The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-03-16
virginia State Convention.


We take the following extract from the
Report of the Committee on Federal Re
lations in the Virginia State Convention.
It is suggestive of the ultimatum which
will be presented by Virginia;
8. The people of Virginia recognize the
American principle that government is
founded in the consent OF the governed,
and they conccde the right of the people
of the several States of this Union, for
Just causes to withdraw from their asso-
citation under the Federal Government
with the people Of the other States. and
to erect new governments for their bet
ter security, and they will never consent
that the federal power, which is in part
their power. shall be exerted for the pur-
pose of subjugating the people of such
States to the federal authority.
0. The exercise of this right by the
States of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Mississippi Alabama, Louisiana and Tex
as, without the assent of the other States,
has given rise to new conditions, and pre-
scented questions touching those condi.
tons intimately affecting the rights and
safety of the other States. Among these
are the free navigation of the Mississippi
river, the maintenance of the forts in.
tended to protect the commerce Of the
Gulf of Mexico, and the power to re.
strain smuggling along tho interior Dor
ders of the seeded States; but the fed
eral authorities, under the Constitution
as it is, disclaim power to recognize the
Withdrawal Of any State from the Union
and consequently to deal with these ques
tions, holding that it is reserved only to
the States as parties to the government
compact to take lawful action touching
them.
10. Without expressing an opinion a.
to the question of power, but in Difference
to the opinion of the federal authorities
the people of Virginia hereby declare
their desire to confer upon the Govern
ment of the United States, the power,
necessary to enable its proper authorities
to deal peaceably with these questions
and if it shall become necessary, to re-
cognize the separate independence of the
seeding States, and to make such trea
ties with them. and to pass such laws as
the separation may make proper.
IL. This Convention composed of dele
gates elected by the people in districts
for the purpose of considering the exist
ing difficulties in our federal relations
represents the desire and earnest request
Of the people of Virginia, to meet as di
rectly as possible the people of her sistel
States and to them appeal for satisfacto
~ adjustment. Virginia. therefore. re
quests the people OF the several States
either by popular vote. or in ion!
similar to her own, to respond, at tbeil
earliest convenience, to the positions as
sumrd in the foregoing resolutions. ant
the proposed amendments to the Consti
tuition of the United States hereunto mp
pended. And in the event that this Com
monwealth fails to obtain satisfactOr,
responses to her requests, from the non
slaveholding States, she viii feel COMPEL
ed to resume the powers granted by he,
under the Constitution of the United
States. and to throw herself upon her re
served rights.
IL. The people of Virginia will avail
any reasonable time to obtain answer
from the other States. to these PROPOSE
tons. aware of the embarrassments tina
may produce delay, but they will expect
as nm indispensable condition. that pa
ciic policy shall be adopted towards tn,
seeded States, and that no attempt b.
made to subject them to the federal au
thoIity, nor to reinforce the forts now il
possession of the military forces of thu
United States. or recapture the forts. ar
senals or other property Of the Unitet
States within their limits, nor to exac
the payment Of imports upon their com
merce; nor any measure re-orted to, just
ly calculated to provoke hostile collision
10. In the opinion of this Convention
the people of Virginia would regard an
action Of the Federal Government. tend
ing to produce collision of forces, pend
ing negotiations for the adjustment o
existing difficulties. as aggressive and in
furious to the interests and offensive Il
the honor of this Commonwealth; ant
they would regard any such action on thu
part of tho seeded or confederatet
States as hurtiul and unfriendly, and n
leaving them free to determine their fu
ture policy.
II. The peculiar relations of the State
of Delaware. Maryland, Virginia. Nortl
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri
and Arkansas, to the other States. max,
it proper, in the judgment of this Con
vention, that the former States shoult
consult together and concert such meas
ures for their final action, as the honor
the interests and the safety of the peopl
thereof may demand, and for that pur
pose the proper authorities of those State
are requested to appoint commissioner.
TO meet commissioners to be appointed
by this Convention on behalf of the peo
pie of this State, at Frankfort, in thu
State of Kentucky, on the last Monda.
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