Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-05-24

any law or regulation therein, be discharged
from such labor or service, but shall be dc.
Iivcr:d up on claim of the par:y, 10 whtm
such labor or service may be due.
kFBy this carefully varied but clear phrase.
oIgy. it was sought to protcc, the intercs's o
the slavc.holIing States, and to secure the
right OF the master 10 the services Of his
slave. Congress was vested with power to
prohibit the introduction of slaves after the
year 1908; but in all other respects, the
subject of slavery was included in the gene.
raj reservation Of powers not delegated, and
was lett to the unrestricted action of each
State within its own limits.
Such are the articles Of the Constitution
which relate 10 slavery within the United
States, fully recognizing its existence, and
guarding against any Legislation which might
Ilbcra:c an abscondng slave.
When it Is remembered how many con.
Aicting Interests, and how man. various hab.
It's of thought and life we're rcconcicd by
the spiri, ofmutual concession as embodied
in this CONTRACT, no argument should be re.
CURED to enforce all itsprovisions, and 10
rescue lis principles from violation.
Nor can it be necessary to demonstrate
to the candid and the honorable, that the
spirit Of this compact is opposed 10 measures
by which the rightit recognizes arc disturbed
in their exercise, Or impaired in their secu'
rity. Principles cannot sanction an lnll-
rect interference with relations which are
thus formally vindicatcd and established.
Slavery existed in the District Of Column
ba at the time Of its ccssion to the United
States, and the rights growing out of this
circumstance have recently been made the
subject Of highly excited discussion. 1t is
not, however, necessary, in the Judgment Of
this Convention. 10 enquire how fur those
rights arc protected by the terms Of the
Constitution. 1t is enough, that whether
so pro cclcd ornot, they ought in no wise to
bcetfected by anyact oflegislation. Were
even the power OF Congress unquestlonably,
its action on the subject is forbidden by con-
sidcraions Of the highest policy.
Such it is believed are now the views and
opinions Of the people of Pcnnsylvania-a
State which, acting tor itself, has within its
own borders treated slavery as an evil, both
in The abstract and in practice, and it is
for the single purpose Of expressing them
that this Convention has been assembled.
Its members have been chosen at meetings
held without distinction Of party in the sew.
eral counties of the State, and most of them
have been specially charged by the language
Of their commission to "assure our breth.
rcn Of the Southern States, that we, as
State, arc opposed 10 the schemes Of the
immediate abolitionsts, and that we will
to the utmost Of our ability defend and sus.
tain the Constitution Of the United States
aud that compact by which we are unitec
as one people,
Sensible of the importance Of declaring
frankly and accurately y the general sentl
mcnt of Pennsylvania on this subject. the
Convention, aftcriulI consultation, has adopt
cd, in the name ofits constituents, the follow
ing resolutions !
Resohred, That the Government Of the
United States has no constitutional power
whatever over the relation Of master and
slave, in any ofthc States ofthe Union. I
ResoLred, That, whether Congress does
or does not possess the right of legslating
on the subject Of the Abolition of Slavery
within the Distinct Of Columbia, it would
be unwise and impoIitic in the extreme, to
assert or exercise such right; as any attempt
to do so would impair the harmony and mu-
tual confidence Of The States. if not peril the
integrity OF the Union.
ResoLred, That each State has the ex.
elusive right under the Constitution, to Judge
OF, establish, and maintain within its borders,
;ts own system of domestic relations and
domestic policy; and that every attempt by
the citizens OF one State to denouLce or in.
validate the established institutions of an.
other, is uawarranted by the Constitution,
and hostile to the peace and harmony of the
Union.
Resohed, That no State could be justly
required to reorganize as valid, under the
constitutional compactof the States, meas
ure which should violate its Internal sccu.
rity anA peace, or abroEate the rights of
property of its citizens; and that VIC pledge
ourselves to unite with the people of the
other STATES, in opposing such infracllons OF
the Constitution, and in maintaining the do
mest!c repose ofcycry member Of this con.
federation.
Resalred, That the project of colonizing
on the coast of Africa, free persons Of color
and manumitted slaves, to be carried thithcr
with their own consent, does not hold out to
the patriot and philanthropIs;s, the hope OF
the ultimate abolition OF slavery, the Gle.
yaton Of The African race to a state OF
equality with the rest Of the human family,
the extension ofthe blessings of civilization
and seIf.goycrnment, and the diffusion OF