Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-02-07

indeed, as II it were inconirovertlbly estab-
lshed, and universally admitted. Yet |
own that, liter all, there seems to Inc 10 be
snme reason to apprehend that lis entire
correctness may not be sustained, either in
the halls ofCongress, Or by the Judicial trl-
bunals oil our country; and, oil course,
some reason 10 fear that those, who now
set it forth with 50 much assurance, are just
preparing themselves, and those who may
adopt their views, for "A grievous diSap-
poiniment. | shall sincerely rejoice, Messrs
! Editors, if my apprehension can be shown
10 be groundless /; | cannot but indulge
them.
So exceedingly sensitive are our southern
brethren, and so exceedingly sensitive have
they always been, in respect 10 whatever
may affect what they consider to be their
rights, or their property, that II seems
scarcely credible that they ever did assent,
or that they ever would have assented, to
any Constitution, understanding it 10 give
Congress any such power, as that which it
is now claimed that the Constitution does
give 10 that body. Much rather, probably,
might it have been expected, that the Civ
ing of such power would be resisted even
unto blood. AT The time when the Consli-
tuition was formed and adopted, there was,
among the people Of south, no want Of the
same spirit, which has been more recently
manifested in that quarter, on the subject
oil slavery. Here is one ground of doubt.
But this is not all. 1t is now almost loriy
and eight years since our General Govern
ment went into operation, under the pres
ent Constitution, during which tie writer oil
this article has advanced from early man
hood to an old age, somewhat beyond that
to which san aged Minister" has yet at
tanned, and if, in all this time, until very
recently, the power in question has ever
been commended for, as contained in the
Constitution, either The fact has strangely
failed OF ever coming TO his knowledge, or
il has not less strangely escaped his recol-
lection; and it does seem passing strange
that such power, if it was intended to be
! given, or was in fact given, should have re-
manned so long unn0ticed dead letter.
Surely occasions for its being noticed and
| asserted have not been, until now, allogeth-
er wanting. Ii seems matter of some won
der, particularly, that such a provision, il
1t actually exists, should not have received
al Least passing notice by one Of our own
respected Representatives, IN his very able
and conclusive argument on the subject Of
slavery in the District OF Columbia, during
the last session Of Congress. Besides, it
does seem somewhat questionable, whether
a power TO regulate" 10 whatever il may
apply, is exactly equivalent to a power TO
g interdict," or I" abolish" Because Con-
gress has power TO CIRCULATE commerce a.
mong the several States," in the cotton OF
the south, and the granite Of the north,
does it certainly follow that it has power 10
nterdict, or abolish" this commerce?
| only inquire, MeSsrs: Editors, for my
own information, and the Information Of
others. For freely own that do not feel
myself TO be, and that | strongly suspect
that many others are not, sufficiently vers-
ed in constitutional law, TO decide, with
confidence, the very interesting question,
which have venturcd 10 raise. What
would is, that some one OF your correspon-
dents, learned in The constitution and laws
OF our country, may have the goodness TO
lake up this important subject, add place it
in its true light before the public. II the
power vested in Congress, by the Constitu-
ton, "to regulate commerce among the
several Sta,es," was designed to include,
and does, in fact, undeniably include the
power TO interdct," or abolish, the in
ternal American slave trade" let this be
clearly shown, and then let us all rejoice
that this discovery has at last, though 50
late, been made, and let us all lay hold OF
''the lever, and ply il with all our might"
Yes, il il be necessary, lei us, indeed, heap
our petitions upon the tables of Congress,
until these tables groon beneath their
weight, and give that honorable body no
rest until il shall assert lis constitutional
power, which it has so long neglected 10
use, and put dn end 10 an abilorred traffic,
which is not only 1.-THE disgrace of our
land" but an abomnatiun in the sight OF
God. But il, alter all, as there seems 10
Inc some reeson TO apprehend, it should ap-
pear that the power now So confidently
claimed for Congress, was never intended
10 be given, and never has been in fact CIV
en-, by the Constitution, OF what avail can
IL be continually 10 veX that honorable body
with petitions, urging il TO do what it has
What purpose can the proposed multiplied
petitions answer, but just to exasperale,
more and more, the people OF the south a.
gainst The people OF the north, and the peo-
pie OF the north against tie people OF the
south-in word, to " SOW disCord among
brethren 7" Aud, is moi this, too, scarcely
less ;han the 0dious traffic in slavery itself,
among The "six things" which "the Lord
doth hate, and the seven which are an a
domination unlo him!" CEPHAS.
January %, 1887.
P.S. AS 10 the District Of Columbia,
The Constitution says, that here, "The
Congress shall have power to
exercise exclusive legislation in all cases
whatever" II is not seen, therefore, how
The power OF Congress To abolish slavery
and The slave trade in the District can be
denied.