North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-14
TIE SLAVERY QUESTION.

~. Saunders of Wake, on leaves from the JOINT
solect committee the subject of slavery pfese e
the following preamble and resolutions as rePo' '"
the majority of said committee: h.,a ono,
WHEREAS The people of North Carolina ,dF :, ~.
cherished lively and cordial attachment 10 so
of the States and entertain the most Si"ceie
for its preservation, and whilst, IN 'he
General Assembly, the savehodIng States naSe
fered great wrong by some Oh '"e IL ~ Cononro
~ ~ iast session of Congress, caiieo the CohPIo
~ -; W. 80 cot .e these measures have become the
, - ~ I.nd il is the duty of the South to ac-
,iesce so long they shall be adhereo 10 anu en-,
forced in oood faith and SO long as Congress small
49,. G,0n the adoption of any other measure touch
a. institution of slavery, calculated either to EN-
ser its security TO destroy the guarantees OF the
CONSTITUTION be 1t therefore
ResoLred, That the fugitive slave act passed by
Congress at its last session, is in strict conformity
with the provisions and requirements of the Consti-
,on of the United States, and if carried into execu-
lion in good faith is calculated give security to
slave property and any failure the part of the Fed
eral Executive TO enforce or any attempt on the part
of the judicial authorities of the free States TO oo
struct its execution, would not only constitute Jus.
cause of complaint the part of the Sou'n' "us
would be such gross dereliction of duty as couId
not fail to weaken those ties which bind toge'ner 're
States of the Union. a.,
2. Resolued That the abolition of slavery IN me
Dis,rict of Coumbia-the Introduction OF the slave
trade between the States-the refusal 10 AUNT c"y
new State into the Union, because OF us IeoIs I
of the institution of slavery-the total rePed' Vi '
fnu,ive slave act or its modification SO as essen
ill 80 ;,.ir its force and eficiency-woud, In the
onnior If This General Assembly, amount to sucn
clear. deliberate and papable breach OF goou Idilh
and fapani abuse of power as to demand OF the Tree
mem of North Carolina the most determined res's
tance and Justify them in unIIing win the other
sIavehoding States to uphold and maintain their just
and violated rights.
e Resolped. That whenever all any one OF the
acts mentioned in the foregoing resolutions shall nave
been passed by the Congress Of inc OnlteS S'a'eS
the Governor of this Stale be and he is hereby re-
onested to convene the General Assembly at such
time as in his wisdom shall seem mt, In order TO TAKE
into consideration the solemn duties which we owe
to ourselves freemen, and OF our then exlsthS e
latons with the Federal Government :.
And whereas it would be both proper and eXpedl-
on, to restrict all trading intercourse with the nom
sIavehoIdng States long as there shall exist Wen
grounded apprehension either as to the repeal OF 'he
fugitive slave act its non-execution and as there
now exists lust grounds for such apPrehenslons; De
it therefore
esoped That it is expedient to impose an al cai0-
rem tax upon all articles of merchandise OF the growth
manufacture product OF the
which shall be brought in TO and be offered Tor sale
within this State from and after the first day OF Au-
gust next: PrOcidd however, the Governor shall be
authorized and required, by and with the advice OF
the Council of State suspend the execution OF such
law until the meeting OF the next General Assembly,
if it shall satisfactorily appear that the fugitive slave
act hath been faithfully executed.
The foregoing resolutions, on motion Of Mr. Saun-
ders ordered be printed. and referred TO the
committee of the whole House, and made the order
of the day for Monday next.
Mr. Saunders, from the same committee. reported
back the House several series of resolutions, with
the consideration OF which they had been changed,
and moved that they be laid the table, to be taken
up Monday next with the report of the committee.
The motion agreed TO.
Mr.. Rayner wished to state that he did not concur
with the report of the majority, with the views of
the minority. He stood by himself and presented
the following resolutions, not as minority report
from the committee, but individual member of
the House. He gave notice TINT when the report of
the majority of the committee taken up for con-
sideratOn he should substitute his resolutions
therefor. The resolutions were read as follows:
WHEREAS, the continual agitation of the various
questions connected with the subject Of negro slave
~ is fraught with the most serious and portentious
consequences and whereas, the people of the slave
holding States, feeling duly impressed with sense
OF what their rights, and determined to maintain
and defend those rights by all constitutional and law
tul means; and Whereas the Union of these States
which was designed bv its founders and adopted
by the people of the respective States in order to
establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, and
secure the blessings Of liberty to them and to
their PosterIty. should be sustained and protected
until time and experience have proven it to be utter
y incompetent 10 the answering of these great pur-
poses; and whereas, in it should become neces-
sary tor the slave holding States to redress
OF their grievances, growing out of Northern inter
ference with their domestic institutions, that can be
much more efectuaily attained by unanmiy and con-
cert OF action than by local Legislation or rrespons
bic conventions Therefore,
l. Res0!rsd, That the institution of slavery, rs it
exists In the Southern States, is subject with which
the people of the North have neither the cons;iu-
uonai power nor the moral right interfere, either
directly or Indirectly, either by legislative enactment
social organizations; and that all such interference
should be resisted as unwarranted assault upon
Or rights.
fesoIUed, That the territorial lands of the L nj
leu States, whether purchased by the common trea-
sure or conquered by the common arms, ought to
NC "ee'o the common enterprise, and open TO the COM
mon emigration of all SECTIONS alike that any dis
cIHn'm'lon by Congress, which shall prescribe the
owners OF any species of property peculiar any
w" "ouio De subversIve of that " Justice and domes-
"I Tdhquuliy, and TO those blessings of liberty -
winch The Constitution designed to establish, |
ensure ana secure :; and that any amendment of
e territorial bills passed the last session of Con-
gress, which shall make such discrimination would
authorize and demand OF the slaveholding States,
measures OF retaliation as hereinafter suggested.
D. HeSolUed, That the owners of slaves in the
iSct OF Columbia, hold that kind Of property I'M
uef the guaranty of the Consultations which declares
'h' no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or
properly without due process of aw' and that those
""o remove slaves from slaveholding State to
dhoner' Tor the purpose of sale or settlement are en-
eu "huer lhe Constitution, to all the rights and
PEHeSeS oi save owners in the States where thew
may happen 10 pc; that the abolition of slavery in
said District of Columbia would further involrs
gross breach of faith towards one of the sIaveh,d
States; that such abolition in said District mr. sno6
Introduction of the removal of slaves from one slave
holding State another, could be regarded in no 9th
er light than blow aimed at slavery in the States
mat the passage of either of these by Con
gfess could not fail to exert amost Injurious infiu-
0f OH