Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-24
MR. PLyCkNEy"s REpORT.

We are indebted 10 friend at Washington for DO
cn'cnary copy @; this Report 'SIarrry in the DIS
rict Ct Columbia" We shall lay before our readers
III our next IL Is full of power and beauty. On one
point We wish II had GONE slrr iurthcr-lr we should
have been happy to iIr power Of Congress at once
directly abanIonr'l BIT it IL false, as the Telegraph
says, That it "npl'lds the cnnstnlionaIity Of Con-
grrss interfere with slavery in the Disric, of Column
bin On the cnnlrary expressly valves that question:
for il says Since the adoption OF the Federal Cons,.
tulicn the District ni Columbia has been coded the
United States seat Of the Federal Government but
not only nanr eminent statesmen Of the country, but ali
o! the slave Kidding States, speaking through their Lee
gisiavc assemblies, firmly believe and Insist that the
cessiuu so made has conferred upon Congress- no cons
tutiual power to abolish slavery within tue sedrc eTt
tory. Your committee have abstaInrd from an cSanina
ton of This question: because they were not instructed
to discuss it, But they have no hesitation 10 say, lha
in the view they have taken oil the whole question: Tie
obligations Of Congress not To act on THIS subject arc
fully binding and nsuperable as positive conSuu-
tonaI in,crdict or an open acknowledgment Of want
OF power"
Indeed the spirit of the whole Report is auspicous to
the rights and interests Of the South IL gees into lie
and purposes Of the grant to Congress OF cXcu-
legislation the Dslrictlt enters into the rights
OF the citizens Of the Dislrctas well as The rights oil
the ceding States, Maryland and rgnia-a and the in
trrests of all the savchndIng Sates-and contends az
Tie result that disturb the existence ot slavery in The
District, would De gross Impeachment &" t!le public
faith II is Difficult. 10 extract single link from snch
strong chain Of argument, without weakening the orce
Of il; but submit the following, sort Of summary
OF some Of its pnsiiinns
Considering Inc subject in this light, your committee
have already proved, that any interference by Congress
with the subject Of slavery, would be evidently calculated
to in the interests and dslarb the peace OF the slave
holding States; and it they lave succeeded IN establish
ing THIS position: no argument necessary 10 SHOW" tal
such Consequences sp:ingng from the action OF Con-
gress the local Legislature Of the District, would emf
nrnty endanger the of this Union. ii has also
been shewn, that Congress, the Legislature OF the
.UnIon have power over tins subject,
and that its powers, local Legislature Of the District,
were granted for the mere purpose OF rendering lis &C.
neral powers perfect and free from conflict and COLI
sion %h the Stale authorities. 1t has also been shown,
that these local powers should be exercised to
confer the greatest benefits upon the citizens resld-
ing within the District with The least possible inju.
~ To the peculiar interests Of any State, or the &C.
neral interests Of all the States. Your committee
have also shown. they think successfully, that tie
Ambition of slavery in the District uf Columbia would be
deep injury to,!r czns OF the District and, therefore,
violation Of the trns rrposrd in Congress Us the local
Legislature Of the District and, also, that 1t wo1d IN
ct ucuabe jury upon all the slave holding States,
and would, therefore, he equal violation Of the trust
reposed in that body the Legislature OF the Union
II, Then, they have established these positions, as they
trmpatcd would be :. dangerous the Union; being
directly calculated, as would be- TO weaken the conf
dencc Of The District in Congress safe and faithful
local legislature and the confidence Of the save-hodIng
States impartial guardian OF their nlcrcsls.'
We know thai discontrntrd politicians, who trying
to raise panic Of abolion will nnde!va!ur this Re-
povl-pcvcrtS statements, and carp al the ninth par,
OF hair But the people will examine for themselves
and will that they safe under the broad shield
which this Report throws them No future Con.
gross dare it'll this Document before them, to inter-
cre with slavery. II ey do then will the public Faith
be directly violated and the Union itself will fall with H.
The practical resolution to which the Committee ar
rive is, that all future petitions shall he nailed to the Ia
hIr and neither rctrred: printed acrd on We are
wiling in the spirit Of cunrprn!se 10 take this course
Hosr-bu if the abolitouiSts will go TO get up pe
nns and sill! keep t, rycitenru. in the Morrill, then
il viii become the. dny uf the South to demand, that
they be 'rrrrcd, and the door he slammed al once IN
the faces Of the Fanatics.