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

any nation, lay imposts, decide what articles
may and what may not be imported, admit
some articles free Of duty, impose duties upon
! others, and forbid the importation of others,
! and punish all who violate these regulations.
| This seems TO me perfectly evident from the
nature Of the case, and from the laws Of our
own and other nations. Hence if power TO
regulate is not e1actly equivalent 10 power
! 10 interdict or destroy, there is all implied in
the regulating power that we wish 10 have
used. | admit, that Congress could not with
propriety, unnihilate all our commerce; but
then know they have passed embargo laws,
non-intercourse laws, laws imposing diScrimi-
natinG duties, laws TO encourage the trade with
one nation rather than another, laws TO pre-
vent The importation OF some articles and to
encourage the importation of others, and law
iutordciDg the foreign slave trade, and de-
oIaring those pirates who are engaged in the
trade. Aud | also know that bitter complaints
have been made by some men against nearly
all these laws, but they have been sustained
in the halls of Congress aad by the highest ju-
dicial tribunals Of our country. Hence ! am
constrained to believe that Congress had a
perfect right TO pass these laws, and to con-
tnue them just as long, as in their Judgment,
the public good might require. And confident
| am that our government 1oiH, as they have
done. arrest by embargo the whole trade, or
interdict any article, or species OF trade, when
ever they please The constitution has given
them the power. They have exercised this
power ever since the constitution was adopt
ed. They have been sustained by the Judicial
ry in the exercise OF this power; and they will
continue 10 exercise this power, while the
charter Of our liberties remains. Is 1t not then,
perfectly evident, from the whole history OF
our government, that Congress have the con-
7 hoe
barge, non-lnleTcouree aud imposs, to admit
or exclude rum, or slaves, or any other arti-
Gle, TO shut our ports 10 one nation, aud open
them TO another, 10 say who may trade with
the Indian tribes, and who shall no2 Here,
than, we find all that power gwen 10 Con-
gross, which We wish them to exercise. This
power is not shackIed by any compromise, real
or imaginary. Mr. Webster tells us it has
been exercised in regulating the trade in
slaves. Mr. May wishes to have the constl-
tuion so altered that Congress may not pro-
hibit the domestic slave trade, and The law,
condemnine the foreign slave trade and MAXI G
II piracy, shows how Congress can exercise
this power. What more can be desired p
Must not every reasonable doubt be removed?
Is it not perfectly evident that the war-mak-
ing power may grasp at orce the whole sub
ject of slavery, and crush the monster 10 death;
and that the trade regulating power may shut
every door against this monster, and hunt him
out Of our land ? And have not proved that
Congress have constitutional right To restrain
and inierdict the commerce in slaves between
the states 7 In my own view there can be
no possible doubt remaining. ] before thought
1t was plain case; but | have now looked
carefully at the subject, and am fully satisfied
that Congress has all the power which any
one can wish them TO possess. They can
regulate the internal slave trade just as they