Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-08-05
Resolutions of the Opposition
State Convention of Georgia.

The Opposition Party of Georgia plants itself
upon the principles of State Rights; equal privi-
leges in the Union and equal distribution Of its
burthens aud the exercise by Congress only of such
powers are specifically delegated in the Constit-
tiou and those clearly inferrable FROM and incident
to- the granted powers, and necessary to carry out
such granted powers.
l. Resolved, That the Union, as established by
the Federal Constitution, if the latter be faithfully
carried out is the sures guaranty of the rights and
interests of all sections of the country and should
be preserved.
2. Resoiged, That as the institution of Slavery
existed in the States of the confederacy prior to
the adoption of the Constitution of the United
States, and the right to hold slaves property
conceded by .he trainers of the Constitution and
fully recognized therein; therefore, Slavery exists
independently of the Constitution; and slavery
is recognized and sanctioned by the Constitution,
and Congress, which derives all its powers from
that instrument, cannot legisate on the subject of
slavery, except for its protection where it legally
lists; that the Territories are the common property
of all the States and therefore, the people have the
right to enter upon and occupy any Territory with
their slaves as well as other property, and are pro-
ccted By the Constitution and Flag of the country;
that Congress has right TO legisate slavery into
nor exclude it from a Territory, and that we hold
that the doctrine of "non-interventionn with the
institution Of slavery in the States Territories,
the District of Columbia does not, nor was it in
tended to conflict with the assertion Of the rights of
the citizens of the several States who may choose
to settle in the several Territories.
We believe also that the further agitation of the
subject of slavery will tend to practical good to
any portion of the country and should therefore
cease, regarding the principle settled, both by
legislative enactment and judicial Interpretation,
that the people of the Territories, when they
tn form State Constitution, and at other time,
tby unfriendly legislation otherwise shall de-
eide the question for themselves.
We furthermore rcpudiate the doctrine of 'squat-
ter sovereignty in all its forms as an nsidious
and certain mode of excluding the South from the
common territory of the Union and stand ready to
oppose sternly and uncompromsingy all who ad-
yocate that doctrine.
| 3. ResoiUed That the reckless extravaganza of
the preceding and present Administration Of the
Federal Government and especially the unbush-
! ing corruption which has marked the latter, by
which the public expenditures have been increased
from fifty to near one hundred millions of dollars
per annum, is a deep wrong that should be rebuked
and must be corrected. We hold Congress equal
ly responsible with the Administration for this ex-
travagance
A. Rcsoived, That the recommendation of the
President that Congress should confer upon him
the war-making power and subject the army and
navy to his control, coupled with the demand for
enormous appropriations of the public money to
carry out his views call for and deserve the most
unequiyocal and unqualified condemnation of the
whole country.
5. ResOiUed, The present representation in the
State Legislature we regard as cumbrous an I'M
necessary tax upon the people and iniuhcal to wise
and prudent legislation. We advocate a decided
reduction and at the earliest day practicable