HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.
![handle is hein.slavery/ssactsva0670 and id is 1 raw text is: RESOLUTIONS.
No. 1.-Preamble and Resolutions in relation to the Wilmot proviso and kindred
aulbjects.
(Adopted February 12, 1850.]
Whereas the recent action of the general assembly upon the Wilnot Preamble.
proviso and kindred subjects, and in relation to fugitive slaves, has met
with no other response friom the noa-slaveholding states than violent do-
niunciation and a systematic perseverance in the wrongs of which we
complained : A lid whereas it is apparent that the inevitable result of such
a course of action on the part of a portion of the states must he, to ex-
cite bitterness, jealousy ail distrust among the rest, to kindle the an-
griest yassions, to extinguish ihat spirit of concession, and destroy that
mutua forbearance and frlatcrnal aecttion which founded anld have sus-
taiied our confederacy, and finally to dissolve the Union itself: And
whereas we are anxious if possible to avert the evils which threaten Its,
and believe that the most eflectual means of doing this are to be found
in the cordial union of the whole South for the maintenance of the con-
stitution, and the preservation of the Union, if it can be preserved, and
for their own preservation, if it cannot :
1. Be it therefore resolved by tMe general assembly of Virginia, That ViewAof the
upon the questions thus perseveringly atid recklessly forced upon the value of the
Union and its
country, Virginia has taken her position, aid that position will be main- perpetuity.
tained. 11er loyalty to the Union is no matter of empty profession : it
is stamped upon every page of her history. No state has done as inuch
to form tile Union ; none is prepared to do more to perpetuate it in the
spirit in which it was formed, and in which alone it can be preserved.
But, loyal as she is and always has been, it were a fatal error to suppose
that Virginia will ever consent that that Union, to which she has looked
as a source of happiness and honor, shall be converted into an instrument
of degradation and oppression.
2. Resolved, 'I'hat in the event of the passage of the Wilmot proviso, Views relative to
or of any law abolishing slavery in the district of Columbia, or in any 'lo .
~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ I- an nw - - . l i n Vf ter-
manner interfering with the rights of slaveholders thercin, or abolisling reting with
slavery in or the slave trade between the states, Virginia will lie prepared slavery.
to unite with her sister slaveholding states, in convention or otherwise, in
the adoption of any measures that may be necessary to provide for their
mutual defence or to secure their connon safety.
3. Resolved, That in the opinion of this general assemhly, a Southern how Southera
convention, in which the states as states are represented, shoult consistconventon
of delegates selected by the people of the several states in convention lected, and its
assemhled, who should carry with them all the authority derived from Powers.
such an appointment, and le prepared to act for those whoin they re-
present.
4. Resolved therefore, That upon the happening of either of the con- When governor
lingencies contemplated iii the second resolution, the governor be autho- to convene tato
ri'ted and requested (instead of convening the legislature) to issue his convenition.
proclamation for the election of delegates to a state convention, to take
into consideration the mode and measure of redress, with power to ap-
point delegates to a Southern convention, and to adopt stich measures as
the crisis iiay demand. The said delegates to be chosen by each city, Delegates to eoe-
county, oi election district, according to its representation in the house how
of delegates, and to receive the same pay and mileage as members of the Their pay.
general assenbly.
5. Resolved, That regarding the convention proposed to be held at Southern con-
Nashville, on the first Monday in June next, as intended to enable tle vetioe rcin.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.slavery/ssactsva0670&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)