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

fcr the amendment He would not now DISCUSS Lne ic-
:atige uscrs of the Two resolutions, WINCH Mou'u " m
subject Of after considerations; but would take occasion
10 remark upon the position assumed by the committee
lie knew there had been some doubts entertained as 10
the accuracy of the views expressed by the majority IN
this particusr which doubts he would cndeavor very
briefly to remove. 1t admitted all hands, that
at the adoption of the Constitution slave property was
considered all intents and purposes. as property
That there distinction made in the Constitution
between slave and any other property. Now this beng
the case, what right had Congress TO interfere with
slave more than with any other description oi proper
ty Those who say that Congress can dlsposSess inc
of this desert ption of property; must Aunt
also, that Congress can deprive citizens OF any ote'
sort of property. And who would say tlal |o"
gress could do that Mr.. s. kaew that enlightened
Inen-lncn Of the parcst purposes: had Dceh "'is:
for time upon this subject by an shtse oil inc Ni'ES ~
which jurisdiction granted TO Congress III t'ie
stituon and act Of ccssion, over the land upon "h
the seat Of Government was situated. Not making TIC
necessary distinction, these persons had heeh leu lo'
moment TO bcevedat erc"sipc Legislation eqn'Vaich
to unlimited legislation o say that congress POSSESS
ed such powcr was TO affirm power against the very
elementary principles Of society dc denied on The
principles upon which our political institutions were
founded, that the terms exclusive Legislation OF j."
risdicton" conferred upon Congress the power OF un
limited legislaton; Or i'll other words, the power OF
violating the PRINCIPLES Of free government
There were principles paramount to any power WHICH
could be given to government nose PrhcitS "eie
in the bill of rights, and diitused themselves through
they belonged to Maryland and Virginia before
the act of cess ; and that act had not deprived ell
ther Maryland Virginia, or those VIII" were former
y citizens of those States, of them Congress took Tie
act of cessiun covered with the constitutional securities
which the States themselves who made the ccsson had
not the power ahrogute Hence, Mr. 5 sa!d he de-
MED that Congress had the power to interfere with slave
property in tie District of Columbia AS he did not
propose at this time TO enter into an argument upon Tic
SUBJECT he woaiG not 80 farther. He mig ht extend the
cun of reasoning which he he had commenced, so as to
make it concusive-so strong as TO challenge the as
sent of every mind but he forborc to do so at present.
because no here had yet affirmed that Congress
possessed that right AS to the supcrerogaory remark
Of the gentleman from Harrison in relation TO The terms
" legislation and Jurisdiction, Mr. 5. thought they had
the Specification in the position IN which they were
used The Constitution granted to Congress exclusive
fceisation-and the deed of ceSslon granted exclusive
jurisdiction according to the provisions OF The Constitu-
ton But no discrepancy could be argued from this
change of terms because legislation the kind of ju
rsdcton exercised by legislative body, and therefore
the same sense was conveyed by both.
Mr.. GlLMER trusted the House would not engage in
the discussion of this question, at this time. lie had
hoped that gentlemen would have been allowed to per-
feet the substitute they offered for the resolutions u the
ma ority and that then it would have been at sub.
ected TO the vote OF the House If this course were Ia
ken. il would save time. They had been at sea Il long
time and he had attered himself that this morning they
were getting near land-that they would have been
called upon to say which Of these two propositions they
liked best and that then there would have been nm end
of the matter. lie hoped the House would mot discuss
this important question incidentally, since 1t must come
up in due when the report oil the oEity was
considered.
MIR. BROOKE made some remarks which could not Gin
consequence ef Mr. BIS pnstunl be heard distinctly by
the reporter He was understood to saw that he enter
tanned the opinion that Congress had the power TO
cipatc the slaves in the District of Columbia. lie was
open conviction the subject; but from the Consti.
tuition itself he derived the opinion that the power was
conferred upon Congress. But could be more
thoroughly convinced that Congress ought not 10 cxcr
else the power that the property OF citizens ought 10
be protected. He smp expressed his opinion that the
Constitution contained clause in which this power was
granted to Congress- What the Constitution is, it is,
and we are bound to maintain it, If its provisions
wrong, the people have it in their power 10 amend it.
Mr.. WATKINS TO state for the information of the
House, that the why aclausc OF similar character
as tho amendment now Offered had not been originally
incorporated in the substitute, desire to insure
unanmity in the House. Many of their friends lad
scrupcS this question: which would prevent their rot-
ing for the substitute if this principle declared in
it. His sentiments were expressed in the amend
ment tle had hesitation in saying that Congress
had such'pow and willing 50 10 vote. But he had
thought that this subject would come up separately dur
ing the session. and could then he decided grounds
entirely independent from the general question now be-
fore the House.
Mr. BOOK Err said he had had serious doubts upon this
subject, and al one time inclined To believe that
Congress could emanclpute in the District OF Columbia;
but his opinions had within very short space of time,
undergone chungr and he hesatcd not 10 say.
that he believed Congress had no such power. The
House impatient Tor the question: and he would not
delay the vote BY stating the grounds on which THIS OPT
MON placed.
The question was then put on Mr.. Voolfolk amend
ncn and decided in the affirmative, las heretofore pub
shedD Ayes ll5, Noes Is.
Mr.. lloLLEMAS moved to strike out the word Sat
tempt in the second resolution of the substitute: and
insert the word 'ac so to read "any act on the
part of Congress to lberate, &c, would be violation,
&c
b,Ib hot and IN,
its present form. He could readily imagine that Con-
gress might do great injury to the South by at
tempt to cmancpale the slaves in the District. Mr.. W.
held that Congress had right whatever to Interfere in
the question OF slave property, and he was tor making
the phraseology exclusive possible
The motion negatived
Mr. WrcnER said: The Substitute offered by the gen
teman from GoochlanG, mot having come into our hands,
in its printed form, up TO this time, have not had an
opportunity of comparing critically could have
wished, with the resolutions reported by Tie select
mittec. There appears TO me, however, still to be s"r
difference between the propositions, and That difference
is in my opinion. in favor OF the report Of the Commit
tee. The latter is better State paperthrre is less am
biguy III it than III the other. But sir it is conendcd
that there is difference between the resoIutlons so
ask parliamentary courtesy dues not give precedsce to
those reported by the Committee: ask, II there be no
material difference between The propositions, why
to lake that of the mebcr from Goocand in preference
to that of the Committee Gin see but one motive for
such course, and that Is, that gentlemen wish 10 make
an Impression abroad that set OF resolutions pro-
creds from the Wing, and the other from the Demo
cratic party and that The set reported by the former
tains sinister and dangerous design, which has
been discovered and aycred by the latter, they thus
saving the Commonwealth from terrible calamity.
1t may be aniSs for here to advert slightly
some Of the previous proceedings which have taken
place, relation 20 this subject, in order to show the
disposition which this substitute is offered. 1t will
be remembered that when the resolution, commonly
called Glulers, offered, it strongly opposed by
the majority Of the House-grea doubts were expressed
as The propriey Of its provisions 1t will be remcm.
5ered tina. the member from Go"chand who is no'o for
calling loudly upon the North SUPPLIES these assoc.
atoms then declared that the North had right do
any thing Of The kind had right to interfere with the