Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-05-13
Go,ragesesos,at
IN SENArG Ot tltt UNITED STATES.
APRIL 2s, 1928
MR. TAZE%E ELL MADE THE FOLLOWING


REPORT;
ne comittec on Foreign Relations TO whom were
referred sundry petitions and memorials, and the
resolutions OF several Legislatures of different
States, IN relation TO the colonization OF persons
OF colour, have had all the said mis- under
Their considerations and now beg leave TO
REPORT
hat they have not been able to discover, in the
several petitions, memorials, and resolutions, to
mem referred, any precise aud common object,
winch the different applicants desire should be ac-
eonplished, 10y the exertion of the Legislative pow
ers OF Congress. The memorial of the American
society Tor colonZing the free people Of colour OF
ule oniten States, recommends, generally, TO the
ana and patronage OF the government, the plan OF
mat Society," for promoting its objects, by colonia-
ing The Tree people OF colour; without indicating in
what particular mode they wish the aid and pat
rohae so solicited TO be eXerted or furnished. This
general recommendation OF the American Coloni-
Zauon Society, Is supported by resolution of the
Legislature of The State of Ohio, as general as it
sen. ihe petition of sundry citizens of the State
OF Pennsylvania, is somewhat more precise. This
prays that suitable asylum may be provided by
me United States, somewhere the coast of Air-
ca, for the reception of such tree persons OF colour
as may wish to migrate TO it. SuDlry citizens OF
the State oil Ohio. ard others OF Mnot in the conn
| ty OF Cumberland in the State of Maine have
| also presented memorials, containing similar APP
piicatlons; and praying that the asylum so 10 be
provided, may be opened to such slaves as the
humanity OF individuals and the laws of the differ
ent States may permit 10 emigrate thither In
conneXion with this measure, these latter memo
raiiss also suggest the importance of citing a.
! part, from the annual revenue OF the government
oil the United States, suitable fund for furnishing
not only the means OF transportation 10 such free
| people OF colour may be DESTROYS of euigra,iun
but also the necessary aids TO such humane niivi-
d'ias a. may ink proper TO libcratc their slaves
WIN view 10 their colonization the coast oil
Africa.
Ii would appear therefore from all these differ
emf applications, that the applicants wish, general
iy, that uie u :. should exert their power * their
means, rET, 10 acquire territory sonew here on
the coast oil Africa, which, when acquired, should
be opened as an asylum Tor the reception of free
persons OF colour, and liberated slaves .Secoa6ly
that the United States should set apart portion of
their annual revenue, in order TO constitute fund
Tor The transportation of such persons to the asyli
so to be provided and, Lastly, that TO effect these
objects the better, the United States should extend
their aid and protection 10 the existing society Of
individuals, known and distinguished as The AnIeri-
can Colonization Society.
Against the adoption of any of these measures
the Legislature of the State OF Georgia, bya reso-
luton OF that body, have preferred a most SOLEMN
protest In this, they explicitly deny the right OF
Congress to grant any such applications; and plain
iy intimate the strongest objections TO the expedi
ency otdoIng so, even it the right was conceded
he Legislature OF the STATE OF South Carolina have
also adopted similar resolutions in relation TO this
matter, containing the like solemn negation of tn.
right the government OF the United States in
Tins respect: and all these resolutions have been
referred, by the Senate, 10 this Committee.
! Under such circumstances, the Committee, while
investigating the subjects TO them referred have
feit themselves constrained, by no ordinary consIe
rationS, to examine, most atcntiveiY, the various
| questions which they present And that the rea-
sons, from which are deduced the conclusions
OF whose correctness they themselves are well sa-
iisted-- may be subject the same tests in the
Senate, TO which they have been submitted in the
Committee, they will now state them.
The INST question which arises is Does The
constitution OF the United States grant to this go
| Fernment any right to acquire new territory To-.
the purpose, and IN the quarter, where these an
picants propose such territory should be acquired;
The acquisition o. new territory, no matter where
such territory may be situated, or in what mode
or for what purpose such acquisition may be made
is an exercise lone OF the highest powers hic any
government can ever exert. Such power neces-
sarily includes the right of governing and dSl osna
OF the territory so acquired either according TO the
will OF The acquiring sovereign, according TO the
terms and conditions which may be annex ed IN the
acquisition at the time it's made. Comprehe ndinq
these high functions, it also implies the power OF
acting upon and altering materially most of The
political and many OF the civil relations that pre-
existed in the nation by which the ACQUISITION is
made because all these relations must have been
established in reference TO a condition of tI,ipqs
very different from that which will exist after The
empire is enlarged by The addition Of the neu,lv
acquired domain.
Such being the character of the power which, !,
is proposed the United States should uoyy e1erI.
end the possession OF such power being sulemnIv
denied TO them by several of the sovereign States
from when they derive all their authority il il ,,c
not less to the high character of those who denv
the grant OF this power, than 10 the effects which
may result from its exercise, that all The sources
| from whence il may legitimately flow should be
carefully examined. II is only by such an exam
nauon that correct opinion can b. formed a. Ia
the right OF tba United States to employ surb a
| power upon ibis OCCASION
! All the examples which history furnishes of now
, territory acquired by any nation in past fine on
hiot but three modes in which such ACQUISITION hat,
ever been made These are by discovery. cononcs,
or negotiation: and this Committee cannot cono.iye
any other means by which new territory can ever
oe acquired ny any sovereign. ~ this be So then
government which Is not endowed with the po,v
or OF prosecuting discoveries, of making connssts
or Oh conducting negotiations, cannot enioy Inc lc
gltimae right OF acquiring new territory For il
cannoi be overlooked that, high and important az
IS this power OF acquiring neY Territory vet from
IT'S very nature, IL cannot be a substantive no,yer
put must always exist in connection with and 40
mere consequence Of, some one or more Of IN,
oihcr great powers that afford the only tncans by
Whch ~ can ever be cxcrted. Instead, there fore
inquifing, whether the United States possess The
specific right OF acquiring new territory lhe incn
fy should rather b., do they enjoy fully the gene
i"l powers before mentioned the exercise Of yyhicb
necessarily & properly includes this as an incident
| al right?
Every government charged with the ercIu.ive
direction OF the exterior relations of the nation for
| winch 1t was designed, and specially endowed
WIN TIE general powers Of regulating commerce
" H'guS war ana o. conducting negotiations
must ENJOY, IS incident 10 these p,ysers H. rigii
| OF prosecuting discoveries, of scbieyiu, -
quest',, and Of conciuding tfeaties. nd con.
sequcf!tiy, must cniOv Tho r;ob. & s..,...