The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-13
Resolutions OF the Maryland Convention.

The State Convention, now in session at Annap-
oils, adopted, on the 10th instant, by unanimous
vote, the following preamble and resolutions, re-
ported TO that body by the special committee APP
pointed on the subject. The Convention, it will be
recollected is composed in nearly equal degree OF
both political parties:
Whereas the Constitution of the United States
was designed eifectually TO secure the civil
and political rights OF the citizens of every part OF
the Union, and especially to protect their persons
and property, as well in the other States in
tho State in which they might reside and
whereas, amongst the rights OF property, there
none more generally known, or more dis
tinctly recognised, than that of holding slaves
and whereas the peculiar risk of loss to which
this species of property was exposed, was SO
obvious, and the abolutc necessity OF suitable
provision to guard against it so universally felt,
that no one hestated to acknowledge that without
such provision the Union could not have been
formed and whereas certain persons in various
portions Of the Union, instigated by spirit OF ia
naticsm, have combined for the purpose OF openly
resisting and dcfying the guarantees of the Const
tuition and Laws by which alone the saveholding
States be assured of the rightful possession,
and just protection Of their property; we, the mem
bers of the Convention of Maryland lately elected
from the body of the people, and intimately ac
quainted with their feelings and opinions, deem it
proper to declare. in calm and deliberate terms,
what believe to be their views in relation to the
exciting subjects to which we have referred, and do
lst. Therefore, Resoius, That the Constitution of
civil and political-whchit its sanguine trainers
and friends anticipated, aud that the affections of
the people of Maryland justly riyeted to its
principles by the memory of the sacrifices of the
wise and good men who formed it, well as by
the blessings it has 30 literally dispensed to our
country
I'd. That proper appreciation Of these blessings
should lead every State in the Union to adopt all
such measures from time to time may be ne
cessary to give complete and full effect to any pro
vision of the Constitution or of the laws pursuant
thereto intended for the protection OF any portion
of this great family of States
Sd. That while we do not conceal that the sevc
raj acts of Congress passed at their last session.
atng to the admission of California, to the terri
torial governments of Utah and New Mexico, to the
adjus'men OF the boundary OF Texas, to the prohi
biion of the slave trade in the District of Columbia,
and to the reclamation of fugitives from labor, do
not, to the extent we desired, meet the just de-
mands of the South; nevertheless, viewing these
several act. parts of an entire sysem, to be ad
hered to and maintained as whole, proceeding on
the basis of compromise, and intended, by per-
manent adjustment OF so many critical questions,
to heal the public agitation and perpetuate the
Union, they have received our acquiescence, and
have inspired us with admiration of those eminent
| Statesmen who rising above the influence of party
and sectional considerations, periled their we'll
earned regulations for the enduring welfare OF their
country.
4th. That the vigorous and faithful execution by
the General Government of all laws made IN pur-
suance Of the Constitution is it's primary duty, and
affords the only security for the just protection of
the rights and property of the citizen, and for the
permanency OF the Union; and it is equally the
duty all good citizens to encourage and support the
officers of the Government in the execution of the
laws, and to dscountenance and rebuke the efforts
of those who seek to subvert them. And while,
therefore, we entertain every proper confidence in
the ability and determination of the Chief agistrate
of the Union faithfully to perform his duty in the
present crisis and take the opportunity to tender TO
him assurance that, in any emergency that
should require it, he may safely rely upon the cor
dial operation Of the people of Maryland we can
not withhold the warmest expression of our hrm
and continued reliance upon the patriotism OF those
of our countrymen, In all sections of the Union,
who have fearlessly asserted the constitutional
rights of the South; and, in view of the calamies
which must if those rights continue TO be
violated, we would earnestly suggest to the gov
crnInents of the -slaveholding States the pro
priety and the importance Of enacting such laws
will facilitate the recovery of fugtives from labor;
and upon the citizens of every State we would anx
iously urge the absolute necessity of maintaining
and enforcing each and all OF the measures OF adj
iustment adopted at the last session of Congress.
9TH That of the aforesaid series of laws, that in
tended to ensure the restoration of fugitves from
labor is the only protesting to protect the pecu
iar rights and institutions of tho Southern States
from the mischicvous hostility OF a wicked fanatl-
csm,in other portions Of the Union, is but tardy
and meagre measure of compliance with the clear !,
xpcit, and imperative iniunctions of the Consti-
tuition, and holds out the only hope that the pro-
lection which the South was authorized TO expect
from the union Of the States to this species Of pro-
perry will be afforded to them; and being the CHIEF
inducoment to the South for its accession 10 the
compromise, the repeal Of that law, the failure
enforce its provisions, could only be regarded as
evidence of determined purpose in other States
to violate the sacred charter OF rights, a
want of ability in the General Government 20 en-
force the laws made for our projections; and in
either event there would be a failure to comply
with the solemn obligations which give 10 this Con-
stitution its chief value and binding force, and
which could not be violated deliberately evadcd
without leading TO a dissolution Of the Union