The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-06-18
RESOLUTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN
CONVENTION.
NASHVILLE, June 8

l. ftCSOtCeu, Hat llle IeliltoiiSs vi uiS cHi
ted States belong to the people of the several
States Of this Union rs their common property;
and the citizens of the several States have equal
rights to migrate with their property to these
Territories, and are equally entitled to the pro-
lection of the Federal Government i the en-
joyment Of that property so long as the Terri
tories remain under the charge of that Govern
ment.
2. Resolred, That Congress has no power to
exclude from the Territory of the United States
any property lawfully held in the States of the
Union, and amy acts which may be passed by
Congress to effect this result is plain violation
OF the Constitution ct the United States.
3. Rcsoired, That it is the duty of Congress
to provide proper governments for the Terrific
ries since the spirit Of American Institutions for
bids the nlaintainance of military governments
in time of peace, and as all laws heretofore ex-
isting in Territories once belonging to foreign
powers which interfere with the full enjoyment
of religion; the freedom Of the press; the trial
by jury and all other rights of persons and pro-
perty as secured or recognized in the Constitu-
ton of the United States are necessarily void
so soon as such Territories become American
Territories, it is the duty of the Federal Gov
ernmeut to make early provision for the enact.
meut of those laws which may be cxpedient and
necessary to secure to the inhabitants Of and
emigrauts to such Territories the full benefit of
the constitutional rights we assert.
4. RcSoired, hat to protect property exist.
ing in the several States of the Union the peo-
pie of those States invested the Federal Gov
ernmcnt with the powers of war and negotia-
ton, and of sustaining armies and navies and
prohibited to State authorities the exercise OF
the same powers. Fhey made no discrimina-
ton in the protection to be afforded or the de-
scription of the property to be defended, nor
determine what should be held as property
Whatever the States deal with as property the
Federal Government is bound to recognise and
defend as SUCH Therefore it is the sense of
this Convention that all acts of the Federal
Government which tend to denationalize prop
erty of any description recognized in the Con-
stituton and laws of the Suites, or that discrim-
mate in the degree and efficiency Of the protec-
ton to be afforded to it, or which weaken or de-
stroy the title of any citizen upon American
Territories, are plain and palpable violations of
5. Resoired, That the slaveholding States
cannot and will not submit to the enactments
by Congress of any law imposing onerous con-
ditions or restraints upon the rights of masters
to remove with their property into the Terrific
ries of the United States, or to any law making
determinations in favor of the proprietors OF
other property against them.
6. Resolued, That it is the duty of the Fed
eral Government plainly to recognize and firm
y to maintain the equal rights OF the citizens OF
the several States in the Territories of the Uni
ted Ssltes, and to repudiate the power to make
discrimination between the proprietors OF diff
ferent species of property in Federal Legisla-
ton The fulflment of this duty by the Fed
eral Government, would greatly tend to restore
the peace OF the country and to allay the exas-
peration and excitement which now exists be-.
tween the different sections of the Union. For
it is the deliberate opinion of this Convention
that the tolerance OF Congress has given to the
notion that Federal authority might be employ
ed incidentally and indirectly to subvert or
weaken the institutions existing in the States
confessedly beyond Federal jurisdiction aud
control, is main cause of the discord which
rnenaces the existence of the Union, and which
has well nigh destroyed the efficient action of
the Federal Government itself.
7. Resolred, That the performance of this
duty is required by the fundamental law of the
Union. The equality Of the people of the sew
eral States composing the Union cannot be dis.
turbed without disturbing the frame Of the Amor
lean institutions. This principle is violated in
the denial of the citizens of the slave-holding
States OF power to enter into the territories with
the property lawfully acquired in the States.-
The warfare against this right, is war upon
the Constitution The defenders Of this right,
are defenders Of the Constitution. Those who
deny or impair its exercise, are unfathful to the
constitution, and if disunion follows the destruc-
ton of the right, they are the dsunionists
8. Resolpcd, That the performance of its du-
ties upon the principle we declare, would enable
Congress to remove the cmbarrassments in
which the country is now involved. The VA
cant territories of the United States, no longer
regarded as prizes for sectional rapacity and
ambition, would be gradually occupied by i'll
habitauts drawn to them by their interests and
feelings. The institutions fitted to them would
be naturally applied by governments formed
on American ideas and approved by the dclb
crate choice of their constitution. The com.
nunity would be educated and disciplined un.
der republican administration in habits of self
government, and fitted for an association as
State, and to the enjoyment of Il place in tho
COnlcdcracy. A community SO formed and Or