The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-24
More Virginia Resolutions-Dif oil
Eubnni9siOn

More Virginia Resolutions-Difnou Of
Submission.
II the late Compromise measures were rea.
sonable or just, or popular, or even proximately
so, it would be, at least superHuous, for State
legislatures to approve or acquiesce in them
They were acts of Congressman like all acts
of that body, not usurping or abusing power, or
in opposition to public sentiment would be en-
titled, as matter of course, to obedience.
But although they surrendered everything in
controversy to the North, they have created 4
storm of Indignation in that section, because
they enforced the recovery of fugitives-a rgh
the North, with all its modesty, has not pre-
sumed to controvert as constitutional. In thi
state of things, the legislatures Of three ont o
sixteen Northern States, have come forward ant
magnanimousy approved or acquiesced in the
compromise. But the people of one Of them
New Hampshire, have since, in n State election
repudiated her legislature by eecting n majority
Of new members opposed to it.
But two public bodies Of the South have ap-
proved, or rather acquiesced in these measures
They are the conventions of Georgia and Mary
land
And now resolutions of acquiescence are, for
the second time, offered in the Virginia legisla-
ture. The gentleman who comes forward to
propose them is, Mr.. r. T.. ScorT, gentleman
of fine talents and distinction Yet, he is the
one who led small party of thirteen in the le-
gslature of that State, in opposing the resolu-
tons adopted in the session Of 1889 And
for this opposition, he was defeated at the next
election for the same body, in county where
his popularity had been descrvedly pre-eminent.
And scarcely single member of that thirteen
was returned fla State could be committed
and pledged by successive legislatures and cleo
tons, Virginia was committed
Yet, Congress adopted series of measures,
which directly, and by their effects, deprived Vir-
giuia of all share in the disputed territory, and
Of the right to enter some of it not in dispute.
And the legislature of Virginia, and the people
of Virginia, substantially,
:" Said never word"
And now, thereupon, comes Mr.. ScoTT, one of
the thirteen, and one Of the rejected, and very
consistently proposes that Virginia shall acqu-
esce
But even Mr. ScoTT himself the pioneer and
the martyr of submission, finds difficulty. He
finds it necessary to treat in his preamble and in
his first resolution, these compromise measures,
final adjustment of the exciting questions
to which they relate" as an excuse or a reason
for acquiescence.
Now there is nothing in an act Of Congress,
fnaty, except in those of them that deprive the
South finally of all her rights in the territory in
dispute The acts do not pretend to be final
AS for Utah and New Mexico, any of the prov-
sions may be repealed-and so as to the Fugi-
tive law. Congress did not declare them to be
final and if it had, the declaration would have
been Of no force The only fnaity about su ch
exciting questions is in the Constitution, 80
long as ii stands. The acts of Congress may be
repeaed--and il is notorious that, so far M
they respect any right of the South. they are all
threatened loudly by the most powerful of the
Northern States with repeal-and the execution
of one of them is resisted with impunity.
The assumption, therefore, of finality by the
mover of these resolutions is resorted to as
mere excuse, or palliation for submission, and
since such an excuse is found necessary, and ia
untenabe, it is fatal to the conclusion it is de-
signed to establish.
AS for the hope that the measures will be
"fairly executed" and thereby restore the coun
try to "harmony and confidence" it is hoping
agninst the experience of half a century, and
against future far more portentous than the
past.
As for the enumeration Of the blessings Of
Union, quoted, though il may be from WASH