The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-03-15
Virginia State Convention.

We take the following extract from the
Report Of the Committee on Federal Re
la,ions in the Virginia State Convention.
It is suggestive OF the ul'matum which
will be presented by Virginia.
8. The people Of Virginia recognize the
American principle that government Is
younded i'm the consent OF the governed,
and they conccde the right OF the people
Of the several States OF this Union, for
inst causes. 10 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 powcr. shall be cxerted for the purr-
nose of subiugnting 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
MS. without the assent of the other States,
has piycn rise to new conditions, and pre-
scntcd 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 the interior bor-
dcrs 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 as
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 powers
necessary to enable its proper authorities
to deal peaccably 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.
II. This Convention composed OF dele
gates elected by the people in districts,
for the purpose of considering the exist
iug 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 sister
States. and to them appeal for satisfacto.
ry adjustment. Virginia. therefore re-
quests the people Of the several States,
either BY popular vote, or in Convent ions
similar to her own. to respond. at their
earliest convenience, to the positions as.
sumrd in the foregoing resolutions and
the proposed amendments to the Consti.
tuition Of the United States hereunto ap.
pended. And in the event that this Com
monwealth fails to obtain satisfactory
responses to her requests, from the non
slaveholdins States, she will feel COMPEL
ed to resume the powers granted 10y her
under the Constitution of the United
States. and to throw herself upon her re,
served rights.
u. The people of Virginia will await
any reasonable time to obtain answers
from the other States. to these PROPOSE
lions. aware ol W.. G h, .ho ,r;I na",
may Proauoe ue'ay, ous .iy wi" ,ha ."p, ~.
cific policy shall be adopted towards the
seeded States. and that no attempt be
maze 10 Su'Jec' tnr'i " w., ine ...e,". az
thoiity: nor 70 re''''o ,: .'e c 'or's "1" ~
possession " 'he military ,,'o's VI Wv
unlted ot".es, or recaP,u'e cn IT, 'or's; , "' I
s s. or o!neI pr'P'rH Vi NV o"s. oa,
nsa'es w.'na sIm ,,non n ,ha;r . no",
inc pay n'e"' VI imports "po" .ien to
mercc' nor any measure ,e,o .,,s vi Jus'
~ ca'ct''a,e' " :o.oH ~ , ,'' Te .o,;o
d. ID .hc "!m'a" % ,. .",i 1" oa'l ~,
VI. p'oy ~ w., w r,Iina' c: "" ,onj