Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-03-08
slavery i'm The Territories,

Resolutions having been offered in the SEN
ate of the United States, by several democrat
ic Senators differing materially in the sen
timent OH the perpleAing question of slavery
in the territories, caucus was called for the
purpose Of harmonizng their views prepare
! tory to the meeting of the Charleston Con-
vention. This act of the Senators has been
denounced by anumber of democratic ourn-
ais, and yet this denunciaton has been disre-
garded and the following resolutions have
been adopted by the caucus, and will in sub
stance at least he incorporated in the Charles
ton platform. They ellcctually cut off Judge
Douglas.
The following are Senator Davis rcsolu-
tons, as agreed upon by the Democratic SEN
ate caucus:
l. Resoired, That, in the adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, the States adopting the
| same acted severally as free and INDEPENDENT
oovereigntics, delesating portion of their
powers to be exercised by the Federal Gov
eminent for the increased security of each a.
gainst dangers, domestic as well as foreign ::
and that any intermeddling by any one or
more States, or by combination of their cit
liens, with the domestic institutions Of the
others, Oh any preteXt: whether political.
moral, or religious, with view to their dis
turbance or subversion, is in violation Of the
Constitution, insulting to the State so inter-
tsred with endangers their domestic peace
and tranquility, objects for which the Consti-
N tpug oil l,.,,
quence serves to weaken and destroy the L.
Mon itself
2. Resolved, That Negro Slavery, as it ex-
lists in fifteen States of this Union compuses
an important portion of their domestic insti-
buttons, inherited from their ancestors, and
existing at the adoption Of the Constitution,
by which is recognized as constituting an i'm
portant element of apportionment OF powers
among the States and thatno change of opn-
ion or feeling on the part of the non-sIave-
holding States of the Union in relation to
this institution can justly them or their cit-
zens in open or covert attacks thereon, with
a view to its overthrow; and that all such at
tacks are in manifest violation of the mutual
and solmn pledge to protect and defend each
other, given by the States, respectively, on
entering into the social compact which form
cd the Union, and are manifest breach Of
faith and q violation of the most solemn obi |
cations.
8. Resoired, 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 resis all |
attempts to discriminate, either in relation to |
person or property, so as, in the Territories
which are the common possession of the Uni
ted States-to give advantages to the citizens
of one State which are not equally assured to
those of every other State.
4. ReSotred, that neither Congress nor n
Territorial Legislature, whether by direct leg
slation or legislation of an indirect and un-
friendly character, possesses the power to an
nul or impair the constitutional right of any
citizen of the U. States to take his slave pro-
perty into the common Territories and there
hold and enjoy the same while the Territori-
al condition remains.
5. Resolrei, That il 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 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
6. Resotred, That the inhabitants of Ter
ritory of the United States, when they right
fully form Constitution to be admitted as a
State into the Union, may then, for the first
time-like the people of a State when form-
ing new Constitution-decide for themselves
Slavery, as a domestic institution,
shall be maintained or prohibited within their
and if Congress admit them as a
State, "they shall be received into the Union !
with or without Slavery as their Consttu-
'tion may prescribe at the time Of their ad-
mission"