Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-04-12


/ ,edricted
TIE cession from vrriois was n,.de by sc, n
Legislature "fihll State IN the third orDce 1850
IN the following words.s
"Be II epaetrd Nv the Gercrsl tsscu,hiv Tina,
a trae; ofcounity not exceeding tcu miles square
| ~ any lesser quantity. To be located within tho
limits Of The State and in any part ,hercof.as Con,
! cress may, by law direct, shall be and the same
l. hereby f,fevcr cedcd nrd reinqushed ~ 10.
! Congress and Gotornneci Of ihe L. States in f,u
and absolute right an exclusive jurisdictions rs wr
of soil a. Of persons residing nr to reside thereon
pursuant to The tenor and aec, Of ih, eighth sec.
ton Of the frs, article Of the Constitution Of The
Government Of the L. s.
| This rreni il will be perceived transfers 10 the
L. "oxclusive Jurisdiction Of soil aud persons re-
siding OF To- reside thereon and adds "pursuant
10 the Tenor and effect of The eighth section of the
fret nriirla of The Constitution cr tho Covefnmcu,
of the United States" that is pursuant to Tint
the Constitution which ns We have seen. OK.
pressy gronts TO Congress tho powei ",o exercise
exclusive legislation IN all cases Whatsoever" -
Here then instead of rest rc,on Of the Inrsdic-
ton contemplated in the Constitution there lie both
in direct terms, and by reference 20 that in
s'rument, an express and clear confirmation Of
It,
Bot say gentlemen, there is a provi.o which
follows this grant, that contains the limitation con-
tended for Lee, us see. The provlso is as fol-
lows: Provided tina. nothing herein contained
shall be constructed 10 vest IN the Unhd States
any right of property in The soil, TO affect the
rights of individuals therein otherwise than the
same shall may be transferred by such indvdu-
ais to the United States" Now, sir is i, not
apparent, upon the slightest inspection of this
provso, that it limited the grant only so far az it
extended to the soil and was designed merely to
protect the rights of individuals therein THAT is
IN the soil from the operation of that part of
the cesslon which grants 1.-THE tract of country" TO
the United States "in full and absolute rghi'"-
1t Seems TO me- indeed that, far from Initiating
the grant in reference to the subject matter now
under consideration, this very proylso does in of.
feet confirm II, since an express exception of one
species Of right from the operation fthe grant and
one only, would seem 10 imply an exclusion OF all
other exceptions. 1t is, indeed, altogether incre-
dible, that the Legislatures of Virginia and Mary.
land should have intended 10 restrict The u. States
in their powers the subject of slavery, without
using language which would directly, or by clear
INN tcation. reach the .----
The gentleman from Virginion mr. Wise) gives
additional force to this argument by asking
''Why was tho co.sinn ro4ni-od, Why IT,;
"lthc ceding States consent to the purchase OF
'to give the States the power of imposing condition
"and restraint upon your legislation the coded
"territory7'
"The power ofimposing condition and restraint"
Very well. Ifthis was the purpose, the States
of Virginia and Maryland of course understood it
and would take to impose in their grants al!
the conditions and restraints upon the Legislation
of Congress which they thought proper and TO do
1t so plainly that even the way.farng need not
err in regard TO them Now, where are the con
dItlon aud restraints on winch gentlemen rely T.
! have recited the whole and who will say That !
they embrace any restraint upon the power OF
Congress touching the subject under consideration
Il not the omission upon the gentleman's own view /
of The subject. decisive of The question
Bat the gentleman having looked into the grant
and seeing Tim, no such Condition and restraint"
was imposed there seeks to find 1t IN the nature
of society and government IN Maryland and Vir |
glula' winch he says is cot ITSELF independent of
conditions expressed 10 the acts Of cessIon, sui.
coni IL restrain your power OF legislation over this
.nbirci" Thus, at one moment, csssi0n was
provided for IN the Constitutional the end that the
cedtng states might impose condition and restraint
upon the legislation Of Congress- aid al the next
che nature Of society and government IN Maryland
and Virginia is If itself sufficient restraint"
NNiiunl bHN lhiUI "hplfHr'h w 'ht E'""'
Bn,, Mr. Speaker Wha, is the condition Of the
people uf this district N regard to TINS important
subject, IT the power conended for ~ not granted
t. Congress- Maryland and Virginia, possessing
the power to abolish slavery and the slave trade
within their respective hunts. had ;he power 81
doing it within the territory which now composes
this district But they POSSESS It no lonPer.-
Their jurisdiction here Is ex,ngulshed. The ia
hablants of the territory are transferred 10 tho u.
States entirely Invested Of all civil jurisdiction; With
no power TO cCisla'e or this any other subject,
but subjected 10 the Exclusive iegIsia'ioa' of
e. irre.s in cali eases whatsoever. However
much they may at any time, desire to free tine ter
rilory from :he curse ufsayery and the slage faae.
they are powerle.s. For any hing they can do
nv the force IF iaw, they and their children, and
their rhildrens children, o. he latest time. musi
be dpnm.d 10 see among them traffic which
make. merchandise of HE bodies and The souls 81
ihcir fellow men; which marche1 through Their
streets chained toge,scr cnm?sn'e~ ~ h1man be-
ing. destined 10 the slave prison o1d the sare ship;
a ID which ngou.zes their moral sentioiiites o.
severance Of oil the ,c- which bind Hen 70 mrs iei-
low amin the most valued and endeafed relsliona
of human life
have thus shown tina, the power gwen TO
ks A he