The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1836-10-21

W u argued by Mr.. Van 9knfsn and 9th
ers. that Congress derives khs power 10
abolish slavery in The district u Colum-
bis, NOT from The constitution Of The Uni.
ned SIales-bnl Irpm the arlirles of ees
sion By ~Ilrh Virginia and Maryland
ceded Ihs district 10 The General Govern
meui. II these ariiel-s be examined. iI
will he seen that they give TO Congress
the same power ard authority over the
District of Columbia which Virginia and
Maryland themselves possessed before
The transfer was made. Now Virginia
and Maryland had no power 10 abolish
slavery within their respective territories.
and consequently could not convey any
such 10 Congress. The constitutions Of
these states only authorize the legisla.
lures To take the properly Of the people
for public uses. and require that an equi.
valent shall be given even in those cases.
Slaves are as much The property Of their
owners as are horses and c0ws-they
therefore cannot be taken against the
consent 0f their ow ners. EXCEPT for pub
lac uses and for valuable consideration.
To set them ire and make them their
own masters. would not BE- taking them
for public use-very far from IL. Ii
would only be taking them from their
masters and giving them TO themselves.
which is the same thing $50 far as the
right and interests Of The owners are con-
eerned) as taking them from one man IN
Cas~elI and giving them To his ueighbnr.
Yet Mr.. Van Buren, says Congress has
this power. DO you say 50, fellow ci-
iIzens! Or will You suppori nan who
does say sol II yuu do, then will you
vote for one who. il elected, will put in
jeopardy TIA, species Of properly which
is 81 chief value 10 the Southern farmer
and planter.
Are you in favor Of that construction Of
the constitution which gives 10 the Gen.
eral Government The power Of cutting q
road through q sovereign aud independ.
en-, state. and Of establishing toll gates
upon it. by which The people are made
To pay tax for travelling on their own
soil! II you are-then should you vota
for Mr.. Van Buren,. For when in Con.
gress he supported This policy. by voting
TO establish toll gate upnn the celebrate
ed Cumberland road. Are you in favor
Of the Tariff? lf so-ihen you agree
with Martin Van Buren-fnr he voted
for the Tariff of ls24--ihe Woollens bill
uf 1927. and the Tariff Of 1923, which
latter mas been apIIy termed "lhe Bill Of
denominations"
What say you ought To be done with
tina, portion Of the peoples money which
has accumulated in the National Treasu
nv. and for which the Government has
M manner of use! Do YOU not think il
ought 10 be given back IN the people from
whom il vas nbialned. 10 be used by
them for the education cf the poor chIl
dren uf the country. and 10 lessen the
amount Of taxes which we have to psyi
4 large surplus OI money amounting at
present to about Forty Millions Of Dol
lars and sull Iucressing-is now in the
Treasury of the United States living per
lec,l, idl,-dItTnsing no benefit to The
people, but rather serving TO corrupt those
agents whom they have appointed to
direct the operations Of the Government.
From whose pockets. we ask. was this
nancy drawn! From the peoples. To
whom then ought it TO he returned when
it is perceived there is no use for ili
Why, surely To those from whom il was
taken. Mr.. Van Buren, says if he is
elected President. this sheer act Of justice
to the honest people Of The country shall
not take place. Here are his own words
upon the subject; read them for your
selves: they are here extracted from a
letter which he has lately written TO
member Of Congress from the state of
Kentucky: "It is my firm conviction
saws he, "lhat any system BY which a
distribution is made among the states.
Of the monies collected by the Federal
Government. would introduce vices into
the legislation Of both governments
productive Of the most injurious effects
as well upon the best interests Of The
country as upon the purpetulty Of our
political institutions" Speaking Of The
distribution of the proceeds Of the public
lands according to federal pppulsuon)
which constitutes very large portion
Of the surplus revenue Of the government
indeed. which constitutes Of itself
fund Of immense and increasing amount;
Mr.. Van Buren, in the same letter thus
expresses himself: II am Of opinion
that the avails Of the public lands will be
more equitably and faithfully applied TO
the common benefit Of the United States,
by their continued application To the
general wants of the Treasury than
by any other mode that has yet been
suggested, and that such an appropriation
is IN every respect preferable TO the
distribution thereof among the states in
the manner your question proposes
entertaining these views, | cannot give