Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-05-31


ing the pressing claims and wants OIL It's own
immediate neighborhood, or town. or o'a'e,
wastes and dissipates itseltin visionary, and
often very mischievous, enterprises, Tor the
;mao;nary benefit of remote communities.
True philanthropy. rightly understood, and
nronerly applied, is one Of the purest and
most ennobing principles OF our nature; but,
m;sdirccted or perverted, it deSenerates in.
70 that fell spirit of fanaticism which disre-
cards oil ties, and tramples on all obstacles,
however sacred or venerable, in the relent-
less prosecution ofits horrid purposes. En-
perience proves, however, that, when indi-
yiduals in one place, mistaking the true cha
racter of fbeuevolence, rashly undertake, at
the imminen, hazard of conflict and convui-
sion, to remedy what they are pleased to
consider evils and distresscs in another, 1t
is naturally regarded by those who are thus
injured, either as species ofmadneSS wh!ch
may be repelled or resisted, rs any other
madness NAV, or as manitestinS teellnS cf
hostility on the one side, which must neces-
sarly produce corresponding alienation on
the other. 1t is all important, therefore,
that the spirit of abolition, or, n.other words,
of illegal and oflicious interference with the
domestic institutions ofthe south, should be
arrested and put down; and men OF lnteli'-
gence and influence at the north should en-.
deavor to produce that sound and rational
state ofpublic opinion, which is equally dlle
to the south and to the preservation OF the
Union.
And this brings your committee to the
last position they have been instructed TO
sustain; and that is, that, in the opinion OF
this House, Congress ought not to interfere.
in any way, with slavery in the DISTRICT ol
Columbia.
3dly. Because it would be dangerous to
the Union. :,
The first great object enumerated III t4c
constitution, as an inducement to its adop.
ton, was to Storm moro perfect unlon."
At that tune, all the States held slaves, TO
greater or less extent; and slavery IN the
States was fully recognised and provided
for, in many particulars, in that instrument
itself. 1t was recognised, however, and all
the provisions upon the subject SO regarded
It, as q State, and not a national institution.
At that time, too, as has been before re-
marked, the District of Columbia constltu;-
cd an integral part oftwo Of the Indepen-
dent States which became parties to the
Confederacv and to the constitution ltscit.
Since that time an entire emancipation OF
slaves has taken place in several o! the old
States; but in all cases this has been the
work Of the States themselves, without any
interference whatever by the Federal Go
vernmcnf. New States have also been ad-
mitted in,o the Union, with an IntcrdIction
in their constitutions against involuntary
servitude. In this way. the slave :t'':;s
have become minority in representation IN
the Federal Legislature. Their interests
however, as States, in the institution OF DO
mestic slavery, rs it exis, within their ilmlts'
have not diminished, nor has their right to
perfect security under the constitution: IN
reference 10 this description Of property,
been in any way, or to any degree, sarren-
dered or impaired, since the adoption OF that
instrument by themselves and their sister
States.
The operation of causes, TO great eS-
tent natural, and proceeding from climate
soil. and consequent production, has render
cd slavery a local and sectional institution
and has thus added another to the most a.
farming apprehension ofpatriots for the per-
pctuity of this Union--the apPrehens!on, OF
local and geographical interests and dis
tinctions. How immensely important is It
then, that Congress should do no act, and
assume mo jurisdiction, in reference to tiS
GREAT interest. by which it shall ever appear
to place itself in the attitude ofa local, IN
stead of a national tribunal partial agent,
providing for peculiar and sectional objects
and feelings, instead of general and pa.
ternal legislature, equally and impartiaily
promoting the general welfare OF all the
States. No one can fail to see, that any o.
tber course on the part Of Congress, must
weaken the confidence ofthe injured States
in the federal authority, and, to the samecx-
tent, prove ''dangereus to the Union.
Since the adoption ofthe Federal Const'-
tution, the District Of Columbia has been
ceded to the United States as seat OF the
Federal Government; but not only many e.
minent statesmen of the country, but all OF
the slaveholding States, speaking through
their legislative assemblies, firmly believe
and insist that the cession so made has con-
ferred upon Congress no constitutional pow
er to abolish slavery within the ceded ter
ritorv. Your committee have abstained
from an examination of this question, be-
cause they were not instructed to discuss 1t.
But they have no hesitation to say that
in the view they have taken OF the whole
question, the obligations of Congress not to