Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-19
POLITICAL.
EXTRACTS
EXTRACTS
From an address to Ike People Of Mississippi by JOHN
F. II. claiborne, one If its Members s's Congress-

EXTRACTS
From an qddress to Ike People Of mississippi, by joins
F. II. claiborne, one If its Members en- Congress-
(pincks7sy's Resolutions and Report)
From the day that these resolutions were ADOPTED SP
to the moment when tie Committee, to whom they had
been referred, submitted their report all agitation IN
Ec-,ss on the question Of slavery, IN great degree
subsded the public nina vas tranquiiseo aho 'e aoo
ltonsts discouraged. 49,,
It has been eyed that Mr. Pnckneys report did not
90 far enough and that othe end stronger reports against
ontslavery memorials had been former sessions sub
r,i,,ed Let us analyze the report of MIR PInckhey
The report begins by calling upon the country 10 sus'
tain the stand taken by the House. and to determine be-
tween the suppression of abolition and the destruction
of the Union.
As regards the States declines argument to show
that Congress has authority slavery IN the States
considering that settled question; but Informing the
people that the object Of adopting that branch OF the re-
solution vss to show that the present Congessconcurs
with the Congress of 1885, in gpiaga discame: upon
chat poht-or the purpose OF Tcarmins and still more
decsve!y establishing vital constitutional principle
This part Of the report s disclaimer OF argument nron
point sacred against discussion.
AS regards the District Of Counbia, the Report goes
back to the old Congress-shows the origin Of the
sion-the purpose for which The District was ceded-
the Authority TO accept on the part ofCocgess-that
1t ceded for objects partly national and partly local
That the national objects provide seat of Go.
vernment where the powers oftongress could be exer
csed, independently of State authority
iure, the interests of the ceded territory.
Shows that IN its national capacity, Congress h0sso con-
sstrenat authority to Interfere wthalavery in tleDis
trict of Columbia.
Shows that as the ocGl Legislature Of the District it
stands precisely as Maryland and Virginia would do, if
cesson had ever been made, possesses tie poso
er hdt ey codd possess, nnd other, ard bound to
be governed by the same reasons ard feelings that
would now goTe.n tEem if they had stii! retained ju.
risdction over It.
Shows. that, Maryland and Virginia fthe never had
ceded this territory, could Tot abolish slavery there
while they retained it mali the residue IF their terrific
~, without great injustice and oppression and injury
to themselves; so Congress, sanaog in their stead
cannot interfere with slavery here while those States
retain it within their limits.
Shows that in addition to all this the people Of this
District, American citizens and hold their personal
and civil rights under the American Constitution, and
that Congress more interfere with their rights
and property thanwil those Of The people Of any Of
the States
that to attempt njuriousy to interfere
institution of slavery p the District. would
be violation Of the public tait':-
4 VOCATION Of faith, the State of Maryland and Viz
,y.na, by which the territory ~asgiven to the United
States Tor purposes of benefit to the Union, and not
of evil to themselves, and whose interests would De
deeply affected By any such interference
A violation of faith to all the vehoifAg states S'ho
consented to the cessiec, HgnL TIC acceptance ny Con
Cress for purposes of national good to the Union, and
moi Of injury to themselves and who would Recessa-
ry be in urrd by any legislation in the District whch
would produce instruction and Servile war in Mary
land aud Virginia, and exactly in proportion to thc's
proximity 10 those States
violation ef faith to the people OF the DISTRICT VINO
consented to be transferred to the Federal Govern
ment relying on its honor and justice for the same pa
.erna care and Kindness which they wo2ld hare re-
ceved from the States to which they originally belong
ed and whose rights, moreover, as American citNehS
ore soemriy guaranteed by the Federal Constitution,
and cannot be nterfered with without an lntracuon
of the most sacred principles OF republican govern
- Eof&t in I'nr,n~
by oil the States inasmuch State can be injur-
ed BY unjust Legislation the part OF Congress,
without its operating as an injury 70 I'll Tue
This part of the Report occupies about oPSges, ana
Ia full Of details and illustrations TO sustain these points
The report also shows, that it would be- "un~Ise im
polite and dangerous to the Union, seven IT 1t did not
Involve q violotion Of the public faith .
Upon these points il takes the following grouncs with
seyeral others "too tedious TO mention, viz:
That the Government formed for the great purpose
of common defence and general welfare
That Congress is bound TO do act which may conflict
with the very purposes for which the government was
That if slavery abolished in the District, 80 far from
promoting common defence, &C., it might require
the expenditure Of millions to arrest The evils that
would follow such measure
That it would render the District nest OF free negroes
runaway slaves. and abolitioniss; great magazine Of
murder and mischief; from which inconceivabe evils
would be sPread like lightning, over all The surround
ing country
That this would be poor reward to the patriotic States
OF Maryland and Virginia, by whom the District
coded without compensation
That it would create Instructions &c in the slave.
holding States
That the scheme Of general emancipation ia impractical
bic, even fit be attempted by the Gnsernmen,-
That even if it practicable, would be ruinous 70
the South and proPoruonately injurious TO every
other section of the Union
That the people Of the South have been very unost
eeyiled in reference to savery-with an eulopy on
Southern character, patriotism, &c
That the besetng sir Of the mistaken philan,hro
nv and fanatic madness
That these causes have endangered the Union
That the Government erected for a.l the good and
great purposes of Union, aud Congress is bound to
avoid every thing by which It's existence may be threat
ene6-
Tts. the people of the South would lose all confidence
Congress, by any interference with slavery il TIE
Dsuict-
That ell the States with slaves have denied tie right Of
Congress to abolish slavery in the District.
That Congress could therefore, make attempt Of that
nature, without bringing the Union into instant and
fearful peril
That the Union is too important to be hazarded upon
grounds ike these-the aptitude of our confederatve
Government to give security and happiness to citi
sens-and concludes with N appeal to the American
people TO sustain their representatives, assuring them,
that the time has come s'when every man must take
his stand for or against his county.
Such are the positions assumed by MI Flnekney In
she able Report upon his resolutions 1t ne does not 20
az enopph IF he does not sufficiently guarantee the iR