Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-04-12

of interests in which it was founded, is
binding in honor and good faith, in
dependemy of the force of agreement, on
all who live under its protection and par.
ticipate in the benefits of which it is the
source" That the relation of master and
slave is matter exclusively belonging to
the people of each State within its own
boundary, and that any attempt by the
Government or people Of any other State,
or by the General Government, to Interfere
with or disturb it, would violate the spirit Of
|. that compromise which lies at the basis of
the federal compact That we can only
hope to maintain the Union of the States by
abstaining from all interference with the
laws, domestic policy and peculiar interests
of every other State"- -"That all such
interference, which tends to ALLEVIATE one
portion of our countrymen from the rest,
deserves to be frowned upon with indigna.
ton by all who cherish the principles of our
revolutionary fathers, and who desire to
preserve the Constitution by the exercise
of that spirit Of amity, which animated its
franlers" That they deprecated the con-
duct of those who are attempting to coerce
their brethren in other States into the aboli-
ton Of slavery, by appeals to the fears Of
the master, and to the passions OF the slave;
and that they could not but consider them
as disturbers ofthe public peace, and would,
by all constitutional means, exert their in.
fuence to arrest the progress Of such
measures" That whilst they would main-
tain inviolate the liberty of speech, and the
freedom of the press, they consider discus
sions, which, from their nature, tend to
inflamc the public mind and put in jeopardy
the lives and property ofthcir fellow citizens,
at war with every rule of moral duty, and
every suggestion Of humanity, and would
be constrained, moreover, to regard those,
who with full knowledge oftheir pernicious
tendency, persist in carrying them, on, as
disloyal to the Union -" That the people
of the South would do great injustice if they
allow themselves to believe, that the few who
are interfering with the question Of slavery,
are acting in accordance with the sentiments
Of the North upon the subject;" and finally,
"That they made these declarations to
their Southern brethren in the same spirit
of amity which bound together their fathers
and ours, during long and eventful strug.
gle for independence, and that they did, in
full remembrance of that common associa-
ton, plight to them their faith to maintain
in practice, as far as lies in their power, what
tney had thus Solemnly declared"
These views, thus expressed and san
ctionsd by myself appear to me to cover
the whole ground, save the abstract question
to which you have been pleased to call my
attention, and cheerfully embrace the op-
portunity you have felt it your duty to
afford me, to explain myself fully on that
also. AS anxiousas you can possibly be,
to arrest all agitation upon this disturbing
subject, have considered the question YOU
have propounded to me, with a sincere
desire to arrive at the conclusion, that the
subject, in respect to the district Of Co.
lumbia, can be safely placed on the same
ground on which it stands in regard to the
States, viz. the want Of constitutional power
in Congress to interfere in the matter. l
owe it, however, to candour, to say to you,
that have not been able to satisfy myself
that the grant to Congress, in the Constitu.
ton, of the power Of +" "erclusire Legislation,
in all cases whatsoerer" over the Federal
District does not confer on that body the
same authority over the subject that would
otherwise have been possessed by the States
Of Maryland and Virginia; or that Con.
gress might. not, in virtue thereof, take such
steps upon the subject in this District, as
those States might themselves take within
their own limits, and consistently with their
rights Of sovereignty. -
Thus viewing the matter, / would not,
from the lights now before me, feel myself
safe in pronouncing that Congress does not
possess the power Of interfering with or
abolishing slavery in the District Of Co.
lumbia. But, whilst such are my present
impressions upon the abstract question Of
the legal power Of Congress-impressioEs
which shall at all times be not only ready,
but disposed, to'surseuder upon conviction
: of error-I do not hesitate to give it to you
as my deliberate and well considered o.
pinion, that there are objections 10 the ex-
ercisc of this power, against the wishes Of
the slave holding States, as Imperative in
their natnre and obligations, in regulating
the conduct of public men, as the most
palpable uant Of Constitutional poacer 'couM
be.
You have alluded in your letter to the
conspicuous situation in which have been
placed before the public; and T take it for
granted, that it is to that circumstance,
rather than to any other, that | am to ascribe
the solicitude felt by yourselves and your
fellow citizens, in respect to my views on
this subject. l recognise, to the fullest ex-