Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-29
slsstet as tie Senatorial Ds.Fst formed BY chsssr,
fs9d popka.an dnd Cumberland
THE SENATORIAL SLAVERY PLATFORM.

1
l. Resolved That in the adoption of the Federal Con-
stituon the States adopting the acted severay as
free and independent sovsreignes, deegatng portion
OF their power to be exercised by the Federal Govern-
for the increased security of each against dangers
domestic as well as foreign and that any intermeddng
by any one more States or by combination OF teir
citizens with the domestic institutions of the Others
any pretext whether political moral or religious, with
the view to their disturbance subvefsicn Is IN viola
ton of the Constitution insulting the States so inter-
fered WITH endangers their domestic peace and tranquil
hty-objects for which the Constitution was formed
and by necessary consequence serves to weaken and
destroy the Union ITSELF
2. Resolved That negro slavery 1t exists in fifteen
States of this Union, composes important portion OF
their domestic institutions inherited from their
tors and existing at the adoption of the Constitution, by
which is recognized constituting important ee
ment OF the apportonnent of power among the States
and that change of opinion feeling on the part OF
the nonsavehodng States of the Union in relation to
this institution can justify them their citizens in open
and systematic attacks thereon with view TO Its over
throw and that all such attacks in manifest violation
of the mutual and solemn pledge to protect and defend
each other given by the States respectively on enter
ing into the constitutional compact which formed the
Union, aud manifest breach of faith and violation
of the most solemn obligations
s. RESOLVED, 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
represents the States in their sovereign capacity to resist
all attemns to discriminate either in relation to person
or prOpe as in the Territories which are the COM
mon possession of the United States to give advantages
to the citizens Of Safe which not equally secured
| to those of every other State
T. ReSolUed That neither Congress nor Territorial
Legislature whether by direct legislation or legislation of
indirect and untendy nature possesses the power 10
annul or impair the constitutional right OF any citizen Of
the United States to take his slave property into the
common Territories; out it is the duty of the Federal
Government there to afford for that for other species
of property, the needful projections and If experience
should at any time prove that the Judiciary does not pos
sess power to insure adequate protection it will then be-
come the duty Of Congress to supply such deficiency
8. Rssored That the inhabitants of an organized Ter
ritory of the United States when they righully form
Constitution 10 be admitted State OF the Union, may
then for the first time like the people of State when
forming new Constitution, decide for themselves wheth
er slavery, domestic institution shall be maintained
or prohibited within their urisdicon and if Congress
shall admit them State they shall be received into
the Union with without slavery, as their Constitution
may prescribe at the time of their admission"
g. Hesolred That the provision OF the Constitution
for the rendition of fugves from service or labor with
ont the adoption of which the Union could not have
been formed and the laws of 1898 and 1850, which
enacted TO secure its execution, and the main
features OF which, being similar bear the impress OF
nearly seventy years sanction by the highest Judicial au-
thorv have unquestonabe claim 10 the respect and OBJ
servance of all who enjoy the benefits Of compact
of Union and that the acts Of State Legislatures to de-
feat the purpose nufy the requirements OF that pro-
vision, and the laws made in pursuance of it, are hos
tile in character ubyerSve OF the Constitution, revou
tonary ia their effect and if persisted in must
later lead the States injured by such breach of the
compact exercise their judgement 10 the proper
mode and measure and redress.
NJ. Bingham, Of Michigan, Dem, read long speech
in opposition thereto, which impertecty heard in the
gallery.
Mr. Biger, OF Pennsylvania CDem., defined his po
siton. lie said he one of those who opposed the
action these resolutions until after the Charleston
Convention. He intended TO vote for them, and main
tanned that the fourth resolution based the bred
Scott decision He had at one time expressed an opin
ion differing from the views contained in the resolu
tons but he regarded the bred Scott decision set
Ting the question, and to that he should yield.
Mr. lverson Of Georgia said that he had intended to
offer amendments TO the resolutions OF Mr. Davis, but
now declined doing so. He however read a series OF
resolutions which he had intended to offer expressive
Of his Individual views. They take extreme Southern
ground claiming that it is the duty Of Congress in organ
zng he territories TO provide for the protection OF slave
property. He should however vote for the resolutions
a tue best that could be got
Mr. Clay of Alabama Dem said he had intended
70 speak in favor Of the resolutions and sorry he
physically unable 10 do go and especially be sorry
that he wat unable TO reply to the assaults and asper
sious Of bis State by the Senator from ILLINOIS, whose
whole argument misrrprosent the Democracy OF
Alabama. The Senator from Illinois had garbled reso-
ntons 10 show that Alabama was in favor OF uOunter
veution. Such never was the He defended Mr.
Yaucey and declared himself ready endorse what
called the scarlet letter"
Mr. Green of Missouri Dem, commended that the re-
solutions were intended platform for the party.
I bad always been the hsbitofdeberatve bodies 70 de-
clare their opinions by resolutions. He defended Mis-
souri, against what had been Rii by the Senator from
Ohio iMr PGgh) That State is in favor of the plat
form Of the msorty Of the committee a, Charleston.
Mr. Powell, Of Kentucky, (Dem.,) said that he had al
ways been ready for tie resolutions lie simply
wished TO reply to the Senator from Ohio, (Pugh) that
/ go, - a., ba
(Powr) hen referred to past elections in that State to
sustain his position.
A discussion here eusuod between Messrs Pugh Pow
ell and Clay, in regard to the votes in Charleston and in
the States.
Mr.. Doolitde of Wisconsin, (Rep.,) appealed for a
He thought the fnerd ceremonies had lasted long
enough.
Mr. Hale, of New Hampshire, rep, said he wsnteda
vote but If the thing togo and Democratic members
OF the South are to yindcat, their Sates New Eng
land had no Democratic representatives here he should
feel called upon to speak fo New Hampshire Laugh.
ter.
Mr.. Davis said that as tie Senator from Wisconsin,
(Doote had left the Democratic party, he could not
be reckoned among the mo.rners.
Mr. Dooile said that he had followed the Democratic
flag for twenty years and til CahOunsm had taken the
place Of the principles Of the party.
Mr. Mallory defended the action of the delegates from
Florida, at Charleston
Mr. Fe.enden said he should vote against all the resO.
luons because he thoughtthe Senate not the place TO
make party platforms or discuss abstract principles
Mr.. Coamer, Of Vernon, (Rep) had very much the
same objections Possibly he might not vote against
of the resolutions staining alone but he must take
them in the connection in which they stand.
Mr.. Kennedy, Of Maryland CAmerican,) was happy TO
find the party the other side Of the chamber were 10
favor of the Union. He thought the doctrine Of popular
or SquatGr Sovereignty lei directly TO disunion. He
thought also that the doctrine of the Republicans had
led to dunion. lie had offered the amendment to the
resolutions looking to the preservation OF the Union.
After further coloquy tn, vote taken on the first
resolution which carried by the following yeas and
nays
YEAs-Messrs. Benjamin, Biger, Bragg, Bright, Brown,
Chestnut Clay Cngman, Chttenden, Davis, Fitzpatrick
Green, Gvn, Hammond, Iemphill, Hunter lverson,
Johnson, OF Arkansas johnson, OF Tennessee kennedy,
Lane Latham Mallory, Mason, Nicholson, Pearce, Polk
Powell, Pugh Rice, Sebastian Sdel, Thompson Toombs,
Wigfall, Yulee36.
NAYs-Messrs Bingham, Chandler Clark, Collamer,
Dixon, Doote, Fessenden Foot Foster, Grimes Hale,
Hamin, Harlan, King, Simmons, Summer, Ten Eyck,
Wade, WilsOn-l9.
Mr.. Trunbul OF Illinois, (Rep.) did not vote.
The question then taken the amendment OF the
Senator from Iowa, arlaH that free discussion on the
mortality Of Slavery, fee speech or freedom OF the
Press be nterfered with, and it was decided as
follows: Nays &c; Yeas 20
The vote the on the resolution, with the adj
dition of Mr.. Trumbuls name the yeas
| The question was taken on the second resolution
yeas SO; nays 2O-Same vote as the previous Que.
The third resolution was taken up.
Mr.. Crittenden, of Kentucky (American) said he had
all his life held the doctrine that Congress had power 10
exclude Slavery from the Territories. If the supreme
Court bad decided otherwise he could not yet concur
with them; but the ground of that decision, would
vote for this and the ensuing resolution
The vote stood Ayes Sc, Nays is; Messrs King and
Colampr not voting