The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-01-26
VIRGINIA ON FREE SOIL RESOLU.
TlONS.

IlONS.
In the Virginia Legislature on Saturday, the
following communication was received from
Governor Floyd:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Jan. r. 1850.
To The General Assembly Of Virginia:
Gentlemen have received from the Gov.
ernor of Vermont certain resolutions passed by
the Legislature of that State upon the subject
of slavery; with request that should trans.
nit them to you. ! comply with The request
because think it proper you should know the
temper and spiri, manifested towards Virginia
and the South by Vermont If | could believe
the sentiment contained in these resolutions
we're confined to the State from which they
emana,e, they would excite in me-. as am sure
they would in every citizen in Virginia. feel
ing of pity merely. But we are constrained t"
believe, from evidcnces too numerous and clear
to admit OF doubt, that these resolutions EN-
body the opinions and the feelings too Of large
majority of the free States.
In this respect they present to US question
of momentous importance and drive us to con.
slider how we are TO vindicate our character and
maintain our constitutional rights. Tho pro-
visions of,he Constitution upholding, sustaining
and protecting slavery, are, by these resolutions,
abrogatcd and disregarded. The opinion OF the
North sustains this action.
The time has already passed for the discus.
sion Of The question between us; no human rea.
SON or cloqucnce can stop the headlong career
Of injury and wrong which the North is pnrsu.
ing towards us. They tramplc upon the Con
s,uion and our rights, whilst they meet with
scorn and contemp, all remonstrances against
their course of aggression.
We can take care ofourselves; lei us not sit
idly down until the foot ofthe destroyer comes.
would recommend the passage Of the reso.
utions adopted las: session; and the passage OF
laws providing for the attendance of representa-
tives in The Southern Conuention to assemble
at Nashville, in June next, and that money be-
appropriated to defray all the necessary eSPen.
ses incurred by such attendance.
JOHN B. FLOYD.
After tho reception of this letter, the Senate
adopted resolutions to return The Vermont reso.
ln,ions to the Governor of that State. The
following series Of resolutions were then pres.
cnted, and were made The order of the day for
Thursday, the 24th in.t,
Whereas the action Of the General Assem-
bly, in ls47 and ls4s, upon the "Wilmot Pro.
viso and kindred suhecls," confirmed by the
kind approval Of the people Of Virginia, and
sustained by The concurrent action OF other
Southern States; has received no other response
from the people Of the Northern States than
violent denunciation and systematic persever.
ance in the wrongs of which we complained:
Resolued, therefore, by The present, General
Assembly, That we feel under renewed obli.
CATIONS 10 adopt the said resolutions adopted by
the Legislature of Virginia in ls49 and re.
affirmed in ls4s, and we hereby re-adopt the
said resolutions as the act OF this General As
scn,bly, and declare that Virginia is fully de-
tcrmned to adhere to her position then assumed.
Resolved further, That this General Assem-
bly, heartily approve the proposed Convention
of Southern States. to be held at Nashville on
the first Monday in June next, and that it will
proceed on lhc-day of-to The election.
by joint ballot, Of four delegates to said Con
vcn,ion, and lha, tho people of Virginia be re.
qncsted to elect at The next Spring elections,
delegate from each Congressional District
which delegates shall jointly, with those select
ed by the General Assembly, represent this
State in said Convention.
Resolved, That the reasonable expenses o
the said delegates be paid out of The public
Treasury.
RcSolrcd. That this Committee ask,eavc tu
sit again for the purpose ofprcparing an address
to the people OF Virginia upon the subject o1
the foregoing resolutions.