Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-07-24
>. The RIGHT. of the States and the liberties of the

The RIGHTS of the States and the liberties of the
American people.
Ts subec, of Abolition has assumed character so
s,,d,be in its appearance, and so destructive IN lis
I.,ries as 10 call for brief xpostlion OF our views
Tie EXISTING relation Of master and s,are between the
- -.css inhabl:ng the Southern portion OF tue ohioh'
.st when the Constitution was formed ano IS rec'e
I'D in The appor,ionmen of members ~ the Rouse OF
r,ssen,a,vFs as we'll ia the imposition OF direct
,,s and The clause guaranteeing Inc arhSeFy up o'
ns held service Labor IN ole State ana escaping
into another. ,h;s s,h;s., :; o,e
!hse no, delegated TO the General Government, and,
.,nrse is one of the reserved powers as such 1t Is
Az ,b. entire control OF the respective States, within
limits the institution may exist, and within which
W., ,h;s Government, that of the other States,
,bs,r c,zens have any more right to interfere, di
% ~ indirectly than with the existence Of slavery
- crb, or any othe, foreign country.
r., Tins il follows that such interference on The
~ ,bis Government. would be without authority,
P'' ,,p,f.st breach of the Constitution. II would,
- ruth be more than SIMPLE breach OF ina: ins!rn
IL il would be destructive Of the primary object for
rho Government was instituted, WHICH was to pre-
". "a ,,o,sc, more effsctualiy the domestic peace
81 ,,ruIl,;,y OF the States. and their citizens
''I Flows that such interference the part Of
~ $50 y, their citizens, would be in violation OF
,h. national compact which n'ey mutually P'eugeo
themselves 10 eae" o'"Si ~ f ~
inc into the | mon
,, where slavery alone responsible for Il
thu =
State or lis responsible IN any way Tor lis
,epce originates in the gross and miscaerous fece-
n coacep;ton that great national consolidated
re,npeni where The whole is responsible Tor the parts
,s, as the States for countess Instead OF edsra
bsnusc composed OF sovere and independent States
pn,e together fot their mulsal advantage, uanquty
and security ..:
srence with this dangerous subject, within the limits
of The States Nor will those against an interference
ra1 Gnyprrment.
District, b. found less formidable, when duly considered
We hold IN the first place, that 10 attempt to abolish
slavery in this District. as an intermediate step 10 AGO.
.b,n il in the States themselves by this Government
=, Tho non saveholGing States their citizens would
hs as clearly and anes;ly liable to all The objections,
their full force which direct attempt 10 abolish II in
the States themselves would be. 1t is the moiire and
,i;eci intended and and mol The that determine the
Character Of tie act There is code of morals which
us,i6es the doing of that Indirectly which forbidden
i; be done directly. if be unlawful 10 burn neigh
bor house, woud be equally unlawful to fire another,
even own with the intention of burning his If
there be difference, the latter by adding craft TO guilt,
Is Of deeper dye.
We also hold that, whatever may be the individual
ceiuols Of public the character Of the do
nestle institutions al the savehvding States, they have
CO rlsht, when acting in public stations under The Fe.
,sa Government by any Of their acts 10 discriminate
Seca their institutions and those of the other States
It mrs: be borne IN mind that ours is Federal Repub
lie has been already stated formed BY sovereign and
yn.,; and that they instituted this Government, and
c.lIhd with powers 10 carry into effect these import.
objects Such being The character and object Of our
syssm y clear that this Government can have no
ish whatever 10 give preference to the institutions
portion Of the Union these Of another, or TO
Is power 10 abolish establish the other; and
CO be the pfelext what ii may would be directly
subSsrsye OF The object for which was established by
eesi;oyng ha, which it intended 10 protect In.
stead Of preserving peace and tranquility, would be.
come instrument, the hands Of the stronger por
Of the Union for assoilpg the institutions of the
.eaker and engcnder'ng thereby the berest feelings
q: hostility, WHICH, IN the eno would destroy the Union
4 g.sf
Resting these broad and inconroyertbie principles,
hold TO be clear beyond dispute, that Congress has
gh TO abolish slavery in this District, with view
81 abolishing il in the States 10 exercise any OF its
powers with that intention Nor do we deem ii material,
coming 10 this conclusion to inquire what is the
OF lis powers this Districts be they what they
naJ they all conferred for special purposes, to be
exercised. like all such powers IN subord'naton to the
know objects for which they were granted. To per-
them any other purpose inconsistent with the
object of the grant would be violation of the Con.
s4,on, The Les, dangerous because not expressly
\ forbidden.
Thus regarding the powers of the Government it is
sufficient to sustain the conclusion at which have
a-rved-that the Government has right TO abolish or
interfere with slavery in the Staes 10 use s Powers
give preference to the peculiar institutions OF one
portion OF the Union over those OF another; this ADMIT
ted and the conclusion follows matter of course. Ii
this broad aud deep foundation that we bottom The
which think ought to be pursued by the Go
| ,srnnent on this agatlng and dangerous question -
Here and here ony can stand be mace 10 arrest us
progress give peace and quiet 10 the country and per-
nanency to the Union II this be surrendered on no
1 other ground can stand be made and ca on all
VINO love the country, and value peace harmony and
uaon to take their stand on it, regardless of all minor
| differences.
| In addition to what we have said. we would remind
counrymen Of the pgh,ed faith of This Government
the States Of Virginia and Maryland, OF the sacred
rights of property possessed by the inhabitants OF this
District when they were surrendered by those States to
the protection Of Congress We would also ask an at
tenuve consideration 10 that state OF anarchy and con
fusion which exist al the seat OF the General 20
vernmen when this District shall become the receptacle
OF the fugitive slaves from all the neghboring States
Some Of Us have witnessed, and others have heard with
dep regret, the d-ierorated condition Of the slaves pro-
dnced by this disturbing question; and in the name oil
the Union ask cur tellowc citizens 10 fo6ear its fur
| ther agitation
Thus fellow cit GEMS we have laid before you full
and frank arowa Of ou. political opinions and principles
u IS for you 10 vndicate and maintain them. We will
not say they free from hut our honest convc.
Lon is that their maintenance depend the peace, har
mony and prosperity Of the people, and the perpeuity
I OF oo: glorious Confederacy.
REUEL WILLIAMS, of Maine,
GARRETT D. WALL, Of New Jersey,
WILLIAM ALLEN. Of Ohio,
WILLIAM S. FULTON, Of Arkansas,
Committee in behalf Of Republican Senator's.
/ FRANCIS THOMAS, of Maryland,
J. ". JONES, of Virginia,
ISAAC TOUCEY, OF Connecticut,
MCKAY. Of North Carolina,
w. w. POTTER, of Psnnsyivsnia,
JOHN P RICHARDSON, Of S. Carolina,
/ ANASA J. PARKER, of New York,
| ISAAC E CRARY, Of Michigan,
ARCHIBALD YELL. Of Arkansas.
'0"~'I'e: "a 'eh ali Of Republican, Representatives.
| FROM FLORIDA.
Inc steamer J9ha McL.aa Cap, Adams, arrived here
Yesterday from Back Creek, f F. From Paymaster
Stewart, Of the Army we derive the following particu-
| lars: -
Gen. Tayor. The aaih lime Isf Garrx,s Ferry for