Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-12-11

| mnst have vent, carry them to the citizens of
Missouri. not to the Congress of Washingf on
touch the hearts OF the people; bring home
| To them the calamities of slavery (; but do not
cali upon Congress 10 usUrp a power which
does not fairly belong TO them. MIR Secretary
Bradford seemed TO be the only person at this
meeting who had proper scruples abont it,
He said we ought to he particularly cau-
| tons to avoid urging Congress to assume any
powers that were doubtful, or to give any pre-
cedent for legislating without fuil powers !:
'hat inns would lead to AN accumulation Of
power IN congress much more dangerous and
nurtfulto these states than slavery" Bmt Mr.
Is. is sot the only politician who has shared the
l tate Of Cassandra.
1t the Bostonians say nothing to conrince
US. what shall we say of Mr. Jays argument TO
effect that object! He relies upon the 9th
section, LIST article, the migration or inporta-
non on SUCH persons as any at the states now
existing shall think proper To admit. snail not
be prohibited by the Congress PRIOR to the
year lSOS ~ &c. Mr.. Jay extends the word
migration" to slaves, carried from one state
10 another; and then infers thar Congress NAV
, now prohibit slaves ON being carried into
Tie proposed state OF Missouri!-We confess
We listen to this argument with astonshn,ent
aud regret with both because man Of Mr..
Jays reputation should have condesceHded to
employ lt-Mr King was too shrewd TO dc it.
In the whole course of mis- 81 pages, we do
not meet with a single allusion 90 this cousti.
tuuonai 4. DIVISION lie knew the. argument
would not hold water; and wisely avoids il.
The gr. al clause on which he relies, Is the 4t
article, Sd section, giving Congress power
TO dispose OF and make all neediui rules and
regulations respecting the territory or other
property beloiisine TO the United States" sc.
by the bye, a also deserves notice that Mr..
Jay does not once refer 10 this clause cited by
Mr. n. But though they fall out about the
means, they come at last to the same ead
Ar. j. extends migration to sidres This
is To alter the meaning Of the most obvious
terms Sidres never migrate: that Us the act
maj hs.V ar S,,pa rIs1 f..f
carried from one state to another; hui they
cannot migrate; for, that act implies rOi,tion
and consent. Birds migrate they are as free
as as air but, slave has not this prerogatve.
HIS master may carry him from place TO place;
lie does not carry himself. Besides, that the
migration referred to in the constitution, does
not apply TO slaves carried from one stale to
another; II applies TO aliens coming from
abroad into the U.States. We have not before
us the Debates OH the Alien Law but such
was The far Interpretation given TO il at that
day 1t is III this sense too that the Declara-
lion OF Independence nses il; when il COM
plans OF the BRUSH King endeavoring - TO
prevent the population of these states; for
that purpose obstractng the laws for the ma
turdlizatioD of foreigners, and refusing To pass
0thers TO encourage their migration hiiher'
IL was IN tue same sense that the Federalist,"
No II, defines il, whenit SAYS" attempts have
peen made to pervert this clause into AN OBJ
lection against the constitution, by represent
ing u Oh one side, as a criminal federation of
i'"'' Pia'tCS, duu vi Cdlculdt
ed 10 preves voluntary and Lenefciaiemigra
from Europe. Mr. Madison, the author of that
No: ridicules both misconstructions.
We do not dwell upon the word importa-
tion Ter, we can scarcely suppose MIR. Jay
would apply IL 10 slaves carried from one state
10 another The Fedtraiist, the Virginia de-
Dates, every contemporaBeeus exposition OF the
constitution, IN so many words, confines il to
the bringing OF slaves into the u. States tioa,
abroad
But IL Nh. Jay aware of the consequences of
MS own doctrine! Ii Congress weie not TO
prevent the removal of slaves (trom state TO
state prior - lsUo; hut can do Il noc. they can
now prohibit NirgiDia's carrying her slaves to
Georgia. or briagins slaves from Georgia.
ihey can prevent tue slave-states regulating
this affair for themselves: for the internal po-
lice over II belongs at this moment to The
U. States! Yet such is the new and tAten-
slve power, now claimed by MIR. John JAY, for
the government of the United States In fact,
so extraordinary are some of the doctrines
oroached AT this day, and sanctified too by
great NAMES, that soon shall not be aston
ished AT any heresy which may he set forth
Some one may rise up next and say that Con-
sress may aud ouJht TO pass an abolition law