The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-07-04


Oh vain heart. and oh eyes silly,
Thus TO fall the truth to see.
So We parted; with sorrow,
She with scorn. perhaps with hate,
And my heart grows sad by knowing
What lost by kissing Kate.
The Voice Of wisconsin OH Slavery En-.
crOachment.
4 Mass Convention was held at Milwau-
kee on Wednesday last, to give expression
to the sentiment of the people with regard
to the series of acts, ending with the bred
Scott decision, which have signallzed the
daring encroachments of the Slave Power
during the last few years. The attendance
was large, and after the conclusion of the
proceedings, which were characterized by
earnest eloquence and popular enthusiasm,
the following preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
The People of Wisconsin, in Mass Con-
ventan assembled, in view of the alarming
encroachment of the Slave Power manifest
ed through the Legislative, Executive and
Judicial departments of the Federal Gov
eminent, in the passage and enforcement of
the Fugitive Slave act of 1850. by which the
writ of hdbrds corpus and the Right of Trial
by jury were annulled; IN the enactment of
the Kansas Nebraska Bill and the admins
tratlon of the Government in Kansas, by
which slavery has been introduced into free
Territory; in the recent decision of the Uni
ted States Supreme Court in the Dred Scott
case, bv which slavery is declared National
Institution with the right to be protected
in all the Territories Of the United States,
and free colored citizens are denied the rights
of citizenship and protection by the Federal
Government, do declare:
TIT, in opposition to these doctrines and
practices of the Federal authorities, we hold
To the self-evident truths of the Declaration
OF independence. that all men are created
with the inallenable right to life, liberty and
the pursuit OF happiness; that to secure these
rights, governments are instituted among
men; that tue obligations which the authors
of this Declaration and the Fathers of the
Revolution who adopted it assumed, with
all the IDENTITIES of an oath, by Appealing
to the Supreme Judge of the world for the
rectitude of their intentions" and ''pledging
to each Other" before all mankind, ''with a
firm reliance on Divine Providence" 'their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor"
for the support of this dccl iration," are bin
ding on US and on our children; and this oath
made to Almighty God, before the witness
ing world, in the hour Of our country's per-
il, must be fulfilled, as the pledge of our sin
cerity and fitness for freedom and self-gov-
eminent, before We can hope ITO form more
perfect Union, establish justice, insure do
mestic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare, and Sc
cure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our posterity.'
That the Federal Government is one sole
ly of delegated powers, and the State Gov
eminent of original and reserved powers,
retaining in full force all the powers not del
egated to the Federal Government, or pro-
hibited by the United States Constitution
that each Government is sovereign in its own
sphere, and in the exercise of its legitimate
powers; that the State Government has the
same right to determine the extent of its
powers as the Federal Government has to
judge Of the extent of its powers; and that
to make the Federal Government he exclu-
sive or final Judge Of its own powers. and to
concede to the Federal Courts appellate ju-
risdiction over the State Courts, would be to
strip the State of every essential attribute OF
sovereignty, and of the power of self-protec
not in the keeping and protection of the
Stat, Government-tbe legitimate guardians
thereof-but in the power of Federal Gov
eminent, and at the mercy of W hatever par.
ty or interest might control that Govern.
ment.
That, while we still sustain and defend the
Federal Government in the exercise of all it;
delegated powers, We will maintain the au
Of h.,C <h<,o
else OF all powers not delegated to the Fed
eral Government, nor prohibited to the
United States Constitution.
That we cling to the sovereignty and
rights of the States, and to the protecting
power OF the State Courts against the en-.
croachments and usurpations Of the Federal
Government, as the sheet anchor of our lib.
critics, and that We pledge ourselves to sus
tain the State Courts and the State Govern
ment in protecting the liberties of the people
at all hazards and in all emergencies.
That we honor and revere the Constitu.
ton and Government which our fathers cs.
tablished. and we will strive to make them
what they were designed tn be, the charter
and pledge of Freedom, and blessing to al
the people.
That the Constitution of the United Stats
does not, either in express terms or by any
just construction If its provisions give any
authority or sanction to human Slavery; that
it confers upon Congress no power to pass
Fugitire Stare .4cts, to permit Slavery ir
any Territ 'ry, or to legislate IN its behalf
but that it is the right and duty of Congress
to prohibit Slavery in all Territories and
places under its exclusive jurisdiction, and tc
protect with equal care the rights of all per
sons residing therein, without regard t.
birth. creed or color.
That it is the duty of all Republican Gov
ernments to protect the liberties of all tn
people from whom they require allegiance.
That we would hold to the compacts
the Constitution, and the obligations OF tn
States not 10 refuse to return fugitives who
owe service or labor in other States by the
laws thereof; but that as "Owe" and 81 own
are correlative terms, and he who does moi
own himself cannot owe another, there car
be no service due from a chattel, and no ob
legation on the part of State to return fugi
tive saves.
That. as the highest Judicial Tribunal O
this State has declared the Fugitive Slave
Act OF 1880 to be unconstitutional and void
there is, therefore no law for the reclamation
of Fugitive Slaves In Wisconsin, and whoever
undertakes to reurn fugitive into slavery j.
kidnapper. -
that, whoever treads the soil of Wiscon.
sin is FREE, and whoever undertakes to en-.
slave any of its inhabitants, should be visited
with the severest penalties
That the proper Office and duty of govern
ment is to protect mems rights, not to sub
vert them; to expose and punish crime, no
uphold it; and that as slavery is a Grim
against humanity, Of the DEEPEST dye, it cal
no more be constitutionalized or legalizcd
than theft, robbery or murder: y Il = sr