The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-03-06
A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.

The following Message was transmitted by Gov.
Briggs to the House of Representatives in connec-
ton with resolutions of the State Of Virginia respect
ing Slavery. 1t breathes firm and true spirit, and
is worthy of commentator:
To the House Of Representatives. have receiv-
ed tromsthe Governor of the State of Virginia. and
herewith transmit to you the Resolutions Of the GEN
eral Assembly of that Commonwealth on the 'sVil-
mot Proyiso and kindred subjects. .
The sentiments and tone Of these resolutions com
ing from the Legislature of an ancient and honored
sister Commonwealth are well calculated to fill the
mind with sadness The purpose avowed by the
people Of the free States, Of arrestng the further
tension of slavery, his produced high state of ex-
citement among our fellow citizens of the slave
States. They charge the North with being unfrend-
iy 10 their interests, and with making aggressions
upon their rights. If the charge is we'll founded it
is well calculated to produce excitement Though
other things enter into the contest, the main point in
issue Is, whether slavery shall be extended into ter
ltores belonging the United States whichare now
free. In this unfortunate Sectional question il would
be well for each party TO consider that the other has
rights The policy Of excluding slavery from the ter
ritories of the Union originated in Virginia. and was
supported by the unanimous vote of four other South
ern States. Now the Legislature Of Virginia more
than inmates that the Union cannot survive the re-
assertion and continuance of this policy.
The South claim the right of going into any of the
public territories with their property and say that
the exclusion of slavery will exclude the people Of
the slaveholdng States from those territories Sup
pose this to be rueit is equally true that with the
opinions which the people of the free States enter
tain, upon the raj and social character of this in
stution of slavery, and the incompaibility of free
and slave labor existing together, they are effect
ualy excluded from the territories and States where
this institution exists. 1t is generally conceded
historical fact that at the time of the adoption Of the
Constitution, when there six slave and seven
free States the further extension of slavery was not
expected by the people in any section Of the coun-
try. The nnth Section of the first Article of the
Constitution of the United States provides that
''The migration or importation of such persons as
any of the States existing shall think proper to
admit, shall not be prohibited by Congress prior TO
the year 1862 Whilst by this article Congress
had no right to prohibit the introduction of slaves
from abroad into any'of the States thea existing,
prior to 1908, it had The power to do 50 as to new
States which might be admitted after the adoption Of
the Constitution.
By the ordinance Of l7S7--two years before the
adoption Of the Constituton--the Congress of the
confederation had provided for the formation of not
less than three, nor more than five new States in
the territory northwest Of the Ohio from the whole
of which they had by that ordinance excluded slav-
cry.
since Ine ADOPTION OF Tue CODSUulion, nine new
slave states have been admitted into this Union and
five of them formed out Of territory which has been
acquired subsequent to that event. Mr. Jefferson
and other leading statesmen, believed and declared
that there was constitutional power in the govern
ment TO acquire foreign territory
Texas and the territory ceded by Mexico have
been added to the United States against the most
earnest remonsrances Of great majorty Of the peo-
pie Of the free Sates accompanied by the declara-
ton: that if acquired the North would never consent
to the extension of slavery any part of such ter
ritory. With aid received from the North to ac-
compish their object, the South, by Congressional
Resolutions and by conquest, succeeded in gaining
Texas and large extent of territory from distracted
and bleeding Mexico.
With all these facts before the world, the slave
holding States,--with language harsh as the
charge is unjust,--now the North Of The de-
lberate purpose Of violating their rights. With ten
Senators ia the Congress Of the Unised States rep
resenting FIVE States carved out of newly acquired
territory, they insist upon the privilege Of extending
the institution over other territory which is now Free
and falling to do this they threaten TO secede from
the Union The opinions to the oonslitulionality
and proprety Of aresiing the further extension Of
slavery, is nearly unanimous among the people Of
the free States, as that upon any other important
proposition which can be named. They believe
slavery 10 be morally wrong, and that such re-
sriction would be invasion OF the rights Of any
or State Bat that il necessary TO arrest
an aggression upon the rights of the people Of the
free States which has been in progress for hafa cen
Jury ,rbe position which massachusetts, has ASSUME
ID upon Ibis subject she believes Dbe jnpregable,