Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-23
re 7NE EDlroRs or TIE rnonlarn

-, % TIE ED77'OKS TIE F.NQUTRCR.
The enclosed exposition of The grounds OF a recent
vote ofthe Representative of this District in Congrs
contained in letter addressed me- seems to me pro-
per- both from the magnitude OF the question involved
and in justice TO that gentleman he laid before his con-
stuens request It's insertion--and am respectfully,
&c. W r.
The Resolutions offered by Mr. Pinckney from s Ca
rolina, were taken up yesterday They propose To
refer Tie Abolition Subject to Committee with nstruc.
uohs among Others To report that Congress possesses no
constitutional authority to interfere an mug ,eay ,oih tie
"sft"hcH 81 Staoery IN any T The suites in Ills Confede-
racy. Debate speedily suited by a call for il. Pre-.
vious Question voted against the reference and sub.
sequcnty, in minority of SEVEN against the nstr,l..
uo9. wo other Southern members, Garland, (of LID
aud Glascock, (of Gu voted in this minority
Among those who know have no apprehension
that ny motives will be well understood and duly nu
Pfeciaed But aware that by strangers, and at future
day, they might readily be nisnterpreed 1 coneur,sd
with those gentlemen ia application for leave, 10 sert
upon the JOURNAL the reasons which governed us and
which we hac been prevented by the Previous Gurs-
uOn from assigning at the time. The House refused TO
suspend tie rules with view TO entertain the notion
ana again. tins morning, oyerruled similar application
You will find no difficulty in comprehendinr at once
the grounds upon which my vote given. Ii was not
that entertained the slightest doubt OF the truth of line
proposition involved IN The instruction proposed. Far
rom IT, regard tie institution If Siacery as one exist
ng Independently Of the Federal Constitution and am,
saushcd that no clause of that eau be tortured
by human ingenuity, into concessions OF at0rg ON bs
paH Congress To interfere toim IT, oGiia The Hmits nj
the st0ehytdiny Safes None seriously believe that
such authority would have been conceded IL wen.
needless TO refer 10 the provisions OF the Constitution re-
eognaing the Institution ~ question: as subsstnQ aud
valid one II rational doubt could be entertained on
THIS subject looking 10 the Constitution as originally
adopted, the 9TH aud 10th articles Of the amendments
must utterly dispel it1besc declare that The emu.
nerati0n IN the Constitution, OF certain rights shall
not be construed 10 deny disparage others retained
Oy the People And again, more emphalicully TIE
powers not decgatsd TO the United States by The Con
stltnon, nor prohibited Ivy IT to,the states are RE-
SERVED To The STATES respectively or to tie
PbOflb. The right to retain their domestic nst,.
1u0ns such as they then existed and mould them as
n1gh suit themselves IN this particular being among
those originally pertaining to the States sas clearly ne.
yer surrendered and therefore necessarify RESERVED
IN Hits primitive force. From the period Of the adoption
OF the Federal Consttuton the present day nearly half
century has elapsed without any attempt having been
"ade OF Pretens'on set up, by the General Government
Or Sny OF The states 70 interfere with that right No
pfetension, far as am informed has been asserted BY
any member OF Congress- suggested in aay petition
resolution, cs motion, before Tie House I could not
discern the prOpricty Of gyotsfi0asfg submitting thus
uncontesied and incOntesble right TO tribunal whose
jurisdiction over had early period Of the session
expressing the sentiments as believed not Of my native
state only bot of every slave holding State in the Union
iet tiny duty 10 dscOuntenance aud disclaim voted
teelorr; against the reference aud against ie nssuc.
ton
Because che reference ilself seemingly implied that
49,.