Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-18

me greatest anxiety feel is that VIRGINIA will l.
Tue iirst 10 support us aud Cooperate with u.s.


we the delegates convention called by the people
o ''e ol Mississippi 10 deliberate the means TO prt
VEN te lniounde preenslon, that Congress has mower
esisae on the subject of domestic slavery and to prohib
It's Introduction and existence in the territories of the lnitr
States have duly considered The important subject commit
ted To our charge and make the following rcpor as eyprr,.
I'VE oi The voice oi Mississippi.
II - boldly asserted that Congress possesses an unmc
power OF legislation all the territories belonging
common 10 the people of these United Satcs-that il con
Sqenly has power 10 prohibit slavery in these territories
a The exercise OF such power is cxpcdrnt and necessar,
innS'ch us slavery IS an evil which must be eradicate
rom NE land h lew patriotic and honorcd exceptions
The people o the Northern States seem determined to adol
the Nimot rotiso or the principle il contains Every sue
ceeus year brings forth new expcents for the accomplish
eh' vi ths Object lhe press, the pulpit and the ball0
box have hll become tributary this fanaca hostility
the South IL Is vain 10 hope for an abandonment of hi
settled design. Submission WRONGS provokes pcrsc
lcfahcc On the parts oi The asgress0s and is wise
States, as il is i'll individuals resist cncroachmcnt Tn
i"tInaely We have been but passive under former ell
coaclcts Our opponents eyult in the passage vi n,
Oregon Bill, full Acknowledgement of the principle an
build their hopes OF further that In this unfor
tunale controversy there are but two alternatives
Is subnssion the other is resistance To the canno
We Will not consent; the other reluctant TO adopt
In the name OF our constituents, soley deny The e,
sehce OF inc power claimed and protest against its
We assert that it will violate the Constitution and will Iea
to a dissolution Of the Union.
nave not met 10 discuss the question of power expc
dhlcy lhey have been argued and re-argued in mud gu
vi Congress- by our statesmen and BY people We have
reasoned ana demonstrated in terms Of cancellation with
Northern BRETHREN until orbcancc has ceased To be yr
tue We have warned them Of the consequences of perscve
rance They have disrcgardcd renunsanccs and ON
Warnings they have disrcgarded the most solemn coupro
niscs; in which yielded too much They have refused
10 submit 10 Judicial determination prcfrng decide by
the force OF numbers. There is common ;bitc and We
too must decide for ourselves. That decision is made We
take our stand on the plain principles of the Constitution and
intend To maintain it, sink in the effort
We assert that Congress has no power over the subject
slavery within the States, in the Territories That these
States by the Revolution by the Declaration of Indepen
dence and by the treaty OF became separate and indie
and distinct nations; that they still So except so tar ms
hoy may have expressly delegated part their power
General Governments that they have not delegated their
vereisnty The Federal Government is a sovereignty
hut limited cdcrative SYSTEM possessing only such powers
~ have been expressly granted by the Constitution with
such implied powers may be ndispcnsably necessary
incidents 10 the express grant follows that can cgsate
only on subjects confined Ia it. and them only in strict
sbodation 10 every pncp plc Of the Constitution. As
power Is constantly tending Ia the Legislative department.
sncyedcnt that Congress should encroach the liberties
oi tn people and sovereignty Of the States by exercising
doubtful powers.
We maintain that the system slavery was rccoaizcd by
The Constituonslayos recognized as property the
t enjoyment Of which guarded and potected guaran-
iced hy that compact that Congress has power such
property the right oi property preceded the Constitutional
l. co-eva with the history Of il exists hy paramount
law ol nature; Is the subject of control by State sovereign
~ only This Union would have been formed without
rc full and entire recognition slavery and property in
slaves and The guaranty 10 the which is contained in
the Constitution
We assert that the territories acquired BY the late with
COfnlllon property VI TIE united StateS that
The people of the States have right it, and ENJOY
10 take with them their property their religion and their H.
berty Congress did not create property in slaves
say they shall cease Ia be popcrty 70 abolish sayery in
The territories Is Ia diminish their value and limit their
iuncss in the States II il appropriatng the whole Of the
territory 10 the of portion Of the people Of the United
States 10 the exclusion of another The power Congress
10 legisac for the territories is power protect the citizen
and his property declare what is property Therefore
lsi. RtSored That we continue to cncr.aa devoted
and cherished attachment to the Union, but desire
have il az formed and not engine of oppression
? That the institution Of slavery in the Southern States
Is left by the constitution exclusively under the control Of
the States in which exists part Of their domestic poll
cy which they and they only have the right regulate,
abolish perpetuatc they may cvery Judge expcdient
and that al attempts ON ile or others to
violation of the Constitution dangerous the rights and
safety Of .hc South and ought TO be promptly resisted
s. That Congress has no power to pass any law nbolsng
slavery in the District of Columbia to prohibit The slave
trade between the several States prohibit the introduce
ton OF slavery into the territories of the United States and
that the by Congress of any such law, would not
only bc dangerous violation OF the Constitution, but would
afford evidence of fixed and deliberate design the part
ii that body, to Interfere with he institution OF slavery in
the States.
Winnt Provis" (Which would, in effect deprive tho ct
of the slarehodins States OF equal participation
in the territories acquired equally by their blood and trea
snrc,) UNJUST and insulting discriminatonto which
these States cannot without political degradation submit
and which this Convention representing the feelings and
opinions of the people Of Mississippi socnnly declare they
will not submit
s. That the passage of the Wimo proyiso of any law
abishng slavery in the District oi Columbia by the Con-
lcss o the United States would of ITSELF be such breach
o the federal compact in that event, will make IL the
duty il is the right of slivchuldng States, la take
n their safety, and Ia treat hc non-siyehoing States
enemies 10 the sal cong States and their domestic in
stitu tl,;,s.
H. That the Legislature is hereby requested 10 pass such
laws may in their opinion be best calculated TO cncor
the emigration of liens thc saychodng States, with
their slaves TO- the territories of the United States
That In view of the frequent and increasing evidence
o the determination Of the people of the nonsaychoidng
States Ia disregard the guarantees Of tho Constitution and
to anatc the subject iii slavery both in and of Congress-
ayowcdy tn. tho purpose oi clcciing It's abolition III the
States and also in view o the facts set forth in the late d
dress Of the Southern members Of Congress- this Convex
lion pocans the deliberate conv ction that the time has ar
rived when the Southern States should take counsel together
their safety; and that Convention OF the slave
holding States should be held nj Nashville, Tenn on the LIST
MONDAY IN JUNE next, IL devise and adopt some mode
Of these agcssons; and that this Convention
do appoint twelve delegates and twelve acrnaies being
double the number o Senators and Representatives, in
Congrcssto attend such Convention and that the other
savehodng States be invited appoint delegates aseeaby
q the ratio Of representation.
s That in the language of an eminent Northern writer
ard paotIhe rights o rhc South in African service, ex.
ist not only nder but the Constitution. They existed
before the government formed The Constitution was
rather sanctioned by them than they by the Constitution.
Had that instrument admitted the sovereignty Of those
rights would have been itself admitted by tho South
bowed in Difference rights older i'll their date stronger
In their claims and hoer i'll their nature ihaa any other
which the Constitution boast Those rights may not be
chanped-eyeH BY change ot the Constitution
the reach of the aton nation The confedcracy
may dissolve and the Constitution pass away but those
rights will remain unshas6nwil exist while the South ex-
ista-and when they fall, the South will perish with them
g. That to procure unity and pomptness of action in this
State this Convention recommends that central or Sta
association be formed the Capital and affiliated county
associations within the several courtes of the State
TO- That we recommend the Legislature of this State
tina. al s next session. law be enacted making the duty
OF the Governor of the State by proclamation, to call
general Convention OF the State and 10 issue wrs oi cleo
ton based upon the ratio of representation in tho State Le
eslaturc upon the passage by Congress- of the "Wilmoi
Prayso or any law aboishing slavery in tho District Of
Columbia or prohibiting the slave trade between the States
10 take into consideration the of aggrcsson and tht
mode and measure of redress.
H. That n committee OF aly be chosen by the Conven-
ton TO prepare address the people o the slavehodne
States
We said then as We say now that we were personally ac
quantcd with most of tho in tho sccne and that they
were the best abes and prest OF both parties in the
State of Mississippi Judge Sharkey. the presiding Judge
of the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals VIC know to
ono of the sbcs, Judges and strongest Wings IN the
5ouhe was president OF the convention and delivered an
address that thrilled the hearts Of every lover Of The Con
su;;on We said thcn upon reliable information as We
say now that the proceedings marked by hgh tone
aud dignity by cool debcraton by disposition 10 arolc
minor questions by eryent desire promote harmony anc