Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-27

the Congress of the United States does not the
power to abolish slavery in the District of Coumba
under any possible or conceivable circumstances. For
although the resolution does say in SO many words
there Is no exception stated The Inhibition must,
therefore necessarily be taken 10 be absolute and unver
sal Now, slr, suppose that nine enths ninety nine
hundteoths Ut the shareholders of the District OF CO.
Iubia were 10 petition Congress eniancipate their
saVes, and at The saine tune 10 pay for them their nll
value land suppose Congress perfectly convinced
that 1t would be- proper do So that the very salvation
St tue country depended upon the measure vet their
hands would be could be done and yet the
CONSTITUTION coniers upon Congress the power oil
sive legislation over the District--ThS would not he
coniiscauon but gentlemen may object, and say that
congress does not possess the right to appropt ae mo-
ney Tor such purpose. There certainly be no rea
so"anie doubt or question upon this subject Congress
mas the power of exclusive legislation the District
ana clearly incd nal 10 this right, the right appro
pirate money to carry their Legislation into effect Has
not Congress the right to appropriate money erect
Courthouse IN winch their laws TO be administered
UT 10 pay the master the value OF slave may be
condemned To death, and actually executed? Most Ger
ainly they have; and their right to appropriate money
Tor the emancipation OF their slaves equally incontes
blc
/, is admitted all hands indeed il is asserted in one
OF te resolutions now under discussion, that the slave
holding states have full aud plcnary power over the
suayeet oil slavery within their limits. Virginia, them
had, before she ceded that part the District which lay
WITHIN her limits, The full power OF emancpatng the
SAVES wiu"n that territory, as well all other slaves
within her jurisdiction Mcll--she has surrendered TO
congress The exclusive jurisdiction that territory
without any reservation upon the subject of slavery
tt
'e slaves oil The DiStricand gentleman say Congress
does not possess the power. Then ask what has be-
come OF 1t! In what authority is it vested /? Is this
Important power lost, annihlated? Perhaps gentlemen
may say, II is IN the primary assemblies of the people
~ what act was it transferred from the Government to
he people IN their primary assemblies When where
sHd now was THIS act done? Ii this argument has any
lo'ce mere, 1t may be used universal argument
against the exercise OF all delegated power Its mooss-
oie MI Speaker, that such anomalous of thing
can exist in any country where there is regular org5
a o. nO In
me TO be almost preposterous
mr.. Speaker, have already said am no aboitionst
amor ana detes their aims and objects; and will 30 Us
lar as any other gentleman in this House to protest
against the proprety of all interference on the pau OF
congress on The subject of slavery the District of
luihoa' am perfectly, entirely satisfied that such
step Will lead directly the severance othis Union
maintain, and shall maintain that the people
VI e MISUNDERSTANDING States have proper right 10
Peuon congress on that subject that it is fragrant
breach OF Faith to the Southern States and hone most
Sincerely hope that Congress will dispose of all such
peuuons, with little ceremony as may be consis,e mi
WIN proper sense of their own dignity
PUT, nr' Speaker with all these sentiments, never.
Vss, could not vote Tor the adoption OF the resolt-
ton TO which object without an absolute surrender of
ie nrnest convictions OF my Judgment and at the
same time doing the greatest violence TO my own con-
scehce' ms cannot do, and hope circumstances
wi ever occur, which will tempt me to do so:
du nuch rather be at peace at home than have the
empty qualification of voting with the largest maiorty
T speaker candor constrains me to state a sentiment
whch honestly entertain in regard this painful sub
lect Perhaps, sir the sentiment may render me odious
IN the eyes oil some members OF this House THOUGH |
iath nope II may not. 1t is this i one of those
VINO now think, and have always believed that sla-
very was great evil; great curse, sir, if you
Petse, To Tins country; a great evil to the slave
ana YET greater evil TO the master. Yet | confess
cannot see how is possible for relieve ourselves
rom me calamity To emancipae them aud TO give
uch equal rights with ourselves would be to exteTn
nate the white population. TO emancipate them and
70 place them in an inferior degraded condition would
he TO place them in tenfod condition than ,hev
now occupy IL seems to me, we have alternative
we must submit TO destiny.
MT. Speaker we all know that a wise Providence has
permitted slavery 10 exist in form or other from
the earliest records OF human society. This confess
has reconcilcd me- in some sort TO that condition 81
lhings; and Tor one, am content wait in patience
until 1t shall please God in the goodness of his provi
dence, to direct things otherwise
(De6Gtc to be c0nfinued)