f 1787, as stated in the preamble and resolutions of the
General Assembly of Virginia, is, "to afford to the people of the
slaveholding States adequate guarantees for the security of their
rights." This implies that such a return will afford these adequate
guarantees. I agree that it will; and I am ready, and Massachusetts is
ready, to adjust this unhappy controversy, and to give the guarantees
demanded in exactly this way.

Stated in these general terms, there is a perfect agreement between
us. But we find a wide difference when we go one step farther, and
learn precisely what Virginia claims would be a restoration of the
Constitution to the principles of the fathers, and a return to the
policy of 1787. This she has told us in one of the resolutions sent
out with the call for this Convention. That resolution is as follows:

"_Resolved_, That in the opinion of the General Assembly of
Virginia, the propositions embraced in the resolutions
presented to the Senate of the United States by Hon. JOHN J.
CRITTENDEN, so modified as that the first article proposed
as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
shall apply to all the territory of the United States, now
held or hereafter acquired south of latitude 36 deg. 30', and
provide that slavery of the African race shall be
effectually protected as property therein during the
continuance of the territorial government, and the fourth
article shall secure to the owners of slaves the right of
transit with their slaves between and through the
non-slaveholding States and territories, constitute the
basis of such an adjustment of the unhappy controversy which
now divides the States of this Confederacy, as would be
accepted by the people of this Commonwealth."

It was in reference to these propositions that the gentleman (Mr.
SEDDON) from Virginia, has asked us the question, "Are we not entitled
to these added guarantees according to the spirit of the compact of
our fathers?"

The true answer to this question is the pivot on which this whole
controversy must turn. If the slave States are not entitled to these
added guarantees, "according to the spirit of the compact of our
fathers," then Virginia, as I understand her Commissioners, and the
resolutions of her General Assembly, does not claim them. She stands
upon her rights according to that compact. And all such rights
Massachusetts is r