Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-10-16
RICH MOND, VA,
Tuesday Mornins, October I6, ls49.
MISSISSIPPI CONVENTION.
J.c.s6N MISSISSIPPI, October ,, lo4s
JAChSI M " -.Is - =
Tn tie Editors of The EnqaHtf:

1 hasten 10 forward TO you 'ue "i's''''rre,
nj This date. on whose second page you WIN nhu
The Declarations and Resolu ions OF Mlss'ss'pp'
in Convention, irrespective OF parry, coner - "'ns
the past and impending aeelession' " VIZ -. W.
1be Address and Resolutions "l me cehlihl
mc,Iino in ibis city, on the 7h OF May, were
nnhlished 10 The Washington Union, to winch l re,
tr In pursuance thereof, between mat daie ara
ne first instant all Of II e So counties oil This STATE,
iunIe ca some four Or five no. heard from DID mol
acrl in Joint primary meetings, ratified Inc ac-
I,on of Inc central meeting, appointed delegates
70 nroposed to The October Convention, and me
ioriy Of them gave vivid expressions oil IN
Souihern sentiment, that immediate, concen rapd,
and undivided action to ares, the Norihern Goa
lilion, and rescue the Constitution, me UNI
md the South, was demanded by The cIisis.
In our State C mention both parties were
equally, and, il may be said, ably represensea1
Courteous and profound harmony prevalleu:, ,s -
sal three days Action WAS THE tBJEcT. Inc
admission Of California as Stale, under North
crn auspices, and in reference 10 the course oil
The North in The last Congress, and the suose'
ouenl cont mud aud ex,ling Ssiialions In 'ne
North TO DETER SOUTHERN EMIGRATION, ana 10
view OF The population and pruc, IS out oil VII en-
Constitution Tor California has originated, ana
the area proposed tu be embraced from which Inc
South are 10 he excluded, became not IN princ'
pie but in mere de;ail subject Of prolonged a's>
cussion. and, the Convention becoming lmpa'
,ienl, laid all the projects as 10 that mailer on lhe
table, blu. appoinpd committee 10 prepare an !,
Address 10 lie Southern people, in which, as
hope, thai subject will be commended 10 Inc Con-
sidera,ion oil our Southern sislerG. II VIII,
doubtless, soon appear.
twill be gratifying 10 The patriots oi The ma
lerna Stale, both Wings aud Democrats, thai, on
this momentous question in Mississippi, all patli'
IAN controversy AM feeling have been broush,
as sacrifice TO the altar Of The Constitution anu
ii, Union, and that instead Of demonstrating lar
lher. " declaring resistance upon contingent
cies, We have appreciated the crisis, and yentuf-
I'd to call the South mo consultation.
We have named NASHVILLE IS he place OF The
meeting Of The Southern Convention, instead OF
the city OF Richmc nd, to avoid The impuialion q
wishing 10 inlerier. with the next Congress, anu
in preference 10 other points in The SCUM on &C
count OF greater cenralily. All desired il a! ri
earlier day; but il vas The prevailing opinion ina
The other Southern States that might csoose Il
concur might not have lime TO go into CoaVeh
ton, or constitute delegates al an earlier day.
The greatest anxiety now feel is, that Wis
GINA will be The first 10 support US and co'oPe
rate with US.
IMPORTANT MOVEMENT.
To tine sacrifice of other matters, we feel il
to be our duty to find room for The subslance Of
the interesting proceedings Swallowed forth
above. The Convention assembled at the Ca
pitol Of Mississippi, on the lst October, and on
motion OF T. II. Williams, Judge George Win
chester was appointed President pro tenn, and
on motion Of Judge John |. Guon, Col. q. R
Fall editor of the MississipPian,) was appoint
ed Secretary pro ten. d. Wallace, Nj. C. from
Souh Carolina, Gen. Quitman and Col. JED
Davis were invited to seats within the bar. The
permanent organization Of the body was al
follows: For President, Judge w. l. Sharkey
Chief Justice of the Stale; for Vice President
Governor Matthews; and Secretaries, J A. Orr
of Chickasaw and w. n. Purdoe of Holmes
On motion of Judge E. c Wilkinson, com
mittee of thirty was appointed to prepare and
report definite matter for the action of the
Convention, as follows:
First Dsyie;.-lIs Excelency, Gov. Mat.
!l4asg aillidfav.' III. Smith
Steond Di5t'ici Gen. T N. Waui, q. N
r.
Third Distr!et.-tloD. E c. Wilkinson, J. NJ
Chiffon, a. Hutchinson end Thos. a. Dabney.
tourlh District Hon Geo Winchester, R.
T. Archer, s. H Johnson and Gen. d. H.
Cooper.
John |. Smith, c .dcAlpin, NJ. Blalaiack
and H. C. Chambers, were afterwards added to
said Committee, as members from tho Stale a,
large.
On the evening OF the Sd inst. The mastery
Report of the Committee, Through Judge
Wilknson) having been variously amended
was unanimously adopted, as follows:
REPORT.
We the delegates 10 a convention, called by
the people OF the Stale OF Mississippi, 10 debe.
rate on The means to prevent The unfounded pre-
iension that Congress has power 10 leeisIae on
The subject of domestic slavery, and 10 pfohibil
lis introduction and existence in the territories OIL
the United Slales, have dolly considered The i'm
porant subject committed 10 our charge, and
make the following report. as expressive Of the
voice OF Mississippi
|. is boldly asserted, that Congress possesses
an unlimited power OF legislation over all The
territories belonging in common 10 the people Of
these United S;aies-thal il, Consequent y, has
power 10 prohibit slavery in these territories
that the exercise Of such power is exredent and
necessary, inasmuch as slavery is an evil which
must be eraticated from The land. With few
patriotic and honorcd exceptions, the people OF
The NoIhern States seem de:ei niined 10 adopt The
Wilmo; Proviso, or III principle il contains
Every succeeding year brings forth new expe-
dicnls for the accomplishment oil this object
The prese, The pulpit, and Inc ballot box, nave
all n n fan II
The Sonh. Ii is vain to hope for an abandon
ment o Ibis settled design. Submission 10 orr
wrongs, provokes perseverance on The parts OF
the aggressols; and il is wise in States, as il is
in individuals, 10 resist pncroachment. Unfor-
lunaely, we have been bnt too passive under
former entertainments. Our opponents exull in
The passage Of The Oregon Bill, as full &C.
acknowledgement oil The principle, end build their
hopes Of further success Oh that. In ibis untor.
lunats c, nIroyersy there are bn, TWO allerna.
lives the one is submission, The olhrr is ress-
lance. To The one we caanol-we will moi con-
Sent; the oIhs', We are reluctant 10 adop..
In the name Of our constituents, we solemnly
deny The existence Of The power claimed, and pro
test against It's exeIcSc. We assert that il will
violac The Constitution and will lead 10 a disso-
luton OF The Union.
We have mol met 10 discuss The question oil
powe! or expectancy. They have been argued
and &c argued; in and out OF Congress, by our
statesmen and b. onr people. We have reason.
ed and demonstrated in Terms Of Cancellation with
our Northern brethren, until ,o!.ea.ance has
ceased 10 b. virtue. We have warned then OF
The consequences OF perseverance. They have
disiscarted our TsmoLsrances, and cur war;
ing; lhcy have tisresafdsd The mos, solemn
compromises, in which We yielded loo much
They have refused 10 submit 10 judicial tptsrmi.
nalion, pre:errins 10 decide by The force o. mum.
beIs There is no common abb err: and we
too mus decide ior ourselves. Thal decision is
made We lsEe cur stand on the pain princi-
Piles OF The Consitu ion, and intend 10 MAINTAIN
il, or sink ia The effort.
We assert that Congress has no power over the
SUBJECT OF slavery, within the States, or in The
territories. That these States by the revolution
By The declaration Il independence, and by The
!rea'y Of peace. beca me sereraIe and Independent
sovere:snties, win all tn poit Cal power OF g.
para'e an3 DISTINCT iaoEs; thai they are siili 81
except so far as it..J ,1aY have expressly ceie,
n TO ~