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

Not having, heretofore, had the honor Of being in POI
litical communication with You, not dyised he
Their the sentiments relating TO it, which have been avon
ed by myself and by my authority within the last two
years, have come TO your Knowledge. deem il there
ioreproper to Furnish with the substance Of ihcn
before reply Ia your more specific inquiry The avow
ais To which refer, wee
st. An cfinion that Congress has no :s,t to inter
i.re IN any manner 10 any extent ie subject of
slavery in the States;
2d Against the psopricty of their doing in the Dis
trict Of COLUMBIA; and
3rdy. The statement: of my full concurrence in the
sentiments expressed by the citizens OF Albany in pub
lic meeting The most Important vi which as pllows
VIZ That the Constitution OF the United States
carries with il adjustment of al questions invyy
cd IN the deliberations which led Ia its adp,aion
ana that the compromise OF interests in which il
was founded Is binding in honor and good faith indie
pondenffy II The force IF agrsemen all who live under
ITS protection and participate in the benefits of which
Is The sourcefhai the relation of Master and Slave
Is matter exclusively belonging the people of cacl,
state within its boundary, and that an attemp by
the Government or peope of any other State, or by the
General Government, interfere with or disturb II,
would violate the spirit of that COMPROMISE which lies
at the basis of the federal compact sTha we can only
hope to maintain the Union Of the States by absanny
from all interference with the laws, domestic policy and
peculiar interests of every other Sate-"1ha ali such
interference which tends 10 ALLEVIATE portion
counymen from the rest deserves TO be irowned upon
with indignation by all cherish the principles of our
revolutionary fathers and who desire the
stitution by the of that spirit of amity which mi
mated its iramcrssThat they deprecated the conduct
OF those who attempting coerce their brethren in
other States into the abolition of slavery, by appeals to
the Tears OF the master and TO the passions the slave;
and that they could but consider them as disturLers
oil The public peace and would by all constitutional
measures: whst they would maintain in Violate
the liberty of speech and the freedom the press they
considered discussions which, from their nature tend 10
iniae the public mind and put in jeopardy the lives
and property OF their fellow citizens war with every
rule OF moral duty and every suggestion OF humanity
and would be constrained, moreover, TO regard those
who with full knowledge of their perncious tenden
cy, persist in carrying them dsoya the Unon:'
'sha the people of the South would do great inns,;c
TO he cy IA.
are interfering with the question OF slavery are acting i'm
accordance with the sentiments of the North upon the
SUBJECT and finally, 'that they made these declara-
tons TO their Southern brethren in the same spirit f
amy which bound together their fathers and ours dur
ing long and eventiul struggle for independence and
that they did IN iull remembrance of that common assoc
citation, plight TO them their faith to maintain in practice
as lar as lies in their power what they had soIemny
These views, thus expressed and sanctioned bv NV
SELL appear To to cover the whole ground save the
abstract question to which you have been pleased call
my attention, and cheeriully embrace the opportunity
you have felt il your duty afford me- to explain nv
self fully on that also. As anxious you can possibly
be- TO arrest all agitation upon this disturbing subject
have considered the question you have propounded TO
me- with sincere desire to arrive at the conclusion
That the subject in respect TO the District of Columbia
can be safely placed on the ground on which il
stands in regard TO the States viz: the want of consu
tonal power in Congress to interfere in the matter
owe il, however, to candor say to YOU that have not
been able TO satisfy myself that grant to Conures in
the Constitution, of the power of icgisIaton an
al cases ohatsoerr the Federal District does not
confer on that body the authority the subject
that would otherwise have been by the States
OF Maryland and Virginia; that Congress might not
IN virtue thereof take such steps upon the subject i'm this
District, those States might theise YES take within
their own limits and consistently with their rights of
sovereignty.
Thus viewing The matter, would not from the lights
now before me, leel myself safe in pronouncing that
Congress does not possess the power OF interfering with
or abolshDg slavery in the District OF Columbia But
whilst such are my present impressions upon the abstract
question OF the legal power of Congress--impressions
which shall at all times be not only ready disposed
TO surrender upon conviction of errorl not hesitate
to give II 10 you my deliberate and wcconsidered
opnion that there objections TO the exercise of This
power against The wishes OF the sayeoding States as
t~Peraee IN Mer fiatars ind obtgdtiOnS regulating
the conduct of public men, Tie most paipaJLe caut o
constitutional POteer aoOuid be.
You have alluded in your letter to the conspicuous
situation in which been placed before lIe nubI;c
and take II for granted ,ha, IL circumference
rather than 10 any other, that TO ascIbc the soci
tude felt by yourselves and your fellow. citizens in re-
spect TO my views this subject recognise TO the
fullest extent the propreiy OF this desire on vour mart
ana although there IS nothing in your letter making the
avowal necessary prefer that only YOU but all the
people OF the u. States shall understand that if the
desire OF that portion of them which is favourable TO INV
elevation 10 the Chief Mayistracy, should be graified
must go into the Presidential Chair the inaexble and
1ncompfomsng opponent of any attempt the part of
Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia
against the wishes of the slave holding States and also
with Tie determination equally deeided resist the
slightest interference with subject in tho Staes ~
1T exists In saying this tender neither 10 them nor 10
you any Pledges but declare only settled and
convictions OF duty Those who doubt that they will
tons TO trust me. An opportunity afforded them to K
ercse their free choice the matter they may be
assured that there less likely 10 complain of liz
exercise than myself
The peculiar importance Of The subject and desire
(Which you Will allow 10 feeD that my views OF i,
should be correctly understood make it proper that
should explain the grounds of the opinions above ex
pressed They are founded, amongst Others on the fol-
lowing considerations, viz:
LIST believe, that if it had been foresecn at the time
OF the adoption OF the Constitution that the seat of the
Federal Government would be fixed in a save-holding
region and that the subject Of slavery would be there
agated to the prejudice of those holding this species of
property the right TO do so, would with the assent Of
the non holding States, have been made an excep
ton TO the unrestricted legislative power given 10 CON
gIess over the District to be coded
2dy cannot but regard the agitation of this subject
in the District oil Columbia surprze upon the peo-
pie Of Maryland and Virginia being very confident that
ifte state Of things which exists had been at all ~
pretended by those States, the cession the District
would not have been made upon the express
dtion that Congress should exercise no such power and
that with such condition the ccssion would in the the
state OF pubic opinion, have been readily accepted
3dy do therefore believe, that the abolition of slave.
y IN the District Of Columbia against the wishes Of The
slave holding States (assuming that Congress has The
power u effect i would violate the spirit of iat coin
promise OF interests which lies the basis Of our social
compact and am thoroughly convinced, that it could
not be SO done, without imminent peril it certain
destruction TO the Union Of the States Viewing The
matter in this light, it is my clear and settled opinion
that the Federal Government ough to abstain from do
ing and that II is the sacred duty Of those whom the
people OF the United States entrust will, the central Of
lis action so 10 the constitutional power with which
they are invested, as to prevent H.
think Ut due 10 the occasion, and only simple act Of
justice to my ellow.ctzens Of tie North, Of all po
cal parties, to add the expression Of my full belief that
Tie opinions above expressed