Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-16
VOLUME gANGa.--Nc. "a.

rhacpate them None would confer tat this couldN
Wv lo'e without compcnsating The owners. Such pro-
~ 's Mou'a &c SIMPLY 10 confscate their property.
-,' cou'u he taken from them against their consent,
ai'noush lis "i value should be paid The Y. States
mao no pow "ndr the Consl uon take private pro-
pcrty, unless for public In PROPOSING to wrst this
knd of property from the owner il was not intended 10
appropriate 20 the use Of the United States They had
no occasion for it, The object was on the CONTRARY rs
property, TO destroy lis use-to annihilatc it
Should the owner even be willing 10 surrender il for /,
just compensation. lie knew Of rigui authority to
apply the public funds the purchase or emancipation Of
slaves He doubted whether the u States could lawfully
becoe STAKEHOLDER. 1t did vary the case to 81 the
purchase would be made with Inc benevolent purpose of
enanciratng them lf.her could purchase they might
hnld; if they could buy, they ght SELL if they could
emancipae, they mig 1T prescribe the conditions of cman
clpation. And hat conditions he desired 10 know was
expected to impose: He knew Of no clause in the Con-
slilGnn by which the restraints TO be laid upon c,anc-
paed slaves were trfined which gave power
create another distinct and anomalous class addition to
that already existing in ia Dis ric persons noInnalIy
ee but politically slaves Or it designed to make
them absolutely and really free confer them all the
privileges of citizenship: Were they to be admitted
the Council Beard To take their seats in the Jury box:
To b" elevated 10 The Bench; To lie eligible ~ all the
Offices Of Government? Were they to he in,roduc in
to our social circles TIE Southern People. while they
retained their present feelings would tolerate such
state o. society. Those feeling deeply inerwo
ven IN their nature and would continue to have their
influence. possibly, till the Ethiopian should change his
skin. or the Leopard his spots.
The S!h section oi the lst article Of the Constitution
was regarded by s1me comforting Congress
prrn!e authority over The District 1t true it gave
To It exclusive legislation The ten miles square, but
ezc|nsicc was not synonymous with unlinited. 1t must
still lrg;satc within constitutional limits. II could
more transcend those limits within the District, tIan be-
y"nd It, had no more power 10 conscate the proper
y Of lis inhabitants, than subject them TO poSt facf0
laws. or deprive them Of the liberty Of speech the
press.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania (SIr. IneersolD
had adverted to clause in the Virginia Act of Cessun
That clause Intended TO prevent the United States
from acquiring interest in the sUil l-uG with
landed titles It's literal import might SEEM at the first
Dust To warrant the construct! alluded to- because it
confined il terms 10 land only But that construction
was not warranted b. The true spirit of the instrument,
OF the Constitution, tho the ri: hit Of the citizens their
lands was expressly guaranteed BUTT by no means fol-
lowed, that al! otcr property lc at the mercy of
Congress- The Constitution protected ali private proper
ty against SEIZURE unrsS required for public 1t not
To tc believed that Virginia ard Maryland would
have consented transfer ni their citizens subicctng
them to be- d'spossessed Of their property, be exied
from their homes: at the will Of Legislature in whose
election they had voice. Lit suppose The District
had been ccGcG by States whose institutions did ad
;.it Of s!avery-hy y York AID Pennsylvania What
would have been thought OF petition from The South 10
establish slavery within the limits Of the grant: 1t
would have been regarded it ought, asking viola
ton OF law, and breach of good faith. Yet tie
authority which VIE supposed 10 warran; tho abolition
Of slavery Ly Congress-, would seem warar; lis cs-
adjustment: an! Tie one attempt would be less
breach OF good faith than The Other
Mr. H. said, he had nnl though: it relevant or proper
20 discuss Inc general question IT slavery still less had
lie considered himself at liberty ynd!catc the right of
the savcodlng States TO mould their domestic inslitu
tons, ~ accordance with their views. He could
recognize authority III Congress call any Stale
a;S.T al lis bar Tor the exercise OF this unduubcd right.
Tie excepted tie Jurisdiction Of the tribunal He felt
Bound 10 opp"S" tie attempt at the threshold In doing
this. hcwvvr: he very far from desiring 10 abridse
the sacred right Of petition. The gentleman from Mas.
SicAn*rtts (Alr AGaTs) need f. alarm That right
would not be invaded. attempt made to destroy the
liberty Of speech or Of the press There danger
o.! another Sed!!lon Law. Yet limits the
freedom OF speech and The press had at all times existed,
and seemed essential to tho protection of society One
who should counsel or command another 10 commit
MURDER or VINO s!;nuid print and circulate sanderous
nPnations upon character wund scarcely be permitted
70 plead tie liberty OF speech the press lar Of pro-
secu"n. Sui! less Dug Int such defence TO avail those
who would nStg&c the massacre OF whole community.
Gentlemen had complained Of the warrth manifested
in thus debate by members from the South. Great al
l""ancrs lie Thought. ought 10 be made if, situated
they WERE they could not wholly repreSs their feel
!nss, view this subject calmly those who in
habit cooic: regions and distant from the
OF danger. Bat w:la;rvrr heus might be exhibited on
this Uccason party feeling at least should not be mingled
with it. Considerations vi infinitely greater magnitude
lan tic pity interests OF party, influenced The people Of
the South They contending for the preservation
oi their property, for the security Of their lives Iio
would confidently appeal 10 his colleague (Ar. Muson)
sect had celebrated its orgies in the blood of wo-
and ci,Ilden, say: whether the this
subject in Virginia regarded of party charac-
ter: No, Sir. From extremity Of the Suite 10 the
other the people had together, without respect to
party distinctions, 10 consult their interest
and safety and had concurred universal expression
OF eXccratIon and abhorrcnce for the enemies of
peace It true, had been often repeated fire.
brand had been cast among u.s. But it not from
the South. 1t CAME from the Moth rather from a
small band of ru!ians which the North habors in its
BOSOM The South desired to exlingush it: to leave
spark uve. that at some future day might be blown
into flame 10 consume the temple Of peace,
union, and our liberty.
Mr. johnson of Louisiana, not pcrcciying that any
good could result from pfoongng the debate, felt
iuclance Ill saying any thing upon the subject but
ing from STATE from It's peculiar situation deeply
interested III the question than any other, and know
ing the intense excitement recently produced among
his constituents by the daring attempts Of The fanatics
u the North 10 stimulate their slaves to instruction,
he considered it lis duty 10 offer u few remarks
He had the honor, in part, lie sad, to represent
brave and patriotic people, urdentl attached TO the
union Of lhs States; tu, they al attached to their
families and their ghs Of Prore'ty, and pre-
uayrd 10 defend them WHEN assaI / from any quar-.
Ter They would no: look silen.l. and permit their
lives and properties to be cndang ed by the lawcss
proceedings Of wicked and conem able set of fanatics
OF different section Of the Union, " no unacqrant.
ed with them and with tho condition Of their slaves
vino are in HAPPY situation compared with the peasant
rs and operatives III any ol!e: part Of the world He
would not discuss The power Congress 10 abolish sls
very in the District Of Columbia. He coucg sd in the
opinion expressed By the honorable nembe' foaa out
Carolina (Mr. T!lon,psonD that the rneni re, the
Southern States, should not any,>f aston. fgne
such question. He would as dr. f::s q ga posi-
ton TO dv@.: the people of tie Soutbn.. seraieut
lands; Of proposition to abolish me and enter
But he would say to the abo,i' naay less that the
tanning the opinions. he did lie cuj neress would con-
exercise Of sucl! power by Of the South would
VASE tie whole Union. lheT' do not believe that
not s"b:;il to such an act T lcgislate upon the
Congress possesses Ia; po%s IN actof legislation
subject and tey ino", .iat attempt 10 eIiap.