Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-21

ais ha wing a similar object IN view, S -, nersu,d,
49, - ,rai, nsly Monday next when ne, lHiI' ~
would hsv been prepared to pursue Inc course nc W
indicated But the question has no" Deeh iofceu upon
M NJ fs,id MIR b. it has not been forced upon me,
Loc,use | am glad 10 have suitable occasion OF eX-
pressing my opinions upon the subject
The memorial which have in my possession Is en-
titled to the utmost respect from the character of the
nemorialists AS entirely dissent from the opinion
which they express, that ought to abolish slavery IN
the District Of Columbia, feel it 10 be due to tela 70
myself and to the Senate, respectfully but FIRMLY 10 s'"te
the why cannot advocate their views ot ao'
quiesce in their conclusions =.
If any principle Of constitutional law can: at h'0
day. be considered as settled it u.s. that Congress nave
no ght, power over the question VI sIaYr'! W.T..
those Suites where it exists The property OF le ma"
ter in his slave existed in full force before inc FcuG'
Constitution was adopted. 1t was ssu9]ect "icn 'e
belonged as still belongs, to the exclusive
of the several Stues These States by 'he auoP''oh VI
IN. Constitution never Welded to Tie General Govern
ment any rial to Interfere witli the question: ~ re-
mains where previous to the cstao'isfeh'o ~"
cenlcdcracy. -, , .,,, ,ooorr;,
| al tho ,i,bt of prouerly in slaves II prohibs any
State into which slave may have he'd from passing any
law to discharge him from slavery, ana declares .na III
shall be delivered up by the authorizes OF such 1'e "
his muster Nay mole it makes The existence OF Save
~ the foundation Of politics! power, by giving 10 lhose
States within which it exists Representatives, congress
no, only in proportion the whole number OF Tree per
sons bu also in proportion to threehhs OF the huper
| Of slaves A., g.. (,or
An occasion very fortunately arose in the INST ION
rress to settle this question iorver The society 'os
the abolition of slavery IN Pcnusy lvenia brought D.
fore that CONGRESS by memorial, which was presented
on tho lth day of February, 1890. After the subject
had been discussed for several days. and after solemn de-
Liberation the House Of Representatives, IN So'iitee
of the Whole the 2d day OF March, l|Gu resolved,
That Congress have no authority to interfere IN e
of slaves the treatment OF them Will
in any of the Stacs; it remaining with the several States
alone TO provide any regulations theren Which huma-
ni,v and true policy may require.
have thought would be proper to present ti:s ue-
csion which was made almost half century ago, dis
timely to the view of the American People, The Ian.
ruare Of the resolution is clear, precise ana dchhc IL
leaves the question where the Constitution LETT IT, and
where so far as am concerned, it ever shall remain
The Constitution of tho United States never would nave
been called into exstencclnstcad OF the lnnt'ierahe
blessings which have flowed from our happy Union we
should have had anarchy jealousy and civil war among
the sister Repubcs of which our conirdcracy is copoS
ed had not the free States abandoned all control over this
question. For one, whatever may he my opinions upon
the abstract question o slavery, and ain Tree u confess
they are those of the people Of shall never
a,tcmpt to violate this Fundamental compact The Unpn
will he dissolved, and lncacuabc evils will rise from
its ashes the momenany such attempt is seriously made
By the free States in Congress
What, then, the circumstances under which these
memorials are now presented: number Of fanatics,
led on by foreign ncendares have been scattering ar
rows frehrandS, and death, throughout the Southern
States The natural tendency OF their publications. is
and to ncite their wild passions TO vengeance. All his
lorv as well the present condition OF the slaves.
proves that there be danger OF the nai result OF
servile war But, in the mean time, what dreadful
scenes NAV be enacted, before such insurrccOn,
which would spare neither age sex, could be sup
pressed What agony of mind must he suffered cspe
callv BY the gentle consequence OF these publ
cations Many mother clasps her infant TO her bosom
when she reres to rest under dreadful apprchensions
that she may be aroused from her SAUNDERS BY the saw
are wells of the slaves by whom she is surruunded-
These the works OF the Abo!''IonIsts That their
motives NAV be honest do doubt but their zeal is
without knowledge. The history Of the human race
presents examples of ignorant enthusiasts the
purity of whose intentions cannot be doubted, who have
spread devastation and ooodSleh over Inc lace OF le
earth.
These fanatics. instead of bcncttting the slaves who
are the objects of their regard. have inflicted serious in
iuries upon them. Sclfprcservaon is the first law OF
nature. The masters tor the sake OF their wives and
chldren-or the sake OF all that is and dear TO
them OIL earth, must tighten the rein OF authority over
their slaves. They must thus councract the efforts OF
the Aboonsts. The slaves are denied mauy Indngen-
COS which their masters would otherwise cheeriuly
grant They must be kept in such state OF bondage
as efectuay prevent their rising hese arc The IN
furious effects produced ny the AooIl''onsS upon inc
Slave himself. Whilst on the one hand, they render
his condition miserable by presenting to his mind vague
notions of ireedom to be rcalizcd on the other.
they make it doubly miserable, by compelling the mas
ter to severe order 10 prevent any attempts at IN
surrcc,on. They thus render it impossible for the mas
ter to his slave according to the dictates OF his
heart and his feelings.
Besides, do not tie Abolilonists perceive that the sjr
r which is thus reused, must protract TO Indefinite
percd the cmaIc patton OF the slave: The necessary
effect of their efforts TO render desperate those to
wlum the power Of emanc patton exclusively belongs
believe, most conscentously, IN whatever light THIS
subject can be viewed that the best interests Of the slave
REQUIRE that the question should be Left where the Con-
sulon has left it, TO the laveholting States them
selves, without foreign interference.
This being statement of the case, as applied to
the States where slavery exists, what is asked BY
these memoriasts That in this District of ten miles
squarea District carved cut ofiwo slave holding States
and surrounded by them all sides, slavery shall be-
abolished What would be the effects Of granting their
request You would thus erect citnde lii the very heart
of these States, upon territory winch they have crdcd
to you for far different purpose, from which abolition
lists and ncenaries could securely attack the peace and
safety of their citizens You establish spot within the
savc-holdng States, which would be city Of refuge Tor
runaway slaves. iOu create by law central point from
which trains gunpowcrn lie securely laid, extending
into the surrounding States, which may: at any moment
produce fearful and destructive explosion. BY passing
such law you introduce the enemy into the very hosn
of these two States aud afford him every opportunity
produce scrvilc lnSurrecton Is there any reasonable
niuu who can for moment suppose that Virginia
and Maryland would have coded the District Of Column
ba TO the United States if they had entertained the
slightest idea that Congress would ever use 1t for any
such purpose They coded it Tor your use, for your
convenience, and nat for their destruction. When
slavery 10 exist under the laws Of Virginia and
Mary land then, and not till then ought it to be abo
| ishcd in the District of Columbia.
Mr. L. said. that Notwithstanding these his opn-
ions, he could for tho motion OF the Senator
from South Carolina, mir. Calhoun,) not 10 receive
these memorials. He would Not at present proceed To
his rcasons still, hoping The Senate could yet agree
upon some Which would prove satisfactory to ALL
With this view he moved that the whole subject be
postponed until Monday next. And after some further
debate, it so postponed.
Mr. Benton to express his concurrence in the sug
gestion OF the Scialor from Pennsyl vania (Ar Buca
man, that the consideration Of be postponed
I'll Monday. thad come up suddenly and unexpectedly
to-day, and the posponem"nt would give opportunity
for Senators reflect and to confer together, and TO
conclude what best to be done where all were united