Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-05-09
For the Waterman and journal.


For The Waterman and journal.
Nfcssrs. Editors liz your paper OF Fcbru-
9Th, Cephas has stated his doubts as 10 the
rrcctness Of the sentiments a,owed by Mr.
van Stewart, andaGNocatcd by myseiI III your
per Of January Il. The sentiment advocated
Mr. Stewart and myself is this, that The
institution has gtvea to Congress Poioer TO
guiaie trade acuh foreign naifoHs, bttmcca
Different Siaies, and ictih tie TgGiln tribes;
d that in the exercise OF this power Con-
css have a right TO restrain aud interdict the
ternGl slave trade, OF the trade in slaves,
rrled on from one state 10 another. Cephas
silly states that II is an important question,
ID that it requires careful investigation. And
nm glad that he admits, "that If The position
tumcd by us be true, the conclusion is i'er.
Ib!e. am clad that he assures us, that he
plG r(ioice, if his apprehensons can be
own TO be groundiess. ] am glad that he is
Hing to have this subject discussed and
Sir5Rs that some one, earned in the consti-
ton and laws Of our country, would place
is subject in its true light before the public.
am lad that he can rejoice in having this
Dwer discovered, even at u late day, and that
any case he would be willing TO lay hold Of
!eoer, and 10 ply IL icih all his might. | am
ad that in any case, he is willing 10 heap our
atoms upon the tables Of Congress until
e-c table sroan beneath their weight, and
pat no rest should be giyen 10 Congress, until
shall assert lie constitutional power, and put
b end to the slave traffic. | am glad that he
as expressed Lis di,1pprohalion of the slave
ade, and taut h. allows it to be the disgrace
our land, an abomina'i0n ia the sight of God.
And am lad that he admits that Congress
a. ave The constitutional rover 10 abolish slavc-
nm 40 sin n II mi { "a
Imbia. l am also clad tool the editor i'll hi
narks admits that Congress has something
b do with the internal sidvc-tradc. In all
lesa respects there seems to be no ground for
diversity Of opinion. II is admitted that
congress have 10 rlght TO interfere with the
ave trade carried on between different parts Of
I ny slave state. Il is admlltc cd that CunCtoS-
ave right to abolish slavery and the slave
ade ia the district Of Columbia And ii Is
Omitted that Congress have a night to dc
omelhing rcspectIrg the slave trade as carried
. n between the diiie states. The main
ucsilon would, then, seem TO be, H0ic much
as Congress 10 do ari,h this trade This,
|hink, must be the great point ct issue. And
efore attempt to settle this question, wish,
i possible, 10 remove or nIuralzc, some Of
hose doubts, which Cep'as has started.
J. He doubts, whether the position, taken
by Mr. Stewart, wall be sustained in the halls
n Congress, or By The Judicial tribunals of our
Eountry. Cephas believes, that Congress has
! cons !ituionaL right TO abolish Sldre1y and The
lave i~qRe in tie DiSirictsf Columbia. And he
links this point was established by Mr. Sladc
IN his able and Conclusive argument ca the sub
|ect oil slavery IN that District last year. But
The position taken By Mr. Siade has not been
SUSTAINED in the balls Of Congress, or by the
judicial tribunals Of our country. And, judy
billion Of Mr. SHADE is hot likely soon TO be sus-
aimed in the halls Of tina, body. Still believe
with Cephas, that the argument, 10y which
hr Slada sustained his position, was coRciu-
Fius. And il Alr SHADES argument may be
FOaclusiue without beng sustained in the halls
|Ii Congress, or by the judicial tribunals Of
pur country, Mr. Stewards opinion may be sus-
kained by conclusive Arguments, though not
SUSTAINED ia the halls Of Congress.
Q. Another ground Of dodb' Cephas express
ses as follows "The people of the South
were so sensitive on this point that they never
would have consented TO the constitution, had
they conceived that the power Tor which we
contend, was granted to Congress: To remove
this doubt, we observe,
/. The South had as much reason 10 wish
for the adoption of the Constitution, as the
North. And in that compact, privileges are
secured to the slave states. for which the free
states have hardly the shGaoto ol compensa-
lion.
2. The BIZ Of rights decllres that all men
ara born free, aud have certain 'naitena5ls
rights, which rights are incompatible with the
whole system of slavery. And the South adj
opted this bill as well as the North.
3. The South did consent 10 the constitution
moi withdrawing enclusire Legislation in al!
eases ,ohaisoerer, in the District OF Columbia,
. as granted to Congress. And here, accoid-
ing to the opinion Of Cephas himself, the pow
or Of Congress TO abolish slavery aud the slave
trade cannot be denied.
4. The South did IN fact, consent ihat Con-
gress should have Il more tremendous control
over the aeaoie SLAVE question, under The icar
poicsr, thon would be given to them by The
trade regulating p0lDer. For undoubtedly I'M
der this power Congress would be authorized,
IN a certain contingency, 10 acknowledge tho
independence of the blacks, and TO ctde tc
them all that portion Of our territory, OF which
they might be in possession, and TO make even
The Poionac The line Of demdykaiion
5. The clause in the constitution, restricting
the action OF Congress on the tIreign SiaUt
trade for twenty years, shows conclusivelv
that Congress had The power thus to acI III
any time, unless thus restricted. For il the
power was not granted, the restriction was
needless.
6. Ia the Vernon: Watebman and Journal
Febguary 2lsl, 1887, we are told, "lhai on the
Cd instant, Mr. May introduced series o.
amendments of the constitution Of The United
States in the Virginia House of Delegates, in
substance, to prohibit the abolition OF SLAYER,
in the District, Sc. and 10 prohibit the proh''
biiion Of the domestic slave trade" Why
these amendmen,sl Docs not the fact thai
u Virginia delegate makes this proposal
show concusvcly that Congress has the pow
or TO prOhith the slave trade; and thai they
cannot he Invested OF this power without a
mendng the constitution Al least Mr. May
Iaust 20 understand the subject.
With all these considerations before us,
am willing 10 leave the candid to say whether