It argued for states' rights for slave owners in the South, but contained a complaint about states' rights in the North in the form of opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act, claiming that Northern states were not fulfilling their federal obligations under the Constitution.
Heri argumenteredes for staternes rettigheder for slaveejere i Syden men indeholdt samtidig en klage over staternes rettigheder i Nord i form af modstand mod Loven om bortrømte slaver, idet det hævdedes, at Nordstaterne ikke opfyldte deres forpligtelser overfor Unionen som fastlagt i forfatningen.