The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-03-15
FEDERAL RELATIONS.

From the following resolutions, intro
duced by Gen. Phillips. the chairman Of the
Committee on Federal Relations, it will be
seen that the Democracy is placed upon the
subject of slavery, by that distinguished
Democrat, on the only ground upon which
the south can stand and still remain mem
Der Of the Conlcderacy.
Mr.. Phillips chairman Of the committee
on Federal Relations, made the following
report.
JOINT RESOLUTION IN RELATION TO SLAVERY
AND THE TERRITORY OF KANSAS.
Resolved by tile Senate and House of
Representatives of the state Of Louisiana.
in General Assembly convened, That slave
ry is an institution that existed anterior to
the adoption of the Federal Constitution,
and was fully recognized by tie Constitu-
ton; therefore, Congress, deriving all its
powers from that instrument, has no right
10 legisatc on the subject of slavery, except
for its protection where it legally exists;
| That the territories are the common prop
erty OF each of the states, and that the
citizens of each of the states have the right
to occupy them with their slaves, as well os
any other species of property, and in so
doing, are equally entitled to the protection
Of the constitution and laws Of the land
That the power TO establish or exclude
slavery from any of the territories, belongs
exclusively to the people Of those territories
in the formation Of their state constitution
That strict adherence to these principles
arc absolutely essential to the peace, har
mony and perpetuation of the Union.
Resolved, That in view Of the formidable
declarations of Abolition fanatics and dem
agogues of the free states and the increased
dangers that threaten our most important
and vital interests, it becomes our impera
tive duty to declare to our sister states tina
Louisiana will resist, to disruption O
y, every tie that binds her to the Union, any
action of Congress upon the subject Of sla
, very in the District Of Columbia, or in an,
places subject to the jurisdiction of congress
incompatible with the safety. domestic tran
+ guilty, the rights and hoaor OF the slave
: holding states; or any act suppressing Tn
slave trade between the slaveholding state
or any refusal to admit as state any terri
:, tory hereafter applying because of the eA
2 instance of slavery therein; or an act pre-
Y hibiting the Introduction of slaves into til
territories of Utah and New Mexico; o
4 materially modifying the laws in force TO
the recovery Of fugitive slaves.
Resolved, That the principles and view
e so ably set forth in the late message OF Pre-
i ident Pierce, on the subject of slavery an
the rights of the south, and which hay
been practically illustrated in his patriot
,, and truly national administration meet on
\. most cordial APPRECIATION and justly EMIT
r. him to the thanks and confidence OF IL
G. country.
lc Resolved, That the national Democrat
o of the free states, acting under the insplr
,c ton of an enlarged and an enlghtcne
II patriotsm-who have molly and manlul
n maintained, in the midst of denunciatc
ic and ruthless prescription, the principles
III the constitution and the rights oil the sou
as evidenced in their support of the kans
n and Nebraska act and the fugitive sla'
t. act-entitle them to the most sincere than
re Of Louisiana aud the south.
to Resolved that we deeply sympathizc wi
" our friends in Kansas, who have so mob
ID and brayely contended for the rights al