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Story March 18, 1851

Arkansas Democratic Banner

Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas

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Alabama Southern Rights Convention's preamble and resolutions condemn federal anti-slavery policies as unconstitutional violations of the Union, endorse state interposition per Madison's doctrines, urge preparation for secession, and call for a Southern Congress in Montgomery to address grievances.

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From the Advertiser and Gazette.

Preamble and Resolutions Adopted by the Alabama Southern Rights Convention.

The preamble to the Constitution of the United States declares the object for which the government of the United States was formed. Those objects were "to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity."

Those objects, in our opinion, have been wilfully disregarded in the administration of the government-commencing with the law admitting Missouri into the Union, and closing with the late system of measures, miscalled the Compromise.

The pretence upon which this system of hostile legislation has been based, is that slavery is a moral and political evil-its end and aim the emancipation of every slave in the United States.

The government is in the hands of a sectional majority, and political interests and conscientious convictions of duty alike urge them to the successful prosecution of this system.

Believing that the aim in the formation of this government is no longer to be observed in its administration, we, the delegates to the Southern Rights Association of Alabama, in Convention assembled, do resolve :

1. That in our opinion, the powers granted to the General Government by the people of the States, have, for a long series of years, been perverted by a dominant sectional majority to the aggrandizement of the non-slaveholding States.

2. That in our opinion, powers have been exercised by the General Government for the purpose of restraining the extension of the institution of slavery, and of eradicating it in places where it now exists, which were not granted to it by the people of the States.

3. That in our opinion, a radical change has been effected in the character of the General Government by the success of this system of legislation; that the power and dignity of the Union have become destructive, in a great degree, of the rights and dignity of the States which created it.

4. That a tame submission to or a patient acquiescence in this hostile and unconstitutional legislation would not, in our opinion, be conducive to the peace, happiness, prosperity and honor of the Southern States.

5. That we fully endorse the doctrines of Mr. Madison, as contained in the Virginia resolutions in 1798"-that in case of a deliberate, palpable, dangerous exercise of power not granted by the federal compact, the States are in duty bound to interpose for arresting the evil, and maintaining in their respective limits the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them."

6. That such interposition should not be made, so long as there remains a reasonable hope that full and ample redress will be made for past injury, and provision be made against further aggression.

7. That recent events, in full unison with that system of legislation which we have condemned, assure us that there is no reasonable grounds upon which to base a hope that we shall obtain either redress for the past, or guaranties for the future.

8. That in our opinion, a due regard for the rights, honor and interests of the people of this State, and each of the Southern States, demand that they should at once "set their house in order," with a view to secession.

9. That as each State voluntarily becomes a member of the confederacy, so it can be no just cause of war upon any State, that chooses no longer to remain a member thereof.

10. That the question of the secession of Alabama from this government is reduced to that of time only.

11. That we approve of the proposition of the Nashville Convention, that the slaveholding States hold a Congress in November next, and pledge ourselves to use our best exertions to have Alabama fully represented in that body, and concur in the suggestion that said Congress be held in Montgomery.

12. That we recommend to the people of Alabama to suspend their old party divisions until redress and security can be obtained as proposed and to know no party but the great Southern party

13. That the Governor of Alabama be requested to convene the Legislature in extra session for the purpose of providing by law for the election of members to the proposed Southern Congress; such called session to take place after the first Monday in August next. Should the Governor fail to convene the Legislature, then we recommend to the various precincts composing the several Congressional Districts, to open a poll on the first Monday in October next, and hold an election for one member to represent each Congressional District in the State: such election to be in all things governed by the laws, usages and regulations which govern elections for members to Congress.

14. That should Congress declare it to be the duty of the Southern States to secede and one or more of the States shall secede; or if one or more of the States should do so without such action by the Southern Congress, in our opinion it will be the duty and interest of Alabama, and good faith to such seceding State or States require, her likewise to secede, and use all proper efforts to the formation of a Southern Confederacy.

15. That in order to render ourselves more effective in sustaining these views, we will separate ourselves from all old party organizations, and that we will cultivate the doctrine of State reliance, and exert all the agencies in our power, political, industrial, commercial and educational to prepare the State for that crisis which federal policy, perverted and distorted by the anti-slavery spirit, has forced us to contemplate.

What sub-type of article is it?

Historical Event

What themes does it cover?

Justice Misfortune Survival

What keywords are associated?

Southern Rights Secession States Rights Anti Slavery Legislation Southern Convention Alabama Federal Government Slavery Extension Southern Congress Montgomery

Where did it happen?

Alabama

Story Details

Location

Alabama

Story Details

The Alabama Southern Rights Convention adopts a preamble declaring that the U.S. government has disregarded constitutional objects through anti-slavery legislation from Missouri's admission to the 1850 Compromise, aimed at emancipation. Resolutions assert powers perverted for non-slaveholding states' benefit, endorse Madison's 1798 Virginia resolutions on state interposition, declare no hope for redress, urge preparation for secession, approve a Southern Congress in November in Montgomery, recommend suspending party divisions, calling a legislative session or election for delegates, and separating from old parties to prepare for crisis.

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