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![handle is hein.slavery/ssactsva0586 and id is 1 raw text is: ,RESOLUTIONS.
No. .-Resolutions condemning certain resolutions of the general assembly
of the state of Massachusetts, proposing an amendment of the constitution
of the United States.
[Adopted February 15, 1844.]
The governor of this commonwealth having in his last annual mes- Preamble.
sage communicated to the general assembly the resolutions of the ge-
neral assembly of the state of Massachusetts, adopted March twenty-
third, eighteen hundred and forty-three, and having this day commu-
nicate4 the resolutions of the same body, passed on the fifteenth and
sixteenth of January eighteen hundred and forty-four, all of said reso-
lutions proposing to amend the constitution of the United States, so
as to apportion representation and taxation among the several states
according to their respective numbers of free persons, excluding in-
dians not taxed; of which resolutions, it is proper that this assem-
bly should take some notice.
It is well known that the recognition and protection of the pecu-
liar interests of the slaveholding states, by making the slaves a part
of the basis of representation and taxation in the federal government,
was a compromise upon which the federal union of the states was
formed; was acknowledged by Massachusetts, in convention,.as the
language of all America; adopted in the federal convention by a vote
almost unanimous; and is essential to the peace, welfare and conti-
nuance of the slaveholding states in this Union : Therefore,
1. Resolved unanimously by the general assembly of Virgiuial, Reiolutions re-
That we cannot regard these resolutions as, in truth, a proposition Far!( |9 propo-
itio s to il Is-
to amend the federal constitution, but virtually one to dissolve the soive tUe Union.
Union.
2. That whilst we have forborne the expression of complaint at Rmu,,tti.n, or
the disturbance of the peace and safety of the south by the agitation 31L tsochusett
of the subject of our peculiar domestic institutions, by individuals
and voluntary societies at the north, we regard this attack by the
highest constitutional authority of a sister state, as in the highest de-
gree unjust, unkind, faithless to the compromises of the constitution,
and meriting the deepest condemnation of every patriot and friend of
the Union.
3. That when we look back to those periods of our history when tteniniscence of
Massachusetts and Virginia co-operated so cordially, zealously and 1 t, od for-
effectively in achieving our independence, nd securing it by the tion..
adoption of our federal constitution, we cannot but regard this attack
with increased regret and abhorrence.
4. That the governor of this commonwealth be and he is hereby Re~soltio,s to be
treableandre-fo~rwairded to go.
requested to communicate copies of the foregoing preamble and re-oreto
solutions to the governors of the several states, with the request that od rvesento-
they may be laid before their respective legislatures; to the senators I veg.
and representatives in congress from Virginia; and especially to re- iesolutions to be
turn the original resolutions to the governor of Massachusetts. to Sets-](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.slavery/ssactsva0586&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)