Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-15
state Convention.

|
oroered to be printed. The Committee was still
! engaged those resolutions relative to amend
ments to the State Constitution. 1t is as follows
PARTIAL REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE oS FEDERAL
| RELATIONS, PRESENTED MARCH y, ISL.
The representatives of the people of Virginia in
Convention assembled, are profoundly sensible Of
the difficulty delicacy and Importance of the duty
which, in obedience to the popular will, they have
assumed to perform.
They feel that the controversy which unfcrtu.
nateiy dstracts and divides country has brought
about condition OF public affairs for which histo
ry has no parallel and the experience OF govern
mentS no precedent.
They recognize the fact tina. the great questions
which press for consideration are OF entire novelty
and Of great intrinsic difficulty and that their prop
solution will require on the part OF our govern
nents 5 tates and Federal, and o. our people the
exercise of the utmost prudence, discretion, calm
ness and forbearance
Above all other things at this time they esteem
it of indispensable necessity to maintain the peace
of the country, and to avoid every thing calculated
or tending to produce collision and bloodshed.
| The grievances for which sever al OF the States
have withdrawn from the Uuion and overthrow
the Federal Government within their limits, are
such as have affected the people of Virginia to a
grea extent than any of the seeded States, and
il is their determined purpose to require such guar
antees tor the protection of the rights OF the PEG
pie of the slavehoiding States as in the Judgment
Of Virginia will be sufficient for the accomplish
nent of that object.
Virginia having initiated measures to obtain such
guarantees, proper selfrespect inpels her to de-
nsnd of all parties that they shall refrain, during
the pendancy Of her efforts for amicabe adjust
ment from all action tending produce collision
of forces therefore,
l. Be 1t resoired and declared By the people Of
the State Of Virginia in Contention Assembled, =
| That the States which composed the United States
! of America, when the Federal Constitution was
formed, were independent soveteignties, and in a.
dopting that instrument the people of each State
| agreed to associate with the people OF the Othe.
.,,fr t.Cf
duty therefore, of the common government, to re-
spect the rights of the States and the equality OF
the people thereof, and within the just limits of
the Constitution TO protect with equal care, the
great interests that spring from the institutions OF
each.
2. African slavery is a vital part of the social
system Of the States wherein it exists and as that
form Of se?vitude existed when the Union was for
med, and the iuris lcton oil the several States ov-
er it within their respective limits, was recognized
BY the Constitution any interference to It's preJu-
dice by the federal authority. or By the people
thereof, is in derogaton from PLAIN right, contra
~ to the Constitution, offensive and dangerous.
8. The choice OF tunctionaries Of common gov
eminent established for the common good, for the
reason that they entertain opisions and avcw pur-
poses hostile to the institutions OF some OF the States
necessarily excludes the people Of section from
participation in the administration of the Govern
lnent subjects the weaker to the domination OF the
stronger section, leads to abuse aud is iucompati-
bic with the safety Of those whose interests are I'M
sectional parties in respect to federal politics il
contrary to the principles which system
rests, and tends to its overthrow.
A. The territories OF the United States constitute
a trust to be administered by the General Govern
nent, for the common benefit OF the people OF the
United States, and any policy in respect to such
territories calculated to confer greater benefits
the people Of one part OF the United States, th an
the people Of another part, is contrary to equal
tr, and preiudcia to the rights Of some for whose
equal benefit the trust wae created. If the equa
admission oi tlave labor and free labor into any
territory, excites uutriendiY conflict between the
stems, fair partition Of the territories ought tc
be made between them, and each system ought to
be protected within the limits assigned to it. by the
laws necessary for its proper Development
s. The sites OF the federal forts, arsenals, &c
within the limits OF the States of this Union, were
acquired bv the Federal Government, and juris-
diclion them ceded BY the States. trusts,
for the common purposes OF the u MON, during its
continuance and upon the separation OF the States
such Jurisdiction Tcrerts OF right to the States, RS
srectively, by which the jurisdiction was coded
hist state remains in the Union the egtima te
OF such forts, &c, is to protect the country "a
gainst foreign force, and to aid IL suppressing do
nestle instruction. TO use, or prepare TIL EN- TO
be used intimidate State, constrain its free
action, is perversion of the purposes for which
| they were obtained; they were not intended to be
used against the states, III whose limits they are
found, in the event Of civil war. In time fpro-
found peace with foreign nations, such as now ex-
lists, and when 40 symptoms Oh domestic insurrec-
ton appear but whilst irritating questions 0. the
deepest lmp0i lance are pending Ia the States to
accumulate within the limits OF State interested
il such questions, an Unusual amount OF troops anu
munitions + war, required for any legisima ate
purpose, is un.Tise, mpoiltc and offensive.
e. Deeply deploring the present distracted con-
dition OF the country, and amenting the wrongs
that have iinpeied OF the States to cast of
obedience to the Federal Govern -nent but scnsb e
Of the blessings CT Union; and impressed with It's
Importance 10 the peace, prosperity and progress
Of the people, we indulge the hope, that adjust
rent may be reached by which the Union may be
preser ed in te integrity, peace and prosperity
and fGxtoTnai feelings be restored throughout the
lana.
| 7. To remove the existing causes Of complaint
much may be accomplished by the Federal and
State COY ernments the laws for the rendition Of
tusItives from justice may oe made more effect
ual, the expenditures OF the Government may Ds
reduced within moderate limits and the a0u-
se5 that have entered lnto the administrative de
paryments refofmed. Inc State auth ,,ites =
repeal heir unfrIendly ard unconstitutional iegis
latlon. and substitute in its stead such as becomes
the comfy and due to the rights of the States OF
tbs Union. But to restore the Union and
preserve confidence, the Federal Constitution shout
be amended IN those particulars wherein expert
ence has exhibited defects and discovered app oach
es dangerous 10 the ihstitu tions oil some OF til,
STATES.
g. The people Of Virginia recognize the Ameri
can principle that government Is founded IN The
cunse OF the governed, and they concede th'
right OF the people OF the several states OF this u
nlou for lust causes to withdraw from their asso
citation under the Federal Government with tin
people Oi the other States, and to erect rev gov
ernmens for their better security, and they vii
never consent that the federal power, shall be ex
erted for the purpose of suojugatng the people o
such States to the federal al thority.
8. The exercise Of this right by the States o
South Carolina, Georgia, tiorlda Mississippi, Al
ALBANIA, Louisiana and Texas, without tire asgen
OF the other States, has given rise to new condi
tons, and presented questions touching those con
ditions intimately affecting the tights and SAFETY
Of the other States. Among these the FREE
navigation of tbs Mississippi riv the manten
of tie forts intended to protect the commerce O
the uf of Mexico, aud the power to restrain SNUG
Cling along the interior borders Of the seeded
states; but the federal authorizes, under the Con
stitutpn as it is, discsiin power recognize the
withdrawal OF any State from the Union and con
seQuently to deal with these questions holding til a
it Ii reserved only to the States as parties tht
government compact TO take lawful action touch
ing them
10. Without expressing an opinion as to the
question OF power, but III Difference to the opinion
OF the federal authorities, the people Of Virginia
hereby declare their desire to confer upon the Gov
ernment Of the United States. the powers pecessa-
ry enable its proper authorities to deaf peacea-
| bly, with these questions and, if it shall become
necessary, to recognize the separate Independence
OF tie seeding States, and to make such treaties
with them, and TO pass such laws the separation
may make proper.
II. This Convention composed of delegates osee
ted by the people in districts, for the purpose Of
considering the existing difficulties in federal
relations represents the desire and earnest request
OF Virginia, to meet directly as possible the peo-
pie of her sister States and to them appeal for sat
isiactory adjustment. Virginia, therefore requests