The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-21
TENNESSEE.

Early in the session Of the Legislature Of Ten
nessee Mr.. Bates introduced in the House a Sc
ries of resolutions on the Slavery Question, anc
eral Relations Wednesday, the 9th, majority
and minority reports were made from thecom
mittee-the minority report eulogzing, In sub
stance, Mr.. Clay's resolutions. demand for the
previous question being sustained, brought the
House to direct vote on the report and resolu
lions Of the majority, which were adopted-ths
report by IS to 2s-a strict party vote all in the
affirmative being Democrats, all in the negative
Wings. The resolutions are as follows:
/. ReSolUed, That we continue to entertain a
devoted and cherished attachment TO the Union,
but we desire to have il as it was formed, and not
as an engine Of oppression.
81 yeas-unanimous.
O. RSolued, That all attempts by Congress, or
others directly or indirectly, TO interfere with
slavery or it's institutions in the Southern States,
are in violation of the Constitution, dangerous to
the rights and safety Of the South, and ought to
be promptly resisted.
Unanimous
3. Resolved, That Congress has no power 10
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia, or to
prohibit the slave trade between the several
States or to prohibit the introduction Of slavery
into the Territories of the United States, and
that the passage by Congress Of any such law
would not only be dangerous violation OF the
Constitution, but afford evidence Of deliberate
and fixed design on the part of that body to inter-
fere with the institution Of slavery in the States.
Yeas As, nayss
A. RESOLVED, That we would regard the passage
Of the Wilmot Proviso, which would in effect
deprive the citizens Of the slayeholding States Of
an equal participation In the territories acquired
more than equally by their blood and treasure,
as an unjust and insulting discrimination, TO
which these States without political degradation,
cannot submit and TO which this Assembly, rep
resenting the wishes and feelings Of the people
Of Tennessee, solemnly declare they will not sub
init.
Yeas 80, nays 25--all of the latter Wings.
.. Resolued, That 1t is the duty Of Congress
without delay, to enact such laws az in their ope-
ration will give all the aid which the General
Government constitutionally possesses, to the
owner to secure his fugitive slave.
Unanimous
9 Rssoiusd, That we view the Missouri Com
promise as the settlement Of an exciting question,
which was likely to destroy the fraternal feeling
between the North and South, the result Of mu-
tual concession, deriving It's sanction and validity
from the most solemn obligations Of honor and
patriotism.
Unanimous.
2. R>soired, That the unprecedented manner OF
forming the organic law of California, the peculiar
character Of her population and her extraordinary
boundaries, are questions which should undergo
rigid scrutiny by cur representatives in Congress
bat we will not attempt to prescribe rule OF ac-
ton for their government, but leave them to take
such steps may be necessary to vindicatc South.
ern rights
Yeas -, nays 2l--all the latter Wings
s. Resoipsd, That all territory acquired by our
General Government ID the joint property Of all
the States Of this Union
Yeas 50.
o. Resoiped, That the 4th article OF the 30
section OF the Constitution, In giving to Congress
the power 10 dispose Of, and make al needful
rules and%egulstions respecting the territory or
other property belonging to the United States,
was never intended TO delegate TO Congress the
power to specify the particular kind OF property
that should exist In the Territories.