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THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 THE COLLECTION OF 
 NORTH CAROLINIANA 
 
 Gp970.71 
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00032722732 
 
 This book must not 
 be taken from the 
 Library building. 
 
[Executive Doc. 18.] 
 
 C 9 " U ' ' ' 
 
 /V 8" 
 
 MESSAGE 
 
 FROM 
 
 HIS EXCELLENCY, GOV. DAVID S. REID, 
 
 TRANSMITTING 
 
 & o®sasaig , KrnoiiS'ii®s3' 
 
 FROM 
 
 A R I L A N D, 
 
 AND 
 
 RESOLTIONS FROM VERMONT. 
 
 RALEIGH: 
 Thus. J. Lemay, Printer to the Stalo» 
 1851. 
 
Senate, 13th Jan. 1851. 
 [Ordered to be sent to the House of Commons with a proposi- 
 sition to print.] 
 
 House Coms. Jan. 14th, 1851. 
 [The above proposition was concurred in by the House of Com- 
 mons.] 
 
Executive Office, \ 
 Raleigh, Jan. 13, 1851. / 
 To the General Assembly : 
 
 I herewith transmit a communication from the President 
 of the Convention of the people of Maryland, enclosing a 
 Report and Resolution, passed by that body, in relation to 
 the compromise measures enacted by the present Congress. 
 Also Resolutions passed by the Legislature of the State of 
 Vermont " for the promotion of peace r " accompanied by a 
 letter of his Excellency the Governor of that State, request- 
 ing that the same may be laid before the Legislature of this 
 State. 
 
 DAVID S. REID. 
 
 
[The Communications referred to are marked A and B, 
 and follow in the order in which they are. mentioned in the 
 foregoing letter from the Governor.] 
 
[A.] 
 
 COMMUNICATION 
 
 From the President of the Conven- 
 tion of the People of Maryland. 
 
STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.. 
 
 Annapolis, December 12th, 1850. 
 To His Exccllcncy>. 
 
 David S. Reed, Governor of N. Carolina. 
 Sir: — By the direction of the Convention of the People 
 of Maryland assembled, to revise the Constitution, I have 
 the honor to transmit to- yoet, a. Report and. Resolution unan- 
 imously adopted, in relation to the measures of compromise, 
 passed by the Congress of the United States at the last 
 Session. 
 
 I am also instructed to- ask your Excellency to lay the Re-. 
 port and Resolution with the action of this Convention, be- 
 fore the Legislature of your State at its next Session. 
 I have the honor to be, Tvith great respect,. 
 
 Your Excellency's obedient servant, 
 
 J. G. CHAPMAN, 
 President of the Convention.. 
 
BY THE CONVENTION. 
 
 December, 10th, 1850. 
 Read, unanimously adopted, and 5,000 copies ordered to be printed. 
 By order, 
 Geo. G. Brewer, Secretary to Convention. 
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 RYLAND BEFOHM COHYEHIHH, 
 
 OX THE 
 LATE ACTS OF CONGRESS FORMING THE COMPROMISE, ETC. 
 
 Mr. CHAMBERS, from the Committee presented the fol- 
 lowing Report: 
 
 WHEREAS, The Constitution of the United States was de- 
 signed more effectually to secure the civil and political rights 
 of the citizens of every part of the Union, and especially to 
 protect their persons and property as well in other States, as 
 in the State in which they might reside , and whereat, 
 amongst the rights of property there was none more gener- 
 ally known or more distinctly recognized, than that offteM- 
 ing slaves ; and whereas, the peculiar risk of loss to whick 
 this species of property was exposed, was so obvious, and the 
 absolute necessity of a suitable provision to guard against it 
 so universally felt, that no one hesitated to acknowledge t&afc 
 without such provision the Union could not have been framed; 
 mid whereas, certain persons in various portions of the U- 
 
8 
 
 tiion, instigated by a spirit of fanaticism, have combined for 
 the purpose of openly resisting and defying the guarantees 
 of the constitution and laws by which alone the slave-holding 
 States can be assured of the rightful possession, and just 
 protection of their property, we the members of the Conven- 
 tion of Maryland, lately elected from the body of the people, 
 and intimately acquainted with their feelings and opinions, 
 deem it proper to declare in calm and deliberate terms, what 
 we believe to be their views in relation to the exciting sub- 
 jects to which we have referred and do, — Therefore, 
 
 1st. Resolve, That the Constitution of the United States, 
 has accomplished all the objects, civil and political, which its 
 most sanguine framers and friends anticipated, and that the 
 affections of the people of Maryland are justly rivetted to its 
 principles, by the memory of the sacrifices of the wise and 
 good men who framed it, as well as by the blessings it has so 
 liberally dispensed t j our country. 
 
 2nd. That a proper appreciation of these blessings should 
 lead every State in the Union to adopt all such measures, as 
 from time to time may be necessary to give complete and 
 full effect to any provision of the constitution or of the laws 
 pursuant thereto, intended for the protection of any portion 
 of this great family of States. 
 
 3rd. That while we do not conceal that the several acts 
 of Congress passed at their late session, relating to the ad- 
 mission of California, to the territorial governments of Utah 
 and New Mexico, to the adjustment of the boundary of Tex- 
 as, to the prohibition of the slave trade in the District of 
 Columbia, and to the reclamation of fugitives from labor, do 
 not, to the extent we desired, meet the just demands of the 
 South; nevertheless, viewing these several acts as parts of an 
 entire system, to be adhered to and maintained as a whole, 
 proceeding on the basis of compromise, and intended by a 
 permanent adjustment of so many critical questions, to heal 
 the public agitation and perpetuate the Union, they have 
 received our acquiescence, and have inspired us witli admira- 
 
tion of those eminent statesmen, who rising above the influ- 
 ence of party and sectional considerations, periled their we'll 
 earned reputation, for the enduring welfare of their country. 
 
 4th. That the vigorous and faithful execution by the 
 General Government of all laws made in pursuance of the 
 Constitution, is its primary duty, and affords the only se- 
 curity for the just protection of the rights and property of 
 the citizens, and for the permanency of the Union; and it is 
 equally the duty of all good citizens , to encourage and sup- 
 port the officers of the Government in the execution of the 
 laws, and to discountenance and rebuke the efforts of those 
 who seek to subvert them; and while therefore we entertain 
 every proper confidence in the ability and determination of 
 the Chief Magistrate of the Union, faithfully to perform his 
 duty in the present crisis, and take the opportunity to tender 
 to him our assurances that in any emergency that should 
 require it, he may safely rely upon the cordial co-operation 
 of the people of Maryland, we cannot" withhold the warmest 
 expression of our firm and continued reliance upon the pa- 
 triotism of those of our countrymen, i n all sections of the 
 Union, who have fearlessly asserted the constitutional rights 
 of the South; and in view cf the calamities which must ensue, 
 if those rights continue to be violated, we would earnestly 
 suggest to the Governments of the non-slaveholding States^ 
 the propriety and importance of enacting such laws as will 
 facilitate the recovery of fugitives from labor : and upon tho 
 citizens of every State, we would anxiously urge the absolute 
 necessity of maintaining and enforcing each and all of the 
 measures of adjustment adopted at the last session of Con- 
 gress. 
 
 5th. That of the aforesaid series' of laws that intended to 
 ensure the restoration of fugitives from labor is the only one 
 professing to protect the peculiar rights- and institutions of 
 the Southern! States, from' the mischievous hostility of a wick- 
 ,ed fanaticism in other portions of the Uniony is but a tardy 
 and meagre measure of compliance with the clear, explicit 
 and imperative injunctions of the Constitution, and holds 
 [Sig. 2, Ex. Doc. 18.] 
 
10 
 
 out'the only hope that the protection 'which the South was 
 authorized to expect from the Union of the States, to this 
 species of property will be afforded to them, and being the 
 chief inducement to the South for its accession to the com- 
 promise, the repeal of that law, or the failure to enforce its 
 provisions, could only be regarded as evidence of a determin- 
 ed purpose in other States, to violate the sacred charter of 
 our rights or a want of ability in the General Government to 
 enforce the laws made for our protection, and in either event 
 there would be a failure to comply with the soleain obliga- 
 tions which give to the constitution its chief value, and bind- 
 ing force, and which could not be violated, or deliberately 
 evaded without leading to a dissolution of the Union. 
 
 E. F. CHAMBERS, Chairman, 
 
 JAMES R. HOPEWELL, 
 
 A. RANDALL, 
 
 GEO. W. WEEMS, 
 
 WM. D. MERRICK, 
 
 JAMES M, BUCHANAN, 
 
 EDWARD LLOYD, 
 
 JOHN DENNIS, 
 
 LOUIS McLANE,- 
 
 WILLIAM H. TUCK, 
 
 WILLIAM GRASON, 
 
 L. L. DIRICKSON, 
 
 SAMUEL M. MAGRAW r , 
 
 R. C. CARTER, 
 
 LEWIS P. EIERY, 
 
 WASHINGTON WATERS, 
 
 W. M. HOLLYDAY, 
 
 JACOB SHOWER, 
 
 ROBERT J. BRENT, 
 
 JOHN D. GAITHER, 
 
 WM. T. GOLDSBOROUGHV 
 Which was read. 
 
PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONTENTION 
 
 ON THK 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 On the question being put, "will the Convention adopt 8aid 
 resolutions?" 
 
 Mr. Chambers of Kent, moved for the yeas and nays, 
 which being ordered appeared as follows : 
 
 Affirmative .• — Messrs. Chapman, President, Morgan, 
 Blakistone, Dent, Hopewell, Lee, Chambers, of Kent, 
 Mitchell, Bicaud, Donaldson, Dorsey, Wells, Randall, Kent, 
 Sellman, Weems, Dalrymple, Sollers, Merrick, Jenifer, 
 Buchanan, Bell, Welsh, Chandler, Ridgely, Lloyd, Dashiell, 
 Williams, Hicks, Hodson, Goldsborough, Eccleston, Phelps, 
 Miller, McLane, Bowie, Tuck, Sprigg, McCubbin, Spencer, 
 Grason, George, Wright, Dirickson, McMaster, Fooks, Shri- 
 ver, Biser, Annan, Sappington, McHenry, Magraw, Nelson, 
 Carter Thawley, Stewart of Caroline, Hardcastle, Gwinn, 
 Stewart, of Baltimore city, Brent of Baltimore city, Sher- 
 
* 2 
 
 wood, of Baltimore city, Wave, Schley, Fiery, Harbine, Neill, 
 Michael, Newcomer, Waters, Kilgour, Davis, Brewer, An- 
 derson, Weber, Hollyday, Slicer, Fitzpatrick, Smith, Parke, 
 Ege, Shower, Cockey and Brown — 81. 
 
 So the resolution was unanimously assented to. 
 
COMMUNICATION 
 
 From the Governor of Vermont. 
 
||seal.|| Executive Department, '( 
 
 <—^ — > Montpdier, Vt.\ Nov. 13, 1850. ^ 
 
 //«« Excellency the Governor of North Carolina : ' 
 
 Sir : — I have the honor to transmit to you the accompa- 
 nying Resolutions relating to the subject of Peace, recently 
 .idoptedby the General Assembly of this State, to the end 
 that your Excellency may cause them to be laid before the 
 Legislature of the State over which you preside. 
 1 have the honor to be, 
 
 With consideration of high respect, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 ' CH. K. WILLIAMS, 
 &ij the Governor, 
 
 R, T. ANDREW, Secretary, 
 
RESOLUTIONS FOR THE PROMi 
 
 1; Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives'^ 
 That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be re* 
 qested to press upon the consideration of their respective 
 Houses, with as litfle cfelay as may be, the propriety of a! . 
 joint resolution, requesting the President of the United 
 States to propose to all nations, with whom we have regular 
 diplomotic intercourse, the establishment of a permanent 
 Board to settle all international disputes or claims. 
 
 2. Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward 
 a copy of these resolutions to the President of the United 
 States, and to the Executive of each of the States of the 
 Union, inviting the latter to lay the same before their res- 
 pective Legislatures, and request their eo-operation. 
 
 } 
 
 STATE OF VERMONT. 
 
 Secretary or State's Or? ice, 
 Montpelier, November 14, 1850. 
 
 I hereby certify that the foregoing are correct copies of 
 Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of this State, 
 on- file in this Office. 
 
 FERRAND F. MERRILL, 
 
 Secretary of State; 
 
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