Year: 1863

Resolutions Adopted by the Pennsyl-


vania House Of Representatives.


The following joint resolutions passed the
lower banch of the Pennsylvania Legislature.
few days ago:


fafires ef the Commonwealth of Pennsyiuania in
General Assembly met. That our institutions are
assailed by an armed rebellion on one side, which
is being met by the sword, and on the other by
unconstitutional acts of Congress and startling
usurpations of power by the Executive, which we
have seen by experiment can be corrected by the
ballot box; policy as well as principle requires
that our people shall await the process of reform
which is slow. but sure, and refrain from all un-
lawful and unconstitutional acts, which have al
ready brought terrible calamities upon the coun-
try while they invoke the aid of all patriotic men
TO assist in averting the evils that threaten our
free institutions.


2. That the General Assembly declares that
this State has ever been, is now, and will remain
in future, deyotedly true to the Constitution of
the United States and to the Federal Government
established by it, and is determined to maintain
them with her utmost power against both domes-
tic and foreign foes And further, that we de-
clare il to be our settled purpose to aid this Ad-
ministration in all constitutional efforts to sup
press the rebellion.


g. That this General Assembly recognizes a
manifest difference between the Administration
Of the Government and the Government itself
The one is transtory, limited in duration to that
period of time for which the officers elected by
the people are charged with the conduct of the
same; the other is permanent, intended by its
founders to endure forever.


4 That this General Assembly, in the exercise
of its rights to differ with the Federal Executive
enters its solumn protest against the proclama-
ton of the President of the United States, dated
the first day of January, one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-three, by which he assumes to
emancipate slaves in certain States. holding the
same to be unwise. unconstitutional and void.


D. That this General Assembly declares that
the power which has recently been assumed by
the President of the United States, whereby, un
der the guise of mill AIRY necessity. he has pro-
claimed and extended martial law over States
where war did not exist, and has suspended the
writ of habeas corpus. il unwarranted by the
Constitution, and its tendency is to subordinate
civil TO military authority, and to subvert our
system of free government.


9 That this General Assembly, or behalf of
the people of this Commonwealth, declares Its
determined opposition to system of emancipa-
ton by the States upon compensation to be made
out of the Treasury of the United States. as
burthensome upon the people. unjust to its very
nature, and wholly without warrant of the Con-
stitution.


T. That this General Assembly deem il proper
further to declare that il, together with all the
truly oyafpeOpe of the State, would hail with
pleasure anG delight any manifestation of desire
on the part of the seeded States to return to
their allegiance to the Government of the Union,
ant would. in such event, cordially indorse and
earnestly co operate with them in the restoration
Of peace and the procurement of such proper
guarantees as would give security to all their in
terests and rights.


g. That PENNSYLVANIA will adhere to the Con
titution and the Union as the best, il may be the
last. hope OF popular freedom, and, for all wrongs
which may havebeen committed or evils which
may exist, will seek redress under the Constitu-
ton and within the Union. by the peaceful but
powerful agency of the suffrage of free
people.


g. That this General Assembly halls with
pleasure and hope the manifestations of conserv-
atve sentiment smong the people of the North
States in their late elections, and regard the
same as the earnest of good purpose upon their
part to operate with all other loyal citizens in
giving security to the rights of every section, and
maintaining the Union and the Constitution as
they we're ordained by the founders of the Re-
public


10. That. in the judgment of this General AS
sembly whenever it becomes practicable to obtain
a convention of all, or three fourths, of the
States such body should be convened, for the
purpose Of proposing such amendments to the
Federal Constitution as experience has proved to
be necessary to maintain that instrument in the
spirit and meaning intended by its founders, and
TO provide against future convulsions and wars.


IL. That while this General Assembly con-
demns and denOunces the faslts of the admins
tration, it does also most thoroughly condemn
and denounce the heresy of secession. as unwar-
ranted by the constitution. and destructive alike
of the security and perpetuity of government.
and-of the peace and liberty of the people. and
it does hereby most solemnly declare that the
people OF this State are unalterably opposed to
any division of the Union, and will persistently
exert their own influence and power sunder the
constitution to maintain and defend it,


IL. That the laws of this State must be main
taned and enforced. and that it is the duty of the
constituted authorities of the State to see that by
all constitutional means this end shall be OBJ
tained.


l3 That the soldiers composing our armies
merit the warmest thanks OF the nation. Their
country called, and molly did they respond Liv-
ing, shtlI know a nations gratitude; wounded,
a nations care; and, dying, they shall live in our
memories and monuments shall be r'ise1 to teach
posterity to honor the patriots and heroes who
offered their lives their conntrys altar. Their
widows and orphans shall be adopted by the ma
ton, TO be watched over aud cared for as objects
truly worthy "A nations guardianship


IA. That copies of these resolutions be for
warded TO the President of the United States, to
the Governors of the several States md to our
Senators and Representatives in Congress