Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-18
The Scec, Committee IN gpl re port resolution which

would obtain The unanimous vote of the Senate declar
ig neither the Congress OF the United States, nor
any State, nor any combination OF individuals IN any
STATE, has am right 10 interfere with The existence %
regulation OF slavery in any other Stale, where II is re-
copuised Ivy law Even the aboGonlsts themselves, 30
far my knowledge extends, have never oenea sns
principle. 1t was solenny announced oy the n'Ss o
gress; and it is most clearly tile doctrine o. Tue
tuition That instrument expressly recognises the rght
TO hold slaves as property in States where slavery exists
This then, question OF general moFaity AFFECT
s,iiutonul law When the States became parties 10 the
Federal Compact they entered into solemn agreement
thu, property in slaves should he as nvioahe as any
other property Whilst the Constitution endures no
human power except that Of the State within which
slavery exists has any right 10 interfere with the ques
ton An attempt on the part of any other State, or OF
Congress, to violate this right, would be palpabe Vio
ation of the Constitution Congress might as well un
dertake to interfere with slavery under iureign Govern
men in any Of the States where exists feel con-
dent that there would not be single dissenting voice
raised in the Senate against the adoption of such re-
solution ns have suggested.
A second RESOLUTION might assert the principle that
Congress have right under the Constitution to prohs'
lit the transfer of slaves by citizen OF one State 10
citizen of another State when slavery ia recognised oy
the laws of both Tue power ITO regulate eon conn ,
among the several States never be construed n,o
power 10 abolish this commerce. Regulation IS one
thing destruction GaohtcT AS long as slaves commune
To be property under the Constitution, Congress might
as well undertake to prohibit the people OF Massachu-
sets from selling their domestic manufactures in South
Carolina, az TO prohibit The master OF slave In firGha
from dsposing of him to his neghbor in North Carolina
Both upon the same principle OF CONSTITUTIONAL
law The power to regulate does not imply the power
10 DESTROY believe that such resolution would en-.
counter no serious opposition in the Senate
Again, third resolution might be adopted in regard
to the abolition Of slavery in the District OF Columbia
which would unite nearly every suffrage in the Senate
This District was oeded to the United States by Virgil
min and Maryland At the dute of The cesson, they
were both slave holding States, and they continue to oe
this day Does any man suppose io5 s,"e .';
,nent that they would have ever made this cesson,
they had supposed that Congress would abosh slavery
in this District of ten miles square whist existed ~
their surrounding territories: So long os II conlnueS
in these two States il would be violation OF Inc I'M
oiled faith which pledged to them by The acce
of the cesson, convert this very cesssoh lhto le
means of inurng and destroying their peace anu Sc
eurity. .,, lo,,. iii, of
.Gos for the abolitionists 1t would be secure asy'
lum from whence they could scatter arrows hreorands
and death throughout the slave. holding States. "ouo
become the yery centre of agitation
The People Of this District have viewed with amaze
ent md INDIGNATION the reiterated and perseVerng at
temps which have been made by the cll'zeh' OF distant
States to interfere in their domestic concerns ana deprive
them Of their property. They have protested against
this foreign interference with their rights but they have
protes,ed in vain. Petitions still continue 10 no" h,
although the petitioners ought 10 Know thet
lists here in its nldes form, and that, ,hey snoua ee
successu there would not be single slave lett IN the
District upon which the law could operate Before any
bill for this purpose could pass Congress, all the slaves
here would be sold and sent away into Tue save eaeS
Car from the place Of their birth and their affections
Success in this attempt would thus place lie slaves
themselves ia worse condition than they are al present.
oa resolution might, therefore, be adopted, IN accord
,,GL the spirit and tone OF President van bureh
Address ~ this subject, in his admirable Inaugural
Nn-rand md yht declare tina, whilst slavery exists in
,t a""t "ne pia it ought not, in The opinion OF
~ ~ us ao 0r ed in the District of Columbia
the SsnuIs II should be ss most carefully selected ny
MONS would command the greats. weight Throughout,
the country Every thing like party r.flics should be
banshed from deliberations this subl.o | should
deem myself guilty of moral treason, it, question
which may endanger the existence of the Union could
permit my conduct TO be influenced by the petty desire
OF obtaining party triumph Let the resolutions be
framed in most concilatory spirit and let them be
clothed in language which shall shocE the opinions Of
no Senator. Provided tue substance be retained care
not for the form. Such resolutions, adopted by al
most unanimous vote, mgh exert the happies nhu.
ence. They would mark clear and broad line Of
paration between the friends Of The Union on the one
side, and the abotionsts The other. They would free
the question from the party politics Of The day, and
ssould rally all the friends Of the Constitution every
The Middle and Northern States are the field upon
which this great battle must be fought fear npt.
doubt not, tue result, if Senators from the Souh where
the People already united, would but consent TO
adopt the counses of those who must bear the bIunt oil
the contest.
MIR. Preston made few remarks, which, from his po
unheard by them, in which he understood to COM
mend very highly the sentiments expressed by Mr. Blu.
chanan But Mr.. Z. was much averse 10 the proposed
reference, because it would occasion much loss of time
in going the same ground again. Such had been
the result in the other House. He wished The Senate
itself 10 proceed with the resolutions. God grant they
might have The effect desired; but MIR. 7. wished his
constituents know that he disrus,ed their efficacy
The protection Of the South must depend on themselves
lie hoped The resolutions would not be referred; It could
do good and would protruct the dscussion oil which
he already heartily weuried.
MIR. Benton then withdrew the motion 10 commit The
subject TO select committee.
MIR. Morris read extract from the paper referred to
by MIR RiVes, which by mistake, appeared to him as
part of the Methodist document the reading OF which
Gas it related 10 the moon) excited some merrment.
Mr.. Wall said that he had hoped the subject would
have been referred 10 committee as it WIS clearly incol
pcent the Senate 10 sit day after day, making abstract
crecds and establishing particular interpreta ons Of the
Constitution; all which was foreign 10 The purposes of
legislation He would ask, on whom were these codes,
creeds, aad distractions TO opeate They could have
force Whatever as law; wlom them would they bnd'
No person whatever Did, then, the Senate expect
settle thousand disputed constitutional questions by
propoundng theories aud abstract propositions? To e
gsate the duty Of legislators not 10 broach 10
promulgate abstract opinions and theories. If law
were introduced on the subject, he (Mr w would be
able to act or, if the report OF q committee had come
up, it might be received rejected As it was, how
ever the pursued appeared TO him Irregular ano-
maous, and fraught with bad consequences, converting
the Senate into Of theoretical disputatons
MIR. Rpes said the ludcrous passage read by MIR.
Morris not in the Methodist anemancipation docu
ment bn in separate article in another part Of the
newspaper. a laugh}
Mr. Morris then obtained the floor, when, an adj
;ornnent being moved unsuccessully, after two divi
sons, on suggestion from MIR. Webster that, in
tesy to Mr. Morris, who ndisposed to proceed
with his remarks this late hour, he was eutled 10 an
adjournment,
The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Thursday, January ii, 1898
OUR RELATIONS WITH MEXiCO.
The House having proceeded 10 consider in order
solutions heretofore offered and lying the Speakers