The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-05

the tcrrit0ri6S acquired rom MeAlcO, nave occn
degraded from their condition OF equality IN The
Union have been forced to surrender territory,
unquestionably and legtimately their own, TO
the use and enjoyment OF the hlrcling States
thereby increasing the preponderance OF votes
already arrayed against them; and have been
compelled to witness and endure the insdous
act OF the abolition Of the slave trade in the
District Of Columbia, which can only be regard
ed as the entering wedge to measures intended
to end in the overthrow Of her cherished insttu-
tons. The government is undergoing changes
equally marked and momentous IN the open as
sumption Of powers, touching finances and reve-
nue., the collection and disbursement OF the pub
lie money the schemes of internal Improvement,
and squandering of the public lands, tending d.
rectly to a corruption and consolidation OF the
government, and utterly unknown to the Constr
tuition, IA understood by the makers OF that IN
strument, and ~ heretofore interpreted by all
parties in the South.
/ BE IL therefore resolved, That in the present
eventful crisis it is vitality important for the sal
walton of the South, aud the maintenance OF the
rights of the States, that the republican doc
trines of '9S and 800, as embodied in the Vr-
ginia and Kentucky resolutions, be maintained
with unAinching firmness, and that among them
we recognize the following
2. RESOLVED, That the States as separate, and
equal s0vereiguties, formed the Constitution.
8. Resolped, That each State, by its own con-
vention, de!iberated upon and determined for it.
self, the question of the ratification or rejection
of that Constitution, and that it came into the
Union by it's own sovereign and voluntary act;
and that therefore this is Union of consent and
not Of force.
4. kesolued, That each State, in view of the
voluntary nature Of the Union, has the right, in
virtue Of its independence and sovereignty, Of
seeding from the Union whenever the people
thereof in their sovereign capacity, shall deter
mine such n step to be necessary to effect their
safety az happiness; and of consequence that
the general government has no authority to at
tempt, by military force or otherwise, to restrain
State in the exercise of such sovereign right
S. Resolved, That whenever the government,
by an exerton of the common force of all or an
application of the common funds of all, acquires
territory, it is the duty ofthat governmental Sc
cure to all equality of rights in such territory,
and to remove all impedments within its power
to the enjoyment of this equality of rights.
6. RESOLVED, That the FEDERAL government
has no right to withhold its protection from
any species of property or section OF the confed-
eracy; and that any attempt to do so will as
clearly evince the hostility of the government to
that property or section as W uld any act Of L.
gislatipe hostility.
T. RESOLVED, That the principles of constitu
tional equality enunciated in the two immedi-
ately foregoing resolutions were violated in the
several acts of the last session of Congress for
the admission of California into the Union as
State. for the formation Of territorial govern
ments for New Mexico and Utah, and in the bill
abolshing the slave trade in the District Of Co
lumbia.
| .J.oI Nbnf raIrn fnr nrSt
wrongs and in pursuance Of spirit of the Mis-
souri, compromise, Congress should obtain the
consent Of California to the extension of the
line of $3.50 to the Pacific ocean, and that the
right of the people Of the South to carry their
slaves to all the territory south of it, should be
explicitly acknowledged and secured.
g. Resolved That the obstruction by the
people of the North to the enforcement of the
Fugitive slave law, as to destroy its value to
) the South, and make it q loss instead of bene
fit, is equally defeat Of our constitutional
rights as would be its repeal or essential mod
: fcation.
TO- Resolced That the harmony and safety of
this Union depend upon strict constitution OF
the Constitution, and the salvation of the South
now hangs upon it. And because we are for
the Constitution as it is, we oppose Unite
States bank-all protective tariffs for pampering
ternal improvements by the general govern
ment, and all legislation by Congress not strict
w and clearly allowed by the Constitution of the
Union.
H. RESOLVED, That we yield to none in our
attachment to the Union formed to establish
Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessings Of liberty to our
selves and our posterity; that we venerate such
Union and the Constitution established by our
\ fathers to insure these blessings to themselves
and those to come after them,-that our object
is, to preserve such Union if we can, but at all
hazards to maintain the liberties and rights of
the people Of Georgia.
IL Resolved That this convention, composed
of Southern men, Democrats and Wings, and
meeting on the foregoing platform of common
principles, necessary as we believe to the pro-
lection of the ri1hts and liberties Of the South,
do nominate and recommend Charles J. Nc
Donald. of the county of Cobb. as their candi-
date for governor Of the State of Georgia.
and the exponent and standard bearer Of their
principles in the approaching canvass.
Mr. Virgins moved that the preamble and
resolutions be adopted.
Mr.. Schley moved to strike out the 9th reso-
luton, and after debate, the yeas and nays
| being ordered, the yeas were %, ana nays ~ :
so the convention refused to strike out.
Mr. Crawford thea moved for a re-consiiera
ton The convention, after considerable discus
sion, agreed to reconsider and the question of
striking ont, being again submitted, it was de-
cded in the affirmative.
The question then REQUIRED upon the motion
of Mr.. Virgins, to adopt the report of the com
mitiee, and the report, as amended, was adopted
with but one dissenting voice.
| Mr. Virgins moved that committee of five
be appointed by the chair to notify the Hon.
| Charles ]. Mcdonald of his nomination, and to
request his acceptance of the same Wherenpon
the president appointed the following gentlemen
that committee: Messrs. Wiggins Howard Of
Muscogee, Jones of Carroll, Gardner and Lamar
Of Monroe.
The following resolution was offered by Mr..
Virgins and unanimously adopted
Resolred, That we tender our thanks to the
president and secretaries of this convention for
tho efficient and courteous manner i'm which they