The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-06-19
RESOLUTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN
CONVENTION.

NasHvILIe, June 8, $50.
L. Resolrea, That the Territories OF tiis,
United States belong to the people of the
several States Of this Union rs their Common
property that the citizens of the several
Suites have equal rights to migrate with
their property to these Territories, and are
equally entitled to the protection OF the Fed
eral Government in the enjoyment Of that
property so long as the Territories remain
under the charge of that Government
2. Resolred, That Congress has no pow
er TO exclude from the Territory of the uni-
ted States any property lawfully held in the
States Of the Union, and any acts which
may be passed by Congress to effect this
result is plain violation Of the Constitution
Of the United States.
3. Resolred, That it is the duty of Con-
gress TO provide proper governments for the
Territories since tho spirit Of American IN
stitutions forbids the mainininance of militia
ry governments in time Of peace, and as
all laws heretofore existing in Territories
once belonging TO foreign powers which
interfere with the full enjoyment of religion;
the freedom of the press tho trial by jury
and all other rights of persons and property
rs secured or recognized in the Constitution
of the United States are necessarily void so
soon as such Territories become American
Territories, it is tho duty Of the Federal Go
| vcrnment To make early provision for tho
enactment of those laws which may be ex-
pcdient and necessary to secure to the inha-
bitans OF, and emigran,s to, such Territories
the full benefit of the constitutional rights we
assert.
4. Rcs0lrcd, That to protect property cx-
listing in the several Stntes of the Union the
people of these Siates invested the Federal
Government with the powers Of war and
negotiation, and OF sustaining armies and
nnvies and prohibited to State authorities the
exercise OF The samc powers. Thoy made
no discrimination in the protection TO be
afforded or the description of the properly TO
be defended, nor wns il allowed to the Fcde-
ral Government 10 determine what should
be held as property. Whatever the States
deal with AZ property the Federal Govern
mcnt Is bound 10 recognize and defend rs
such. Therefore il is the sense Of this Con-
vcntion that MI acts Of the Federal Govern
ment which tend to denationaIize property Of
any description recognized in the Constitn-
ton and laws of the States, or that discrim-
inntc III the degree and efficiency of tho pro-
lection TO be afforded TO it, or which weaken
or destroy the title of any citizen upon
American Territories, are plain and palpable
violations of the fundamental law under
which it exists.
5. Resolved, That the slavehoding States
cannot and will no; submit to the enactment
by Congress of any law imposing onerous
conditions or restraints upon tho rights OF
masters to remove with their property into
tho Territories of the United States, or TO
any law making determinations in favor of
the proprietors of other property against
them.
6. Resolred, That il is the duty of the
Fedora! Government plainly to recognize
and hrmly TO maintain the equal rights of
the citizens of the several States in the Ter.
rliories of the United States and to ropudiate
the power TO make discrimination between
tho proPrictors of different species Of propcr
ty IN Federal Legislation. The fultilmont
OF this duty by tho Federal Government
would greatly tend to restore tho pcaco of
- country and TO allay the evaporation and
exS',omcnt which now exist between the
different sections Of the Union. For Il il
the deliberate opinion of this Convention,
that The tolerance Congress has given 20 the
notion that Federal authority might he e,n-
ployed mcidcntly aud indirectly to subvert or
weaken tho institutions existing in Tho Statos
coniessedly beyond Federal jurisdiction and