Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-11-09

JAMES BURTON,
PETER NJ McELROY,
DAVID MARTIN,
S. 4. RICE.
S. V. K. WATSON.
(From tic some)
De- DvXcAH AHD ABoLITIoS.-The Federal news.
papers have CARRIED extracts from letter o. DR.
Duncan in reply questions PIT TO him by the Adolf
,ioniss 10 defeat his election The reply, in It's vrhr
VI style, Characteristic Of the author, especial.
" in expressing adherence ct slavery IN Tic abstract
lie declares The conviction that il has had bi lighting
lucncc upon the S!ales upon which fastened by
the sinister policy OF the mother country But IN
spending 10 the specific interrogatoy requiring his OPT.
Mon the power o: Congress establish slavery IN
the District Of Columbia, DR.. Duncan slys:
81 mean tosay that Congress has The power over
the District Of Columbia and the citizens and property
thereof that the legislatures Of Virginia and hlar Wand
had tie citizens aud properly Of their respective
States But next IN what consisted that power by which
The tree States abolished slavery within their limits -:
Was II by provision reservation Of power in the
gual colonial Charters in their State Constitutions !;
the power exercised IN conformity with the WILL
appreciation. desire Of the people, expressed through
the ballot boxes; This by 90 unanswered, Tor
am not in possession oil the means Of information If
there existed neither charter nor constitutional power
authorize the abolition OF slavery and the slave trade
in those States where slavery has been abolished land
any provision in colonial charter must have been re-
cognsed by the Constitution ii there Constilu.
tom then The power mus! have emanaed directly from
the people. Such being the case the power now
exists applied 10 the slave States and In the abolition
Of ssrcry The work must be directed by the people
it must he The work Of the peopIe-for nothing short
ola mgjorty Of thar roicss cOud rnrrGni passage Of
lao which c"aid c0nstUtionaHy cftc! their properly
Hcr sGrcs. The Constitution secures in direct terms.
10 every citizen in the y. s., nvipatc the benefit his
contracts and The peaceab!e possession Of his property,
except that it should be necessarily Undermined for the
public use. and then the public is bound 20 Pay him a
fair aud full compensation for II.
FROM ,hisi is 10 be gathered that De- Duncan denies
10 Congress, with lis penary jurisdiction over the Dis.
rict the right abolish slavery within it, unless be
''MC w0rk Of The yc0pc." The power exertcd by The
State Legislatures in ahoshng slavery within their ju
sdctinn is derived from the will Of the peope, e1.
pressed through "c Laii0t 6o1es The States that re-
signed their authority over this District, could only
sign what they possessed power abolish slavery with
the consent Of tr constituents; and therefore De Dun
can insists abolition must be the work of the people here
In tins conclusion, lie cuts off tho interference OF the
people elsewhere with "hG pr0ccDbc p0SscSSi0 Of ms
property by the citizen in lhe District of Columbia
In regard 10 the general question Of slavery in the
States, raised by the Abol.ioniss, Dr. Duncan thus OK
presses himself:
awe found i, when we found ourselves in possession
Of our rev. Free and on independent Gree and lnde.
pendent of other p'wcfs) Government. We have ncI-
Their share lol ia either the benefits the crimes o
slavery. 1t tolerated by at the :"rma
ton OF the Government and the adoption OF the Gun
stiution, 10 secure and perpctuatc independence
which had cost much blood, much treasure and 50
much toll The liberation Of slavery one OF the con
dions upon which the slave States agreed 10 enter into
the confederation, aud 10 adopt the Constitution; ana u
disturb tic question contrary to their wish, ana IN
The face oil their appreciation, is in some degree, 10
violate the Constitution; upon which the Federal Go
yernment established, and, If persisted in may
greatly endangcr our happy Union. IT would be
rancc me, and show great want OF generosity aud
brrnty To hesitate for moment believe that in the
greater number Of the spirit OF sboonlsm iows
from any other than the pnresl fountains of charity and
humanity. | believe that hundreds and thousands oil
those who zeaonsly supporting the Abolition cause
arc governed by other than wish Tor the best int
rests OF the country and The purest principles of huma
nifty; yt hare bccn able TO .7boiitiOTtsm
have thought, and do think that is mistaken Phiian.
lhropv: and would fear the effects of aboI',ionsm
even # there were constitutional objections or viola.
tons Of personal State ghs in carrying o"t The sys
tenn, fear the effects wonld be more fatal 10 the u,-
happy and unfortunate African than even slavery tse
He concludes by declaring his policy in relation TO c
subject in the following brief remark:
81 have ever been in favor Of the colonization plan o!
ameorang the condition of slavery, and Of finally a5o
lshrC il within the United States. The process may
be tedious, but il will be safe.
In publishing this letter Of DR.. Duncan, the CIncin-
natl Advertiser observes:
awe are of opinion the dcsg was 10 cnrap him
Or Duncan and 10 procure from him sentiments
that might embro .lm with his party, for we do
not think there is single floco POGO Aboonis, who
would have voted for HIM, if he had declared hmss If in
favor Of immediate abolition; do we believe that
single Aboonist among the lloco Pocos did vote for
oil larL i,,o Sbnnnon'