Whereas in the years 1847-48 the northern States of this Union, by thier Legislatures, and almost with unanimty, adopted resolutions in favor of what was called the Wilmot Provisio, prohibiting slavery in all the territory acquired from Mexico, and the southern States soon afterwards passed counter resolutions, declaring that they would resist that measure at all hazards, and to the last extremity; and whereas in 1850 certain laws were enacted to settle the controversy between the two sections, called compro-mise measures, agreeing that the people of the Terriotries, on entering the Union, should decide the question of sla-very for themselves; and whereas at the last presidential election of the people of the northern States, by the election of a President on the Chicago platform, have reaffirmed their previous position, that slavery shall be excluded from all the Territories of the Union, now and hereafter; and whereas a number of the southern Staates, regarding said decision as destructive of the equality of the States and of their equal rights in the common territory of our common country, as ultimately fatal to their system of society, and the agitation resulting from such a policy as imminently dangerous to their domestic peace and safety, leave indi-cated a purpose to disolve their political connection with the northern States, and there is reason to believe that all the southern States will soon unite in said movement; and whereas a dissolution of this Union would result in great disasters to both sections, and, if attended with civil war, in horrors perhaps exceeding any that history has re-corded; and whereas it is now apparent that the present system of government is not adequate to the exigencies of the times, to the changes of opinion and of circumstances; and , particularly, that the mode prescribed in the present Constitution for amendments thereto, is not, from the sec-tional character of the controversy, and the urgency of events, adequate to the occasion; and whereas in a simi-lar difficulty our forefathers, finding the amendment of the Articles of Confederation impracticable, called on the States to act separately, to devise another plan of govern-ment, and that course was adopted andn crowned with suc-cess: Therefore,

Resolved, That the several States be requested to send commissioners or delegates to a convention, to consult on the changes which the present times require.

And whereas the southern States, being in a numerical minority, complain of aggressions, previous and prospect-ive, from the northern States:

Be it resolved, That the delegates of said southern States be requested to convene first by themselves to confer on the conditions necessary for their security and peace, and submit their conclusions either to the delegates of the northern States separately convened, or to a convention of all the northern States.

And it be further resolved, That it be contrary and abhor-rent to the religion and civilization of our age, and to the spirit of our Constitution, to interfere in any way by force with such steps as any of the States feeling aggrieved may adopt.

And be it further resolved, That the Federal Government will abstain from the employment of all of any force to prevent or interfere with any State or States which shall determine by itself or themselves on any course for their own prosperity and safety, which shall not be aggressive towards the other States; and in any case where there may be danger of collision between any State and the Federal forces stationed there, the forces be promptly withdrawn.

• Resolutions on a Convention to Address Slavery and the Secession Crisis (introduced on 1860-12-18 12:00:00 - CREATE - e887632) [This document]

• Resolutions on a Convention to Address Slavery and the Secession Crisis (introduced on 1860-12-18 12:00:00 - CREATE - e887632) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]
  • None (introduced on 1860-12-18 12:00:00 - DEBATE_PROPOSAL - e887633) [view current proposal at this moment]
  • Motion to Print Resolutions on a Convention to Address Slavery and the Secession Crisis (introduced on 1860-12-18 12:00:00 - PROCEDURE - e887634) [view current proposal at this moment]
    • None (introduced on 1860-12-18 12:00:00 - ADOPT_PROPOSAL - e637280) [view current proposal at this moment]