The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-12-22

moral sentiments, but their political fore.
cast, and withheld from the charter Of
our Union principle vitally essential to
Justice and to its own perpetuity.
They were not thus blind. They
found The evil of slavery in existence and
in strength. 1t could not be eradicated
at once, but it could be circumscribed
and restrained; and time would pave the
way for the introduction of more power
ful and controlling laws. They there
fore declared, in reference to the domes-
tic condition of Slavery, as well as to the
Slave Trade, "that the migration and
Importation of such persons as any of the
states, now existing, shall think proper
to admit, shall not be prohibited by he
Congress prior to the year 1903"
The right to prevent the migration Of
Slaves rests upon the same basis with the
right to prevent their importation; and
the more eiFectually TO confine the evil
within the limits where it was theni found,
the prohibition was confined to the states
then existing. Over the territories, and
tie new states, that might hereafter be
formed, the authority Of Congiess was
left absolute and in the undisputed cx-
ercise of that authority the imbO, tatiOn of
Slaves into the Mississippi Territory
from abroad was prohibited in 1913; the
entire exclusion OF Slavery from the
Northwestern Territory re. confirmed in
1889; and subsequently,, from the latter
territory, the states OF Ohio, Indiana,
and Illinois, admitted into the Union.
We therefore are fully convinced that it
is within the constitutional power of
Congress to prohibit the introduction OF
Slavery irto any OF the new states or ter
ritories, and that it is competent for them
to enforce such prohibition by the legis-
Iative acts under which they are organ
lied or admitted into the Union.
We torbear to enumerate, which we
might easily do, other constitutional con-
sderations leading to tie same result.
We forliear, also, to enlarge on the i'm
policy oil our Southern brethren in wish
/ ing to extend an evil, the terrors OF
which they even now acknowledge to
be appaling-and to lose their safeguard
against the dangers of some future ser
Oile war, which they will look for i'll vain
unless the western states are peopled ex-
clusiyely by a race of freeinen. Nor
shall we dwell upon the iniNstice Of fur
ther extending that princi, repre-
seDtation that was granted Spirit oi
concession, by which freeifien are legis-
lated for through votes derived from the
possession ofSIaves. We feel constrain-
| cd, however, to declare, III relation to all
the considerations connected with this
subject, that, in our opinion, the dictates
of sound policy, the principles Of morali-
ty, and the best interests OF the nation,
imperiously urge the interdiction of the
further progress Of Slavery in our coun-
try.
A majority Of the legislature in both
houses of Congress represent states from
which Slavery may be considered as ex.
cluded and we ardently hope that none
| of their representative will assist in lay
ing the foundations and rearing the fab.
ric of that injustice in other states which
they have so nobly prostrated and demol-
ished in their own.
MATTHEW CLARKsoN, Chairman.
JOHN L. IRVING, Secretary.
Il " A ~