Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-02-19
REMARKS OF MIR. HUNTER.

the Virginia ReSoutDns' to that body, on the
9Th inst. ahefe is a striking contrast observable
in the remarks Of the honorable Virginia Senator
and the distinguished delegates from Augusta
but oREAT men will differ. ''''' =
! Mr.. Hunter in presenting the resoIu-
tons, said present to you a series Of
resolutions recently passed. by the Genera.
Assembly Of Virginia i'll relation to the
subject Of slavery. Some TWO years since,
that State felt i. to be her duty, under the
circumstances which surrounded her, to
declare her opinions IS ID the RICH, Of Cos.
gress TO prohibit slavery in territory to bs
acquired either BY conquest or treaty.
These resolutions denied the power Of
Congress TO control directly or indirectly
the institution Of slavery so as to impair
the rights Of the stakeholder; they declared
that the territory to be acquired by the y.
States from any foreign Power would bs
the common property Of the States, and
tina, any Federal legislation which directly
or indirectly prevented the citizens Of any
of the States from emigratng to it with
their property, of whatever description.
would violate the Constitution and tho
rights of the States, would derogate from
that perfect equality which belongs TO the
States of this coniederacy, aud tend to sub.
vert the Union ITSELF they proclaimed tina.
the WIlmot Proyso should he adopted.
in disregard Of the spirit aud principles Of
the Missouri compromise, and of every
consideration fright, justice, and fra,er.
nal feeling, the people Of Virginia could
have no difficulty in choosing between tho
only alternatives that would then remain,
of AFFECT submission TO aggression s. OUT
rage on the one hand, or determined re-.
sistance on the other, at all hazard. and to
the las. extremity. They declare ii to 10
the duty Of every man from every section
of this confcderacy, if he loves the Union.
TO oppose the passage Of such law aud.
in the event of its enactment, they warned
the slayehoding States, and every citizen
thereof. that il would be their duty, as they
valued their dearest privileges, their soye-
rcignty, their independence, and sheif
rights Of property, to take firm, united ana
concerted action in that emergency. Such
were the resolutions unanimously adopted
by the General Assembly Of Virginia il
lS47. Since that period, there have been
two general elections by the people and
again. at the present session Of the l<egiys
lature, these resolutions have been solemn.
ly affirmed, with the addition Of another.
made necessary by the progress Of events,
That resolution declares it 10 be the opin.
ion of the General Assembly that any law
abolishing slavery or the saye-trade in the
District Of Columbia would be direct at.
tack upon the Institutions of the Southern
States. 10 be resisted at every hazard rs
The adoption of these resolutions, Mr..
President, was perhaps due from, the State,
not only to the rights Of her own citizens,
but 10 the Union, which she has ever soughs
to cherish and preserve. II she entertain.
ed these opinions, il was her duty 10 warn
her sister States Of her feelings and inten.
tons, in the n.ost solemn form known 10
her proceedings. :.
To manifest the sincerity of her desire
TO promote concord, she approaches her
confederates not only in the spirit but in
the very language Of compromise and SUBJ
mi's to their consideration the fearful all
.ernaiives between which she must choose
if she cannot be permitted to retain her po-
si'ion Of equality in this Union, even BY
the sacrifice of her rights and interests
II was once,-it may be perhaps. still
within the range Of possibility, That ouch
course on the part of the Southern States
might induce pause in the progress Sc
what we feel to be aggression and insnK,
however differently j, may have been In
tended. A, any rate, j, is due from Vir-
ginia TO make every effort to save both tbs
Union and the indispensable rights Of her
people. II is due from her because no
State has contributed more than she did 10
make and maintain the Union as il now
exists. In almost every battle Of the Rev.
olution-from the nights Of Abraham 70
the plains of Georgia-lom what was ,hep
the remote n6rthwesi-flom Kaskaskia j.
Vincennes TO Jersey aud the Carolinas-
her blood was poured; and 10 the cxtens
of her means, her treasure was as freely
expended. f+F {
She no, only sacrihced to make, .ba,t al.
so to maintaa the Union Of the States
To secure harmony and promote fraternal
feelings she coded away the northwestern
territory, s. submitted TO conditions which
gave, forever, the 'preponderance Of politl-
cal power to the non .slaychoIding States
so little was she jealous Of their progress.
or doubtful of their disposition at all times
to do her Justice. Under all ciroumstan-
ces, and a, all times, she has manifested
her attachment to the Union. She has
reared her sons 10 cherish and revere it a.,
originally, il was formed. It has ever been
as household word with us-.acred for
its domestic associations. and which never
passed the lips HAITI did no, stir the heart.
Sir, we have been taught to believe tina.
our constitution, if administered truly, and
in spirit ofjustice and fratsrnal feeling,
contained more securities for human hap
pness and the liberty Of the citizen. ,har
any other instrument ever devised by the
ART of man. But the Union which We love
is a confederacy Of equals. The ycons,itu-
ton which we cherish makes no inyidious
distinction between States or citizens, but
distributes equally its blessings and its
burdens. Such is the Union, and such is
The constitution which the blood Of our Ca
theirs was she'd to procure; and shall their
sons so far fail in reverence to it as 10 a.
gree to the s.ubyersion Of that very princi.
pie which lies at the foundation Of the