Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-02-09
DR. TANNERIs- RESOLUTIONS.

The following is copy of the resolutions
recently offered in the House of Delegates of
the West Virginia Legislature, on Louisiana
affairs. by Dr. /. S. Tanner, of this county:
WHEREAS, We the people have had the
President of the United States attempt to
within the limits and the jurisdiction of
sister State, and
WHEREAS, We are guaranteed, and So
cured by the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights, security and freedom in elections,
therefore be it
1. Rcsolced, That We. the delegates of the
State of West Virginia. in the Legislature as
sembled, do view, with the greatest emotions
of dismay and horror, mingled with just
sense of indignation, the unwarrantable inter
ference of the Pres lent oe the Uni STATES,
with federal troops and federal bay 3nt IS, in
the Legislative Halls Of our sister State of
Louisiana.
2. Resoloed, That the people of the United
States, in the Convention of 1887, in grants
ing to the Federal Government its delegated
powers, reserved to the States and to the peo>
pie thereof, the exclusive right to be the
judges of their own elections
And that the Invasion of the sauctity of the
Legislative Halls of the sovereign State of
Louisi ma, by the Federal troops to prevent
that object is an unwarrantsble assumption of
arbitrary power upon the part of the United
States, and the petty syrant at bis command
in the Military Department of the Gulf, that
merits the prompt and the unqualified rebuke
aud condemnation of every honest man, ire
spective of party. in the United States, who
has the welfare of his country at heart
3. Rcsolced, That we view the presence of
United States soldiers with nuskets and bay
onets in their hands, on the floors of the Leg
islative Halls of the States, as the death knell
to our political freedom, and as bold and
tyranical attempt at an inauguration of the
scenes of the days of Caesar and Cromwell,
that should be promptly met, not only by the
rebuke, but the condign punishment of an in
suited and an indignant people.
4. ReSolCed, That the suggestion of the
Military Commander of the Department of
the Gulf to his Master at Washington that
the people of this Department, should be de-
clared by act of Congress and the proclama-
ton of the President, as banditti, SO that the
punishment of crime should be left to mills
tary court martial and to the mercy of this
would be tyrant, is the grossest Insult that hos
ever been offered to free and independent
people, and only worthy of the incendiary of
the defenccess homes of the Shenandoah
Valley, and the relentless slaughterer of a
little band of cheated and betrayed Indians;
and should be treated with that scorn and con
tempt that is due from brave and enlightened
people to an ambitious military usurper.
5. ReS07Ued, That the Bill of Rights which
was made by the States, a condition precedent
to the adoption of the Constitution of the
United States, secure to the people the right
OF trial by jury OF their peers the free
dom of elections; and the right and rrivi,
lege. OF being the judges of their own cleo
tious, and any further infractions of those
rights and privileges, or encroachments upon
the liberties of the people may Grive them to
that point at which forbearance ceases to be a
virtue; and they may be compelled in self
defence to convene in their highest sovereign
capacity to take such action in this matter as
the safety and the liberties of the people NAV
demand and
6 Reso7ve7, That wc, the delegates o.
West Virginia, do most solemuly and earnest
~ appeal to the good sense, the judgment,
and the wisdom of the Legislatures Of all the
States of this Union to take into copsidcra-
ton the propriety of recommending to the
people of their respective States, the ncces>
sity of calling a National Convention of the
t0S!'es '' S"0E "a o"J lhttHcT muse
of the Federal authority which they have SO
long and so patiently borne.
7. Resolred, That we send to the f.egisla>
ture and to the oppressed people Of the State
OF Louisiana, most heartfelt sympathy,
and that we most earnestly recommend to
them, if possible, further forbearance, as
any move upon their part at the present, no
matter how successful, could only result in
pretezt for their opHressors to establish mill
tary tribunal at which the blood of nations
would How, aud at which the votes of all the
STATES might have to be counted, and from
which all commissions would issue, for the
tyranny that unseated the venerable and grey
haired Vaughn snd his four peers. may have
the audacity to attempt the subvcreion of
Republic, and the establishment of an Em>
pirc upon its ruins.