The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-18


,yor of the take what we can get" policy is
the party argument The Democrats who
propose to stand by the honor, and faith, and
word of Virginia, are admonished not to do
SO, lest they distract the party, and thereby
incur Wing ascendancy in the State [!
What Was not the Democratic party
Of Virginia unanimous in supporting these
resolutions Of the Legislature Has not
that party been predominant in every ses-
sion of the Legislature when any Of these
resolutions passed Did not the very men
who now desert, then insist on their adop-
ton and accuse the Wing party there Of
treachery to the State because very small
number Of that party did, on one or tw,
i occasions, refuse to vote for them And
has not the Democratic party in the State
attained its present extraordinary strength
in the Legislature and Congress by mani
testing, or protesting, more zeal for those
very measures than the Wings.
Anu Sudu We NC COlu HoW, tHdt lChOSLdtS
must desert their principles for fear sof being
beaten by the Wings And shall this coun-
sci now be given, this warning against Wing
success proceed from those who are now united
and combined with Whigs-with CLAY and
WEBSTER, to carry the very measures which
Virginia solemnly declared to be an outrage
on her rights and stain on her honor'
1 For ourselves we repudate all party
spirit or party appeals on this great question.
They distract the South and dishonor its
people. But if we could be tempted in
the heat Of party zeal, or the hope Of party
triumph to resort TO sinister means, the last
thing we should think Of would be to sacrifice
the honor and faith Of State-of both parties
for the success Of one And the last ar.
gument we would use in behalf Of party
unity would be, that majority should for
that purpose abandon its own principles for
what it can get"
We are not opposed to compromise, but
the line Of 3S deg. 80 m. to the Pacific is
the utmost concession to be made.
Mr.. HARyIE, after few remarks, offered the
following resolutions which We're unanimously
adopted:
Whereas d bill appropriating money to prose-
cute war, or negotiate peace with the Republic of
| Mexico, has passed the House of Representatives
of the Congress Of the United States with the fol-
lowing proviso attached thereto
"Prorided, That, as express and fundamen-
tai condition to the acquisition of any territory
| from the Republic of Mexico by the United States,
by virtue Of any treaty which may be negotiated
| between them, and to the use by the Executive Of
the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery
| nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any
part of said Territory, except for crime, whereof
the party shall be first duly convicted"
And this General Assembly deerning this pro-
yiso to be destructive Of the compromises Of the
Constitution of the United States, and an attack
| mn the dearest rights of the South, an well as
dangerous and alarming usurpation by the Federal
Observation-Disclosures,
Be it resolved unanimously, by the General
/ Assembly of Virginia, That the Government Of
the United States has no CONTROL directly or ind-
rectly, ,medately or Immediately, over the in
i stitution of slavery; and that, in taking any
such control, it transcends the limits of its leg-
mate functions by destroying the internal organi-
81 ZatOn OF the SOverelSnueS Lnat created IL.
Il g. Resolved unanimously, That under no cir
cumstances will this body recognise binding any
enactment Of the Federal Government which has
4 for its object the prohibition of slavery in any
q territory to be acquired either by conquest or
treaty holding it to be the natura land ndefeasbe
right of each and every citizen OF each and every
State of this Confederacy to reside with his
property Of whatever description, in any territory
which may be acquired by the arms of the United
States, or yielded by treaty with any foreign
power.
J, g. Resolped unanimously, That this General
Assembly holds it to be the duty Of every man,
in every section of this Conederacy, if the Union
is dear to him, to oppose the passage Of any law,
i for whatever purpose, by which territory to be
acquired may be subject to such restriction.
i 4. Resolved unanimously, That the passage of
the above mentioned proviso makes it the duty Of
every slaveholding State, and of all the citizens
thereof as theyyalue their dearest privileges, their
sovereignty, their independence, their rights of
property to take firm, united and concerted action
in the emergency.
Preamble and reso ttons relative to the prohibition BY
the Congress of the United States of slavery in any
territory TO be acquired by conquest treaty.
II (.4dopted, March 8, l847)
Whereas, bill appropriating money to prose
cute war or negotiate peace with the republic OF
Mexico, has passed the House of Representatives
of the United States, with the following proviso
+ attached thereto:
j, 'sProrided, That express and fundamental
condition to the acquisition of any territory from
tthe republic of Mexico by the United States, by
virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated be
tween them, and to the use by the Executive OF
the monies herein appropriated, neither slavery
nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any
part of said territory, except for crime, whereof
the party shall be first duly convicted"
Il And this General Assembly deeming this pro-
viso to be destructive Of the compromises Of the
: Constitution of the United States, and attack
on the dearest rights of the South, as well as a
dangerous and alarming usurpation by the Federal
Government, therefore,
LIST. Be il resolved unanimously by the General
Assembly of Virginia, That the Government of
the United States, has control, directly indi-
rectly mediately Immediately, the institu-
ton of slavery, and in taking any such control, it
transcends the limits of its legitimate functions, by