The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-04-01
Martin Van Buren's Reply)

Gentlemen II have the honor 10 &C.
knowledge the receipt of your letter appr.
zlng me of the deep anxiety which is felt by
portion Of your fellow citizens, as TO my
views upon topic vitality affecting their I'm.
mediate welfare and happiness, and OF the
importance ofthelr being possessed of thor
oush knowledge OF them; and asking me to
say, whether | do or do not believe that Con.
gress has the constitutional power to inter.
iere with or abolish slavery in the District
Of Columbia
an not only willing, but DESTROYS, gen.
,lemen, thai YOU should have the most thor
ough knowledge OF my views and feelings
upon the delicate and interesting subjec,
with which your question is connected and
Shall endeayor to acquaint you with them
20 the fullest manner IN my power
Not having, heretofore, had the honor Of
being IN political communication with you,
i am not advised whether the sentiments re.
latlng o 1t, which have been avowed by my.
sell, and by NV authority, within the last two
years, have come 10 your knowledge |
deem II therefore proper TO furnish you
with the substance OF them, before | reply
10 your more specific enquiry. The ayow.
ais 10 which | refer, were:
lst. An opinion that Congress has no
rlgh, 10 interfere III any manner, or to any
extent, With the subject Of slavery IN the
States;
2nd. Against the propriety Of their Golng
90 IN the District of Columbia, and
3rdly. The statement Of my full concur
renee In the statements expressed by the
Citizens Of Albany, in public meeting, the
most important OF which are as follows, VIZ.
That the Constitution Of the L. States
carries with 1t an adjustment of all ques.
lions involved 10 the deliberations which led
10 lis adoption, and that the compromise OF
interests 10 which II was founded, Is binding
in honor and good faith, independently OF
the force OF agreement, on all who live IN.
der its protection and participate IN the ben.
Gifts Of which II 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
attemp, 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 hes al
the basis Of the federal compact -" That
we can only hope TO maintain the Union Of
the States by abstaInlng from all lnterier-
ence WHICH tends to ALLEVIATE one portion oil
our countryrnen from the rest, deserves to
be frowned upon with indignation by all
who cherish the principles OF our revolutions
ary fathers, aud ubo desire to preserve the
Constitution BY the exercise OF that spirit oil
amlty which animated lis trainers =" That
they deprecated the conduct ofthose who are
attempting to coerce their brethren in other
States INTO the abolition Of slavery, by ap-
peaIs 10 the fears Of the master and to the
passions Of the slave and that they could moi
but consider them as dlsturbers Of the pub.
lie peace, and would, by all constitutional
means, exert their Influence TO arrest the
pr5gress Of such measures y" That whilst
lhey would maintain nyIoate the liberty Of
speech aud the freedom of the press, they
considered discussions, which, from thel,
nature, tend to lufame The public mind, and
put 10 jeopardy the lives and property o.
heir fellow citizens, at war with every rule
of moral duty, and every suggestion Of hui
mainly, and would be constrained, moreover
to regard those who, with full knowledge
of their pernlclous tendency, persist 10 car
rvlng them on, as dsloyal to the Union -
"That the people of the South would DE-
great Injustice If they allow themselves to b.
heye that the few who are interfering witt
the question Of slavery, are acting IN accord
ance with the sentiments Of the North upol
the subject :" and finally, " That they mad
these declarations 10 their Southern brethre
10 the same spirit OF amity which bound to
gether their fathers and ours during Ion
and eventful struggle for independence an
that they did, IN toll circumference OF tina
commun association, plight to them theI
faith to maintain IN practice, as far as he
in their power, what they had thus solemn
declared"
These views, thus expressed and sane
toned by myself, appear to me to cover tn
whole ground, save the abstract question t