Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-11-02
E'tasIs'H'sGS.
(frOm The h0cttsiGr " \ Eepgb''raj., Oct go
MR. SELUENS LETTER

you that la;n liie prrse::t siar Of political parties
this Congressional district, created by the agitation OF
important questions OF ruh!Ic policy other than those
proposed il yonr I'rr, It is not possible that can be
selected 10 act IN Congress upon The Sub ec 10 which
you rcirr By The cnurs" -! The gentleman opposed 10
me IN nomination. your hopes are /" be realized or de.
teaird IL Is proper however, ihl the upIaiDns of all
candidates for office should be knnwn upon such mat.
tiers of public interest as electors may deem OF sufficient
Importance 10 b" maGr the subject Of inquiry there.
fore ably Comply with your I-Gnest that should fur
nish wriitCm answers To your questions
am nat IN !.voE Of the passage OF Ia:y for immedi
abolition OF slavery ir The District Of Columbia and
! tie Territory Of the u States
This is based upon the presumption that the
free inhabitants Of those sections opposed 10 such
law. Should they de rs passngr, It w"ua receive
my support, notwithstanding my opinion that the best
interests bath TT master and Save. might require pro
of gradual emancipation To act upon that sue.
jet aga!ns. their ishes H"niI III NY IdI"e nj 20 vo
hence 10 ot the fist principles .! legislation that
The NIL u The people, where law IL 30 Dr. executed,
should b" consulted IN lis passage. tt" SD!ltpn OF
this principle by Great Britain severed connection
wl!h hat h.ngG"I. The violation II II Icy as il per.
sisted my sever the ch"!dng States from cur
Cent? Grrary
Ia relation 20 the District OF Columbia the cunstrtu.
lpna! sigh without dispute. The law, ii passed,
would give freedom ~ the slaves TIE agitation Of
this subject, with any prospect oi success, would Cause
their removal INTO stavrh'd!ng states. should not
deem li!e object Of suie!.nl Importance |" Justify The
eIcisc Of II disputed powrr-ahouGh have no doubt
myself that ,!e rnwrrrxss. have a hue doubt that
cSe under present circumstances been anicipated.-
Good aIIh would Ia require that power not IN.
tended to be cantcd should Rot against the
vii! OF tie grumIurs.
should not oppose The admission Of Texas. any
ulcr State the Union, The gtouni Of It's being
fl4veholding State.
l. is principle settled by the Constitution aud
irIncd by the subsequent action oi Congress, tla Ae
question Of slavery should all cases be determined by
tie States themselves This prHC pie without the adop
Of which Constitution could never have had
Isirucr, a;d without IL" observance ut which ii must
exist, would at all liGcs govern my conduct.
/. sIErCt Of slavery permitted 10 have any
influence upon Inr. il Tie admission q. States, my feel
ngs in favor ii paii"n, would induce the to vo;e
Tor the admission, rather than aaa!HSt H. on tia, account
with ie vicw ol forcing abolition upon them. Tor
that IuiI3ssbiebat VITA the hope thhi their close
alliance and more ultimate acquaintance w!lh the Tree
States Of The North would hasten the voluntary li1erl
lion q! their slaves from bondage.
Other would probably induce me to vote against
the admission 81 Texas, whether s!avtho.dng othet-
In answer to your last Enquiry am decidedly opposed
to intedlcng by law Of Congress tie slave Trade be-
tween The States.
la couIfuuu witl you amd our fellow citizens Of the
North aImos! witi!"u; exec qom, am oppose" 20 STA
very and the slave iraGe, III all lis forms, ana most ear.
nes!ly desire The 5el'iJn OF hS aves ana their res
tyn,Ioa To that freedom and iE# pendsncc which by
every prime Pile Of .it ID theirs. NJ considerations OF
person.! interest party policy could ianrce me TO
withhold the expression vi these sentiments on all suit
au!e occasions, or prevent my dctE III dccFuahCc WIN
them. But there many and in my judgment,
answerahe objections to the law which iou propose.
The constitutional ighc CcagresS 10 pass sach lac is
!,Ot perfectly ctr0r.
the only provision under which the rIhi be clam
ed DOES 10 rrgu!ate. mean 10 ProhIhE: Are slaves
an article Of commerce. The negative oi each OF these
Questions not without supporters Nl'ho"t reference
10 these questions. there would h" danger In US IN
cOgn2ng this power II Congress has right To pro.
h.bu This trade, has right 10 authorize and protect
II The power 10 regulate commerce nan been lsid
rot only 10 authorize Congress TO protect the ior7duc
lion Of goods into 4 STATE but 10 protect the right OF
sale whcn there This might bring IN question The
s;tutinnav Of laws iUi the abolition Of ayar:
and the right Of tn" States to pass any Ia" lor that CD
jecta right, Of which 10 rn'n at he North would vii
llnry see the States deprived.
.IdmtH9. k0wtccr, tie rsn, Il IS clea'y against the
spin; Of the Consultation.
The power To regulate commerce. between the States
was given to Congress- 10" to restrict it, but I" prevent
restrictions by The States and sccute 10 unmite Tree
dom. The -! ihis freedom one at line chcI
difficulties which existed under the ar.icrs OF co0lede.
ration No attenp; has yet been made by Congress
limit the intercourse between The states He exercise
Of that power to any extent for the purpose OF
ton would prove most unacceptable to The whole people.
believe. that you. gentlemen, would not ,:str IL have
applied the Commerce between the Northern States
between them aud the South II might be extended
10 lEe prohibition u! abolition documents.
IL ir0uIA be profHcticc II no gCod
Such law, ii eirctIa would neither give freedom 10
the slave gale HE HGfGSiiIp OF ms
His condition would net be brtICrcd, by combining him
10 the State or auv lesser di3,cl-iIol even II yea x
him Ike the Russian scfi IL tsc soil
aroud acsakcn n,iarasnrnby he good feelings t1iSt
Gft,roen The NuW anu SO" 'ch!th JTW TIC strongest
LOud If our tniGa.
The measure proposed whatever may be your motives
for desiring accomplishments would appear to the
South vlndctre They would regard as The prrvcTsIon
of L plain constitutional power and the assumption of
an authority which all parties at The formation Of the
Constitution intended should be reserved To the States
for no better object than 10 harass the lasler without
| bench, To the slave.
II cGuld nat be- enforced
Such law # passed al H. must be passed by the
of free Sla,es-lt must ne executed in slave States
Would the inhabitants Of thcse Stars execute or obey
IL If not. What source is the power To be drawn
| which is compel "b5dIencr: From III" North, OF
course 10 such force tor that Object could in my OPT
Mon I've obtained; aud II It could It's first step beyond the
line Of tipe State would dissolve the conirdrracy and
Commence civil The Union would be al an end
and il. La,rs nisD nj end The trainers of the Consi
luton 10 avoid such collision wisely tr the p"wer over
slavery To the State authorities Had In not been done
the slavrhadiuG States would not have consented /" the
Umion. We accepted lie Constitution "!lh mat cond
lion and It's observance according Iis spu will not
permit us interfere with the SUBJECT among them, az
State or citizens without tbeir consent.
Beyond question: Southern emancipation 1t 1t IS ever
To be accomplished. must be OF Southern origin HE
citizens of the South have far deeper interest IN tins
question than have. They are our equals IN nIel
pence. in patriotism, IN vIflus-GnG yGu VIII forgive me
our Supporters DS III WIN
evils slavery and the iCHc1 By winch It. erAdca
ton il brset Ought not !hrn IL consult e'T wishes
ard avail ourselves OF their iniorsion IN oar Efforts
4, leg slaun On This suhrct? 10 do otherwise, would
be assuming right Of judging "a 10 their Interest and
their GuiY which Of Us would admit when applied
10 ouie Ives But Whatever may be the answer III your
MINDS This question, practically, the answer Is o.
vus AM has already been suggested We can enforce
no Nv n the slave holding States against Their united
will =, >,
regre, the agi'alon Of this subject al lie North II
ca he nrodpcge i no povd here and BY creating hos
,ilv a. the South sgt;msI and against The cause OF
emarcina,icn il must produce much evil The liberia.
whenever shall lie accOmpIi-b-