be in-
structed, and our representatives. bo re-
quested TO act in conformity to the forego.
ing resolutions.
The Calhoun resolutions were entitled
s'1'he rights of Congress over The terrific
ries Of the Union in relation to slavery,'
and were introduced into the Senate Feb.
ls47. Those ofthe Missouri Legislature
were entitled, "Resolutions in relation to
Slavery" and were introduced December
lS45-the object Of both the same, to deny
The right OF Congress to prevent, or prohibit
slavery in territories, and to denounce q
dissolution of the Union lfit did. One was
parent to the other, and presume no man
will deny it. And here | make the excep.
ton which truth and justice requires from
me. I have no idea that the mass of the
member who voted for the resolutions in
the last General Assembly, had any idea
that they were Calhoun's 5 or considered
the dissolution of the Union, which they
announced, as thing in actual contempla.
ton. But they are not the less injurious
on that account. They are the act of the
General Assembly, and stand for the act Of
the Stale, and bind it to the car Of Mr. Cal
houn, and encourage him more than any
event that has taken place. But they are
not the sense OF the State, nor even the
Sc nse of all tine members who voted Tor
them. The true sense OF the State, and
doubt not, Of large majority of the men,
bers of the last Legislature, was faithfully
expressed in The resolves and instructions
of the previous Legislature, which had
received and obeyed, not only in the letter,
but in the spirit. These are they:
syoint Resolution in relation to the Mis-
souri, compromise Act of 1920.
"Resoived, That the peace, permanancy
and welfare of our national Union, depend
upon strict adherence to the letter and
spirit of the Sth section of the act of Con-
gress of the United States, entitled, An act
to authorize the people Of the Missouri
Territory to form Constitution and State
Government, for the admission of such State
into the Union on an equal footing with the
original States, aid to prohibit slavery in
certain Territories" approved March 9th,
1920.
"Rssolrsd, That our Senators in the Com
gress of the United States are hereby in-
structed and our Representatives requested
to vote in accordance with the provisions
and spirit of the said eighth section OF the
said act, in all the questions which may
come before them in relation to the organi-
zation Of new Territories, or States out Of
the Territory now belonging to the United
States, or which may hereafter be acquired,
either by purchase, by treaty, or by con-
quest.'' --.
The resolves passed the General Assem-
bly, of Missouri on the 18th day OF Febru.
ary, lo47-just four days before Calhoun
brought before the Senate of the United
States his fire. brand resolutions, which
denounced upon the spot which have been
adopted by the Missouri Legislature at the
last session. and from which now appeal
to the State-the whole State. How diff
ferent-how irreconcileably hostile to each
other-the two SETS Of resolutions! one
makes the peace, permanency and welfare
Of our national Union, dependent upon
strict adherence to the spirit and terms Of
the Missouri Compromise, in its applica-
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