Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-27
VIRGINIA EIEGsSE14Asa ERE.
DEFERRED DEg.l1E.-tCosr'Surp.]
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.-Sanrday, Jan, 10
ABOLITION RESOLUTIONS.

HOUSE OF ENTHUSIASTICALLY, Jan. l6.
ABOLITION RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. Gr,ccs said: MIR. Spcakcr-T'lc gentleman who
has ms, taken his seat (alr. Daniel has thought TIT to
call the attention of the House to vote which was taken
.x davs MO- upon one Of the resolutions OF the select
comnitlee-lha resolution which declares That the Len
r.sS of the United States has constitutional power 10
abolish slavery in the District Oh Columbia.
regret that any alusiun should have been made 10
that subject It certainly not at all necessary for any
uurDosc of that wcntcinans argument; nor, indeed, 10
illustrate any position he attempted To maintain.
1t is known to at least O: the members OF this
House that NV name recorded III Inc list ol those VINO
voted in a very small minority that q!' stem and
nm now ulacsd for the first time succ that vote
taken under some OF necessity of sayng lev words
in its vindication have no Intention, NIX. SPraArt0
entering into any discussion of the general merits ct the
resolutions have appetite for public speaking; nor
have the talents to lkc proper III inc to thrust ihy'
self in the ranks al losr who have discussed Is SUBJECT
with so much ability on both sides shai: merely attempt
to state in hiiet manner as possibly call suc vi
.lc reasons which constrained me 10 vote against Inc re-
soIu,on i'm question. | will however, sir make Use nt
this occasion to say that as whole, prefer The rrSu
1ios reported Ly the select committee, TO those offered
by the gentleman !"In G""chlaliu as ihrt substitute
Lrcausr the resolutions U The committee, IL my jug
meu, assert opinions with more crarness and pre-
cson ana demand lat juSlcc wNicn we have fign TO
ask and claim Of sister States with n"rc hrIincsS anu
ruerrr AID whilst the resolutions ut The srkct
committee maintains principle, which, in M conscience
cannot approve vote for, the c"rrelalve rts"uol IN
the series OF resolutions Offered by the gentleman from
Goochland the prlEc!fic; and Is expressed
in still Stronger an! more odiouS form. For, whilst
the resolution oil the select committee asserts, that Con-
ues, has no constitutional power 10 abolish slavery IN
The District vi Culumhia-iat which is offered as
substitute, declares that any attempt On the purt OF Con
press T., abolish slavery the District Of Columbia,
would be violation Of the Consilul!on-any attempt,
however aborrc however it might drop stiilbo IRON
the hands of tosc who mcdltaled the m'scei however
il miuL be instantly abandoned. This postum at least
81, hla
indeed there be Course OF reasoning which can
prove that atirPt to violate the Constitution Is
an actual breach Of That Instrument thai every Effort
accompshes lis object
Mr Sneaker the Constitution Of the United States
has conferred upon Congress the power OF exclusive le
gislaon over the District OF Columbia And the AIti
Giles of Cessun made by Firg na and Maryland OF the
ten miles square, vests in Congress the exclusive JnrS
dicon over the crrd territory, with one single prOf!so
and cxccpion-tha; is that tit, Of the land should
still have and retain The right of property IN the sol"
thus lubitng Congress from taking The land except us
purchaser. This, l say, Is the only exception Or re-
scryaon made liz the Aitcrs Of CeSs'on, according 10
the painrs rules Of grammatical construction And it's
we'll established prlncip all legal conSti ucin, that
in all grants, if exceptions or reservations
are made in clongal!on o! lse general objects OF the
grant, il shall be taken, that other reservation or cX-
cepton was intended. And surely this principle is
founded OH the plincst principles OF common sense,
and will challenge universal assent Then, there
is no Limitation 10 The powers nj Congress over the
CeSsion Mr.. Speaker. care not which OF the phrases
we may use, "exc!us.vc lcgsn!ivn, or "cxclusirc
jurisdiction. They appear to ie TO be equivalent OK.
pressions But ;!.e psaS 1exc,u.irc igIsatIon IL
the phrase Of the ClS,ut1an let us that; and wall
now ask any gentleman in this iluuS II hr eau construct
phrase in the Eng lIs!, langaage w:c can better con-
vey the idea vi sovereign power. c"nltss cannot -
Exclusive lrgislati"n must l paramount legislation II
must extend 10 all pcrsCrs and TO al! things; It 1t does
not, it must he imperfect, subordinate. ii IT bc eXcu'
sve, it must be perfect, complete The phrase itself IS
So strong and full ii meaning, that ii seems /" ne 1t can,
not be infused Ia lnd,;urul, then, the Constitution
has conferred upon Congress the Iu! power ol govern
nlent over the District Of Columbia. would then ask,
can any conceive the idea ul i government, with
out assocating viii, 1t the notion oil sovereign, power
To speak of such thing would be an abuse ot language
q confusion of thought. The thing would not br intr
ligibe. You might well talk about Il Judge Without
Jurisdiction, government without sovereign power
in some sort. 1t is admitted that Congress has the pow
er of cnacng code of penal laws Tor the District aud
that il may nct the penalty of death upon those who
may violate those laws. 1t may shed human b!""d-
take human life, which is the hughes! exercise OF sore-
reign power upon earth II cas- do al! tins, and yet IS
gravely conteuded that tins same Congress docs not
possess the power at disturbing the delicate relations
subsisng between master and slave. II It b. 50, 1t were
strange indeed.
admit MIR. Speaker, most chrcriu'y admit, that all
legislation Of Congress the District we'll
all other Subjects must BE- under the coitU and niita
sions Of the Constitution. But challenge any gentle
in this l]ouSc shcw that clause Ut the Cuns,i
tullOn, WHICH power Ol oNet
subject Of slavery in Ike District al Columbia in the
slightest degree der"yates from the scope extent Of
that power which is expressly Conferred upon them, by
the grant of eaeusec tesiSation boldly affirm there
is none. VIII any gcall'nian refer mc TO that clause,
which declares that Congress shall take private pro-
rerty for Public uses, without just compensation lie
who relies upon that clause in my judi ment absolutely
surrendcrs the question. For, who is there that cannot
u, once perceive the manifest difference between the
emancipation of slaves, and the taking private property
for !, biic uSeS without just compensation: But, sup
pose ongrcss pay their value 10 their masters:
In that event, is there one man upon earlh VINO could
entertain doubt for sing re moment:
The gentleman from Richmond City, day or two
aeo and Just as the vote about 10 be taken on tins
resolution addressed the House shnrl argument but
it was powerful argument lie stated thai slaves IN The
District of Columbia much property as any other
goods cuttcs and asked, with the greu;est appa
confidence Of negative answer, whether congress
could confscate property Sir, we Will oil answer
that question in the negative. And yet Is 1t easy 10
perceive the difference between the enanci patton OF
slaves which may be an act Of strict justice and Of the
most imperious Necessity, aad the walon cofsc ton
Of property |
will not stop here, Mr.. spcakcs ,o enquire whether
as property AID any other goods and chaltes Nor will
enquire into that grave question, whetser Any ndiv
dual in society has any RICH: to hold species of pro-
Detty which, from its very nature may De ealcnased
destroy the happiness and security & his neighbour aad
"a and oyerturn the very foundations OF society
saw will not inquire into these sutjects-no, sir, not
,ere Of elsewhere hereatter-l am no abolition
at detest and abhor all their schemes Mr. speaker,
latte ltnnf f,nff tho