Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-11

should have been so cordially sustained by the gentle.
man from Harrison MIR s should vote very willingly
for the amendment. He would not discuss the
ative merits of the resolutions which would be the
subject of after consideration; but would take occasion
TO remark upon the position assumed by the committee
lie knew there had been doubts entertained To
the accuracy of the views expressed by majority in
this particular, which doubts he would endeavor very |
briefly To remove. IL was admitted all hands that,
at the adoption of the Constitution, slave property
considered to all iDtents and purposes, property
Tina. there distinction made in the Constitution
between slave and any other property Now, this being
the case, what right had Congress Interfere with
slave more than with any other description OF proper
ty Those who say that Congress dspossess the
owners of this description of property, must admit,
Also that Congress deprive citizens of any other
gross could do that? Mr. S. knew that enlightened
men--men of the purest purposes, had been misled
Tor time upon this subject, by abuse of the terms in
which jurisdiction granted to Congress in the Con-
sttuton and of cesson, the land upon which
the seat of Government situated. Not making the
necessary distinction, these persons had been led for
moment 10 believe that eresiso egsation equivalent
to unlimited legislation. To say that Congress possess
ed such power TO affirm power against the very
elementary principles OF society He denied, the
principles upon which political Institutions were
founded, that the terms exclusive legislation ju
risdicon, conferred upon Congress the power of
limited legislation; or in other words, the power of
violating the principles of free government
lbere were principles paramount 10 any power which
coud DE given to government Those principles were
in the bill of rights and diifused themselves through
out all the manifestations of cur federal compact;
they belonged to Maryland and Virginia before
the act OF cesso and that act had deprived eli
Their Maryland Virginia or those who were former
y citizens of those States of them Congress took the
act of cession covered with the constitutional
which the States themselves who made the cesson had
not the power to abregate Hence MIR. s. said, he de-
MED that Congress had the power with
property in the District of Columbia. As he did not
propose at this time to enter into argument upon the
SUBJECT he would not go farther. He might the
cham OF reasoning which he lie had commenced to
make IT conclusve-so strong to challenge the as.
sent OF every mind but he forbore do at present
because no one here had yet affirmed that Congress
possessed that right AS the supererogatory remark
OF the gentleman from Harrison relation the terms
Legislation and iurisdicion Mr.. 5. thought they had
the same Specification in the position in which they were
used The Constitution granted to Congress exclusive
egisdtionand the deed of cesson granted exclusive
jurisdiction according the provisions of the Consu
ton But no discrepancy could be argued from this
change OF terms, because legislation the kind of u
sdcton exercised by legislative body and therefore
the same sense was conveyed by both.
MT GILMER trusted the House would not engage in
the discussion of this question, this time. lie had
hoped that gentlemen would have been allowed to per
the substitute they offered for resolutions of the
majority and that then il would have been SUBJ
ected to the vote of the House If this course were ia
ken, 1t would save time They had been at sea long
time, and he had haered hmselftha this morning they
were getting near land-that they would have been
called upon to say which of these propositions they
liked best and that then there would have been an end
of the matter lie hoped the House would not discuss
this important question incidentally, since must come
up in due course when the report of the majority was
considered.
Mr.. BROOKE made remarks which could not lin
consequence Mr. b. position be heard distinctly bv
the reporter He understood to saw that he enter
Congress TO
cpate the slaves in the District of Columbia He was
open to conviction the subject; but from the Cons
futon itself he derived the opinion that power was
conferred upon Congress But man could be more
thoroughly convinced that Congress ought not TO exer
cise the power that the property citizens on gh to
be protected He simply expressed his opnion thai tho
Constitution contained clause in which this power was
granted to Congress. What the Constitution is II is
aud we are bound TO maintain it, If its provisions are
wrong, the people have ii in their power amend it,
Mr. WATKINS TO state, for the information of the
that the reason why acause of similar character
MS the amendment offered had not been ORIGINALLY
Incorporated IN the substitute, desire insure
unanimity in the House Many of their friends had
scrnples on this question: which would vent their yo
ing ior the substitute IT this principle declared
H. His own sentiments expressed in the amend
inent lie had no hesitation in saying that Congress
had sucpower. and willing so to vote Bat he
thought that this subject would up separately dur
ing the session, aud could then be decided on grounds
entirely independent from the general question now be-
fore the House.
/ Mr. Booker said he had had serious doubts upon this
SUBJECT and was at one time inclined 10 believe that
congress could emancpae in the District of Columbia
but h's opinions had, within very short space of time
undergone change; and he hcsitated not to say
1 mat ne peheved Congress had no such power The
House was impatient for the question: and he would not
delay the vote by stating the grounds which this OPT
MON placed
The question then put on Mr. WooIfolk's amend
ment, and decided in the affirmative las heretofore pub
] lished) Ayes 1l5, Noes l3.
Mr.. HoLLEMAN moved TO strike ont tho word m,,
tempt, III the second resolution of the substitute and
insert the word "act" to read "any act on the
part OF Congress to liberae, &c, would be violation
MIR. WILEY thought the language had better stand in
ITS present form. He could readily imagine that Con.
gress might do great injury the South by mere at
tempt To einancpate the slaves in the District Mr. w
held that Congress had right Whatever interfere in
the question OF slave property, and he for making
| the phraseology as exclusive possible.
The motion negatved
Mr. WfrcHER said: The substitute offered by the gen
tleman from Goochland not having our hands
ia IFS printed form up TO this time have NOT had nm
opportunity OF comparing it critically as could have
wished with the resolutions reported by the select com
mllee There appears 10 me- however, still some
difference between the propositions and that difference
49, III my opinion, IN favor of the report of the Commit
tee The utter is better State perthere less am
bguity in 1t than in the other But sir il is conended
that there IS difference between the resolutions; If So
ask 1t parliamentary courtesy does give 10
lhosc repeatedly the Committed | ask If there be no
material difference between the propositions WHY we are
10 take that Of the member from Goochand preference
TO mat OF the Committee? but one motive for
such course and that that gentlemen wish to make
an impression abroad that of resolutions pro-
ceeds from the Wing, and the other from the Demo
cratic party; and that the reported by former con-
tains some sinister and dangerous design which has
been discovered and avertcd by the latter they thus
saving the Commonwealth from some terrible calamity
~ may not be aniss for here TO advert slightly 10
some of the previous proceedings which I'm W takcn
| disposition in which this substitute is offered IL will
be remembered that when The resolution commonly
called Gilmers, offered it was strongly opposed by
the majority OF the ousegreat doubts were expressed
as 10 the propTety OF its provisions 1t will be ene-
9ered that the member from Goochland who is no,o for
calling loudly upon the North to suppress these assoc
atoms then declared that the North had no rgbt to do
any thing Of the kind; had right interfere with the
freedom OF speech or to infringe the liberty Of the press
Inc member from MeckleHburg has also said that we
have right 10 call upon the North TO suppress Alo
ton AssOcations that If the call WIS made the North
had no right to suppress such associations of her citizens