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


1ti impossible. therefore, that any such IN
reference on the part of Congress could be
justified, or even paliated, OH the ground that
it was sought or desired by those who are
alone interested in the subject. If: there
sose, Congress were to Interfere with this
description of property against the consent
ofthe people ofthe District, !oar committee
feel bound to say, that, it would be rs gross
a breach oipublic faith, and as outrageous
an nfraction ofpNvate rights, as it would
have been I.such interference had been
committed by the States of which the Dis
srict was Formerly part, supposing that 1t
.ncvcr hid been ccdcI to the United States.
1oxr committee will here anticipate an
objection which my be urged against this
reasoning. and these conclusions. They
havc shown that the powers of Congress
over this District divide themselves into two
classes, nltionrl and local; that in reference
TO The former, the action OF Congress-;
shoall be governed by the interest, OF the
whole country, so far as they. are connect
cd with the branches Of the Federal Gov.
crnmcnt located within the District; that
il rcfcnncc TO the latter, its powers are, and
dis action should be, those Of local and
municipal Legislature, extending its paterna
care and protection over the citizens de-
pendent upon, anl subjected to, this
branch Of its authority; that in the exercise
of its powers, the safest stand in reference
10 slavery is, what would the Stttes to
which the District originally belonged, and
of which its citizens were originally citizens.
have done in case their jurisdiction had
never been transferred to Congress; and
that those States would certainly not have
interfared with the institution Of slavery in
the District, had the power to do 50 remain
cd with them. The objection anticipated
is, that the States in question have pursued
an unwisc policy as TO themselves, and that
their having done so should not we bound
Congress, as the local legislature Of the
District, to a similar policy in relation to its
govcrnm2nt. To this, however, your COM
mittco consider it perfectly conclusive to
reply, that under our institutions, that people
is the best governed, which is governed
most IN accordance with its own habits, in-
taresis, anl wishes that the policy hitherto
parsued BY Congress in reference TO slavery
within the District, your committee have
every reason to believe, has been in perfect
conformity with the wishes and interests Of
.ihe citizens concerned; and that it will be
time enough for Congress, acting as the
local legislature of the District, and in that
capacity bound to consult the governed, as
the regulators of its action, to mo C in any
msttcr relating to their private interests and
rights. :w,ca they themselves shall ask such
movement.
There is anotnor consideration connected
with this part Of the argument, which Your
committee think worthy of attention. 1t is
this : that there is no law in the Distric: pro-
hibiting the master from manumitting his
slnves, which he may do at his own dis
esetion, aad without ineurring any re-
sponsibility whatever. Certain it is that
no such law has been passed by Congress.
Thc citizens of the District, therefore have
no necessity for the aid of Congress, should
they wish the abolition Of slavery among
them. They have only to exercise an ex.
sting right, and their wish will be accom-
plishcd. IN C there be more decisive
evidence, then, that they do not wish he
abolition Of slavery, than t!l&t i; continues
to exist among them, or can any one Gcsire
more conclusive proof that any attempt by
Congress TO effect this object by the force
of law would be an interference with the
rights ofprivate property, against the wishes
and consent Of these concerned, and for
nonc Of the purposes for which Congress is
authorized by the constitution to take private
property for public use?
Hence, Your committee believe they have
proved, beyond the power of contradiction,
that an, interference by Congress with sla.
very in the District of Columbia would be a
violation Of the public faith-of the faith
reposcd in Congress by the States which
celed theterritory to the Federal Govern
nrcnt, SO far as the rights and interests Of
tlcsc citizens residing within the ceded ter
ritory are concerned.
Your committee will now consider this
nroposition in reference to the interests Of
the States of Maryland and Virginia. They
were slavehoiding States at the time they
made their ccssion, and they arc so still.
They entirely surround this District, from
which they arc only separated upon all sides
by imaginary lines. They made the ccs-
sion for the great national objects which
have been already pointed out, and they
made it from motives Of patriotism alone,
and without any compensation from the
Federal Government for the surrender Of
jurisdiction over commanding positions in
both States. The surrender was made for
purposes deemed sufficiently important, by