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Resolutions regarding slavery's extension, 21 December 1819

At a meeting of the inhabitants of the city and county of Albany, held at the capitol, in the city of Albany, on Tuesday the 21st of December, 1819, in pursuance of public notice, to express their opinions upon the subject of extending slavery into the territories of the United States westward of the river Mississippi—the hon. John Taylor, was called to the chair, and Teunis Van Vechten, Esq. appointed secretary.

1. Resolved, as the sense of this meeting, That the existence of slavery in the United States is a great political calamity, as well as moral evil, injurious to the character of the nation, hazardous to the existence of its free institutions, and repugnant to the spirit and principles of true religion.

2. Resolved, That whilst, in the opinion of this meeting, it is the bounden duty of the several states to provide in such mode as may be most consistent with a due regard to the acknowledged rights of property, for the effectual and speedy abolition of slavery within their respective jurisdictions, it is no less incumbent upon the national goverment to prevent, by all constituional means, the further extension of the evil in the United States, or in the territories thereof.

3. Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, the congress of the United States have constitutional power to prohibit the introduction of slavery into any state hereafter to be admitted into the union, whether the said state be formed within the original territory of the United States or to be erected from territory acquired beyond the limits thereof, and to render the prohibition of the further extension of slavery in such new state, a condition of its admission into the union.

4. Resolved, That as congress have deemed it expedient, in the exercise of this undoubted and indisputable power, to prohibit the further importation of slaves into the United States, or any of the territories thereof, by an act passed on the 2d of March, 1807, so, in the opinion of this meeting, it is equally just and expedient that the power of congress to render the prohibition of the farther extension of slavery a condition of the admission of any new state into the union, should be exercised in all future cases, whether such new state be formed within the original territory of the United States, or within a territory not originally comprised within the limits thereof.

5. Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting are due to the members of the late congress of the United States who opposed the admission of the state of Missouri into the union, except upon condition of prohibiting the further extension of slavery therein.

6. Resolved, That the senators and representatives in the congress of the United States, from this state, be requested to use their most zealous efforts to prevent the further extension of slavery in the United States.

7. Resolved, That the chairman and secretary, together with John Lansing, Jun. Ambrose Spencer, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Simeon Dewitt, Barent Bleecker, Abraham Van Vechten, Philip S. Van Rensselaer, Apollos Moore, Charles E. Dudley, John Beekman, Jun., Isaiah Townsend, William James, John Van Schaick, Martin Van Buren, Thomas Hillhouse, William A, Duer, William M'Kown, Benj. Knower, and Nathaniel Gallup be a committee to prepare a respectful memorial to the congress of the United States, expressive of the sentiments contained in the foregoing resolutions, and to cause the same to be prepared in the name and on behalf of this meeting. 

8. Resolved, That the procedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, copies thereof transmitted by them to the senators and representatives from this state in the congress of the United Sstates, and published in the several newspapers in this city.

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Source: Albany (NY) Argus
Collection: N/A
Series: Series 3 (17 February 1815-2 December 1821)