The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-10-13
Report and Resolutions of the slavery
State Convention.

we the delegates to a convention. called bv
the people Of the State Of Mississippi. 10 de-.
loerate Onthe means to prevent the unbound.
Cd pretension, that Congress has power to
leglslate on the subject Of domestic slavery.
and to prohibit lite introduction and existence
IN the territories Of the United States. have
duly considered the important subject COM
mItted to our charge, and make the following
report, as expressive Of the voice Of Missis.
sippi
i is boldly asserted that Congress possesses
an unlimited power of legislation over all the
territories belonging in common to the people
OF these United States-that il, consequently;
has power y Ptohtbit slavery in these terrific
res-thatthe exercise Of such pc Wer ID expe:
dent and necessary, inasmuch as slavery is an
evil which must be eradicated from the land.
With a few patriotic and honored Exceptions,
the people Of the Northern States seem deter.
mined to adopt the Wilmot proyiso. or he
principle it Contains: Every succeeding year
brings forth new expedients for the accom-
Plishment Of the object. The press, the pull
pit and the ballot-bOx, have all become tribu.
tary to the %fanatical hostility to the South. Ii
is vain to hope for an abandonment Of this
settled design. Submission to our wrongs,
ProVokes perseverance on the part Of the
aggressOrs, and il is wise in States, as it is in
individuals, to resist encroachment. Unfor-
tunately, we have been but too passive under
iormer Entertainments. Our opponents exult
in the passage of the Oregon Bill; as a full
acknowledgement Of the principle, and Build
their hopes Of further success on that. In this
unfortunate controversy there are but two
alternatives-the one is submission and the
other is resistance. To the one we cannot
we will not consent; the other we arereluc.
tant TO adopt.
In the name Of our constituents, we solemn
ly deny the existence Of the power claimed,
and protest against its exercise. We assert
that it will violate the Constitution and will
lead to a dissolution of the Union.
We have not met 10 discuss the question Of
power or exDediency. They have been argued
and re argued, in and out OF Congress, by our
statesmen and by our people. We have reas.
oneI and demonstrated in terms Of conciliav
with our Northern brethren, until forbearabca
has ceased to be a viftue. We have warneu
them of the consequences of perseverance,
LThRv bSVh dteraHarJXd AT a.E .Lag
and our watHlngs they have disregarded the
most solemn compromises, in which we yielded
too much. They have refused to submit to
judicial determination, preferring to decide by
the force of mum ers. There is no common
arhiter, and we, too, must decide for ourselves.
That decision is made. We take our stand
or the plain principles'of the Constitution; and
intend to maintain Il, or sink in the effort.
We assert that Congress has no power over
the subject of slavery, within the States; or in
territories. That these States by the revolu-
ton; by the declaration Of independence, and
by the treaty Of peace, became separate and
Independent sovereignties, with all the poliu-
cal power of separate aud distinct nations
that they are still SO, except SO far as they
may have delegated part Of their power to the
general government; that'they have not dele
gated theft sovereignty; the federal govern
ment is not a sovereignty, but a limited feder-
alive system, possessing only such powers as
have been expressly granted to it BY the con-
stitution, with such implied powers as may be
lndisPensably necessary as incidents to the ex-
press grant. 1t follows that it can ~leglslale
only on the subjects confded to it,; and, on
them, only in strict sobordination to evely
principle Of the constitution.
As power is constantly tending to the legis-
%latiVe department; it is inexpedient that Con-
gress should eHcroach on the liberties of the
people and the sovereignty OF the States by
exercising doubtful powers.
We maintain that the system Of slavery was
recognized by the constitution-slaves were
recognized as property, the full enjoyment Of
which was guarded and protected; guaranteed
BY that compact. That Congress has no power
over sue property. The right of properly
preceded the constitutional is coeval with
the history of man; it exists by a paramount
law Of nature. It is the subject of control by
State sOtere. gnty only. This Union never
would have been formed, without the full and
entire recognition OF slavery, and property in
slaves, and the guaranty to the owner which is
contained in the constitution.
We assert that the territories acquired BY The
late war with Mexico, are the common prop
erty of the United States; that the people OF
the States have a right to move to it, and enjoy
it, and to take with them their property, their
religion, and their liberty. Congress did not
create property in slaves, nor can it say they
shall cease TO DO property. To abolish slavery
in the territories, is to diminish their value,
and limit their value in The States. It is APP
prcpriating ~ s1ole Ofthe territory to the nee
81 one portion Of the people of tbs United