Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-06
MASSACHUSETTS AND VIRGINIA

Gov Briggs, in message to the Massachusetts Legs-
lature, transmitting to that body the resolutions of the
Virginia Legislature on Slavery, says:
Since the adoption of the Constitution nine new slave
States have been admitted into this Union and five OF
them formed out OF territory which has been acquired
subsequent 10 that event. Mr. Jefferson and other
leading statesmen believed and declared that there was
no constitutional power In the government to acquire
foreign territory
Texas and the territory coded by Mexico have been
added to the United States against the most earnest re-
monstrances OF great majority of the people of the
tree States accompanied by the declaration that if ac-
qured the North would consent to the extension
OF slavery any part of such territory With aid
received from the North to accomplish their object the
South, by Congressional Resolutions and by conquest
succeeded in gaming Texas and large extent OF Terri
| tory from distracted and bleeding Mexico.
With all these facts before the world the slavehold-
ing Sates-wh language as harsh the charge is I'M
Justnow accuse the North Of the deliberate purpose Of
violating their rights. With ten Senators in the Con-
gress OF the United States, representing five States
carved out OF newly acquired territory, they insist upon
the privilege of extending the institution over other ter
ritory which is free; and failing to do this they
threaten to secede from the Union The opinion as to
the constutonaity and proprety of arresng the fur
ther extension OF slavery Is as nearly unanimous among
the people of the Free States that upon any other i'm
portant proposition which can be named They believe
slavery to be morally wrong and that such restriction
would be no invasion OF the rights of any individual
State, out that Is necessary to arrest aggression
upon the rights OF the Free States which has been in
| progress for half century. The position which Mas
sachusetts has assumed upon this subject she believes
be mpregnable and that carrying it out would do no
wrong to any other Stale. Let her them while she will
obey the Constitution of the United States and observe
all its guarantes-in her attitude of opposition to the
further extension OF savery-be resolue and mmova-
BILE.
Massachusetts and Virginia were co-workers together
in that revolution which made the Thirteen United Co.
lones free and independent States. They went hand
in hand in framing and adopting the Constitution which
cemented that glorious Union. The difference of opin-
ion which now divides them upon the agating subject
of the day, is deeply to be depored | trust that no
possible state of things will lead the people OF the Co
vernment OF Massachusetts to forget the respect and
courtesy which is due to that any other sister COM
monWeah, to toward them language of reproach
| or denunciaon.
One of the resolutions of her Legislature, herewith
communicated, declares that no State has done so
| much to form the Union" she has done Heaven
grant that the future historian may not be compelled TO
write that Virginia too, by her and influence did
more to dash that Union atoms than any other State
Mournfu indeed would be the catastrophe of dissol-
ton hut douby rnountul would it be for the same his
torian to have to add that the why this ancient
Commonwealth-the mother of Presdents--lent her
aid to break the Union with her sister States among
whom were the companions of her struggles and her
triunphs in the of freedom was because those
companions would not consent extend the area of
Slayery--an institution the existence of which made
her own Jefferson say that he trembled for his coun-
try when he remembered that God was iust'
GEORGE N. BRIGGS.