Resolutions in relation to the Wilmot Proviso Section 1. Be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, that the power claimed by some of the States of the Union for Congress of the United States to exclude the institution of slavery from any territory which may be hereafter acquired, is of vital importance to the slaveholding States, and demands the serious and profound attention of all men at the present momentous and interesting period, in consequence of the impassioned excitement upon the subject of slavery, produced by the discussion of the "Wilmot Proviso" introduced into the last Congress, and other exciting causes. Section 2. Be it further Resolved, that, in the opinion of this General Assembly, a just and correct interpretation of the Constitution of the United States vests in the Territorial as well as the State Legislatures exclusive jurisdiction over the persons of individuals within their respective limits, and that it would be arbitrary, unjust, and a usurpation of power on the part of Congress, to annex conditions to the admission of a State into the Union, or the annexing of a Territory thereto, involving the right of jurisdiction in Congress over this subject, which exclusively belongs to the Territory itself before its admission into the Union, and to the State afterwards. Section 3. Be it further Resolved, That it would be an arbitrary usurpation of power on the part of Congress to exclude slavery from any such Territory as may hereafter be acquired by the United States, either by way [of] indemnity, by conquest, or purchase; That the people of the Territory alone have the right to determine upon this subject, and it is for them, while they remain a Territory, and for the State, when they shall ask to be admitted as a State, to say whether the institution of Slavery shall exist within the limits of such Territory or State; they having by a just interpretation of the Constitution exclusive jurisdiction over the subject matter within their limits. Passed by the Senate 28 Dec 1847 C.W. Downing Secretary of the Senate Passed by the House of Representatives 29 Dec 1847 W.B. Lancaster Clerk House of Representatives D.G. McLean President of the Senate John Chain Speaker of House of Representatives Approved Decr 30th 1847 W.D. Moseley