Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-06

| ,,. t,a yer 2 49,
and lhat t''e i. conferred Congress than by
III ""nd,nent Of the Constitution OF tIe Y. SUITS
Rm, i,,cpcudenty Of tins we" vi 'i' 'uTl.'., N.a
reigh saidj there were o'her ooeouons ~ nas,;rn
| S ~ nnurcss exercise the power IN qnGsuon'
tenoI med to him insupc able and conclusive Hha',
W. tI would be the effect OF the abolition OF slavery
II; this District and what was, and must be- The only o.
;c, of such meusure2 To the consequences, be sup
poscJ no man would affect to be blind large oo"y oi
tree negroes would at BE- established III 'ie ios
of two vi The principal holding States; Tie Ds.ic'
would tcccme the receptacle IN which other PoPutt'
Of the class would Soon be consrega''G' anu .
people, from their position would necessarily nav W
poriunilirs OF daily intercourse with Inc slaves " Wv
two adjoining States, OF holding cut to Them every NV"
tive to revolt, .ncit'ng them To co"'''u "', rs or
Instructions and supplying them VITA 'ne ~: I,
warGr a srryiir wal against US Anu Us " 'i'e ny.
and design Of the abolilionlSts IN urging '.s m,;,
it could not be disguised that abolition ~ '.i'< D
was not sought as end: but rs Tic means .!
other and far greater enterprises u't 'iei pu' ~, t
TO gain point and most commanding po'"t 700, o
which they might prosecute their schemes VI "Io.
FIRST in Maryland and Virginia. anu men, III F''
cess in all 0, her slave Holding STATES. 49,.
Il was doub,less the conviction that these Hlsch'eF
Gus dcsnns were entertained and sense Of the danger
Gus consequences would, probably, II not
Div .nsc from the plisiment vi the nIcua'c oo
jct which produced general an opinion lh 'ie 81"
tba, it would br mpoic, unwisc, and UNJUST 10 "poSh
slavery in this District. But the same cohs'oe'It"'
MIR. Leigh thought must lead us 10 ''e co"I'" I
that it was Unconstitutional also contrary " te
sn,rit If no, TO the letter Of the CGnst'tuti'h lie
had ALWAYS supposed that III giving power 10 ca ou'
the militia to suppress nsurreclions, Inc CONSTITUENT
made it the duty OF this Government 10 exit 'iie
mower for the suppression of scrYc lnSurrccnhs III any
of the States and he asked. whether ii could possibly
be maintained that Congress could cohsiitu'ioha'J
adopt any measure, Of which The mancs' ana ack!""
led ed tendency, ifnot the certain ctcc,, was I" ic'e
those very srryr Instructions which the Government
was under constitutional obligation 10 suppress: IL We
could not look for Limitation the powers vested IN
Government in tie Obligations imposed upon IL, ~hete
could such limitations be found; Again, 1t WAS admit
ted and had always been admitted that Congress had n"
power abolish touch slave property IN any CT tie
States. But here was measure proposed 10 us lol
adoption which did not. indeed, directly aoos! slavery
in any OF the States hut which was, nevertheless The
most efficient that could possibly e devised, to
bring about aud in fact to compel, general abolition IN
the slavcoldng Staes-a measure which, Tor that rea-
son. The advocates Of universal abolition most artcnty
desired as tn" Of accomplishing their avowcd Pur
pose Aud the question was, whether 1t was within the
competency Of Congress 10 adopt such measure: whe
Their while acknowledged that it could NOT without vi
olang its constitutional duty to the sare-hntlng States
accomplish the end, might yet authorize and provide
the ,nns c!cacious Of ultimately accomplishing
it: Mr l.. said, it was principle OF all ethics was
principle especially applicable and valuable in the i'd
ministration Of all Governments Ol limited powcrs-tha
that which cannot be lawfully accomplished by direct
MEANS canno. righLuIy be attempted by any manner Of
ndirrction.
He said there were other objections to the competency
Of Congress to abolish slavery in the District, which he
should lorbcar urge, because they had already been
enforced by other gentlemen in the debate lie had
onlr add that in the science o government Us wei! as
in law all powers trusts; ard it, in fair cUnsiruc
ton, grant of power might be extended beyond its
strict literal import 10 reach the exgencics III the trust
also should powers granted in general !rrHS be limited
by due consideration of the purposes Of the trust for
which they were conferred. lie remembered many in
Stances in which construction aud inference had been
resorcd 20 and in which liz thought they had been
pushed cxrcnics) for the purpose Of enarglng the
powers delegated to this Government; but he knew OF
| h.,r,
when rcsorled to for the purpose of imposing limta
| tiDnS
And now (said Mr. u have 10 call the attention Of
the Senate TO another topc to which feel myself bound
10 advert, and yet approach il with Of pain.
me oncd the other dry that | had received pam.
phct purrortiag TO be commentary book recently
published by All eminent divine, and containing many
extracts from the book, which ut once afflicted and aarm
ed me. | have since read The book itself; its title
| is Slavery, by William f. CIanning,' printed ut
Boston, 1895. And ! must say that | have
risen from the pcrusa of any hook with feeling Of
deeper sorrow. 1t has had the effect Of weakening
| the chief remaining ground of hope in my mind,
that the nccndiNry schemes of the aboonists in the
Northern States, the system Of agitation they had
ganizcd the they kindling against the peace
and happiness Of the South, and The harmony OF the
Union wcrId be cilrctualy counlcractcd and sup
pressed by the efforts of frllpwcilizens Of the
| u-slave. holding States themselves; for, whether
consult my heart understanding, had much rather
counteracon and suppression should BE- their work, than
that should have TO rely our own prudence and
energy 10 thc danger. The hope that the legisla
tive authorities of the MISUNDERSTANDING States would
and adopt measures 10 suppress and punish the
conspiracy (for such in truth it s) which has been form
I'd against US, and which political come Nuns with
them TO make more formidable, has been !"rg wan
| inp and is now almost gone. My chef ground of
houo then was, that the great mass Of wr-ininrucd
wise, and influential nen; and the good sense, Justice
and patriotism Of the great body OF the people III the
.slavcholdng States, combining 20 dl$countrnancc
the wicked enterprises Of the ahotonss, and the yet
more wicked means BY which they are working, could
not fail to produce state Of public opinion that would
alone suffice lay tho evil spirit OF agitation, and
store the South to quiet and To confidence in tr 10y
atty of our Northern brethren their social relations
with us. And, till | this book, this hope had not
been disappointed have minated has before, and
am most happy to repeat it. But here is book publish.
cd by DIR. Charming man whose former publications
have taught Inc tn admire, esteem, and respect hina
nan eminent for his learning and aIiIt"s and
bic for his picv minister Of the Gospel, too, than
whom there is none more popular; person who. On all
these accounts. s likely 10 have and (f rightly
inormed) does in fact possess. the highest influence
the public mind; book writtca By DIR. G., Of which
the principal purpose apparent in every page, and indeed
avowcd is countrract the efforts of others to aay the
excitement in the Southern States, by removing the
causes Of ritation and 10 encourage the ahnCDists
to pcrsevere in their designs. only ccunscng them to
exercise tl!c wisdom Of ,m Serpent, for he certainly
thinks tk"m not wanting in the meekncss of the Dove
say his purpose councract the efforts Of those whn
arc endravorln6 In put down the schemes of the abo
iionisls. by cnhodyng public opinion into cflci,n:
ton against them. Is avnwfd; ana appeal to the follow
ing passage, in which he declares the motive and object
! of the publication:
My work is done. ask and hope for it Tic Divine
blessing, far ii expresses truth and brcnhrs the
spirit Of Justice and humanity. If have written any
thing under the Influence of prejudice passion or I'M
kindness any human being, ask forgiveness Of God
and have spoken strongly, not to offend nr
give pain, but TO produce in others deep convictions
| corresponding TO my Nothing but feeling
which could escape, of the need of such work at
this very moIneut, has induced Me to fix nv thoughts
on so painful Snhi"ct The few last months have in
creased my socitudc for the country. Public srn.
mrnt has seemed to 10 he losing its hcallhfncss