The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-20
The Rights Of the statss-- Senator
Davis Resolutions.


the resolutions. BENDING az amendment to
the 4th resolution the Senate adjourned to the
25th inst, Oh which day the amendment and
remaining resolutions were voted upon. We
present below bries sketch pfthe proceedings
Of the Senate on the subject
Ii SENATE. May "a, 1860.
The Senate having taken up the Special
Order, the resolutions of Mr.. Davis relative
to State Rights, prdseeded to sote Is follows
/. Resoived, Thg. in the adoption of the
Federal ConstitutiJM, the Statls adopting the
same acted seyeraiiy as free ard independent
sovereignties. delegating . Iprtion Of their
powers to be exercised b, Fedefal Gov.
ernment for Che increased security of each
against dangers, domestic as we'll as foreign
and that any intermeddling by any one or
more Ssates, or by combination Of their citi-
zens, with the domestic Institutions Of the
others, on any pretext whatever, political, NOR
al, or religious, with view to their disturbance
or subversion, is violation of the Constitu
ton, insulting to the States so interferred
with, endangers their rdomeStic peace and tran
quihty-ebjects for which the Constitution
was formed-and, by necessary consequence,
tends to weaken and destroy the Union itself.
The vote on this resolution was:
Yeas-Messrs. Benjamin, Bigler, Bragg,
Bright, Brown, Chestnut, Clay, Clingman,
Crittenden, Davis, Fitzpatrick, Green, Gwin,
Hammond, Hemphill,. Hunter, Iverson, john
son, of Arkansas johnson Of Tennessee, Ken
nedy, Lane, Latham, Mallory, Mason, Nichol-
son, Pearce, Polk, Powell, Pugh, Rice, Sebas-
tain, Slidell, Thomson, Toombs, Wigfall, and
Yulee-36.
Mays-Messrs Bingham, Chandler, Clark,
Collamer, Dixon, Dooitte, Fessenden, Foot,
Foster. Grimes, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan, King,
Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Wade, and
Wilson-19.
2. Resolved, That negro slavery, asst exists
in fifteen States of this Union, composes an
important portion Uf their domestic i1stitu-
tions, inherited from their ancestors, and ex-
isting at the adoption Of the Constitution, by
which it is recognised as constituting an i'm
portant element in the appointment cfpowers
among the States and that no change of
opinion or feeling on the part of the non slave
holding States Of the Union in relation to this
institution, can justify them. or their citizens
in open or covert attacks thereon, with view
to its overthrow and that all such attacks
are in manifest violation of the mutual and
solemn pledge to protect and defend each 9TH
er, given by the States respectively on enter
ing into the constitutional compact which
formed the Union, and are manifest breach
Of faith, and violation Of the most solemn
obligations.
Mr.. Harlan moved to add at the end ofthis
resolution the following:
"But the free discussion of the morality
and expediency of slavery shall never be in
terfered with by the laws of any State or OF
the United States and the free lom of speech
and of the press on this and on other subjects
of domestic and national policy should be
maintained invioIate in all the States"
This amendment was defeated by the fol-
lowing vote {:
Yeas-Messrs Bingham. Chandler, Clark,
Collamer, Dixon, Doelitte, Fessenden. Foot,
Foster, Grimes, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan, King,
Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull,
Vale, and Wilson-20
Mays-Messrs. Benjamin. Bigler, Bragg,
Bright, Brown, Chestnut. Clay Cling.nan,
Crittenden, Davis, Fitzpatrick, Green, Gwin,
Hammond, HemphiiL Hnnter. tserson, john
son of Ark, johnson Of Tenn, Kennedy,
Lane, Latham, Mallory, Mason, Nicholson,
Pearce, Polk, Powell, Pugh, Rice, Sebastian,
Slidell Thomson. Toombs. WigfaA, and
1ulee-36. : -
The question was then taken on the second
resolution, and it was-agreed to by the follow
ing vote:
Yeas-36; Mdus-2o.
3. Resolved, That the Onion 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 resists
all attempts to discriminate either in relation
to persons or property in the Territories,
which are the common possession Of the Uni
ted States, so as to give advantages to the c-
tizens of one State which are not equally as
sured to those of every other State
This was carried by the following vote:
Yeas-31; Nqys-18.
4. Resolved, That neither Congress nor a
Territorial Legislature, whether by direct le-
gislation or legislation of.an indirect and un-
friendly character, possess power to annul or
impair the constitutional right Of any citizen
of the United States to take his slave property
into the common Territories, and there hold
and enjoy the same while the Territorial con-
dition remains.
This was also agreed to by the following
vote !:
Yeas-35 Mys-21.
Mr.. Clingman moved to insert the follow
ing, to come in after the fourth resolution
Resolved, That the existing condition of the
Territories Of the United States does not re-
quire the Intervention Of Congress for the pro-
lection of property in slaves.
Mr.. Brown moved to strike out the word
"not," and on this motion quite an animated
discussion arose. in which Senator's Brown,
Clingman, Pugh, Crittenden, and others took
part ; but, without taking further question.
FRIDAY, May 25, 1860
Mr.. Crittenden addressed the Senate al
some length, sustaining the amendment oi
Mr.. Cingman.
The question was then taken on the pro-
position Of Mr.. Brown to Ike out the word
''not," and decided in the negative, yeas s.
nays AZ. Those who voted in the affirmative
were Messrs. Brown Clay, Iverson, johnson
of Arkansas, and Yulee
Mr. Collamer then moved to amend the
resolution by striking out the word existing
and inserting after the word not "and in our
opinion never will = so that it would read
"that the condition Of the Territories of the
ton of Congress for the protection OF property
in slaves, and in our opinion never will"
This amendment was lost by the following
vote.
Feas--16 Fays-83.
The question recurring on the resolution O
Mr.. Clingman, it was decided in the afirma
tive by the following vote
Yeas-26.
Nays-23.
The next resolution in the series was tn.
| following
5. Resolved, That if experience should q
any time prove that the judicial and executiv,
authority do not possess means to insure ade
auate protection to constitutional rights in
Territory, and if the Territorial governmen
should fail or refuse to provide the necessar,
/ remedies for that purpose, it will be the dut.
/ of Congress to supply such deficiency.
Mr.. Trumhull moved to amend the abov
by inserting after the word Territory s'that t
take or hold slave therein is not constitu
tional right"
The motion was lost by the following vote
Yeas-17; Nays-31. o
Mr.. Brown moved to amend by insert
ing. in effect, ''that experience having show
that the Constitution and common law an
alike inadequate for the protection Of fslaver
in the Territories, some having neglected I
make provision for it, and others passed sta
utes to prevent it,fthe duty Of Congress wa
imperative to interpose in the premises"
The question was taken on this amendmeI
and decided in the negative: Yeas 8, nays 4.
The affirmative voters being Messrs. Brow
Iyerson, and Mallory.
Mr.. Brown thought it evident that he W,
in a very small minority.
Mr.. Toombs moved to add to the resol,
t;on the words "within the limits of its COZ
stitutional power"
Which was agreed to without . division
, and the resolution was agreed to-: Yeas
nays Q.
The next resolution was read as follows
6. Resolysd, That the inhabitants ofa TIE
-;tory Of the United States, when they righ
fnlly form q constitution to be admitted as
. state into the Union, may then, for the fir
| time. like the people Of a State when formil
4 new constitution, decide for themselv
whsther slavery, as . domestic institutio
shall be maintained or prohibited within ths