Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-12-27
Isspor. s. &c ceorgla conveltlon.

AS an important part of the history of the times,
we feel called upon to publish the report and resolu
tions of the late Georgia Convention in full We al
luded to them in our last, and lay them before
our readers so that each may judge for himself The
very great unaninty which prevailed in the Conven
ton give this report and the resolutions greater
thority. expression of the opinions and feelings
of the people of Georgia
The Committee appointed to prepare and report
for the consideration of the Convention, action appro
pirate to the occasion which they have assembled
hating carefully considered the referred to them
and freely nterchanged opinions, respectfully sub
REPORT:
The people of Georgia. responding to a Proclama-
ton of their Chief Magistrate, have met In Conven-
ton for the immediate purpose of celebrating upon
law enacted by the Congress of the United States,
entitled An act for the admission of California in
to the Union" Were the action of this body limited
to the consideration of that act its duty would be
easily discharged--But more extended survey of
Congressional legislation and of our Federal position,
is not only allowable, but necessary to just conclu-
sion We regard the act under consideration as one
in the series of measures each capable of ndepen-
dent existence, but all directly or indirectly aifec-
ting the institution of slavery; each deriving from
that circumstance its cardinal interest and all in
crisis of fearful import connected in scheme OF pa
cifc adjustment,
Two of the acts in the series had for their object
tiens Of the vast domain recently acquired from Mex
leo With them the slavery question became con-
nected by two opposite movements the one proposing
to prohibit the other to establish slavery In those
territories by express enactment the advocates OF
these extreme being alike reluctant to leave
the result dependant upon the future adjudication of
the Courts distinct phase of the subject was pre-
sented by the application OF the people lnhabltlng
of those territories to be admitted into the Union
State, under constitution formed by themsel
in which, for themselves, they had assumed the
settlement Of the slavery question The acquisition
OF this territory moreover had involved the govern
ment of the United States in controversy of boun-
dairy, pre-existng between Mexico and the State of
Texas, with which also the slavery question was I'M
happily complicated. Thus far, it will be perceived
no one of the pending measures wantonly or gra
tutitously obtruded upon the national legislature
for the purposes of agitation. They resulted inevita
bly, from antecedent measures in which both the
North and South were participant
But difficulties that the action of Con-
gress not yet all told Just at this critical juno
ture, certain representatives from the nonslavehod
ing States impelled partly by appeals from the inha
bitants of the District of Columbia, and partly by
the promptngs of their immediate constituents pres
sed with increased urgency the suppression of the
slave trade in the District. To this was sumperad-
ded the proposition fraught with far greater excite
ment abolish slavery in the District. Furthermore,
the people of the South, justly excited by the faith
less and long continued denial of their constitutional
right to the extraditon of fugitive slaves demanded
--O--N~ $500 S-~-0-S
ject.
This brief but truthful statement of the many mo-
mentous issues, all surcharged with this pecul-
arly exciting element and crowded into single
sion of Congress- and bare reference to the alarming
agitation which, springing up in protractod debatc
extended beyond the halls of legislation and perva
ded the public mind will serve to indicate the peril
of the day. and to suggest that the only escape was
In that spirit of mutual concession, which gave birth
to the Constitution and which in times past had ad
jused more than controversy threatening disso-
luton.
1t is not proposed at this time to reopen the ex-
bausted argument upon the merits Of these questions
severally collectively. The result is that parti
occupying extreme local positions in the coun-
try and holding Numerically opposite opinions upon
the slavery question, in all its phases have Wed with
each other in cIamorous denuncauon OF the settle
ment 1t may we'll be doubted whether upon the
broad territory of the Republic there dwells in
telHgent citizen, whose Judgment approves every
part of each link in this extended chain of adjust
ment. Georgia, at least, finds in it matter for OBJ
lection and matter for approval
But such is likewise her opinion of our Federal and
State constitutions SO is she accustomed to judge Of
the leading measures of every Congress, and every
General Assembly, as each, in its turn, labors the
difficult problem of perfecting human Government
through the instrumentality of imperfect and contic
ting human 1t is not on this, than or
any other OCCASION the part Of wisdom, of pariO
tism to subject legislative acts under review TO the
rigid test of yielding either the full OF right
the full fruition of anticipated benefit The prac
teal questions presented for consideration these
May Georgia consistently nth her honor, abide by
the general scheme of pacfcation If she may Their
does her interest lie in adherence to it, or IN resls
lance Pa brief reference to few facts of recent
Occurance will furnish affirmative answer to the
first and most interesting inquiry. The people Of
Georgia fully appraised that these great issues
were pending before the national Legislature Their
General Assembly, being in session. and assuming t.
represent their opinions took them into consideration
gave distinct expression of their own views; anC
virtually required of the Congress of the United
States conformity to those views. Numerous primary
assemblies of the People passed upon the same ques
lions Still in advance of the action of Congress
and whilst in many of these the requirements of thu
General Assembly qualified, is none, Git is be
Heved) were they enlarged These movements be-
long to the controversy and were intended to exer
m influence at the Capital. Whether attributable
In any degree to that influence not the result ha
been strict conformity to the line of policy thus indi
Gated save in one instance. That one is the adms
sion of California into the Union Upon the expe
diency of this measure, separately considered, thu
People of Georgia are. in some measure divided II
opinion upon graver questions of its constitutional
ity, still more Surely then, respect for the opin
ions of the other party to the controversy who hav
so largely conformed to our views proper allow
ance for disagreement among ourselves, on the lat
ter branch of this question, will enable even those
who hold the act inexpedient and unconstitutiona
to abide by it honorably and gracefully.
The proposition, that, weighed in the scale of in
terest the preponderance is vastly the side of non
resistance is too plain for argument This act bein
in its nature unsusceptbe ofrepeal the only compe
tent measure of resistance is secession. This woul
not repair the loss sustained, viz deprivation of tn
right to Introduce slavery into California But
Grrf fO he