Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-27
Twcnty-fourtEl Coangress--Gss sess.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Nam IA IS.Ii

HOUSE OF REPRGSENIA ~ LID.
Man. Is. 1856
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Mr.. Pinckney, from the Sclec. Committee 10 which
the subject had been referred, made the following
REPORT:
The Select Committee uppos,ed under the following
resolution Of the House of Representatives OF The T.
States of :he 9Th Of February 1896, viz: RcSO'red,
That all the memorials which have been offered, or
may hereafter be presr ncd TO this House, praying Tor
the abolition of slavery in the District OF CoiuniD.ai
and also the resolutions offered BIZ honorable nei-
Der from Maine (Jr. Jaryis,l with the amendment
thereto proposed BY an honorable member from VIZ
ginu (Mr Wise) together with every ether paper or
proposition that may be submitted IN relation 10 til's
subject be referred 10 Select Committee, with ~
sructions report, That Congress possesses no con-
futona! authority 10 interfere, IN any way Will tne
institution Of slavery i'll any OF the States OF tlls
Confedcracy and that, in tile opinion OF this Honse,
Congress ought not TO interfere, in any way, with
slavery in the District of Columbia, because It would
be violation of the public faith, unwisr, impotc,
and dangerous 10 the Union: assigning such reasons
for these conclusions as, in the Judgment OF the com
mllre, may lie best calculated 10 cnghten the p@b-
lie mind aay excitement, TO repress agitation; 10
secure and maintain the just lights of the sIavc-'id-
ing States und Of the people Of this District, ana 10
restore harmony and tranquility amongst the various
sections of this Unon:" respectfully submit the toll
lowing lcpot, in which they have unanimously con-
Cured
The subject referred is of grave import. Your
committee approach it with deep sense OF It's nGgGl-
ed the movements relation TO this matter as irausht
with incalcuabe evils not only 10 the slave holding
States but to every portion OF our conmrn county
They rejoice therefore, that the great body OF the pep
pie of the nosave huldng States have come forward,
as they have DONE in the true spirit Of American patriot
ism, to sustain their constitutional obligations to hrIr
Southern brethren, and TO arrest the dsu bance OF the
public peace. They rejoice particularly that the fedc-
raj Legislature, acting under deep sense Il lis Tespon-
sb.lity TO the nation, has also inlcrposcd rs warning
voice, and given solemn expression OF It's Judgment
upon this exciting subject and they feel assured, That
as The Representatives have responded to tie people, so
the people will firmly and pariocaly sustain the posi-
ton now taken by their Representatives.
As moderation essential 10 the discovery OF truth,
your committee will carefully abstain from every thing
that may cause offence, inlanie excitement i'll any
section Of the Union. But while they would make eve
ry allowance for the motives of individuals wher. the
objects contemplated utterly destructive 10 society
they cannot too strongly express their condemnation OF
the conduct of the abo;onlSls and their utter abhor"Ece
of the consequences to which, if persisted In, 1t must
inc ritaby lead They feel assured that man, or set
of men, will he permitted to put the country and Tie
Government defiance, BY Pcrseverlng III muchnat"ns
which threaten TO bring tile citizens OF the different
States into COLLISION and TO overthrow tile WHOLE System
of civil society ITSELF in the savehodlng portions Ut lie
Union. Your committee believe that the strength Of 'te
agators has bee: greatly exaggerated by themselves
and others but whether their numbers be small grat
there be doubt that they have done and are do'
ing ncalcuabe evil and every true patriot must be
aware that crisis las arrived III the political Con-
dition OF the country, in which neutrality would be crE'
ninal, and in which ne must determine between me
suppression oa5Don, and lhe destruction OF The Union,
and take his stand accordingly for against LIS country
Your committee have learned with surprise, that The
reference Of this subject has caused dissatisfaction in
certain portions of tho South. While they deeply re-
rret this circumstance they beg leave TO remark, that 1t
is not only abundanty justified by precedent, but in en-
tire accordance with the established usage and nvarlaUc
policy, in relation to matters Of this character; memo
rals praying for The abolition of slavery in the States, or
Il,
referred laid upon the table. On the p!csem; occa
son the subject referred for the express purpose Of
having report calculled 10 sustain The just rights ot
the holding SaIes, and OF the people oil this DISTRICT
and "by aaynT excitement. and REFRESHING agitation, %
insure the future repose and permanent tranquility e"
the country. The House unwilling, on the one scr
to invade what was believed 10 be the right CT peltion
IA right equally dear 10 every portion OF cur people, and
which il thought could not have been denied IN this
instance without establishing precedent, ut least as
hazardous the South as 10 any other SECTION OF tine
Union and it DESTROYS, on the other, to accomplish
for the South, what could not have been eiiccled ny r.
fusng TO receive The memorials, the union OF an over
whening majority in solemn and determined stand
against the vie and objects OF the applicants mist
tie denial Of the right Of petition could have produced
none other than tic most schlcvous effects your COM
mlec thoroughly satisfied that the course adopted
bv the House will produce slate OF public opinion and
feeling in the nonslavcoldng States, emlnenty lav"-
rable 10 the constitutional rights aud interests oi TIC
slave -holdng sections Of the Union.
The resolution under which your committee "ele Gl'
pointed naturally divides itself into several branches Or
propositions each Of which shall be considered III lis
order.
They are instructed 10 report, in the first place
That Congress possesses no constitutional authority
10 interfere in any way with tile institution OF slavery,
in any of the States of this Cuuirdrracv
Your committee will merely aludc to this proposition,
in obedience the express direction given them ny The
House. and not for the purpose OF entering into any ar
qumcnt respecting Unquestpnably, # there IL any
The United States consider settled beyond all possible
dispute controversy, is, that the institution VI siaVe
ry as it exists in the States Of this Coniederacy is u-
nicipal not NATIONAL and that it belongs exclusively 10
the States and can only be affected by State gisl.inn.
The power regulate act upon H. is one OF the re-
served powers of the Sates power which was not only
not piven nor intended 10 he given, BY the trainers
of the Constitution, TO the General Government, Lrt
which the States expressly and carefully guarded and
retained TO themselves by that amendment OF that N.
srunent (atcle !0 in which 1t is dccured that all
powers not delegated by the Constitution TO The United
States prohibited by 10 the States are reserved TO
the States respectively, to the people. The subject
of slavery in The States them moi an open question or
matter OF debate The fact that Congress possesses no
thoty whatever to lcgate respecting it, is one that can
neither be Strengthened by argument, nor made clearer
by discussion. And your committee consider II most
fortunate for the peace Of the country that is So He Is
inbred but little acquainted with the human heart and has
derived but little advantage from the lessons OF stcy
who can imagine for moment, if he knows any thing NJ
the general character, or considers llie Pouca ana FJ
steal strength Of the people of the South that even II
the power Of legislation this had been express
y conferred Congress by the Constitution, 1t cGn!d
be exercised against The consent of the States interested
without the certainty of civil war; and The probable dis
solution of the Union. The laration however, which
the House has sol.mnly and decsiveiy made upon
! this point, cannot fall as your committee believe, io
produce the most beneficial results As The abolllonistt
care little for emancipation i'll the District except as lie
precursor of far extended and general scheme t'e
presumption is, that having now possible hope Of 60
vernmenta interference with the States and seeing the
more than probable consequences Of the exercise Of suc
a power, if il possessed, they will discontinue
their Vaccinations in relation to the District:
nation devou,y be wished by every patriot in every