Hillsdale Whig Standard

Resolutions of the Nashville Convention.
The following resolutions were offered on Wednesday, 5th.
Resolved, That California is peculiarly well adapted to slave labor and if the tenure of slave property were by recognition of this kind secured in that part of the south of 36 30 min., the South part would in a short time ripen into one or more slaveholding states and so swell the number and power of those already in existence.
Resolved, That it is too plain for argument that the slaveholding states would lose and the non slaveholding states greatly gain by the surrender to the latter of nearly half of Texas, and the payment to Texas of a few millions as a price, however it might minister to her distress for money, would be no compensation to them and the more especially, as the most of the money would come out of their own pockets.
Resolved, That the people of the slaveholding States by becoming a unit as respects political or party organization separate from the people of the non holding States, would place them in a position of great advantage in at least three particulars. First—to enable them to turn to account the political parties of the North by putting it into their power to throw their individual weight in the scale of which ever party they showed the best disposition to do them justice. Second—It would enable them to turn to account the potent sentiment of love for Union, cherished by the North, and put it in their power to terminate the existence of that Union promptly and without internal discord whenever the North came to disregard their rights. Third—It would enable them if the worst came to the worst to defend themselves to the best advantage and therefore it would be everything in the highest degree conservative not only of the Union but of the sentiments of fraternity between the people of the North and those of the South.
Resolved, Therefore, that the people of the South ought to drop old party distinctions, and party organizations, and for the future let the test of the merits of the different candidates for office be this only—which of them is likely to do the most good friendly part by the South, and to this end that conventions both for the nomination of State officers and President and Vice President hereafter to be held without reference to party distinctions.
Resolved, That we invite a Convention of the Slaveholding States to assemble on the 4th Monday in June at Nashville, for the purpose of determining which among the various aspirants for the Presidency and Vice Presidency ought to receive the suffrages of the South.
Resolved, That unless the non-slaveholding States, at the next session of their respective legislatures repeal the laws which they have passed to obstruct the recovery of fugitive slaves and also take effective steps for the practical observance by their citizens of the constitutional stipulations for the surrender of such slaves—the slaveholding States ought without delay to adopt measures of retaliation and non-intercourse.
Resolved, That we have little confidence in the efficiency of any law which Congress may pass to secure the observance of this clause of the Constitution, because public opinion at the North is so much opposed to such a law that it could not be enforced. We look cheerfully to the States themselves who are parties to the stipulation for the observance of the stipulation—but any Laws passed by Congress which gives to the fugitive a jury trial in the State to which he has fled would as a remedy be a mere mockery.
Resolved, That in case a majority in Congress shall, regardless of the clear rights of the South pass any laws which shall deprive her of that part of California and New Mexico, which lies south of 36 deg. 30 m. north latitude, or cut off from Texas any part of the territory lying within the boundary which she claims as her own, or interfere with slavery or the trade in slaves in the District of Columbia—then this Convention on the second Monday after the passage of such law, reassemble at Nashville for the purpose of considering the remedy to be adopted to the wrong thus perpetrated on the South.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention met, and the Secretary proceeded to call on the States for resolutions, whereupon Mr. Tucker of Va. presented a series of propositions from that State, declaring, among other things that the territory of the United States belonged to the States—that the citizens of any territory alone have power to frame its government —that sojourners owning no part of the land, and in a territory with no intention to reside there, are not citizens, and that any government framed by them is unauthorized, and that the forcing of such government on the people of California be the aid of the military of the United States, is a practical enforcement of the Wilmot Proviso, to be resisted to the last extremity.
Mr. Erwin of Alabama, offered a resolution in regard to fugitive slaves, declaring that the people of the South were entitled to their right to reclaim them under the Constitution, regardless of any compromise of other quarters. He also offered a resolution declaring that all the States are equally entitled to the same rights and privileges, and that Congress has no right to interfere with the domestic institutions of any State.
Mr. DuPont of Florida offered a resolution declaring it so expedient in view of a possibility of embarrassing the Southern representatives in Congress, for this Convention to express an opinion as to what measure shall call for resistance on the part of the South, and recommending in case Congress does not adjust the slavery question satisfactorily, that another Convention shall be called at a future day.
Mr. McClelland of Florida, offered a resolution, denying to Congress the right to interfere with slavery in the District of Columbia, without the consent of the people of the District or in the slave States, arsenals or navy-yards of the United States.
Mr. Polk of Tennessee, offered the following:
Resolved, That in the event that the partition proposed cannot be secured on the line of 36 30 North latitude, this convention does not intend to be understood as expressing an opinion adverse to the adjustment offered in the United States Senate by the committee of 13, with such amendments as may be made in accordance with the views of Southern Senators.
Resolutions all referred to committee on resolutions, Convention adjourned to next day.