Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-03-06
VOL. XI. NO. "a.

Il was ceied TO the, Un:iei States, slasery
existed within IT. By the. terms Of tIlst
treaty, the effects and properly of The IN
haoltants are secured 10 them, and ihev
are allowed to remove and take then
away. If they think proper to 40 so. with
out Limitation as 10 time II il were ex.
pedlent, therefore, 10 abolish slavery in il.
II could not be done consistently with the
treaty, without granting 10 the ancient IN
habltants a reasonable time to remove
their slaves. But further. B. the corn.
promise which took place on the passage
OF the act for the admission of Missouri
into the Union, in the year 1920, il was
agreed and understood that the liae Of Sc
deg. 80 min. Of north latitude should mar;
the boundary between the free States and
the slave States to be created I'm the terri
tories of the United States ceded by the
treaty Of Louisiana; those situated south
Of It being slave States, and those north
Of II free States. But Florida IS south of
that line, and, consequently, according 10
the spirit of tho understanding which pre-
vailed OF the period alluded 10, should be-
4 slave State. 1t may be true that the
compromise does not in terms embrace
Florida, and that is not absolutely binding
and obligatory; but all candid aud Impair
tial men must agree that II ough; not 10 be
disrcgarded without the most weiehtv
considerations, and that nothing could be
more to be deprecated than TO open anew
the bleeding wounds which were happily
bound up and healed by that compromise.
Florida is the only remaining Territory
10 be admitted into the Union with the in
stitution OF domestic slavery, while Wis
consin and Iowa are now nearly ripe for
admission without it.
The next instance in which the exer-
else OF the power. of Congress is solicited
is that of prohibiting what is denominated
By the petitioners, the slave-trade between
the states, or, as it is described ia abolition
petitions, the traffic in human beings be-
tween the States. This exercise OF the
power Of Congress is claimed under that
clause of the Constitution which invests
II with authority to regulate commerce
with foreign nations, and among the sew
eral States, and with The Indian tribes
The power 10 regulate commerce among
the several States, like other powers la
the Constitution, has hitherto remained
dormant in respect 10 the interior trade by
land between the States. Ii was power
granted, like all other powers Of the Gem
eral Government, 10 secure peace and har-
mony among the States. Huher.o II has
not been necessary 10 exercise IL. All
the cases in which, during the progress
Of time, it may become expedient 10 exert
the general authority 10 regulate COM
merce between the States, cannot be con-
celved. We may easily imagine, hover
er, contingencies which, II they were 10
happen, might require ;be interposilioa OF
the common authority. If for example.
the State OF Ohio were, BY law, TO prohibit
any vessel entering the port of Cincinnati.
from the port OF Louisville, in Kentucky.
if that case be not already provided for 81
the laws whichTegulate our coasiingirade,
it would be competent 10 the General Gov
eminent to annul the prohibition emanat-
ing from State authority. Or'if the Safe
OF Kentucky were 10 prohibit the intro
ductlon within is limits, Of any articles
of trade, the production of the industry of
the inhabitants of the State of Ohio, the
General Government might, by lis author
lty, supersede the Stale enactment. But
deny that the General Government has
any authority whatever, FROM the Cons,i-
tuition, 10 abolish what is called the slave
trade, or, in other words, to prohibit the
removal of slaves from one slave State to
another slave State.
The grant IN the Constitution is Of a
power Of regulation, and not prohibition.
Ii Is conservative, not destructive. Regu-
lation er ~ teTmiai implies the continued
existence or prosecution o: the thing reg
ulated. Prohibition implies total discon.
tinuance or humiliation. The regulation
intended was designed to facilitate aud ac-
commodate, not to obstruct and incom-
mode the commerce 10 be regulated. Can
II be pretended that, under this power ia
regulate commerce among the States,
Congress has the power 10 prohibit the
transportation of live stock which, IN
countless numbers, are daily passing from
the Western and interior States TO the
Southern, Southwestern, and Atlantic
States The moment the ineonies.abl,
fact is admitted, that negro slaves are prop
: erty, the law of movable property IRE
: sisti5ly attaches itself to them, aud secure.
> the right of carrying them from one tc
another State, where they are recognized
as property, without any hindTance what
ever from Congress.
But, Mr.. President, will not deiair
g the Senate longer on the subjects Of slave
e ry within the District and IN Florida. ant
e of the right of Congress TO prohibit HI
n removal of slaves from one State TO anoih
e err. These. as | have already intina.ed
ii with u.tra-abolilionists are bat so man
I, masked batteries, concealing the real an