The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-20
RESOLUTIONS AND ADDRESS
OF THE
SOUTHERN CONVENTION.
NASHVILLE, June s, 1855


Mr.. GoRDoS, of Virginia, from the COM
mittee on resolutions and propositions, re-
ported the following resolutions and address,
which were read, laid on the table till Mon
day next. and ordered to be printed for the
use Of the members of the Convention:
i. Resoired, That the territories of the United
States belong to the people of the several States Of
this Union, their common property. That the
citizens of the several States have equal rights to
migrate with their property to these territories,
and are equally entitled to the protection of the
Federal Government, in the enjoyment of that pro-
perty, SO long the territories remain under the
charge Of that Government.
g Resolved That Congress has no power TO ex-
cude from the territory of the United States any
property lawfully held in the States Of the Union,
and any act which may be passed by Congress TO
effect this result is plain violation of the Const
tuition of the United States.
g. ResoIred. That it is the duty of Congress TO
provide proper governments for the territories
since the spirit of American Institutions forbids
the inaintainance Of military governments in time
of peace, and as all laws heretofore existing in
territories belonging to foreign powers which
interfere with the full enjoyment of religion-the
freedom of the press--the trial by jury and all
other rights Of persons and property as secured or
recognized in the constitution of the United States
are necessarily void soon as such territories be-
come American territories; il is the duty of the
Federal Government to Make early provision for
the enactment of those laws which may be expe-
dent and necessary to to the inhabitants of
and emigrants to such territories the full benefit of
the constitutional rights we assert
A. Resolred, That to protect property existing
in the several States of the Union, the. people of
these States invested the Federal Government with
the powers of war and negotiation, and or SUSTAIN
ing armies and navies, and prohibited to State au-
thorities the exercise Of the same powers. They
made no discrimination In the protection to be at
forded or the description of the property to be
defended; nor was il allowed to the Federal Gov
eminent to determine what should be held us pro-
perty. Whatever the States deal with property,
the Federal Government is bound to recognise and
defend as SUCH Therefore, it is the sense of this
Convention, that all acts of the Federal Government
which tend to denatonalize property ofany descrlp-
ton recognized in the Constitution and laws OF the
States or that discriminate in the degree and eff
cheney Of the protection to be afforded TO il, or
which weaken or destroy the title of any citizen
upon American territories, are plain and palpable
violations Of the fundamental law under which 1t
exists.
S. Resolred, That the slaveholding States cannot
and will not submit to the enactment by Congress of
any law imposing onerous conditions or restraints
upon the rights OF masters to remove with their
property into the territories of the United States,
or to any law making determinations in favor of
the proprietors of other property against them.
6. RESOLVED, That it is the duty Of the Federal
Government plainly to recognise and firmly to
maintain the equal rights of the citizens of the sew
eral States in the territories Of the United States,
and to repudiate the power to make discrimina-
ton between the propretors of different species of
property in Federal Legislation. The fulhlment
Of this duty by the Federal Government, would
greatly tend to restore the peace of the country,
and to alay the evaporation and excitement which
now exist between the different sections OF the
Union For, it is the deliberate opinion of this
Convention, that Federal authority might be en-
ployed incidentally and indirectly to subvert
weaken the institutions existing in the States con-
fessedly beyond Federal jurisdiction and control,
is main cause of the dscord which nlenaces the
existence Of the Union, and which has well nigh
DESTROYED the efficient action the Federal Govern
ment itself.
7. Resolved, That the performance Of this duty
is required by the fundamental law of the Union.
The equality of the people of the several States
composing the Union cannot be disturbed without
disturbing the frame of the American institutions.
This principle is violated in the denial of the citi
zens Of the saveholding States of power to enter
into the territories with the property lawfully ac-
auired in the States The warfare against this
right. is war upon the Constitution. The defend
ers of this right defenders of the Constitution
Those who deny or impair its exercise, are UNI
faithful to the constitution, and if disunion follows
the destruction Of the right they the disunion-
lists.
8. Resolred, That the performance of its du-
ties upon the principle We declare, would enable
Congress To remove the embarrassments in which
the country is now involved. The vacant terrific
ries Of the United States, no longer regarded as
prizes for sectional rapacity and ambition, would
be gradually occupied by inhabitants drawn to
them by their interests and feelings The institu-
tons fitted to them, would be naturally applied by
governments formed on American ideas and APP
proved by the deliberate choice of their constltu-
ents. The community would be educated and dis
ciplined under republican administration IN hab-
its Of self-goye rnment, and fitted for assocla-
State mn n ~ a. n
the confederacy. A community SO formed and
organized might well claim admission to the
Union and none would dispute the validity of the.
claim.
g. Resolred, That q recognition of this principle,
would deprive the questions between Texas and
the United States of their sectional character and
would leave them for adjustment without disturb
ance from sectional prejudices and passions, upon
considerations of magnanimity and justice
10. Resolved, That recognition of this princi-
pie would nfuse spirit of Cancellation in the dis
cussion and adjustment of a the subjects of sec
ional dispute, which would afford guarantee Of
an early and satisfactory determination.
III. Resoired, That in the event dominant ma
orty shall refuse recognize the great constitu-
tonal rights we assert. and shall continue to deny
the obligations OF the Federal Government to
maintain them, il is the sense Of this convention
that the territories should be treated property,
and divided between the sections of the Union, so
that the rights of both sections be adequately
secured IN their respective shares. nat we are
aware this course is open~o grave objections, but
we are ready to acqiiesce in the adoption of the
line of 36 deg. 30 min. north latitude, extending to
the Pacific ocean, us an extreme concession, upon
consideration of what is due to the stability of our
institutions.
10. Resoircd, That tis the opinion Of this con-
vention this controversy should be ended, either
by recognition of the constitutional rights of the
Southern people, or by equitable partition of
the territories. That the spectacle Of confeder
ncy OF States, involved in quarres the fruits
Of war iu which the American arms were
crowned with glory. is Illuminating. That the in
corporation of the Wilmot Proviso in the offer Of
settlement, a proposition which fourteen States
regard disparaging and dishonoraole, is de-
Grading 10 the country termination to this
controversy by the disruption Of the confederncy,
or by. the abandonment of the territories to pre-
vent such a result, would be climax TO the
IL, which II