The weekly Placer herald., 1854-04-15
The Nebraska Resolutions.


of Mr.. Hook, introduced into the Senate
Of our State Legislature, March 2Sth,
which are now, and by an order of that
body, will continue to he the standing
order of the day until definitely disposed
of.
WHEREAS, Senator Douglas, of Illinois,
has introduced into the United States
Senate, bill to organize the Territory
of Nebraska, which bill recognizes the
fol owing doctrines:
/. That all questions involving person
al freedom and title to slaves, shall be
decided by the local tribunals ofthe States
and Territories, with right of appeal to
the Supreme Court of the United States
2 That the provisions of the Consttu-
tion of the United States in relation to
filgitives from service, sha he faithfully
executed in organized Territories of The
United States, as we as m the States,
and that they ought to be rigidly enforced
alike in both.
8 That the people residing in the Ter
ritories. and the States to be formed ont
of them, shall decide all questions of
slavery therein, through their represen
tative>, to he elected for that PURPOSE.
AND WHEREAS, the above principles
but reiterate IN language and substance
the Compromise Measures of 1850, in re-
ation to slavery; which measures ought
to he faithfully observed in all States and
organized Territories. Therefore be it
Resohred, Ry the Senate and Assembly
of California, That we approve of the
provisions of the bill for an act to organ
izp the territory of Nebraska, introduced
into the Senate of the United States 10y
Senator Douglas, Of Illinois. Oh the %!
January, 1854.
Resoired, hat our Senators in Con
greSs be instrurted and our Reprrsen-
tatives be requested, to vote for, and T.
Use their best exertions to procure the
passage of this bill.
RESOLVED, That his Excellency the Gov
ernor he requested to forward i copy of
rhe foregoing preamble and reso utons to
each of our Senators and Representatives
in Congress.
10 the above, on the 4th instant, Mr..
Bryan offered the fn lowing substitute:
Resoired, That the Senate aud Assem-
by of California freely endorse the right
of the people of the States and Territories
of the United States TO fix by their own
with reference TO the question of negro
slavery, and that the Congress of the
| United States should not interfere with
the disposal of such questions by the peo-
pie of such Territory or State
9. That whilst we agree as to the right
of each State or Territory to fix the
character of its own institutions in refer
ence to the question of slavery, yet we
think it an ill-advised and unnecessary
step, in the mere organ ZatiOn of the Ter
riores Of Kansas and Npbraska, 10 insert
any clause in bill the tendency of hrh
may he to revive the agitation of the
slavery question w hch is opposed to the
wei known wishes of the people of the
Territories, and greatly endanger the per-
manency of the Union.
s That we acknowledge the appllca-
ton Of the Fugitive Slave Law, passed
by Congress, to all the organized Terri
tories of the Union, as well AS the States.
q. That Congress has no power under
the Constitution to interfere with, or con-
troll the domestic institutions of the several
States; and that such States are the sole
and proper judges Of everything apper
tanning to their own affairs, not prohibited
by the constitution. And all efforts by
the Abolitionists, or others, made to in
duce Congress to interfere with questions
Of Slavery, or to take incipient steps in
relation thereto, are calculated to lead to
the most alarming and dangerous con-
sequences; and that all such efforts have
an inevitable tendency to diminish the
happiness Of the people, and endanger the
stability and permanenry of the Union,
and ought not to he cOuiItenanced bv any
friend Of our political institutions.
5 That the foregoing proposition covers
and WAS intended to embrace the whole
subject of slavery agitation in Congress,
and, therefore, the Democratic party Of
the Union, standing on this national plat
form, viii abide by and adhere to faith
tul execution of the acts known as the
Compromise Measures, settled by the last
Congress, the "a"t retaining fugitives
from juStice," included, which act i'einy
designed to carry out an express provision
of the Constitution, cannot with fidelity
thereto he repealed or 80 changed as to
destroy or impair It's efficiency.
6. That the Democratic party will re-
~ist all attempts at renewing in Congress
the agitation of the slavery question under
whatever shape or co.or the attempt may
he made.
7. That we approve Of the sentiments
of the Inaugural of President Pierce, and
his message to Congress, and the patriotic
motives which have governed him in the
j.; ,t.t r.