Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-05-25
MR.. SAMUEL PRICE AND THE WILMOT
pPDVISn

The Democratic papers Of this city, and those
of Lyuchburg and Cha io;tesville, charge Mr..
Price, of Greenbrier with being an advocate of
the WiImot Provso. This allegation is based on
the fac: that in 1S49, Mr.. Price, then a member
of the Legislature. voted against set of resolu-
tons offered by Mr.. Conway, of Spottsylvania,
and in favor of n substitute offered by Mr. Scott.
of Fauquier The only material points of diff.
ference between Mr. Conway's resolutions and
Mr. Scots were thnt the former expressly de-
MED the constitutionaty of the Wilmos Proyiso,
and pledged the State to ress'an in case of its
passage, whilst the latter did not. Mr.. Price
was not satisfied that Congress did not possess
tue constitutional right to enact the Wilmot
Provso, and was not willing to pledge the peo-
pie of this State to disunion, in the contingency
of its adoption; but the charge that he was an
advocate of that measure, is utterly destitute of
foundation, as will appear from the following
resolutions for which he voted, and which form
part of MI. SCOTS substitute:
2. That whether Congress possesses the con-
stitutiona power to prohibit or abridge the free
immigration of stakeholder with his slaves to
territory of the United States, is question on
which men may and do honestly differ in opin-
ion.
8. That if Congress does possess that power,
any exercise of it, which would abridge the
right OF STAKEHOLDER to immgrate with his
slaves, to territory acquired by the common
blood and treasure of the whole nation would be
contrary to the spirit of Cancellation and compro-
mise, under the influence of which the Federal
Government was formed unjust to the slave
holding States; and an abuse of power which
would interrupt if not destroy the harmony be-
tween the states, so necessary to the healthful
action of the Federal Government aud the pre-
servation of our glovious Union.
4. That the fundamental principles of our own
aud all free governments are that the people are
capable of self government-that all legitimate
power resides in and emanates from the people
that governments instituted for the bene,
fit of the governed, and are there trus tees and
agents; and consequently it would be unjust le-
gislation and tyrannical abuse of power to force
domestic slavery upon unwilling pc ople. Ia
the of California and New Mexico it would
aggravate the wounds inflicted by war and con-
quest, and sow tn @ seeds of disaffectou and re-
volt.
g. That as the passage of law by Congress
prohibiting the Introduction of slaves into Calfor-
mia and New Mexico, contrary to the wishes of
the people of those territories, would be tyran-
nical abuse OF power, the passage of such a law,
under existing circumstances, being wholly unne-
cessary to accomplish, so fur as those terri
tories are concerned, the wishes of the most ar
dent abolitonist, would be gratuitous outrage
on Southern feelings, and manifest spirit of
hostility to the rights of the South, secured by
the constitution but too well calculated to keep
a live and increase the apprehension for the safe
ty of those rights, already unhappy excited, and
ultimately ALLEVIATE the attachment of the South
ern States to the Federal government