The Yazoo Democrat., 1860-03-24
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE CAUCUS
OF UNITED STATES SENATORS.

OF UNITED STATES SENATOR'S.
l. Resolued, That in the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, the States adopting the
same acted as free and independent sover
eighties, delegating portion Of their pow,
ers to be exercised by the Federal Govern
ment, for the increased security of each
against dangers, domestic as well as foreign;
and that any intermeddling by any one or
more Statss, or by combination of their
citizens, with the domestic institutions 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,E Ensulting to the States so
interfered with, endangers their domestic
peace and tranquility-objects for which the
Constitution was formed and, by necessary
consequence, serves to weaken and destroy
the Union itself.
2. ResolUed, That negro slavery, as 1T
exists in fifteen States of this Union, com
poses an important portion of their domestic
institutions, inherited from their ancestors,
and existing at the adoption of the Constitu-
tion, by which it is recognised as constitu
ting an important element of the appoint
ment of powers among the States, and that
no change of opinion or feeling on the part
of the slaveholding States of the Union in
relation to this institution, can Justify them
in open or covert attacks thereon, with a
view to its overthrow, and all such attacks
are in manifest violation of the mutual and
solemn pledges to protect and defend each
other, given by the States respectively on
entering into Constitutional compact which
formed the Union, and a manifest breach of
faith, and violation of the most solemn OBJ
legations.
3 ResolOed, That the Union of these
States rests on the equality of rights and
privileges among its members, and that it is
especially the duty of the Senate which rep
resents the States in their sovereign capacity,
to resists all attempts to discriminate either
in relation to persons or property, so as. in
the territories which are the common posses.
sion of the United States-to give advan-
tages to the citizens of one State which was
not equally assured to those of every other
State.
4. Resol0ed, That neither Congress. nor "A
Territorial Legislature, whether by direct
legislation or legislation of an indirect and
uufriendly character, possesses the power
to annul or enforce the Unconstitutional
right of any citizens of the United State
to take his slave property into the common
territories, and there hold and enjoy the
samew bile territorial condition remains.
5. ReSoIves, That if experience should at
any time prove that the judiciary and exc
cutive authority do not possess the means to
insure adequate protection to Constitutional
rights in a territory, and if the Territorial
Government should fail or refuse to provide
the necessary remedies for that purpose it
will be the duty of Congress to supply such
deficiency.
g. Reso7oed, That the inhabitants of
territory of the United States, when they
rightfully form Constitution to be admitted
as State into the Union, may then, for the
first imc, like the people of state when
forming new Constitution, decide for them.
selves whether slavery, as domestic nsti
tuition, shall be maintained or prohibited
within their jurisdiction, and "they shall be
received into the Union with or without
slavery, as their Constitution may prescribe
at the time Of their admission"
7. Reso7ged, That the provisions of the
Constitution, for the rendition Of fugitives
from service or labor, "witbout the adoption
of which the Union could not have been
formed" and the laws of 1893 and 1850,
which were enacted to secure it execution,
an the main features of which being simi.
lar, bear the impress of nearly seventy years
of sanction by the highest judicial authority.
should be honestly and faithfully observed
and maintained by all who enjoy the ben,
efts of our compact of Union, and that all
the acts of indsvidLals or of State Legisla,
lures to defeat the purpose or nullfy the re-
quirements of that provision, and the laws
made in pursuance thereof, are hostile in
character, subversive of the Constitution and
revolutionary in their effect.