Resolved, That the late outbreak at Harper's Ferry, of a long
concocted and wide-spread Northern conspiracy, for the destruction
by armed violence and bloodshed of all that is valuable for
the welfare, safety, and even existence of Virginia and the
other Southern States, was, in the prompt and complete suppression
of the attempt, and in all its direct results, a failure no
less abortive and contemptible than the design and means employed,
and objects aimed at, were malignant, atrocious, and devilish.
Resolved,
That, nevertheless, the indirect results of this Northern
conspiracy, and attempted deadly assault and warfare on Virginia,
are all important for the consideration and instruction of
the Southern people, and especially in these respects, to
wit: 1st, As proving to the world the actual condition of
entire submission, obedience, and general loyalty of our negro
slaves, in the fact that all the previous and scarcely impeded
efforts of Northern abolitionists and their emissaries, aided
by all that falsehood and deception could effect, did not
operate to seduce a single negro in Virginia to rebel, or
even to evince the least spirit of insubordination. 2d, As
showing, in the general expression of opinion in the Northern
States, through the press and from the pulpit, from prominent
or leading public men, and also in the only public meetings
yet held, and generally by the great popular voice of the
North, that the majority, or at least the far greater number
of all whose opinions have yet been expressed, either excuse,
or desire to have pardoned, or sympathise with, or openly
and heartily applaud the actors in this conspiracy and attack,
which could have been made successful only by the means of
laying waste the South and extinguishing its institutions
and their defenders by fire and sword, and with outrages more
horrible than merely general massacre while the Northern friends
of the South, and of the cause of right and law, are too few,
or too timid to speak openly in our support, or even to make
their dissent heard, and too weak to contend with the more
numerous and violent assaults of the South.
Resolved,
That the time has come when every State and every man of the
South should determine to act promptly and effectively for
the defence of our institutions and dearest rights, as well
as for other important, though less vital interests; and we
earnestly appeal, especially to the legislature of Virginia,
and also to the legislatures of all others of the slaveholding
States, that they will hasten to consult and to deliberate,
arid will maturely consider and discuss the condition of the
Southern States, under all past aggressions and wrongs, especially
this last and crowning aggression of Northern usurpation and
hatred, and devise suitable and efficient measures for the
defense of the Southern people and their institutions, from
the unceasing hostility and unscrupulous assaults of Northern
enemies, fanatics and conspirators.