Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-19
Majority Report on Federal Relations.

Majority Report on Federal Relations.
Mr.. Conrad, of Frederick, presented the fol-
lowing report from the Committee on Federal
Relations
The Committee on Federal Relations have.
according to order, had under consideration the
seEeral propositions referred to them. and beg
leave to report for consideration and adoption bv
he,Convention, the following preamble and re-
solutions:
The Representatives OF the people of Virginia
in Convention assembled, are profoundly sensible
of the difficulty, delcacy and Importance of the
duty which, in obedience to the popular will,
they have assumed to perform.
They feel that the controversy which unfortu-
nately distracts and divides our country has
brought about condition of public affairs for
which history has no parallel and the experience
of governments no precedent.
They recognize the fact that the great oues-
tions which press for consideration are of entire
novelty and of great intrinsic difficulty. and that
their proper solution will require on the part of
our governments, State and Federal, and of our
people, the exercise OF the utmost prudence. dis
erection, calmness and forbearance.
Above all otherthiugs st this time they es.
TEEN 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 tor which several of the States
have Withdrawn from the Union and overthrown
the Federal Government within their limits. are
such as have affected the people of Virginia to a
greater extent than any of the seeded States,
and it is their determined purpose to require
such guarantees for the protection of the rights
of the people of the slayeholding States as in
| the Judgment of Virginia will be sufficient for
the accomplishment OF that object,
| Virginia having initiated measures TO obtain
such guarantees, proper self-respect impels her
to demand of all the parties that they shall re-
frain during the pendency OF her efforts for am
icable adjustment, from all action tending to
produce collision OF forces; therefore,
| Be 1T resolved and declared 6Y the people OF
the State Of Virginia On Concention assembled,
That the States which composed the United
States OF America, when the Federal Constitu
| tlon was formed, were independentsover
and in adopting that instrument the people ot
each State agreed to associate with the people
/ OF the other States, upon footing of exact
equality. 1t is the daty, therefore, of the COM
mon government to respect 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 vital part of the social
system Of the States wherein it exists, and as
that form of servitude existed when the Union
| was formed, and the jurisdiction of the several
States over it within their respective limits, was
recognized by the Constitution, any interference
to its prejudice by the Federal authority, or by
the authorities OF the other States, or by the
people thereof, Isl derOgation from plain right,
contrary to the Constitution, offensive and dan
gerous.
| 8. The choice OF fnnctionaries of q common
government established for the common good,
for the reason that they entertain opinions and
avow purposes hostile to theinstitutions of some
of the States, necessarily excludes the people OF
one section from participation in the admins
tration of the government, subjects the weaker
| to the domination OF the stronger section, leads
to abuse, and Is Incompatible with the safety OF
those whose interests are imperiled the forma-
ton, therefore, of geographical or sectional par
ties in respect to Fede al politics is contrary to
the principles on which our system rests, and
tends to its overthrow. ra.s5s
4. The Territories ofthe United States cOnsti-
tute a trust to be administered by the General
Government, for the common benefit of the peo-
pie Of the United States, and any policy in re-
spect to such Territories calculated to confer
greater benefits on the people of one part of the
/ United States, than on the people Of another
part, is contrary to equality, and prejudicial to
the rights of some for whose equal benefit the
trust was created. If the equal admission OF
slave labor and free labor into any territory, ex-
cites untriendly conflict between the systems, q
fair partition OF the territories ought to be made
between them, and each system ought to be pro-
tected within the limits assignedzto it, by the
laws necessary for its proper Development
! B. The sites of the Federal Forts, Arsenals.
&C., within the limits OF the States of this
Union, were acquired by the Federal Govern
ment, and jurisdiction over them ceded by the
States as trusts, for the common purposes of the
Union, during its continuance; and upon the
separation of the States, such jurisdiction revers
of right to the States, respectively, by which
the jurisdiction was ceded. Whilst the State
remains in the Union. the Legitimate use of such
Forts, &c., is to protect the country against for-
eign force, and to aid in suppressng domestic
| insurrection. To use, or prepare them to be
used, to intimidate State, or coEstrain its free
action, Is a perversion Of the purposes for which
they were obtained; they were not intended to
| be used against the States in whose limits they
are found, in the event Of civil war. In time
of profound peace with foreign nations, and
when no symptoms of domestic insurrecton5 ep-
pear-but whilst irritating questions of the deep
est Importance are pending between the States.
Ito accumulate, withinthe limits ofay State, in
terested in such Question, an unusual amount of
| troops aud munitions Of war; not required for
any leg innate purpose, is unwise, impolitic and
offensive. ie1s
g. Deeply sdeploripg the, present distracted
condition of the country, and lamentiBg the
wrongs that have impelled some Of the States
to cast off obedience to the Federal Government.
but sensible Of the blessings of Union, and i'm
pressed with its Importance to the peace, pros
perity and progress of the people, we indulge
the hope that an adjustment may be reached by
which the Union may be preserved in its integ-
rty, and peace, prosperity and fraternal feelings
be restored throughout the land
z To remeyeothe existing causeso complaint
much may be accomplished by the Federal and
State Governments the laws for the rendition
of fngitves from labor and OF fngitives from JUS
tice may be made more effsctuaL the expendi-
lures of the Government may be reduced within
more moderate limits, aud the abuses that have
entered into the administrative department. re-
formed. The State authorities may repeal their
unfriendly and unconstitutional legislation, and
substitute in its stead such as becomes the COM
Iitv and is due to the rights of the States of the
same Union. But to restore the Union and pre-
serve confidence the Federal Constitution should
be amended inithose particulars wherein expe.
rience has exhibited defects and discovered ap-
proaches dangerous to the Institutions of some of
the States. -. ess.sa
8. The people of Virginia recognize the Amer
ican principle that government is founded in the
consen Mt of the governed, and they concede the
right Of the people of the several States of this