The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-08-09
DIR. PEARCE's LETTER.

questions, which, in behalf of the r.. Island
Autl-Slavery Society, you request me to
answer. A copy of the questions, shall
append to this letter, and shall give to Them
in plain language, an unreserved reply.
Permit me, however, to premise, that you
might well have inferred, by close obser-
vance of the votes have given for the last
two years, what my reply would be, unless
my mind had recently undergone some
change.-There has been with me no
change of mind, upon the subjects to which
yos have respectfully called my attention.
! BY the Sth section of the lst article ofthe
constitution of the United States. "Con-
gress shall have poDer to exercise exclusive
legisla tion, in all cases whats0euer, over
such district not exceedingten miles square,
rs may, by cession Of particular states and
the acceptance thereof by Congress, be-
come the seat of government of the United
States"
| have never been able to reconcile my
self to the belief, that all cases whatsoever
meant any thing less than all cases or
that exclusive legislation would admit of the
idea Of concurrent power of legislation
and | have consequently never been able 10
question the power of Congress, to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia.
Right, however, is not necessarily incl
dental to power; and power to do an act,
does not, oil all occasions, and under all
circumstances, confer the right to do it.
Congress have this power, and in my opin-
ion, have also the right, which can be exer-
cised only in justice to the rights Of others,
without mpairing, in the smallest degree,
their rights under the constitution or the
law of the land, or disturbing them in the
enjoyment of the same.
| Disguise it as you may, slavery is, In the
language of some of the most distinguished
men in the slave holding states, moral.
social, and political evil and whenever,
and wherever it can be abolished, without
entailng upon the community an evil, as
great, or greater than slavery itself, it ought
to be abolished. Unfortunately for US, IL
exists at this moment in the District of CO.
lumbia, in its worst form. There is no slave
holding state in the Union, and perhaps no
colony Of any European power, where. at
this time, its evils are SO grent: much has
been done within the last forty years for the
amelioration of the condition of the slave III
every State in this Union but little very
| little, in the District of Columbia.
The slave there, is subject to and punish
| ed by laws, not as they noW exist in Mary
land and Virginia, bu, as they did exist in
those States, before the removal of the seat
of government. For this some blame must
be attached to Congress for neglect OF legis-
lation, on their part. l went fully into this
matter, when there was n bill before the
House of Representatives, six years ago, to
reform the penal code for the District
My remarks you may have read. They
were published in the Telegraph, paper
then edited by Gen. Duff Green.
have no hesitation IN saying, that Con
gress should sustain unabridged, the right
to petition for the abolition of slavery 81 the
slave trade in the District of ofColumbia, and
upon all subjects over which they have ju
risdction. The right to petition ought not,
in any manner, to be abridged, and Cannot
be, So long as we are free people, or ours
is a free government. Such members Of
Congress whose constituents view slavery in
the District of Columbia, 10 the same light
do, should sustain by their influence and
votes, all petitions for the immediate aboli-
tion of slavery in the District of Columbia
connecting with such abolition, such pro-
lection and security of the rights of slave
holders, in and out of said District, as are
guaranteed by the Constitution Of the United
States.
To the journals of the House, for the last
two years, might with propristy refer you
for my opinions upon the annexation OF
Texas to the United States. 1 will, how
ever, upon that subject, now add. that new
er would vote for the annexation Of that
State to the United States-slavery at the
time being tolerated therein; and as at pres
ent advised, l would not vote for the annex
alton, under any circumstances. When
this takes place, it must be with aview to the
takisg of Texas into the Union, as coun-
try out of which one or more states are to
be formed, and to be admitted into our con-
federancy.
am not prepared to say that this Can be
done, without an infraetion Of the constitu-
ton aud certainly not, without gross in
Justice to the original States, diminishing
their relative force, political power end in-
huence.
You have now my views upon ell the sub
ects you have submitted for my considera-
ten. They are my views, and are not gwen
for the occasion, or for Political effect; they
are the same which have long entertained
and q, all times fully expressed, They are
my views; and in regard to them, 1t mat
tsrs not with me, whether, in this State or
in the Union, I stand alone, am with, or a.
gains, the majority.
Du, to satisfy you that they nre not nee
views or opinions, I might, in addition 70 my
reee n, votes. for confirmation ofwhat ! have
% ss;d .aUt;dsn,lv appeal to nay friend, who
was INV colleague in the last Congress, to
enc ., least. honorable friend Of another
state a member OF the same Congress, with
whom was on terms of,he closest intima-