Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-09-15

/ ne breach n that instrument; would be de-
/ siructiys Of Che primary object fer which lhe
/ Government was instituted, which vas 10 pre-
ssrv. and protect more effeciualIy the domestic
peace and tranquility Of The States, and their cit
zens.
| II also fellows, that such interference on the
part Of other States, or their cltIzensi would be
IN violation Of the national compact, which they
mutually pledged themselves to each other 10 pre-
serve lnvolale on entering into the Union.
| Il also follows thai the Suites separately and
| individually, where slavery EXISTS, are alone re-
sponsble for il, either for good or evil and The
immersion that any other State or its citizens are
rssponsible, in any way, for lis existence, origin
atss IN The gross and mischieyous Federal con
cep,ion, that ours is great national cOnsoldai-
| ed Government, where the whole Is responsible
for the parts, Just a. the States are Tor counties,
:nstead Of Federal Republic, composed Of SOW
ION md independent STATES, united together
r., 1bsr mutual advantage, tranquility and Sc
cury.
Sgeb. and so formidable, are The barriers a.
pa,u,t an interference with this dangerous subject
within The limits of the States. Nor will those
against an Interference by the general Govern
;nent, IN any manner, IN thus District, be found
| less formidable, when duly considered.
We hold, IN the first place, that, to attempt to
abolish slavery IN this District, as an intermediate
step to aboiishing j, IN the States themselves, by
thus Government or The non-saveholdlng States,
or Their citizens, would be as clearly and mani
testify liable to all the objections, IN their full
| force, to which direct attempt TO abolish II IN
the States themselves would be- 1t is the motire
and object intended, and mol The means, that de.
| teTmlns THE CHARACTER OF THE ACT. There
is no code Of morals which ustlfes the doing
OF that indirectly which is forbidden to be done
directly. If it be unlawful to burn our neigh
boris house, it would be equally unlawful to fire
another, OF even our own, with the intention Of
burning his. II there BIO a difference, the latter,
by adding craft to guilt is Of deeper dye.
We also hold that, whatever may be the ind.
viduol opinions Of public men az TO the character,
Of the domestic institutions Of the slayehodlng
States, they have no night, when acting IN public
stations under the Fedora. 4 oyernment, by any Of
their acts to discriminate belHoen ther mstitu.
lions and those Of the other States. II must be
borne IN mind that ours is a Federal Republic, as
has been already stated, formed by sovereign and
Independent States, for their mutual security and
happiness; and that they instituted this Govern
ment, and clothed It with power to carry nto effect
these important objects. Such being the charac
ter and object Of our system, is clear that this
Government can have no right whatever to give a
preference TO the institutions Of one portion OF the
Union over those Of another, or to use It's power
to abolish ono or establish the other; and to do so,
be the pretext what il may, would be directly sub
versive Of the object for which il was established,
by destroying that which IT was intended to pro.
'ect. Instead Of preserving peace and tranquil
~, would become an instrument, in the hands
of the stronger portion Of the Union, for assall-
ing the institutions Of the weaker, and engen-
dering thereby tho bsrest feelings Of hostility,
which, in the end, would destroy the Union it.
self.
Resting on these broad and incontrover,Ible
principles, We hold it to be clear, beyond dispute,
that Congress has no RICH! TO abolish slavery in
this District, with view Of aboIlshlng it in the
States, or to exercise any Of lis powers with that
intention. Nor do we deem it material, in com
ing to this conclusion, tc irqure what 10 the ex-
tent of ITS powers over this District; be they what
they may, they are all conferred for special pur-
poses, to be exercised, like all such powers, In
subordination to the known objects for which they
were granted To perver, them to any other pur-
pose Inconsistent with the object OF the grant,
would be u violation of ike Constitution, not the
less dangerous because not expressly forbidden.
Thus regarding the powers Of the Government,
il is sufficient to sustain the conclusion al which
We have arrived that tho Government has no
right to abolish or interfere with slavery IN the
States, or 10 use its powers TO give preference TO
the peculiar institutions OF one portion Of the
Union over those Of another; this admitted, and
The conclusion follows as matter OF course 1t
is on this broad and deep foundation that we bot
tom the course which we think ought to be pur.
sued by the Government on this agltang and
dangerous question. Here, and here only, can
stand be made to arrest It's progress, give peace
and quite TO the country and permanency to the
Union. II this be surrendered on no other ground
can a stand be made; and We call o. oil who love
the country, and value peace, harmony aud union,
10 take their stand on II, regardless Of all minor
differences
| In addition to what We have said, we would re-
mind our countrymen o! the phghted faith Of this
Government to the States OF Virginia and Mary
land OF the sacred rights OF property possessed by
the inhabitants Of this DisiIici, wien they were
surrendered by these States 10 tie protection Of
Congress. We would ASK an attentive consider
alton to that state Of anarchy and confusion which
must exist al the seat OF the general Government,
when this District shall become The receptacle OF
the fugitive slaves from all the ne,ghborng States.
Some OF US have Witnessed, and others have
heard, with deep regret, the deteuoratsd condition
OF The slaves, produced by this disturbing ques.
ton; and IN the lame OF the Union, we ask our
fellow citizens 10 oIbear lis further agitation.
Thus, fellow citizens, we have laid before YOU
iuli and iraRk avewa OF our political opinions
and principles. II Is Tor you to vindcate anC
MAINTAIN them We will not say they are free
from error; but our honest conviction is, thai OF
their maintenance depend the peace, harmony