Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-27
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80 Can an .se be shown why inc oa'es o. ,rom MD
n.y. and Tirpinia would have abolished, OF "o9io
1 abolish slavery in the District had 1t continued !"
form par, of those States respectively, wnlen "ouo
MOI, have warranted produced soo,to" through
~, those States Most nnGarsonabty not. AS those
States then have mt abolished slavery in the residue OF
ther territory it is evident that they woad moi have
abolished it IN the District of Colunbia, it had con-
tnucd subject to their action. 1t iltn~s curcusively,
therefore, that Congress, the local iegsare of the
District and acting independently Of the national
sderations connected with it's powers it, bound
fr the preservation of the public fah and the rights OF
all the parties interested to act upon the reasons
and to exercise the same paternal regard which would
have governed the States by which the District was
coded TO the Federal Government And 1t is unneces'
sasy to add that Congress has acted wisely treang e
institutions found in existence at the time OF The cesslon
the institutions of the People Of sae District IN con-
tnung their laws and CUSTOMS the laws and customs
to which they had been used and which should never be
altered or interfered WITH except where Inc people he
selves may be desiroHs OF a change.
Your committee must 60 further, and express their
full conviction that any interference by Congress with
the private interests rights Of lire citizens OF this DIS
tct without thrrconsen woald be breach OF the ia'th
repo5ed in the Federal Government by the States that
made the cesson, and violent nfrscton OF private
rights it would have been if those States themselves
surprising their jurisdiction had remained unmpaIred
their territory had abolished slavery within those
portions of their respective limits and had continued its
ex,sesnce Ms present basis in every other Poron
OF them And surely F,r-e is no citizen, in any quar-
laws and ns,itaGks, State ana NATIONAL OF eeaas aus
tce and an eguaity Of rights aud privileges among oa
gems entitled to it. who would attempt to Snsy soh
Outrage the part of those States The question
then is Are the citizens Of the District deslrous OF
change themselves Hasany request or movement een
made by tIen that wcad Justify an W.T. 'o..
private rights on the part Congress! None
The citizens of the District not only have not sGS..Ou
any action the part of Congress- but 1t well known
that they earnestly deprecate such action ana regard
with adherence, the efforts that are made by Others
who haze interest whatever IN the Dlstric 10 ehec
it, It is impossible, therefore, that any such inteer
ence on the Dart of Congress could be justified even
paiiated the ground that was sought or desired oy
those who atoe interested in the subject IT. .efe
FORE Congress to interfere with This DESCRIPTION OF
property against the consent OF the people OF the ts
rict yous committee feel bound say, that it would be
as gross breach of public faith and as outrageous an
nracton of private rights, as it would hsHe neen II
such interference had been committed by the ssa.eS o.
which the District fortAery part, suPposlng that
it never had been ceded to the United States.
Your committee will here anticipate obeehon which
may be urged against this reasoniDg and these oonciu
sions They have saown tha' the powers OF
over this District divide themselves into two classes
national and local that in reference 20 'e toEer inc
action of Congress should be goVeSHd ny the
of the whole country, far as they are connected win
the branches of the Federal located within
the District that in reference to the latter, its powers
are and its action should be- those OF local and num-
cpa legislature extending its poernal care and protec-
ton the citizens dependent upon and subjected 10,
powers safest stand il reference to slavery 49, wnat
would the States which the District originally be-
Ionged aud Of which its citizens were originally citizens
have done in case their jurisdiction had never been
transferred 10 Congress; and that those States would
certainly not have nteered with the institution OF sa
yery in the District had the power TO do SO remained
with them The objection anticipated 49, that the STATES
in question have pursued an unwlse policy as 10 then
selves and that their having done should not have
bound Congress- the local Legislature OF the DISTRICT
to similar policy in relation to its government; 10
this however your committee consider perfectly con-
elusive to reply that under oar institutions that people
is the best governed which is governed most in accod
ence with its habits, interests, and WISHES lha'
the policy hitherto pursued by Congress in reference to
slavery within the District, your committee have every
reason to believe has been in perfect conformity Will
the wishes anE interests of the citizens coucerncd ant
that it will be time enough for Congress, acting as the 10
cal Legislature of the District and in that capacity bount
10 consult tire governed the regulators Of its action
to move in any matter reutiug to their private Interest,"
and rights, when they themselves Shall ask such move
ment.
There is another consideration connected with Thu
part of the argument, which your committee ttl'nf
worthy of attention 1t is this that acSe rs no law III
the District prohibiting the master from manuHng biz
slaves which he may do at his own o1screton and WIN
out mourning any responsibility wnateVee
that no such law has been passed by Congress- ihe
citizens of the District, therefore, have no fo
the aid of Congress, should they wish the abolaloa
slavery among them. They have only TO exercise ar
existing right, and their wish will be accenpllShed-
Can there be decisive evideRce, ssen that 9icydr
not wish the abolition Of slavery, than that it contacs
to exist among them? OF can any one desire more con
elusive proof that any attemptby Congress to effect t
object by the force Of law woudoe an interference wit.
the rights of private property, against The wishes ant
consent of and for none Of the purpose
for which Congress Is authorized by the Constitution
take private property for public use
Hence, your committee believe they have proved, Se
yond the power of contradiction thatan interference bJ
Congress with slavery in the District Of Columbia woDlt
be violation of the public fath-ef the talth ePosed
IN Conoresa bv the States ws;eh ceded the Territory 10
the Federal Government fsres the rights and int
rests of those citizens residing within theeeded terrific
~ are concerned.
Remainder tn our ncnt1