Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-12

crre with The subject of slavery aud IN the very lace
Of ,nr most c&plc!; mud repeated Gec'F'uo''S w we
conirRrv On the iih OF July, 1884, Mr.. van bufen
replied to letter addressed him from MISSISSIPPI ny
Sam Gwn, Esq, upon this subject, anu uses 'ie ,T I
lowing language in his answer" My opinions o ..
subject o! the power Of Congress over slave PIoPy
in the Southern States are so well understood by my
Friends that am supr2r1 that an attempt 10 i'nPose
upon the public respecting '"em Should be
he subject Is, III my Judgment. exclusively u"os. w
conl,ul 81 the STATE t0vrT::ents ami am not aP-
prizrd do believe ,ir. ii contrary opinion, to an
exri.t deserving consideration, is Entertained IN any
part IF The United States The charge therefore, TO
which you hHv' had The .gn"d"ss to cal M attention.
that in !arnur 81 interference by Congress III
:Iiinlng savc property, drstiatc Of i0nnHa
ton: So far rnn H. q" rot what authority the
General Government could Interfere without change
nj ih. Constitutions NJ the instance Of either nil
ibc sIurg kGldiuT MdteS. In ordinary times,
Dli, anrunciat,n Of opinions like these, in language
wholly uisiScrplibe Of MISUNDERSTANDING and beyond The
rrocl crcayi As dnercsrd Phsser by ouid suppose
II ~ r,arLnd rs satisfactory and sufficient; but in
h.se cr,rn0rdnary times, distinguished oE the NOISY
cInmor of il new. and hitherto unknown oruer OF
politicians recently sprung up an''"-'' 70, ~ ,H:
- Oil things pass array ana 10 cauHe " S
10 became ncio, another and subsequent express
Sim If o,,uon WAS rendered necessary upon TINS
same snbicl: and accordingly on the loth sep'ehIeI'
1855 he replied G"v. Sehley, OF Georgia. ~ le 'l
lowing Ianguage 'lt deeply 10 he rcge;'r" '"at 'ne
should be found the part OF any, Inducements SUI
ci.u,l,. str,uu 10 increase excitement already so
alarming. Lg a TrS6rt 10 i"ruht"HS' ~ H7e t"Sa q
,chich no n.rnuoS mint c"n p'"ts Lic sS"tcsl c0f
dcnce. Tie icgaA0ns Whrh aH'f0"' 70 NC .''' ,"I
Oviaious that are justly obaozious to me
Suits arc meGA in The ce Of the most e'P'tett asearA
TINS or mn p0r daayng all authority on lHs FfIt
the Federal GyrcrnmeHt TO in:erterc IN me 0'ater;
aeaiasi the prnpriety Of agsttng the g"sS!'a IN Me
O. 6;s,rjr Of C,r,nbiG ami in he absence Of single
Eyrj gjruy the least To nc HnT""HhcH I'M
pututions' But This plain and positive dIsav"",
al Of the truth Of clargrs winch otherwise reh'a'icu
wholly uncGroEctalei by any shadow OF evidence H'o
nj, satisfy the squeaIish minds vi the newt"gicd re-
drr,l Whir party tina. Mr. Van Bruen was nveTse TO
INV interference on the part Of the Federal Government
with the slave property Of The South
Convince against ms Will
lies Of the uprni"n still" .
THEY allege that his declaration 81 bcing deA'S
Me proprietg of agitang the question IN inc plsc' Oh
C.l,i,, was vet unsatisfactory. and left the slave
properly within the ten miles square, iaoh' 10 % aoo
zlrd at any time by the General government anu even
arerrrd their belief that lie was III favor OF e"'rc,Sne c
power for accomplishing this end; and hence Mr. van
Buren, WIS arain invited express his nPnI"n upon ie
constitutional Congress TO abolish slavery W'nh
the District III Columbia to which, among "n1E h@S'
Inc rruli,s. Thus viewing hr matter. would not, from
ir lns now before me. feel myself safe IN pr"oouhc-
nr that Congress does moi possess The power OF ihte1
irrur with. ab"r:hlng slavery IN the District Oh
" Columbia. But. while such are my present impress
;ns unon The aIs question Of the legal power al
! CunGr impressions which shall at all unes ne
not only ready. but dispose: to surrender upon con'c-
,iop NJ rrror- do rot hesitate to give to you Us my
drl,,rra. and we'll considered oPnIon tiat thete ue
directions l., the exercise OF th!s power, against 'e
ycscs Of the S!lvc-Ioldng States, as imperative III
their nature and ubIMatinns III regulating ire c"huuct
Of pulrc rurn rs the most pa!pabc want u coiStu
- tiola power would b' =. ,, L;,h
wr deem il pccuiarlv proprr TO make knnwn because II
p:csc,bcs Mr.. Van Buren, VIII lee! II ms GU
Is to pursue in the event at his election I" Tie lresdeh.
cv Of the United States. prefer Gays he) t'' no;
only you but al! the people Vi he United states: sha IL
now understand that II the desire oi that portion OF
them which is favorable to my elevation 10 thr rnlei
i1fIy Io r.
Na4stracy Should bs gratlnen h'"S' 9" 1"D te 80
s;deutaI Caair the inEsriUc and Hncofnpr"'a'Sn@ OPP
,nurrt Of Gitmpt tho rG n L0"grfSS 10 6b"sH
'arerv IN the District q Co'uH,ba against INC 'S'eS
,hc sjr, hGiGinr SiGiaS: md GE0 Hnh me 6Hr"hn"n
,gvoyGcci.d t. rcst tie slightest iatcIf.reHce chH We
,nbcci IN the Suites tehc'e Il c1'as Whatever OF"
oD,oH.ns NAV choose require rs "rhod"x "a'0"s OF
the part ii those who aspire To the Chez nassracy l m
Uuon in reference 10 the powers OF Tie 1enera'
over The subject Slavery within lhr STATES o' WIZ"
:; ,I ni.,-,c al Columbia content to give on
humble nd 10 him who from ms ,a'eF"'e "n;
,Jed pvinion tells tie world, 1ceceh al al ne "u'
ro into !hc Prcyidtnti0' ChHT The i'Tt"f ""e ""'o'.
Hn;s;yr cpyoufn, nj any aiem on The P1H t""@'tSS "
DLoj<b &nrrrg ,c,!in Mc District q tr;nmb'o grams
i N. isLes If tr Snrhodng AdS; ma mSo 'rtn t'e t
terminnon county decded To reS'S The sgEest t"Si
.n,c ,cih the subjec in the SatcS rhcre 1t er'ss why
chan L ,. ~ HiJs drrHd Mr.. Van Huren upon inc SUP
ect Of Slavery, with this declaration OIL orea "os
Trash from his Inns While they are ready TO sustain an
, vote for General Harrison III opposition 10 i' WI"
s J, and uotoriousIg in favor of applying the Surpu
pnronua If the Federal Government TO the pu'cnaslh
IS and lbera,!ng OF the slaves IN the go
5, 90 as To bring about the great d"Sue'a'uh ID MS
IS ,Insn,hr hel an .1HicriCnR >En m"y nor S""e '
r;ni, S,rc In addition TO these grave charges So u
. drsriousIy circulated the country against mr. =,
r Err.n u,isuuporlcd by any thing save ""a0SSer" az
J :, . very teeth of his pnblic declarations 10 III
''I I ,Lo. ,lIrqs also that he is cunning, artl
u ,.o,s man. md that his love OF popularity u'"y
seen in nIl his lc;s, and detected IN aios' ever! p
j. son thai falls from his lips. we DO h't oel'e " b
adui, !, to la true" mad IN it we have W.;
hirfA )3U:S.rat1
), rive full score this his predominant
" etir, to make himself not Gniy acceP1'1 10, w" H. ~
j. b- the American people; and ms lr "isoy W. M RI
l.c..sors and his own experience, VIII i,'e '"'s 80
=, . I,o,r can only be dne by Wise ahh just au,'''|
n ration Of the Government upon hepuo''c' i,;
y, He has seen the fatal effects OF an !>'Ief "i H.
&c Law npun President, en; inc ~ - h. m
,i Rprrssna,iycs of the People ought "not 10 0s g
y, x;ed BIZ the 1U Of their Constituents on ano''i' nN
r: he is as fond Of popularity as our opponents HI;
re will assuredy profit ~ their example a1o as'' ''F
: Tho only remaining objection urged against MI
IS mnor,arce TO notice, Isl that the Ia 'f"rte
&c VI J ,t,ni,re ,nrhl not 10 be voted tor by sou,
cS ry msu And has the warning voice OF I've go a.:
re liner Of American Liberty 50 sooh ceaseu 10
is err, Of his children: Are long services sPsnu or
H. rich cyperirrcc, ardent patriotism, ana utt's
ne III n,;rc;,,.s n be excluded from prerfhe"t W
he CHAIR Of the Chief hlaGls'racy, because .he$
H. G,n,d on L!is or thu. SHE OF the rn'oHiaI i IL
r. bocu.. he in whose head and heart they are 'ou
N o' ,,, Nrjisr, mr. SDatkern, Eastern or "es1e
,,uuv Was Washington any 0cne' oe'"' L"aso
lis syu Of the Potomac Franklin any M"ISs r
10 was horn NDr!a d! it? No; our sacrco o'l'" ""3 ~
Si IN "' and % gao,s and the Con:'
n @ Which ,hey cage u.s. the Magma Char,a Of our 1'S
and obligations, no where suce'S ys ,E ko u the
Ser ,, @ '"an 10 sink into desencracy and corrupt
nj C,nr,I W,sbirpon in his Fare"c ell Addrsss ''oe
se,e"e and ocjy warned his cGu1,'y%s" s aSi'
the pr$y Of so%%ntag si His paioc admU"'i
n. dur!n... Local prelunices' ii'' 20. c,,r,,,.n a
hepn