State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-05
MARTIN VAN BURES's REPLY.

Washington, March 6, 1886.
Gentlemen: | have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your letter npprizing me
Of the deep anxiety which is felt by por-
ton of your frlow-citizens, as to my views
upon topic vitality affecting their immedi-
ute welfare and happiness, and of the inn
portance of their being possessed of n
thorough knowledge Of them; and asking
me to say, whether do or do not believe
that Congress has the constitutional power
10 interfere with, or abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia?
am not only willing, but DESTROYS, gen.
tlemen, that you should have the most tho
rough knowledge ofmy views and feelings
upon the delicate and interesting subject
with which your question is connected ;
md shall cndeavor TO acquaint you With
.hem in the fullest manner in my power.
Not having, heretofore, had the honor OF
being in political communication with you,
am not advised whether the sentiments
relating to it, which have been avowed 10y
myself and by my authority, within the last
two years, have come to your knowledge.
! deem it, therefore, proper to furnish you
with the substance Of them, before | reply
10 your more specific inquiry. The avowals
10 which lrefer, were
lst. An opinion that Congress has no
right TO interfere in any manner, or to any
extent, with the subject of slavery in the
States;
I'd. Against the rropriety of their doing
SO in the District Of Columbia and
3D.. The statement of my full concur
renee in the sentiments expressed by the
citizens of Albany in public meeting, the
most important of which are as follows
viz: "That the constitution of the United
States carries with it IN adjustment of al
questions involved in the deliberation.
which led 10 its adoption, and that the com
promise Of interests in which it was found
ed, is binding in honor and good faith in.
dependentiy Of he force Of agreement, on al
who live under its protection and partici
pate in the benefits of which it is the
source :" "That the relation of master and
slave is matter exclusively belonging &c
the people of each State, within its own
boundary, and that any attempt by the gov
ornment or people Of any other States, oil
State, or by the General Government, &c
interfere with or disturb it, would violate
the spirit of that compromise which lies a
the basis of the federal compact" "Tha
we can only hope to maintain the Union o.
the States by aLstaining from all inlcrler,
ence with tho laws, domestic policy and pc
culiar interests Of every other State ;
"That all such interference which tends tc
ALLEVIATE one portion of our counirymer
from the rest, deserves TO be frowned upor
with Indignation by all who cherish Tho
principles of our revolutionary fathers, anC
who desire TO preserve the constitution by
the exercise of that spirit of amity which
animated its iramcrs:" "That they depre
Gated the conduct of those who are attcmp
ting to coerce their brethren in other States
into the abolition Of slavery, by appeals Il
the fears of the master and the passions o
the slave and that they could not but con
slider them MS disturbers ofihe public peace
and would by all constitutional means, eX
ert their influence TO arrest the progress o
such measures :" "That whilst they woult
maintain inviolate the liberty ofspeech an,
the freedom Of the press, they considered
discussions, which, from their nature, tent
TO inhame the public mind, aud put in jeop
ardy tho lives and property oftheir fellow