Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-11
VIRGINIA LEGEsLATURE.
DEFERRED DEB.4TE-[ CoSTINUE

DEFERRED DEB.4TE-[CoSrlSUED.
ROUSE OF DELEGATES.-lhurSday Jan Ia.
ABOLITION RESOLUTIONS. :,
Mr. DANE, moved to amend tie substitute otferedby
Mr. Watkins on yesterday, by inserting the ioi'owins
resolution between the first and second rcsotoh Oh '
substitute ~ ,.
Rssoired That this State hes urght odcmand PromI
and efficient cgslalen by her coStaes restrain as tai
as may be- dtoPunish, those Of their cIens wno IN
dc6nace of the obligations Of social duty anu OF the
Constitution assail her safety and tranquility by print
inp and circulating through the mails otherwise Sc.
dtious and incendary publications. and thal TINS Sht
founded II is the principles OF INTERNATIONAL law
is peculiarly fortified by just consideration OF tue H.
innate and sacred relations that exist oel"eeh 'e ~
of this Union. ..
MI SrAsAEp said he should offer opposition to the
attempts Of the genteman'to amerdteir SUBSTITUTE ana
10 mould into such form as they desired TO give 1t
decisive as his opposition to it was When, however,
the substitute wac complete and offered for the accept
ance of the House. he should not fail TO point out and
comment up5 the improperly Of the whole ITS numerous
defects andts careful suppression OF what ne
ed one of the most important principles connected with
this question.
Mr. DANIELS amendment, was agreed TO-.
Mr. TAYLOR Of Loudoun, moved to amend the second
resolution Of the substitute BY inserting in the 9th line
after the word "Dsrict these words" that although
the exclusive jurisdiction is vested in Congress by the
Constitution yet should regard any attempt on the
par of that body lberae the slaves in that District
except the implication OF IEaJory OF the citzehs OF
the District &c.
Mr. PARKER hoped his friend from Lnudoun would
Withdraw his amendment. Mr.. 2. denied the right Of
Congress 10 emancpae the slaves in the District OF Co
iumbia On The demand OF majority OF the ciuzens.-
The majority had right TO destroy the rights OF the
minority and Congress could be invested with no right
TO act on the subject by the demand of the majority
This motion did not cover the question: and II the gen
tcman would withdraw it, Mr +. would hereafter III
troduce resolution which would bring the question &c
a direct decision. He hoped this motion would not he
pressed at this time, opportunity would be given at
proper time test the opinions OF the House ON the pow
er Of Congress
Mr. TAYLOR sud that at the request of several of hi:
friends, he would withdraw his amendment
MT FoSrAIsE obecedto the withdrawal of the amend
men unless it could be presented hereafter his was
a question which he thought must be settled.
MIR WooLrolE moved to amend the I'd resolution by
adding ct the end, land violation OF The Constitution
in effect declaring the legislation OF Congress on Slave
nv in the District Of Columbia 4 violation OF the Con-
stitu,on.-Mr. w. asked the ayes and noes on this
question, observing that he wished to be distinctly
who i, was in this House who maintained the right OF
Congress to emancpale the Slaves in the District
Mr.. HARRISON, said before giving my vote, upon the
amendment which is before the House, desire to as
sirn the reasons which operated upon my mind, and in
duccd the observations addressed to the House upon this
subject Yesterday then denied the right OF Congress
to touch the question of Slavery in the District OF Co.
lunlbia and am reioced TO End the gentleman from
Orange bringing the subject properly before the House
for its consideration this morning felt great doub,
myself the propriety of calling the attention OF the
House 70 hs question ct this particular time, lest the
proposition might veil the great, important, primary
question under discussion But the proposition has
been made, and in what predcament will the slave
holder Be placed if the House should now vote it
down: What more do the Abolltionists want than an
acknowledgment from the slave States, that Congress
has that power the District of Columbia which they
{the aboitionsts) daily seeking to exercise? Con-
ccde this rigkt TO Cong-cs and fear it will be
cised Give Congress that foothold, sir, and the Dis.
tric Of Columbia will be the lever with which the rights
of property here will be overturned If gentlemen have
scrupcs upon this pun they not prepared to vote
in the affirmative upon this amendment-let them take
time to make up their mndsle them hear what can be
said upoa the subject and then allow themselves time for
deliberations Where does the power cfCongess toeman-
cpate the slaves reside is in the Constitutions Was
it intended by the framrrs the Constitution when they
gave Cen grcss power the land the States might cede
to them site for the seat Of Government, that the
rights previously vested By the Constitution in the people
located that land, should be taken from them What
the provisions of the Constitution upon this subjec
IMr Fl. here read the Sth section Of the Constitution
By this said he, it will lie perceived that exclusive e
gisation is given. The resolution of the substitute
used the phrase "exclusive jurisdiction, and MIR. H.
had feared that something intended than the
constitutional grant It said by the gentleman from
Richmond in answer to a remark of MI II. on ycster-
day. that the words of the Constitution implied juris
dction and If they did not, that the act OF cesson did
give it, Lei US Sec said MIR. H., what the act of cesSio
says? MIR. H. here read the cct Of cesslon 1t gives
to Congress exclusive jurisdiction overtc soil well
persons in the District according 10 the provision OF the
9Th section Of the Constituton-with provso, that the
act shall not vest Congress right Ia the so the
persons within the District saving what should be trans
ferred by individuals 10 the United States Feon this
it appeared that however large the powers Of Congress
might be first supposed they were limited by the act of
cession. II possessed right the soil or the
property than possessed by Virginia and Maryland
BY whom the territory ceded and could not deprive
the citizens of the District ofrghts previously guaranteed
by the Constitution They could not dol had they will
ed The "excusve egsution granted to Congress over
ht AF n1
ply that the citizens Of the miles square might be
without legislation. This rnanesy the intention,
because they saw il the Of ccsson that the Legsa
lures Of Nd and Va, provided that until Congress
prepared to carry iato effect its legislative power the ct
Gems Of the District ShoSd be under the legislation of
their States The words 'e1cfusce legislation" then,
intended only to convey to Congress that right Of
legislation which had been previously exercised over
the citizens Of the District Of Maryland and Virginia.
leaving the citizens fully possession Of all the rights
previously guaranteed 10 them by the CONSTITUTIONS and
among these rights the undoued one to hold their slave
property Congress could not interfere with The slave pro-
oestr in the District until it should first have broken
down the constitutional barrier Congress could no
more emancipate slaves in the District than it could in
Virginia The breach of the constitutional obligation
would be as nagrant in one instance as IN the other
These beinr clearly tue s6f the case the next Ques
ton that presented itself was-had the time arrived for
us to utter theR to Congress and the Union-lt the
time shall arrive when this question shall he decl.
died. put il TO the House if il has not arrived
the state of things required them to speak out 10
Congress, he put to them if it not Look at
lhe efforts the abolitionsts making: Look at
their applications to Congress to abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia? Look at the course of events
in both houses' Did we find no difference Of opinion
representatives in Congress upon this subject?
ask you, MIR. Speaker fa our members of Cong ress
from Virginia, deny the power of Congress to abolish
slavery in the Dstrict have heard, said Mr. H., that
some of them have strong doubts upon that question
and to sach representatives, the Legislature ought TO
sneak in decided terms The House could pass by
disregard this question Mr. H. had not introduced the
motion now before the Houses but IT had been brought
isssre them and he trusted they should it as be-
the character Vgnians, and that the motion of
she gentleman from Orange would cheerfuly adopted