Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-04

mornsts have discovered and or. vcy to US
hney' ,hat they are prevented, by their dread Of viii
Inc horrors OF slavery, FROM coming 70 Wash
lngton 10 hear the debates in Conaress Sir this i, the
trst time ever heard suggested that the right Of PC
on imposed Tie dny Congress 10 receive petitions
acknowlrdgcdly improper and mschievous no matter
why so improper and mischcrous
MIR. Leigh then proceeded remark that though he
thought the question OF the competency of Conp,ess To
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia MOI n.ces
sary involved in the decision Of the question proposed
by the gentleman from S. Carolnr-thourh in bis ovi.
nion if the conceded Congress- the Senate
ought yet to refuse to receive these petitions it was OBJ
Vons thai 1t Congress had no such power, that would ia
a conclusive objection to receiving the petitions and
therefore the question whether the abolition of slav very in
che District was within the constitutional competency of
Congress, was fair topic of discussion in this debate
II was important 10 the Southern States especially 10
Maryland and Virginia. to understand the exact state Of
opinion in Congress the point for if the doctrines Of
a5oo;sts should gain ground in the slave holding
States, and Congress should its power TO abo.
lish slavery i'll this District, we might very we'll appre
bend that the power will distant day be exe5cs.
cd; and the Stale Governments ought to be the
more careful and strenuous 10 devise such measures
within their own competency as would best to
guard Us against the consequences. Tie assertion Of
such power by Congress, the failure 10 disclaim it.
MIR. l.. feared, would give energy TO the efforts of
the aboonists. The system which they were act
ing was the system Of agitaon; system nnica to the
stability Of all political institutions. 1t truly asto-
nlSing 10 how few men, and what Of men,
capable Of getting and keeping up such system and
thereby poisoning the social relations Of any county,
shaking the foundations Of Government and dissolying
the best adj usted political comPacis Mr. l.. sad he
held the oplicn That Congress had rghtful cons.i-
tutional power 10 abns slavery in this District and he
should take this opportunity 20 lay before the Senate bis
views of tho question: though he hoped and trusted that
some occasion would oe found for bringing it before this
body directly and snsy for decision that the slave
holding States might understand exactly the grounds
they standing OH.
But first (said ilr. L. let Us understand tho question
Nobody doubts that Congress may nulhorse the
Of slaves within the District manumi them and NAV
facilitate the emancipation Of them by tie owne:s by
proper legal provisions adapted 10 the purpose. The
question whether is competent to Congress TO
cipate the slaves IN this District, without the Mt of
the owners, ary slave without the Of the in
diviGua owner.
Such power if il exists, must be deduced from the
provision OF the Constitution, giving Congress power to
exercise exclusive legislation, in all whatsoever,
over such district (not exceeding ten miles square)
may, by cesson of particular States and the accept
ance Of Congress- become the seat Of the Government
OF the United States, and TO exercise like authority
over al! places purchased by the consent 81 the Legs
ature OF the State in which the same Iha be, To-
! erection OF FORTS magazines, a:scr-s' cors-yn'"' d
other nccdtul buildings" c,.l,cs ,ha
nr,v iie Senate 10 copruer, in the first place. W..
this shall he construed grant 20 eonSlcss o. ,h;
,;,.t nbsoIute ,,s,,,tic power o! leg"ia.'o" o'e w
District. and if ly virtue Of the grant, eUnss ,ha
abolish the rishs ui slave property IN ,le D',
,uny c,.cise ike authority over the fors,
,r..rai &C. Which they have purchased IN the s'S'e
hodiur States They may not only Organize the h.eoe
ihry shall make free militia regiments mere OH. uy
may form them into corps OF regulars ''1 arms estob
lGuLad .G5TF they may ..;r cafe keeping
the magazines and arscnaS, the munitions and nipple.
mrn;s Of The power claimed is Of most fear
ul import and extent; and no geniIenian, ! presume,
will now wonder at the anxiety which the claim to such
power raises in minds Let US not be told that
Congress will proceed 10 any such dangerous eI-
trenes tic exercise Of power let its existence be ever
unguestioabc! Not great many years have passed
my head since thong int ii impossible that any set
Of (bat the Gua;crs) could seriously propose The
abolition of slavery in the District Of Columbia in the
actual state Of things in Virginia and Mary land
The argument Tor the power OF Congress understand
to be this That HE grant to Congress OF The powers OF
exclusive legislation, Gil whatsoever over the
District in Congress all powers which the LegiS'
asurcs Of Maryland und Virginia may rightly exercise
within their respective Jurisdictions. And shall adj
nit the principle, provided IS admitted Oh the other
hand that Congress has The same extent Of power as
the State legislatures uy which the District was coded.
and more which, surely, is unreasonable POsulate.
presume il Cannot be contend cd thai The Stale Legs
atuc Va MARY gland, Of any State IN the Union,
is ris :ul power IL :Iakc any law incompatible with
solemn, lawful compact with another State or that
Congress- virtue of its powers OF exclusive legislation
over the District e Culuha. competent TO make laws
directly contrary the act o ccSslon oil the DISTINCT ny
Virginia Mary land; contrary to the compact WHICH
The ACT Of ccSsiUn Imports: contrary to the terms on
which Con.r$s accepted the cesslUn. There IS an cX-
istinp compact between Maryland and Virginia con-
ccrnr the use and navigation Of the Potomac, aud the
jurisdiction the river no one has ever supposed
that either State cOnstliutiona!y make 4 law con-
travcnng that COMPACT in the least PARTICULAR without
the consent Of the ether There is compact between
Virginia aud Kentucky, upon the terms Of which The
latter erected into independent STATE; Kentucky
has passed laws which have been complained Of, and
impugncd the ground that they contrary TO the
terms Of the compact; uud the question TO their vail
dly was brought before the Supreme Court OF he ~
States; but the only question vas, whether ihe Ken
lucky laws violated the compact or not Tor no uris or
Statesman Of Kentucky ever thought OF contrha!h@
that il those laws really violated the compact they were
nevertheless constitutional and valid But the cession
Of this District is tic only ces5iun which Virginia
has made 10 the United States She cedcd TO tue
United States all her rights in the Northwestern Terri
tory upon irrms which CongEess accepted tile
cessun and which, therefore, constitute conpsct be-
tween that State and the United States There Is, at
this moment most interesting question pending beicrc
Currrcss between the State v! Ohio and the Territory
Of Michigan, touching the boundary between Inc MI
cipan insists the act Of cession O! 'Tsnia as SEX
tied the boundary, unaterabiy ana coheuS'sy' auN
Ohio contends that c act OF cession gives 1u power 70
CONGRESS 10 ascertain and fix the boundary, az conVe-
nicl:cc good policy and justice shall dictate but neither
the State of Ohio amy one else, contends mat, The
act OF cession does determine the boundary, 1t - conpe
tent to Congress disregard the compact with Virginia;
the only uustiu s what is tic true meaning and effect
Of the compact: So, with regard to. this cession by
virginia of the District Of Columbia. Whatever terms
the Legislature Of Virginia has stipulated, Congress- &C.
ceptng the cesSon upon these terms, Is bound ny the
compact those import, and is not within d com
potency to make any law contrary to the compact now
the act Of cession Of Virginia is in lirSe words:
Be il enacted &c, That the tract OF country not
exceeding miles any lesser qsan,ityto be oca,tt
within the limits OF this Suite, aud ~ any phtt ieie
Congress i;ay by las direct, SHALL nr' anu I".
is hereby forever crded and renushrd to 1he IN "a;
rycss and Government Of the Unlud States IN iuii
and absolute right and exclusive jur'sd'c.on a. ~v,
of soil IS Of persons residing or 10 !es'"e ''sieoA,
,,n, ,o The Tenor and effect Of the eighth section OF
r first article fine Constitution Of Tic Government OF
,is lated states Provided, ,s. mailing herein CON
,; ;,I; y, construed 20 vest IN tie Y. STAT any right