Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-19
IREroRrED FOR THE WING.
VIRGINIA COW ENTION.

TUESDAY, Nov. 10

The Convention resolved it;elf into Communities
vi the Whole, Mr. PowELI. in the Chair.
AR. GILES then rose, in continuation Of his re-
,a4rhs. He slid that nc had never Ut any period o
:,.s lie, been III the habit Of complaining but it only
coniron justice to linn elf state that he had RI
son Yesterday, under sense of debility paralyZin
t'gt he could not conroul the operations of his own
MUD. neither could Ae command that portion of ptv.
zeal strength which requisite to sustain Inn
t.rough his labor. This naturally produced some
Delay and confusion both in his manner, and iii the
course which he had prescribed for his own govern.
u;nt. He had determined as far possible TO avoid
reading, being aware that reading tends much more
{" debilitate. :iiuu the effort of speaking He
had attended to introduce two three books from
which he proposed to read extracts in relation
10 the first point which lie had yesterday touched
nc ineant, the remarks which had fallen from the
venerable gentleman from I,oudoun (SIr. Monroe) OF
the emancipation of slaves. This a subject o
such peculiar delicacy, that it vas proper TO present
% the committee the character of the existing rela
lions, i'll respect to- jurisdiction over slaves betwcer
t,W General aud State Governments. lie thought
s. proper now to comp lete what he had yesterday
attended.
The General Government, at all times. frou, tbs
first Congress, had disclaimcd all sort of jurisdiction
over tie emancipation the mana cement Of slaves
sind thus jurisdiction, IN both cases, given W
q. tho commencement Of the g.vcrnmcnt and wa.
denied to- the General Government. lie intended tt
Introduce the journal of tie FIRST Congress but as i
gas not before him, he would state from his recolleC
zion, what the resolution that point was. Thr
resolution went to disclaIm all jurisdiction over tho
4
ton entered on the Journal, as dccIarutory Al
,',s time, of the true interpretation of the Consu
zion; and at that day s;ich excitement cXistci
uUong the SOUTHERN members against having ever
the subject named, that they voted aainst this decar
atory resolution A gentleman who is a II.nmbcr o.
this convention, and who was then nrn,bcr of Con
,rcSs he meant the gentleman from Orange, distnctl,
voted against it. This the mere decla7atofy &C
OF one House; but in consequence of it, two bill
we're passed, either at that at the next session
prohibiting the States from interfering with the slave
property of any other Statc
DIR. q. then referred TO memorial which WIS
presented to Congress by the Suakcrs lie hap
peucdto be member OF the COMMITTEES to WHOM!
the subject referred. He had relied on one b!
the laws which were founded on The dec!araory re-
solution, Ill the negotiation which lie had carry on
with the Quakers. AL tie Committee were az ;,.!r-
cple. ~ favor Of he measure, but it was lis duty to
satisfy these persons. that Congress had right
Interfere with the slaves. lie fortunate enough
to satisfy the Quacrs, and they said that if Congress
would pass law to prohibit the slave trade in con-
Junction with foreign nations they would pledge
themselves, never again TO trouble Congress OIL tho
subject. The documents on the subject OF this ne
gotaton, were still in existence, having bean fled
away with other papers.
Subsequently, act passed, proilbitinr The
introduction otsaves into the United Suites in which
tliis principle again touched, iii more specific
but different form. Il ls.a'Ii his fortune to he
t1at Committee. a:Ia he drew UP . provso, the
object Of which, to draw distinct line fde,nar
cation, between the powers of Congress, rs to con-
AID the slave property ia the Safes. It was
then decided by unanimous vote, that when slave:
were within the limits of any State, the power @
Congress oyer them CEASED, and the power Of H.,
State began. He would beg leave to refer to h:
provso. He would read as little as possible but re.
cent events made il important to revive these facts
lie hac t.awp up thss proviso, With 81 Tic care Il,
could.
The FIST p-ovsp, after declaring the powers G
Congress to accrtain eXtcnt--and the words there:
were critically examined, and, indeed, he might say
not only every word but every syllable, and ever :;
~ hes he y
proceeded thus And neither the importer, nor am
''pcrson, persons, claiming from, or under him
'sha bold any right title whatever, to any negro
'n1uatto, or person OF color, nor to the service
.abour thereof, who may be imported, brought in
TO the United States, or territories, in violation Of
this iaw but the same shall remain subject to AM
regulations not contravening the provisions of this
''mct, which tie Legislatures of the several States
SCR Territories e. any time hereafter, may make fo
''disposiGG cf any such negro, Hlplatto, person
''of color
This TO be received L legislative .ntcrp-eta
t!oa Of he Constitution, may be seen By its phra
seology. 1t yielded the power in al time 10 come
Tut il did not stop there The power was not only
rcnquished in the Suites, bat also as regards The
Territories, and they have yielded to them the VII
limited jurisdiction over al The bond men within
ther iE!Itg.
G,hc second pIoqiso IS in the following terms
Provided, tha Ike aforesaid forfeiture, shall ex-
tend to the seller purchaser, Of auy negto Inl-
"iatto, person OF color, who may be Sold dspo
scd of, in virtue Of any regulation which may here
after be made, by any of the Legislatures cf the
several States, in that respect in pursuance Of til.
act, and the Constitution Of the United Sta:es."
Hare them il the first dccla.aory provisions of the
oct there Is eX-ic: dernarcati1n of tic boundar,
ct the po:ger Of Congress. The Committee woull
observe that tie word ''IerrItorics," was Dropped
IN abstract right is given 20 tie Terri cries
but the Grord was used, because Congress hau
. raysary power over the Territories cni would mol
Gtop that power. The word was therefore omit eli
bnt the RIGHT in the territories was recognized t.
exercise exclusive power slaves " thin their
lf::s. The Legislature Of South Carolina passea
i low on tie subject, and the State Of Georgia
assumed similar uris on, in conscqu ne ofthn law.
Of Congress, Tbs had lodi two resns--tirst the
admission the part Of Congress that the state
governments are vested with tie authority to declare
persons within their limits, slaves, and the assu.nv
ti5n of That authority, by he STATE goyeruInpns.
This brought him to he consideration Of thc pro-