Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-05-31

bv The same reasons which would have
governed those States themselves IN relation
to this subject, ifthcir jurisdiction over this
territory. had never been surrendered.
Let us suppose, then, that this jurisdiction
had never been surrendered by Maryland
and Virginia, and that twas now proposed
that they should abolish slavery, and rci'n-
quish all power Of Legislation over tree
blacks, within the portions Of those States
which constitute the District Of Columbia,
retaining their respective institutions OF
slavery in all the remaining portions OF 'nelr
territory. Who is there that would not be
amazed at the folly of such an act! VINO
does not see that such step would ncccs-
sarv produce discomfort and nsurrections
in the remaining portions Of those States !
Who: docs not perceive that under such
circumstances the District would constitute
at once neutral ground, upon which hosts
of free blacks, fugitive slaves, and mccnd-
iarics, would be assembled in the work OF
general abolitionism; and that from such q
magazine Of evil, every conceivable mis-
chief would be spread through the surround
ing country, with almost the rapd'tv OF the
movements of the atmosphere? Surely no
one can doubt the. certainty Of the con-
scqucn:ia evils in the case supposed. How
then can any doubt or deny the dangers IN
the case before us? The territory is the
same; it is surrounded by the same portions
of slavcholding States; and the only dIt-
ference is, that in the case supposed. the
abolition would be the work Of State
authorities. while, in the other, it is sought
to accomplish it BY the authority OF Con.
grcss. The condition Of things before and
afcrit is done, is the same in both cases,
and the opportunities for mischief, in case
the work be accomplished, are equal in both.
Can it be necessary to say moro, to establish
the position, that any interference with
slavery in the District of Columbia, on the
part Of Congress, would BE- n violation of
the pnbic faith, the faith reposed in Con-
gress by those States, and without which
they never could have been induced to have
made that ccssion?
II Only remains under tls he ID to show
that Congress could not interfere with slave
ry in the District of Columbia, without VI
olaton ofthe public faith, in reference to the
slaveholding States generally, as well as to
the States ofVirgnia and Maryland. The
provision in the constitution authorizing
Congress to accept the cossion Of a terrific.
ry for seat of the Federal Government,
and TO exercise exclusive jurisdiction over
ii, was rs general and universal as any other
provision in that instrument. In its nation
al objects all the States were equally inte-
rested, and SO ii,r as there was any danger
that the powers oflocal legislation confer
rcd on Congress might interfere with, or in
uriously affect, the institutions Of the vari-
Gus States, each State possessed an into
rest proportioncd to the probable danger 10
itself. AS far as your committee know or
believe, however, no apprehension ofan IN
terlcrcncc On the subject ofdomcstic slave
ry was entertained in any quarter, or c1-
pressed by any statesman ofthe day. All
examination Of the commentaries on the
constitution will show that various appre-
tensions were entertained, as to the powers
conferred on Congress, By this clause, such
as that privileged classes of society might
he created within the District; that stand.
ing army, dangerous to the liberties ofthe
country, might be organized and sustained
within it, and the like; but not suggestion
can be found that, under the local powers to
be conferred, any attempt would be made
to interfere with the private rights ofthe ci-
tzcns who might be embraced within the
District, or to disturb. or change, directly,
or by consequence, the municipal institu-
tions ofthe States. or that the subject ofdo.
mestic slavery, as it existed in the States,
could be in anywise involved in the propos-
ed ccssion. At that time, all the States held
slaves. Many ofthem have since, by their
own independent action, without influence
or interference from the Federal Govern
meat, or from their sister States, effected,
in their own time and way, the work Of c.
Emancipation; others oftho original States,
remain as they were a; the time ofthc adop-
ton fthc constitution, in reference to this
description of property, and several new
members have been admitted into the Union
as slaveholding States. All the States which
have held, or now hold, slave property, have
invariably considered the institution as one
exclusively subject to State authority, and
not to be affected, directly or indirectly, by
Federal interference. The practice ofthe
Government, as well as its theory, has cs.
tablshcd this doctrine, and the action of the
States, in retaining or abolishing the insti-
tuition at pleasure, has conformed entirely to
this principle. Now the subject ofFederal
interference has become one ofsome agita-
ton, and Congress is solicited to adoptmea
svres in relation to the District Of Columbia,
ha..a l,o., .h h1, r,nnct do