We make no aggressive move. We stand upon the defensive. We invoke the spirit of the Constitution, and claim its guarantees. Our rights—our independence—the peace and existence of our families, depend upon the issue.
The resolution presented concerns preservation of slavery and repelling Federal encroachments on the right to hold slave property in the territories (the rights of citizens from each state to the territories = AKA state rights).
Earlier Robert Barnwell Rhett advocated secession of the slave-holding states. His proposal was rejected by a majority of the delegates to the first convention.