Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-02


the part Of each visit with their seveest dsplea
any attempt to the subject with party poli-
tics, those sentiments cannot be overthrown All future
attempts the part Of the nboltionlsts TO do will
then only to accumulate and concentrate public
odum Themselves. That there are persons at the
North who are far from ccncurring in the PreValing
sentiment have described. ii certainly true; but their
Members, when compared tp the rest Of the community,
are nTc very incnnsidrraL-; and if the condition OF
ilngs be not greatly aggravated by imprudence: many
OF them Invr doubt. will ultimately adopt sonnder
views 81 Inc subject; and tie Efforts OF tise who may
persist ~ the work of anatiun, may be- overcome by
reason, or rendered imperative by constitutional
dies
!. We think IL inp"ssbIr that any man who will read
these sentiments with cnndnr and caltnmess can he.
state to say, that the charges against Mr. Van Buren,
of being abotonst Of having the slightest leaning
to their cause any disposition conciae them or TO
dep!ecac their orosIlion are most unfounded and
lust But il nav he SAID, that Mr.. Van Buren, in these
declarations. inliacs the opinion the abstract oues-
tion that the poYrcr of exclusive legislation in ali cases
whatsoever given Ivy the Constitution to Congress-
the Federal District. conrrs on that body, the same
authority on the suhirct, whch would otherwise have
been Possessed by tie States Of Maryland and Virginia,
that it might in virtue thereof take such steps upon
the subject in the District, those States might them
selves take within their Own limits consistently with
the rights of sovereignty But what does Mr. Van Buren,
further say: ''Whils such my present impressions:
upon distract operation Of the legal power OF Congress-
impressions which shall at all times be not only ready,
but disposed 10 surrender upon conviction OF error do
hesitate give il you my deliberate ard we'll
considered opinion that there oectins 10 The eXe!-
else of this power, against the wishes OF the savelold
nr States i'aptTntire in cir mnt"rc and obgatonS
in regulating the c0n2nc Of pubic men, as INC most pa
publc acaa Constitutional PAGER 1rOud be- lie further
states: 81 prefer !na not only yon. but all The people OF
the United States. shall now understand that If The
desire of that portion Of them which Is favorable to my
elevation To the Chief Naaistracr should be grat!Pd
90 into tie Presidential chair Tie inGexihe aad u,cOn
promising opponent Of any attempt, the part Of Con-
gross, ~ abolish slavery III the District oCohmhia.
arans the wishes IF the slave-hoding States; auu uiso
with the determination "qlly ecida, to resist the slight
est interference with the subject in the States where it
exists He also says "lhat abolition in the Distric
"couI not be done without imminent peril, if M,
tain destruction. to the Union. Again he says "Fiew
ing the mat:rr\in this liah it is my clear and settled
opinion that the Federal Government ought to abstain
from doing and that it is tie rcrcGdaay N0Sc tr4n1
Tic pe"pie tntrus h The rontr0t IF its ac0n 50 10
the Constitutional p0.cr mih shich they enrustcd 10
prrrcnt IT,.
These passages in the letter amount in our dsmens,
to express declaration, that Mr.. Van Barren II Press!
dent would fee himself just much bound To resist AGo
lon in the District il the Constitution expressly pro-
bltcd it, and the quotations, taken together, contain
direct and uneQuvuca pledge, that in he is elected
he will usT every constitutional power 10 defeat every
attempt, II effect it, Is it possible 10 conceive that lie
would, after such declarations made in the face Of the
milton. 10 sanc!oa any bill for such object,
especially when he tells y"u that such ntcmpt. sue!
cessful, would certainly dissolve The Union. We think
that these pledges and declarations OF Mr. Van Rufen
ought be- and will be, satisfactory 10 the people, and
that they will no: regard criminal the honest expires
sion of sentiment an abstract legal ft"sinn, partcu!
: lHrly with his opinions spenlnly and decidedly
expressed against the exercise ca the power practca!
evil can result from impressions he may az 10
the Of the powers OF Congress the subject. To
mark the difference IN the CONDUCT OF The Ofpnson
prints and uartiZ,ns towards MIR. Van Barren and their
political friends, under similar circumstances 1t
ought to b. nlcntionrd that MI Clay declared in tire
Senate, that he reason 10 !nn5i, the power o.
Congress abolish slavery in Tie District and yet nc
hue and has been raised against num- for the opinion,
which there is 10 doubt honest and chh.
sccncious In the House CT Delegates OF Virginia, tue
resolution that unconstitutional TO abolish slavery
in the District passed by vote Of lG5 10 - Those w.'
voted in the negative OpPnslt!n members, ana 20
structures Gat. the vote, bat on tie contrary,
their political friends contented, indeed every body
thought it fair exercise Of the right OF opinion, on
question which persons migt honestly differ, without
lis being Impeachment OF their patriotism o! Standing
pubic Such unfortunately is The nature OF
party when carried 10 extremes, that " Hat IS imputed Us
criminal! 10 na, is deemed free from Ohecon II not
pruisrworthy in another
We will now notice an objection which las been of.
ten made, n!d graveiy urged To Mr. Van Durens cleo
ton, which is rxavagant in ITSELF, so itle sustained
hY facts and dsingenuous, thai should not deem
worthy Of renation by any serion argument was nor
calculated place strong relief t, character Of The up.
r"siti"n i'ic 20 him. and the re the destitntlnn
of solid rrasuning which ms cl"iires have ,cc
strained to resort. has been boly asserted that Mr.
V b. the advocate Of what caicd party nomenca-
lurrl Negrnr suffrage 10 such purposes las this uDJcc'
ton been applied, that have bre informed, that ny
Of State elections, voters coming to iie p"lIs
have been asked, whether they wcuavo!e wilma parry
who sustained candidate for the Presidency desIrous 10
place black man side by side with them the hustings
In. fair import Of This charge wusi t.!al Mr. Van burcE
was cnlcavorlng (by some magical Influence, we sup
pns..) n:rrrapinr all sgal and constitutional impede
mrnls give the free negro equal right 10 vote IN
Hruuia wI,h the white man. And upon what, let W
ask you, r'owczcns, upon what co!on'ablr or tlasi
bic ground does this accusation rest Inc lacs Whlca
rIeagred to 1 tortured to Tins purpose are These
nd mi n,
s,uiinn adopted in III BY that Con.tctlpn the
right of sutruar confined 10 reolters. or persons
having interest in the soil BY that INSTRUMENT there
distinction 10 the right Of voting between nlcn
of different coor$ In 1921 Convention was called,
and, il would from the debates, that one strong
motive wdS TO change the right OF voting, ara 10 give
much wider extent When that subject under dis
cuSsion effort made 10 place The free negro upon
all equality with the white man. as he stood under the
old Constitution. 10 this MIR. Van Buren, decided
IL opposed and advocated and voted for The clause adopt
ed and made part Of the new Constitution, wi'ch,
whilst it grelilv extended the right Of suffrage in the
free white cilizcns imposed restrictions on the coored
voter amounting almost to prohibition. lhls Will ap'
pear from the Of The Constitution which VIII be
here inserted
l. Ivory n citizen OF the Of '"cny-one years. who
shah !, OF this STATE Year preceding any
rccu, iU tine last months Resident The nwn or r"''!
ci liz c ri:o, pill tx 10 ,c sat- % r"unty "'Srra Upon
ton; b;n. equipped according TO i~ shall have per
formed ycar military y i'll Tie militia .! this State or
III from performing militia duty n consequence
Of ia. any rty riia:: III this STATE: I
asa cery citizen f the Of twenty OF" years VINO shall
have such ctc!u iahIit: n
this nai IL. the Last Resident n the to""' couiy
he ma! oi his vote ;:' haze been with;i the S
y.ur labor tpa the public highways aad snail have per-
lhnr paid equivalent hct"o according to laws
slill rtiila ward where he actually
Sirs rcyrcc all officers that Hereafter
may elective BY the people: But no ma" q color ac's he s.
Il for
prccn; election, SHALL BE- -:d a"a possessed ~ reeaa
knud and g GtrS ocer end Gd"tc al ce's
LcreoT aud shall have b"th actoi ':!'
AMI paid l,rc.o. entitled To- vote t sucn eiccu9h
Md!
shall and possessed OF such real estate rs nin''S2a
It will BE- that The qualification required ut the CO.