Des Arc citizen., 1860-06-09
The Senate Caucus Resolutions.

In Congress, on the 25th ult., the Sem ate returned to the consideration ol she so- called Davis resolutions, relative to the protection of slavery in the Territories :; and after considerable discussion and voting down sundry amendments, the balance of the series was adopted by strict marty vote. These resolutions, which we give below, were adopted by a caucus of thirty Democratic Senators, on the 25th of February last, and they have now received official endorsement. They derive additional importance from the fact that they will, in all probability, form the basis of the Southern Secession Demo- cratic Convention, which meets at Rich- mond on Monday next.
 1. Resolved, That in the adoption of the Federal Constitution, the States adopting the same acted severally as free and independent sovereignties, delegating portion of thelr powers to be exercised by the Federal Gov ernment for the increased security of each against danger. domestic as well as foreign 1; and that any intermedding, by any one or more States, or by combination of their citizens, with the domestic institutions of the others, on any pretext whatever-politlcal, moral or religious-wth view to their disturbance or subversion, is in violation of the. .Constitutlon, insulting to the States so interfered with. en- dangers their domestic peace and tranquility !; objects for which the Constitution was formed, and, by necessary consequence, tends to weak en and destroy the Union itself
 g. Resolved, That negro slavery, as 1t exists in fifteen States in the Union, comprises an important portion of their domestic institu- tions, inherited from their ancestors, and ex- isting at the adoption of the Constitution, by which it is recognized as constituting an im- portant element in the apportionment of pow CTS among the States; and that no change of opinion or feeling on the part of the non- slavehoding States of the Union, in relation to this institution, can justify them or their citizens. in open or covert attacks thereon, with view to it's overthrow and that all such attacks are in manifest violation of the mutual and solemn pledge to protect and de- fend each other, given by the States respec- lively on entering into the Constitutional compact which formed the Union, and are a manifest breach of faith, and violation of the most solemn obligations.
 3. Resolved, That the Union of these States rests on the equality of rights and privileges among it's members that it is especially the duty of the Senate, which represents the States in their sovereign capacity, to resist all att tempts to discriminate either in relation to persons or property in the Territories, which are the common possessions of the United States, so as to give advantage to the citizens of one State which are not equally assured to those of every other State.
 4. Resolved, That neither Congress nor a Territorial Legislature, whether by direct legislation, or legislation of an indirect and unfriendly character, possesses power to annul or impair the constitutional right of any citi- sen of the United States to take his slave pro- perty into the common Territories, and there hold and enjoy the same, while the territorial condition remains.
 5. Resolved, That if experience should at any time prove that the judicial and executive authority does not possess means to insure ad- equate protection to constitutional rights in a Territory, and if the territorial government should fail or refuse to provide remedies for that purpose, it will be the duty of Congress to supply such deficiency.
 6. Resolved, That the inhabitants of Ter ritory of the United States, when they right fully form constitution to be admitted as a State in the Union, may then, for the first time-ike the people of State when forming new constitution-decide for themselves whether slavery, as domestic institution, 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"
 T. Resolved, That the provision of the Con- stitution for the rendition of fugitives from service or labor c Ewitbout the adoption of which the Union could not have been formed" and that the laws of 1793 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 sanction by the highest judicial authority, should be hon. estly and faithfully observed and maintained by all who enjoy the benefits of our compact of Union; and that all acts of individuals or of State Legislatures to defeat the purpose or nullify the requirements of that provision, and the laws made in pursuance of it, are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution and revolutionary in their effect.
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