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![handle is hein.slavery/ssactsva0620 and id is 1 raw text is: RESOLUTIONS.
No. I.-I'reahn 11e sd resolutions relative to the prohibitinn by the coogi ess or tie vnoited
States of slavery In an) territory to be acquired by conquest or treaty.- [.qdlptcd .Murch 8,
1847.]
Preanble. Whereas a bill appropriating money to prosecute war or negotiate peace
with the Republic of Mexico, has passed the house of representatives of tle
congress of tile United States, with the following proviso attached thereto:
Provided, 'I'hat as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition
of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue
of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the
executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude shall ever exist in ally part of said territory, except for crime, whereof
the party shall he first duly convicted. And this general assembly deeming
this proviso to be destructive of the compromises of the constitution of the
United States, and an attack on the dearest rights of tile south, as well as a
dangerous and alarning usurpation by the federal government: Therefore,
lenying to go- 1. l e it resolved ananimnously by the general assembly of Virginia, That tile
neral govern. government of the United States has no control, directly or indirectly, toe-
tlent conrOh
over instituihon dialely or immuediately, over the institution of slavery, and that in taking any
or slavery, such control, it transcends the limits of its legitimate functions by destroying
the internal organization of the sovereignties who created it.
Declaring terri- 2. Resolved unanirmously, That all territory which may be acquired by the
tory atCqut red to arms of the United States, or yielded by treaty with any Foreign power, be-
s to all th longs to the several states of this Union, as their joint and common property,
in which each anti all have equal rights, and flint tile enactment by tile federal
Lae preventing government of any law which should directly or by its effects prevent the
togviti treiv- citizens of any state from emigrating with tlteir property of wltatever descrip.
rug with their t int sucli territory ould take a discritination unwarranted by tnd in
propJerty, iill'eOn- 110
stitutional. violation of tle constitution and tile rights of the states from which such citi-
zens emigrated, and in derogation of that perfect equality that belongs to tite
several states as members of this Union, and would tend directly to subvert
the Union itself.
Iterereace to 3. Resolred, That if in disregard alike of tile spirit and principles of the
.Missouri coopro- act of congress on the admission of the state of Missouri into the Union, go-
Itise. nerally known as the Missouri compromise, anid of every consideration of jus-
tice, of constitutional right and of fraternal feeling, tile fearful issue shall be
forced upon tle country, which must result from the adoption and attempted
Deterolntintin enforcement of the proviso aforesaid as an act of the general government, the
expriressed to re- people of Virginia cal have no difficulty in choosing between the only alter-
sist the enforce- natives that will then remain of abject submission to aggression and outrage
ent orivnhaot-I
toviso t on the one hand, or determined resistance on thle other, at all hazards and to
the last extremity.
Opposition to re- 4. Resolved uunintaously, That the general assembly holds it to be tile duty
strictive iavs en- of every man in every section of ttis confederacy, if tile Union is dear to
Joiued s a dutly. Itim, to'eltpose tile passage of any law for whatever purpose, by which terri-
tory to be acquired may be subject to such a restriction.
Duty of citizens 5. Resolved unanimously, 'hat the passage of the abovementioned proviso
tI take united ac- makes it the duty of every slavelolding, state, and of all the citizens thereof,
as they value their dearest privileges, tlteir sovereignty, their independence,
their rights of property, to take firm, united and concerted action in this
emergency.
Resolutions to lie 6. Resolved utmanintosly, That the governor of this commonwealth be and
e.arded to I!.- lie is hereby requested to transmit copies of the foregoing preamble and reso-
ectItives of oer
states. lutions to the executive departments of the states of this Union.
No. I,.-Itcsolatiota requesting the governor to return certain resolutions to the state of New
latpshlire.-[doptied Jamtnury 18, 18.17.]
Resolutiots reia- ?esoled utna tiously by the general assembly of Virginia, Thtat the chief
tive to slavery to magistrate of this commonwealthi be requested to return forthwith the resolh-
be returned to tioms of tile legislature of New lampshire on tle subject of slavery, transmit-
New Ilarophilre. ted to lim by tIe executive of that state and this day communicuted to us.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.slavery/ssactsva0620&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)