The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-01
state OF Illinois.


Joint Resolutions passed by he seventeenth General
Assembiy az the State Of Illinois, at the ssssi0n
atsr1of, begun and held at the city Of Springfield,
January s. 1851.
Resolusd BY the Senate aud House Of Repressnta
tiUes Of he General Asssmty q Illinois, That the
Constitution Of the United States was the result Of
compromise, and could not have been formed with
out concessions made by the different States repre-
sented in the convention Of 1857, and under which
this confederacy of sovereign States was brought
together, and contaminated as an Union for Ger
tain general and limited purposes; and that the
Federal Government, a. consequence OF the Con-
stitution, 10 Of limited powers. derived exciu
svcly from that instrument, and, In order 10 It's
preservation, all the grants OF power therein con-
tanned should be strictly construed by all the de
partments and agents OF the General Government
90 constituted; and that all the concessions and
compromises therein contained should be faithful
y observed and maintained by all sections OF our
common country; and that it ia at all times dam
gerous and inexpedient to exercise doubtful con-
stitutional powers unless the necessities and ext
gences of the nation should manifestly surmount
questions Of doubt and expectancy.
Resolved That the institution Of slavery was one
Of the principal subjects Of compromise embraced
in the Constitution, and this General Assembly,
without committing itself upon the question OF the
constitutional power of Congress to legisate upon
the subject Of slavery in the Territories OF the Uni
ted States, deem the exercise OF such power unne.
cessary and inexpedient, because the exercise OF
the same 10 calculated to impair the happiness OF
the people. and to endangcr the perpetuity Of our
glorious Union.
Rssolced That regarding the Constitution of
the United States as not conflicting with the divine
law revealed to us, we, rs citizens OF the Ameri-
can Union, know no higher law than the Consti-
tuition of our country and that, as members OF the
General Assembly of Illinois, when we take an
oath to support the Constitution Of the United
States, do rot consider that we make any mental
reservation touching the requirements Of duty i'm
posed BY that instrument; therefore, PET
tues Of the General assembly Of IAinots, That all
laws passed by the Congress Of the United States,
under and in pursuance Of the Constitution should
be supported, upheld, and obeyed by all the citi-
Gems Of this and every other State and Territory in
Received That the controversy upon the subject
of slavery between the slavehoiding and non slave
holding States of the Union, and the distractions,
jealousies, and destruction OF mutual confidence
among the several States arising therefrom, should
be deprecated by every good citizen and lover OF
his country in the North South, East, and West,
as having the inevitable tendency of loosening the
bonds Of union, and threatening to PROSTATE the
noblest fabric of civil and religious liberty that the
world ever saw
Resolved,s That tho system of Adjustment or
Compromise passed during the last session of Con-
gress comprising the admission Of California, the
establishment of territorial governments for Utah
and New Mexico without the Wilmot proviso 80
called, the settlement ofthe boundary line between
Texas and New Mexico, the suppression Of the slave
trade in tho District OF Columbia, and the amend
ment Of the act of l793 for the recovery Of fugitive
6Iavea ID cmlncntly CALCULATED 70 TcinOVe tue COu
troversy, and to restore peace quietudc, and conf
dence Between the different sections of our beloved
country, and meets with the hearty concurrence
and approval of this General Assembly.
Resoived, That our Senators be instructed, and
our Representatives in the Congress OF the United
States be requested to all their energies, and
to employ their best abilities and influence in re-
sistance to any and all attempts that may be made
to disturb or 10 unsettle, either by repeal modif
cation, any of the measures embraced in that sys-
tenn Of Adjustment or Compromise.
Resored, That any resolutions passed by any
previous General Assembly, in conflict with the
foregoing, and especially those adopted during the
first session of the last General Assembly, known as
the Wilmot proviso resolutions of instructions, be
and the same are hereby rescinded.
Resolved, That we approve OF the manly and
patriotic stand taken by the Executive of the Uni
ted States, in cvincing his determination to exc
cute and enforce all laws constitutionaly enacted
and that the people Of the State OF Illinois will
cheerfuly sustain him in 30 doing.
Resolved, That his excellency, the Governor OF
this State be requested to transmit copy of the
foregoing resolutions to each of our Senators and
Representatives with the request that copy there
of be presented in each House of Congress- and also
copy to the executive of each State Of the Union,
to be laid before their respective Legislatures that
the position of Illinois, far can be defined by
her General Assembly, may be understood by the
other States of the Union
SIDNEY BREESE,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
WILLIAM McMURTRY,
Speaker Of the Senate