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![handle is hein.slavery/ssactsva0653 and id is 1 raw text is: RESOLUTIONS.
No. I.-Resolutions on the subject of the Wilmot proviso and other kindred
subjects, and in regard to slavery in the District or Columbia.
[Adopted Janucity 20, 1810.]
Whereas the institution of slavery was fully discussed in tie con- ricainle,.
vention which formed the constitution of tile United States, and the
rights of slaveholders recognized and protected by the provisions of
that instrument ; and without the compromises then solemnly entered
into, the union of the states never could have been formed : And
whereas the general assembly of Virginia, regarding what is known
as the Wilmot Proviso, as in palpable disregard of the compro-
mises of the constitution, did, on the eighth day of Mlarch, eighteen
hundred and forty.seven, adopt a series of resolutions, distinctly in-
dicating the course which the state of Virginia would pursue, in the
event of its passage by the Congress of the United States, as applica-
ble to territory to be acquired from Mexico: And whereas the pre-
sent general assembly have seen with deep concern a disposition ma-
nifested hy the house of representatives of the United States to vio-
late the principles embodied in said resolutions, and to make still
further aggressions upon the rights or the southern states: Under
these circumstances, this general assembly deem the occasion fit to
re-affirm said resolutions, and most respectfilly, but most earnestly,
to call the attention of all who are attached to the Union of the
States, to the serious and inevitable consequences which must follow
such action upon tile part of the general government
I. Be it therefore resolvd by the gentmal assembly of Virginia, ah-stluitions rela-
That after the fullest re-exanination and reconsideration of the reso- Livoc,|t.
lutions adopted ott the eighth of March, eighteen hundred and forty- ,,%V1111 t r,
0 , 1 an Vihs re'.r
seven, by this body, we do consider said resolutions as founded in vise, cc niltruu;
truth, consonant with the constitution, and conducive to its preser-
vation ; and therefore we feel it to be our indispensable duty to ad-
here to and re-afflrm them as follows:
1. Be it resolved unanimousby by the general assembly of Virginia, nenying to t1,t.
led Ltc$t~ go.
That the government of the United States has no control, directly or vtrimwnt right
indirectly, mediately or immediately, over the institution of slavery, to rontaol slave-
so as to impair the rights of the slaveholder; and that in taking any
such control, it transcends the limits of its legitimate functiong, by
destroying the internal organization of the sovereignties who cre-
ated it.
2. Resolved unanimously, That all territory which may be acquired l~qn.l. or
iglts iin territo.
by tie arms of the United States, or yielded hy treaty with any foreign ri,, of United
power, belongs to the several states of this Union, as their joint acid States teedarc&
common property, in which each and all have equal rights; and that Laws proventing
tile enactment by the federal government of any law which should perns and pro.
directly, or by its effects, prevent the citizens of atiy state from emi- wrty, declareid
grating with their property, of whatever description, into such terra- tional.
tory, would make a discrimination unwarranted by and in violation
of the compromises of the constitution and the rights of the states
from which such citizens emigrated, and in derogation of that per-
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