Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-14
ME-. Summers Resolutions.

In the Senate Of the United States, on Tuesday, |
Mr.. Sumner offered the following series Of reso-
Iutions dcclnratory Of the relations between the
United States mud Che territory once occupied
by certain States, uud now usurped by preteh-
ded governments without constitutional or legal
right;
Whereas, certain States, rgltfully belonging
to the Lnion of the United States, have through
their respective governments, wickedly under
taken to utjure all those duties by which their
connection with tho Union were maintained to
renounce oil allegiance to the Constitutions to
levy war upon the national government anu for
the contamination of this treason have unoonsll-
tutionaly and unlawfully cOniederated to-
pether, with the declared purpose Of putting an
end by force to the supremacy Of the Constitution
within their respective limits and whereas, this
condition Of ineurrection organized by pretended
rovernments, openly exists IN South Carolinn,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Texas. Arkansas, Tennessee, aud Virginia, ex-
cept in eastern Tennessee and western Virginia.
md has been declared by the President OF the
United Statee, in proclamation duly made III
conformity with an act of Congress, to exist
throughout this territory, with the exceptions
already named and, whereas, the extensive ter
ritory. thus usurped by these pretended govern
menis aud organized into hostile coniederacy,
belongs to the United States, as an inserarnhle
uart thereof under sanctions Of the Constitution
/ 10 lie held in trust for the inhabitants III the
present and future generations, anu Is SO com
| pletely internked with the Union that 1t IL
| forever del endent thereupon and, whereas, lhe
| Constitution, which il the supreme law oil Tue
land cannot lie displaced in its rightiul operation
within this territory, but must ever oontluhe the
supreme law thereof, Notwithstanding the DOING
of any pretended governments acting singly oi
in the confederation in order to put an end to its
supremacy. Therefore,
Resolved Tint any vote of secession or
other act by which any State may undertake to
nut an end to the supremacy OF the Constitution
within its territory is imperative and VOID
against the Constitution, anl when sustained by
force il becomes Il practical dbiicatioR by the
State Of all rights under the Constitution, while
the treason which it involves still further works
instant forfeiture of all those functions and powers
esseuttnl 10 the continued existence of the State
as body polite, SO that from that time forward
the territory falls under the exclusive jurisdiction
: of Congress as other territory, aud the Stat'
being, according to the language Of the law, tett
de 81, ceasea to exist.
Resolved That any combination OF mel
assuming to act in the paGe OF such State ant
attenpting to ensnare or coerce the inhabitant
thereof into confederation hostile to the unioi
1 ii rebeluus, treasOnablO and destitute OF NJ
e moral authority, aud that such combination ls
d usurpation, incapable Of any constitutional exls
e teuce, and utterly awless, so that every thin
o dependent upon il il without constitutional o
# legal support.
d 3. Resolved, That the termination Of Stat
under the Constitution necessarily causes lh
G termination Of those peculiar local institution
which, having no origin in the Constitution or
II those natural rights which exist independent {
81 the Constitution are upheld by the sole An
exclusive authority of the State.
1t 4. Resolved, That slavery being peculit
lt local institution derived from local laws, withOl
rs any origin in the Constitution or in natural right
a is upheld by the sole and exclusive authority
ID the State, and must therefore cease to exist Il
III gally or cOnsttulionally when the State whiC
lr il depends no longer exists for the incdcnt
re cannot survive the principal.
:" g. Resolved That in the exercise Of its excl
siye jurisdiction over the territory once occupi'
1t by the States it is the duty Of Congress to FL
in that the supremacy OF the Constitution is mail
re aned in its essential principles, so that ever
h, where in this extensive territory slavery shH
o. cease to exist practically, as it has already ceas
IS; to exist constitutonally or legally.
tn q. Resolved, That any recognition of slavel
,s, in such territory, any surrender Of slaves u
IN der the pretended laws of the extinct States
he apy officer of the United States civil or mitar
to is recognition of the pretended government
lt- to the exclusion Of the jurisdictiOn Of Congre
under the Constitution, and is in the nature
ed mid and comfort to the rebellion that has be
els organized.
IT. T. Resolved, That my such recognition
an slavery or surrender Of pretended slaves, besd
0O being recognition of the pretended COVER
lie. mepts, giving them aid and comfort, ia q den