Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-02-20
req paw. and the ch.rlssson Plat

Zen Davis and the Charlesson Plat.
form,
The following are the resolutions submit.
ted to the Senate by the Hon. Jefferson Da-
Wis. of Mississippi. and which are now under
discussion by the Democratic Senators as the
basis of the Charleston Platform
RELATIONS OF THE STATES.
Mr.. Davis submitted the following resolu-
tons: 81
1. Resolued, That in the adoption of the Fed
eral Constitution. the Stats adopting the
same acted severally as free and independent
sovereIgnties. delegating a portion of their
powers to be exercised by the Federal Gov
eminent for the increased security of each,
against dang rs domesfic as well as foreign;
and that any intermeddling by any one or
more States, or by a combination of their cit
izenE, with the domestic institution of the
Others, on any preteXt. whether political,
moral or religious. with the view to their
disturbance or subversion, is in violation OF
the Constitution, insulting to the States so
interfered with. endangers their domestic
peace and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for which the
Constitution was f0rmed-and by necessary
consequence, serves to weaken and destroy
the Union itself
z. ResOtCed, That negro slavery, as it ex-
lists in fifteen States of this Union comp0ses
an important portion of their domestic insti-
tntions. inherited from their ancestors and
existing at the adoption of the Constitution,
by which it Is recognized as constituting
an important element of the apportionment
OF powers among The States; and that no
change of opinions or feeling on the part of
non-siaveholding States of the Union in re-
lation to this institution can Justify them or
their citizens in open and systematic attack
thereon, with view to its overthrow; aud
that all such attacks are in manifest violation
o! The mutual and solemn pledge TO protect
and defend each other. given by the States
respectively, on entering into the constitu-
tionai compact which formed the Union, and
are a manifest breach of faith and a violation
of The most solemn obligations.
D. Res0tUed, That the union of these States
rests on tie equality of rights and privileges
among lis members, and that it is especially
The duty OF the Senate, which represents the
States in their sovereign capacity. to resist
all attempts &c discriminate either in relation
to person or property, so a.. in the Terrific
rIes--which are the common possession of
the United Statrs-tO give advantage to the
citizens of one State which are not equally
occurred to those OF every other State.
4. Resolved. That neither Congress, nor
Territorial Legislature, whethe by direct
legislation or / gislatiOn of an indirect and
uniriendiy nature, possess the power to an
null or impair the constitutional right of any
citizen of the United States TO take his slave
property into the common Territories: but it
is the duty IF the Federal Government there
TO afford for that. as for other species of
property, the needful projections; and If ex-
perience should a any time prove that the
judiciary does not possess power to insure
adequate protection, it will then become the
duty of Congress to supply such deficiency.
s. Resolred. That the inhabitants OF an Or
ganized T, rrltnry of the United States. when
they righifully form a constitution 10 be adj
mitied as a State into the Union, NAV tn, n,
for the first time, like the people of State
when forming a new constitution. decide for
themselves whether slavery, as a domestic
institution, shall bc mantoined or prohibited
within their jurisdiction and if Congress
shall admit them az Stale, "they shall be
received into the Union with or without
slavery, as their constitution may prescribe
at the time of their admission
6. ResotUed. That the provision of the Con-
stitnIion for the rendition OF fugtives from
service or labor, "without the adoption of
which the Union could not have been form
ed, ;" and the laws of 1898 and 1850, which
were enacted to secure its execution, and The
main features of which, being similar. bear
the impress of nearly seventy years of sane
ton by the highest judicial authority, have
unquestiOnable claim to the respect and OBJ
servanee of all who enjoy the benefits of our
compact of Union, and that the acts of State
Legislatures to defeat the purpose, or nullify
the requirements of that provision, and the
laws made in pursuance OF 1T, are hostile in
character, subversive of the Constitution
revolutionary i'll their effect, and il persisted
in must sooner or later lead the States in
jured by such breach of the compact to ex-
ercise their judgement as 10 the proper mode
and measure at rcd reSS.