Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-02-02
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLU MBIA.

county, in the District of Columbia. in re-.
spect topetitions to Congress for the Aboli
ton OF Slavery in the District of Columbia.
recently presented 10 Congress:
10 me SENATE and House of Representatives
q the u. States, IN Congress assembled:
The undersigned, Jurors of the United
States for the county of Washington, in the
District OF Columbia, with feelings of deep
MULTIPLICATION and unfeigned regret, are cons
s.raihed 10 make the present remonstrance 10
Congress on subject not only affecting the
pecunlary interests of considerable number
oil The people of this District, but, what is of
much greater importance, the peace and
tranquility Of the whole federal community
They alluded 10 the formation of certain
self created societies. in some of the States
OF the Union, and the consequent presenta>
lion 10 Congress of petitions for the abslition
o! slavery IN the District OF Columbia.
The undersigned beg leave respectfully to
call Inc particular attention of Congress TO
The injustice and other great and growing
evils likely to be produced by these proceed
ings, and to ask such interposiiion on the
part OF your honorable body as NAV arrest.
and iinally put stop 10, their further pro.
gress.
Coming as The Jurors do, from different
parts OF the county, ii may reasonably be
supposed that they possess correct knowl-
edse of The views and sentiments of the peo-
pie thereof in regard 10 this all absorbing
ana momentous question and in what fol-
lows, they feel confident that they speak the
opinion OF every man OF practical sense, " he
Is Inc true and genuine friend OF the peace of
society, OF the Federal Constitution. the
Union OF the States, and of rational liberty.
Ii is not 10 be inferred, because the peonle
OF this District have hitherto abstained from
The expression of their opinion pu bIIcIy, in
the meddiesome conduct of these petitions.
mat, therefore, their proceedings had, al any
lime, received countenance from, much less
'he support and appreciation Il, the people of
this community. Their silence on the SUBJ
Ject has been caused, principally by the hope
enough, as now appears, deiusive hope, }
that time and due reflection on the part Of
those by whom they have been assailed so
long and so unjustly would correct the evil
ana unneishborly spirit which has dictated
their Ubiquitous proceedings-alike destruc-
tive, as they are, OF private rights and the
public tranquility.
Ii IS believed that similar instance can.
moi be !ound in the annals OF the civilized
world, where individuals, belonging TO a
separate and distinct community, having no
common Tie of interest and feeling with ano
Their, and living under different laws, have
vouchsaied thus 10 obtrude themselves in
Intermsddling with the domestic affairs of
The latter in any shape Of form whatsoever.
much less TO throw tirebrands among them
destroying their peace and harmony, and e.
ven, IN some cases, endangering their lives
and all this, too, under the garb of that holy
religion which teaches "Peace on earth. and
good will towards men :" Against the right
thus claimed and exercised by certain indi-
viduals and "seii created societies'' of the
non Slaveho!ding States, a solemn PROTEST
is hereby entered.
Congress, when legislating on the affairs
OF this District, is supposed 10 act, exclusive.
~, as local Legislature. II thence results
thai these petitioners have just the same right
(and could exercise it with equal, indeed
more, propriety) 10 petition that body to a.
ool:sh or repeal our laws regulating descent
our inspection laws, or any others that might
not happen TO suit the particular tastes and
iances OF these Intermediates, as to petition
for the passage of law deprivinp sny nor.
ton Of the people here of their PROPERTY.
" Whatsoever tile LAW makes propertv. is
IL IS scarce necessity TO state 10 your no.
norable body that, when the present Consti.
tuition was made and adopted by the States,
slavery existed in each OF them 20 a greater
or less extent. Such ofthem as passed laws
tor its gradual abolition did so, from time to
Time, without any offiCious interference vs. hat
ever in the matter on the part OF their sister
S'ates, or any of the inhabitants thereof.
Such an interference would not, for one mo-
ment, have been tolerated or permitted.
Have The people of this District become so
ahJect and degraded, SO sunk in the ewes of
the whole civilized world, so completely
stripl brewery attribute Of freemeD, Of every
Vesiige oil The common right Of American
cit'ZeDs, That they must tamely submit TO
'his monsirous encroachment upon their
rights by strangers, having no common ties
OF interest or feeling with them? Is there.
indeed, no remedy for This, TO them, real
grievance! Is that officious meddling spirit
which invades the sanctuary of their peace.
ful hresTTes, excites their slaves TO insubor-
instruction, and even murder de-
siroys the happy and peaceful, and even
friendly relation which hitherto subsisied
between masters and servants, 10 receive no
reouke, no check, no discountensnce what
soever, from that body Is bich the Constitu-
ton has Gor veal or for wo, time will deter
mine) given the Exclusive" power 10 legjs-
late for them tin all cases whatsoever s''
One OF the avowed objects Of the Federal
Constitution, as expressed in the instrument
ise'f, was ITO ENSURE DOMESTIC TRAN
Does the presentation Of these
PETITIONS, year after year, with all the excl
Ing circumstances attending them, tend ''to
insure domestic tranquility :" No one will
nswer this question in The affirmative The