The Evansville daily journal., 1861-02-04
The Virginia CompromIse.


The following are the resolutions, as
adopted by the Virginia Legislature, pro-
posing the basis of compromise acceptable
to that State
WHEREAS, 1t is the deliberate opinion of the
General Assembly of Virginia, that un-
less the unhappy controversy which now
divides the States of this Confederacy
shall be satisfactorily adjusted, per-
manent dissolution of the Union is ineyi-
table and the General Assembly, repre-
senting the wishes of the people of the
Commonwealth, is desirous of employing
every reasonable means TO avert so dire
calamity, and determined to make final
effort to restore the Union and the Consti-
tuition, in the spirit in which they were
established by the fathers of the Republic; |;
Therefore, ~s
ResoEOed That on behalf of the Com
monwealth of Virginia, an invitation is
hereby extended to all such States, whether
slave-holding or nou-slaveholding, as are
willing to unite with Virginia in an earnest
effort to adjust the present unhappy contro-
versies, in the spirit in which the Constitu
ton was originally formed, and consistently
with its principles, so as to afford to the peo-
pie of the slaveholding States adequate
to appoint commissioners, to meet on the
4th day of February next, in the City of
Washington, similar commissioners appoint
ed by Virginia, to consider, and if practical
BILE agree upon, some suitable adjustment.
ResoJUed, That ex-President John Tyler,
VIC. Rives, Judge ohm w. Brockenbrough,
Geo. W. Summers, and James A. SeldOH be
and are hereby appointed commissioners by
the General Assembly, whose duty it shall
be to repair to the city of Washington, on
the day designated in the foregoing resolu-
ton, to meet such commissioners as may be
appointed by any of the said States, in ac-
cordance with the foregoing resolution.
ReSoLVed, That if said commissioners, af-
ter full and free conference, shall agree uD-
on any plan of adjustment requiring amend
ments of the Federal Constitution, for the
turther security of the rights of the people
of the slaveholding States, they be request
ed 10 communicate the proposed amendments
to Congress, for the purpose of having the
same submitted by that body, according to
the forms of the Constitution, to the several
States for ratification.
ResoJUed, That if said Commissioners
cannot agree on such adjustment, or if
agreeing, Congress shall refuse to submit
for ratification such amendments as may be
proposed, then the Commissioners OF this
State shall Immediately communicate the
result to the Executive of this Common
wealth, to be by him laid before the conven
ton of the people of Virginia and the
General Assembly /; provided that the said
Commissioners be subject at all times 10 the
control of the State Convention.
ReSolved, That i'll the opinion Of the
General Assembly of Virginia the PROPOSE
tions embraced in the resolutions presented
to the Senate of the United States, by the
Hon. John J. Crittenden, so modified as that
the first article pIop sed as an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States
shall apply to all territory of the United
States now held, or hereafter to be acquired
south of latitude 36 degrees 80 minutes,
and provide that slavery of the African
race shall be effectually protected, if ueces-
sary, as property thereiH, during the con-
tinuance of the Territorial Government,
and the fourth article shall secure TO the
owners of slaves the right of transit with
their slaves between and through the nom
slaveholding States and Territories, consti-
tute the basis of such an adjustment of the
unhappy controversy which now divides the
States of this Confederacy, as would be ac-
cepted by the people of this Commonwealth.
ResolUed, That ex-President John Tyler
is hereby appointed by concurrent vote of
each branch of the General Assembly a
Commissioner to the President of the U nit
ed States, and that Judge Robertson is here
by appointed by the like vote, Commission
er to the State of South Carolina, and the
other States that have seeded or may se-
cede, with instructions, respectfully, to re-
quest the President of the United States,
and the authorities of such States to agree
to abstain, pending the proceedings con-
templated by the action of this General As
sembly, from any and all acts calculated to
produce collision between the States and
the Government of the United States.
Resolved, That copies of the foregoing res
olutions be forthwith telegraphed to the
President of the United States, and also the |
Executive of the several States, and that |
the Governor be requested to inform, with |
out delay, the Commissioners appointed in
the foregoing resolutions of their appoint
ment.