Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-15

views and feelings upon the delicate and interesting sub
ject with which your question is connected and shall
endeayor 10 acQuaint you with them in the fullest
ner in my power.
Not having, heretofore had The honor of being in po-
1itcGi COMMUNICATION with yon no. advised w!Ic-
tler the sentiments relating to il, which have bcrn
ed by myself and by my authority, within the last two
ycaIS. have 10 ynur knowledge. deem it there
fore proper, furnish you with The substance of them,
hclorc reply your specific inquiry. The avow-
ais To which rri,T,
<t. AN opinion that Congress has no right to inter
frr any uanner ~ to any extent, with the subject OF
slavery IL ia" States;
"a. As'is the ropfiety of ieir doing in the Dis
tricl of CuluiiIIia and
:!rdy. The sLrmrnt Of my full concurrence in the
sentiments expressed by the clllzens Il" Albany in pub
lie meeting the most important OF which follows,
viz 6 That the Constitution of the United States
carries with It an adjustment Of questions nvoy-
ed in the deliberations which led lis adoption,
and that the compromise of interests in which i:
was founded, IS binding in honor and good !th nde-
PcndcnHy If The force Of agrtcmcn all who live udrg
It's protection and participate in the benefits Of which it
is the "That the relation Of Master and Slave
is matter exclusively belonging to the people Of each
State within IFS own boundary, and that any attempt BY
the Government people of any other State, By the
General Government to Interfere with disturb it,
would violate the spirit of that compromise which lies
at the basis of the federal compact -"That only
hope TO maintain the Union Of the States by absainng
from all interference with the laws domestic policy and
peculiar interests Of every other State -"1hat all such
interference which tends to ALLEVIATE portion of
count!ymen from The rest deserves be rownrd upon
with Indignation by all who cherish the principles OF
revolutionary fathers and who desire preserve the Com
sulun by the exercise Of that spirit Of auity which ami
mated lis ramcrs' -"rhat they deprecated the conduct
of those who attempting 10 their brethren in
other States into the abolition of slavery, by appeals 10
the fears of the master and the passions Of the slave;
and that they could not but consider them dsubcrs
OF the public peace, aud would, by all constitutional
MEANS exert their INFLUENCE 10 arrest the progress OF such
measures'-''lhaL whilst they would maintain involae
of he of he th.y
considered discussions Which, from their nature tend 10
inilaue the public mind and put in jeopudy the lives
and property OF their cllowclLzens, at war with every
rule OF mural duty, and every suggestion vi humanity,
and would BE- constrained, moreover, regard those
WAC, with Iu knowledge Of their pernicious tendcn-
Cyl persist in carrying them OH, dsloya 10 the Cnion
-lhat the people Of the South would do great injustice
If they allow themselves 10 believe, that the few who
interfering with the question of slavery acting in
accordance with the sentiments Of the North upon The
SUBJECT and finally, "that they made these dcclaa.
tons TO their Southern brethren in the spirit of
ay which bound together their fathers and ours, dur.
ing long and cycntlu struggle for independence; and
thai they did, in full remembrance Of that
clalion plight 20 them their faith to maintain in practice,
iat lis lies in their power what they had thus socmHy
declared"
These views, thus expressed and sanctioned by my
self, appear 10 10 the whole ground the
abstract question which you have been pleased call
my attention. and chcerully embrace The opportunity
you have felt it your duty 10 atlUd me, u explain my
self fully that also AS anxious you possibly
be- arrest all agitation upon this disturbing subject
have considered the question you have prupoundrd to
me- with sincere desire 10 arrive at the conclusion
the subject in respect the District of Columbia
Gu safely placed on the ground which it
stands in regard the Staes viz tic of
onai power in Congress to interfere i'll the matter.
it, however t., Cundo to say to yvu that have
been abe to satisfy myself that the grant to Congress- in
the Constitution, Of the power Of ctcinSiee legislation
QU cases chuiSvcrcr the Federal District, docs not
confer OF tina, Lody the authority over The subrc,
nfIr ovp hvt
Of Mary land and .rginlu or that Congress mi GIT no.
III virtue thereof take such steps upon the subject this
District, those States might themselves take within
their limits and consistently with their rights Of
sovereignty.
Thus viewing the matter would not, from The lights
now before me, feel myself safe in pronouucing that
Congress docs not possess the power OF interfering with
or abolslng slavery in the District OF Columbia But
whilst such my present impressions upon The abstract
question of the legal PoSer OF Congress-mpressions
which shall at all times be not only read but disposed
surrender upon conviction OF crror-l do not hesitate
to give it 10 you my deliberate and wcll-consldered
opinion that there objections 10 the exercise Of this
power, against the wishes OF the save-lioding Sates
,mperatrc IN their natarc and oMigati0ns IN regulating
tic conduct of public men, as lie mast patpGbtc 1ant u
| constitutional yo1ccr ecOuLd Je.
You have alluded in your letter TO the conspicuous
situation in which have been placed before the public
and take it for granted, that it is 10 that circumstance
rather than 10 any orr that to ascr!be the solicit
tudr felt by yourselves and your fellow citizens in
sprcl my views this subject. recognise, TO the
fullest extent, the propricy Of this desire on your part
and although there IS nothing in your letter making tue
ayowal necessary prefer that not only you but all the
people Of the U. States shall now understand that If the
desire of that portion Of them which is favourable 10
elevation the Chief Magist!acy, should be graied,
must 20 into the Presidential Chair the lnexble ant
unconpromising opponent of any attempt the part
Congress to abolish slavery in the District CT Columbia
against the wishes of the slave holding States; and also
with the determination cquaHy dc'1ded, to resist The
slightest interference with the in the States where
it exists In saying this tender neither to them nor
you any pledges, but declare ony settled opinions
convictions of duty. Those who doubt that they viii
be carried into full and fair effect, under obga
tons trust An opportunity is afforded them To
ercisc their free choice in tho matter and they may be
assured that there is less likely 10 complain Of t
exercise than myself
The pcculiar importance of the subject and desire
| (Which you will allow to feeD that my views of il
should be correctly understood, make it proper that
should cxnlain the grounds of the opinions above
pressed. They founded, amongst Others on the io
lowing considerations, viz:
lst believe that if it had been fcescen, at the time
Of the adoption of the Constitution, that the scat OF the
Federal Government would be fixed in slave holding
region and that the subject of slavery would be there
aeitaed to the prejudice of those holding this species
property the right do So would with the assent OIL
the holding States have been made excep
ton to the unrestricted legislative power given to Con
gress over the District TO be coded.
2dly. cannot but regard the egation Of THIS snhcc
in the District Of Columbia, as surprIzc upon The peo
pie of Maryland and Virginia, being very confident that
ifhe state of thinrs which exists had been al all
pretended By those Statcs the cesson OF the District
wouu not have been made except upon the express
don that Congress should exercise no such power; and
that with such condition the ccsson would in the then
state Of public opinion, have been readily accepted
}dlv do therefore believe, that the abolition of slave
rv in Inc District of Columbia against the wishes Of the
c.holdng States (assumng that Congress has the
power to effect D would violate the spirit of That com
promise of interests which lies at the basis of sucia
compact; and thoroughly convinced that it could
| t,o la
obstruction 10 the Union Of the States. Viewing the
matter in this eht il is my clear and settled opinion