Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-01-23
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
RICHMOND, SATURDAY, Jan. IL. Is

| RacHMoNp, SATURDAY, Jan. IL. 1850
The Speaker laid before the House the following
communication from the Governor:
To the General assembly of VGginia
Gentlemen: have received from the Governo
of Vermont certain resolutions passed by the Leg
isature of that State upon the subject Ut slavery
with request that should transmit them 10 you
comply with the request because think 1t prope
YOU should know the temper and spirit manifested
towards Virginia and the South by Vermont If
could believe The sentiments contained in these res
olutions were confined to The State from which they
emanate, they would excite in me, as | am sure
they would in every citizen of Virginia, feeling %
pity merely. But we are constrained TO believe
from evidences too numerous and clear to admit
doubt that these resolutions embody the opinion:
and feelings too of large majority OF the Free
States,
In this respect they present to US question oil
momentous importance and drive us to consider no"
we are TO vindcate our character and maintain OIL
constitutional rights The provisions oflhe consti
tuition, upholjing, sustaining and protecting slavery
are, by these resolutions abrogated and dlsregarded
The opinion of the North suslains this action.
The time has already passed for the discussion Of
the question between US no human reason or elo-
quence can stop the headlong career of injury and
wrong which the North is pursuing towards u.s.
They trample upon the constitution and our rights,
whilst they meet with scorn and contempt all remon-
STRANGE against their course Of aggression.
We can take care of ourselves let us not sit idly
down until the foot of the destroyer comes.
/ would recommend the passage Of the resolutions
adopted last session and the passage of law pro-
viding for the attendance of representatives in the
Southern Convention TO ASSEMBLE at Nashville, in
June next, and that money be appropriated 10 deray
all their necessary expenses incurred b. such aten-
dance. JONH Is. FLofD.
Ill VERMONT RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved, BY the Senate and House of Repre-
seniatives, That Slavery is crime against human
ity, and sore evil in The body polite, that was
excused by the trainers of The Federal Constitution
as crime en,aed upon the country by their pre-
decessors, and tolerated solely as thing oflnexora
BILE necessity.
Resolved, That the so called "Compromises OF
the Constitution" restrained the Federal Govern
ment from interference with Slavery only in the
States in which it then existed, and from interior
ence with the slave trade only for limited time,
which has long since expired and that the powers
conferred upon Congress by the Constitution to sup
press the slave trade to regulate commerce between
the States, to govern Territories, and to admit new
states,-powers conferred with an express intention
"to form mere perfect union, establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessing of liberty TO ourselves and our posterl-
ty"-may all righlfully be used so as to prevent the
extension of slavery into territory now free, and TO
abolish slavery and the slave trade wherever either
exists under the jurisdiction Of Congress.
Resolved, That NE Senators and Representatives
in Congress be requested to resist, by all and every
constitutional means, the extention of slavery in
any manner, whether by the annexation 10 saveho-
ding Texas of Territory now free, or by the admls
sion into the Union Of territory already acquired, or
which may be hereafter acquired, without an ex-
press pohibiton of slavery, either in the constitu-
lion of each new state asking admission, or in the
act of Congress providing for admission.
Resolved, further, That our Senators and Rep
resen,atives in Congress be requested to support
every Just and prudent measure for the exclusion of
slavery from the District of Columbia for the en-
tire suppression of the slave trade on the high
and wherever else Congress has jurisdiction; and
generally 10 relieve The Federal Government from
all resp visibility for, the existence, mainienance,or
toleratinn of slavery. or the ira fic in slaves
Resolved. further, That our Senators in Con-
gress be instructed, and our Representatives re-
oues,ed to use their exerons for the speedy organ
ization of territorial government for New Next
co and California, with provision forever eXclu-
ding involuntary servitude except for crime, there
fore,
Resolved, That the Governor be requested 10
furnish copy ofthe foregoing resolutions to each
of our own Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress, and TO The Governors of each State in the
Union.
On motion of Mr.. Stovall the Governor commu-
-. lzo,. ,,,,oo ,ha
subject Of the Wilmot Proviso, &c.
Mr. Syme of Petersburg, offered the following re-
s,luliun, accepting as amendment that partwhich
says that "Ihe Legislature of Virginia knows
their Constitutional rights, and means to maintain
them"
"Resolved by the General Assembly of Virginia,
! That the resolutions ofthe State of Vermont, on
the subject of slavery, be returned TO the Governor
of this Commonwealth with the request that they
be returned to the Governor of Vermont, and that
the Governor of Vermont be informed that the Leg
slaure Of Virginia understand Til ear Constitutional
rights and mean to maintain them"
The ayes and noes having been ordered on the
adoption Of the above, the vote stood us follows -
Ayes-l2l. Noes none.
Mr.. Burwell, of Bedford, offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, by the General Assembly, That it be
and is hereby recommended to the people ofVirgin-
ia moi to import, purchase or consume, any articles
the produce or Manufactures of the State of Yer
mont-or of any other State in the Union, which
shall address 10 Virginia the language Of menace OIL
reproach,
1t was adopted without dissent, and referred to
the select Committee, having under consideration
the Wilmot Proviso and other kindred subjects.
REPORT ON THE wILMoT PRovIsu.
Mr. Claiborne, chairman Of the committee on
this SUBJECT, made report thercfrom with this pre-
amble.
Whereas, the action ofthe General Assembly, in
1s47 and ls49, npon the "Wilmot proviso and kin
bred Subjects" confirmed by the calm approval Of
the people Of Virginia, and sustained by the con-
current action of other Southern States, has recev
ed no other response from the people of the North
ern States than violent denunciation and system
attic perseverance in the wrongs Of which we com
planned.
Resolred, therefore, by the General Assembly
That we feel under renewed obligations 10 re-adopi
the resolutions adopted by the Legislature of Vir-
GINA, in -ls47 and re-affirmed in lS49, and we
H.