The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-17
Tennessee.

| In the House of Representatives OF Tennes-
see, on the 7th instant, MIR. BRABsoN, from the
Committee on Federal Relations, reported the
following resolutions, in lieu Of others which
had been proposed:
Whereas. opinions have been advocated at the
North and ut the South in reference to the Com
promise measures passed by the last Congress, and
the questions growing out of slavery in the United
States, which, if persisted in, are calculated to
bring the General Government in conflict with the
States Of the Union, and threaten the destruction
OF the Constitution and the liberties of the country
And the people of Tennessee, through her Legis-
lature, desire distinctly to state their views OH
these questions:
of the State IF Tennessee, That the people Of this
State feel and nrdently cherish an abiding devo-
ton to the Union and Constitution Of the United
States.
so. Resolved, That the Constitution of the Uni
ted States does not recognise the right Of seces-
sion on the part Of any OF the States of this Union,
and the people of the United States, in the adop
ton thereof, did ordain and establish Govern
ment Of united powers, and not confcderacy
merely, and that il proceeds upon the idea that it
is to be perpetual, like other powers Of govern
ment, subject only to be dissolved by revolution.
"3. RESOLVED, That the State of Tennessee main
tains the right OF the people Of the States whenever
papably, intolerably, and unconstitutionally OPP
pressed by the Government of the United States,
I,
but this right is in its character revolutionary, and
there no cause at present for the exercise OF
such right.
"a Resolyed, That this State will aid tho Execu-
tive of the United States whenever necessary, by
all legal means in executing the constitutional
laws Of the Upited States. But in that spirit Of
hope and kindness which must exist between the
States to preserve the Union, che warns her sister
States at the North that repeal or failure to
force the provisions Of tho Fugitive Slave bill, or
any modification OF it, 20 as to destroy its eicien
cy, will tend to train Of deporable consequences
from which dissolution of The Union will be the
most probable result and she only gives utterancc
TO her unqualified condemnation Of the agitation Of
the subject Of slavery in the northern States and
all the steps taken and the movements set on foot
by the fanatics and abolitionsts to resist the
cution Of the law for the reclamation Of fugitive
slaves.
as. Resolved. That the laws passed by the last
Congress, for the compromise of the slavery ques-
ton, meets with the appreciation of Tennessee, as
being the beat which, under all the circumstances,
could be adopted; that their passage not tri-
umpt of either party section, and they
garded as settlement in principle and substance,
a final settlement of the dangerous and exciting
subjects which they embraced, and the State OF
Tennessee hereby pledges her hearty support in
their enforcement.
"6. Reso,ped, That the President of the United
States has placed himself high in the great work Of
pacifying the country, and has received the need
OF appreciation from political friends and political
foes That the people of Tennessee partake of this
sentiment, and with pleasure render him justice
III the great matter of the salvation of the country,
and rejoice that have in this crisis patriot and
a statesman at the head of affairs who knows his
duty and dares to perform it.
81. Resoued, That the course Of the President of
the United States in the management OF our for
eign relations, in maintaining our good faith with
all nations in his determination to enforce the laws
OF the United States and in his administration of
the affairs of the nation generally, meets with the
hearty appreciation Of the people of Tennessee.
''S. Resoired, That duty and patriotism enjoin
upon the United Stltcs Government carefully to
avoid alliances with foreign powers, and to have
with them as little political connexion possible.
49, Resored, Finally, in the language Of the Fa-
thcr OF the Constitution, that "ours Is Govern
ment which avoids intervention in the internal af
fairs Of other nations and repels it from its own;'
and that departure from this time honored policy
would, in the opinion of this General Assembly,
endanger its independence if il did not become the
immediate precursor Of its downfall.
$40. ResOlrsd, That the Governor ia hereby re-
quested to transmit copies Of these resolutions to
our Senators and Representatives in the Congress
of the United States"