Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-05-20

, lis proceedings would be taken from Congress and
transferred 10 any and to every asscmblagc Of peo
pe convened TO petition for redress Of grievances
Ia fact, the righ OF initiating laws and OF compel.
ing Congress 10 act upon them would thus be in
vowed IN the night OF petition, and the business o
legislation. rs conducted by every organized body o
delegates from time lminemorial, would become I'M.
practicable.
but, apart itom the met its OF this particular
question, freely confess that regard with deep
concern the intervention OF State Legislature IN
any shape regarding the abolition OF slavery In the
South. It's none ofout affair. We can do moth ne
towards changing or abolish,ng that condition. bul
may do, as we have dane, very much towards no
eravating lis evils. II slavery is stain ii Is ono
with which tho Union was born, aud which cannot
De removed by oui elton unless by cutting oil The
''mb which wears 1t. TO Judge correctly ON this
subject, we must not only resort To the Federal
Constitution. but go behind II. The members Of
the INST Congress came l,om the South with con.
seriousness OF a peculiar interest arising from lhcr
slayeholdlne tenure. From the North, they went
under the impression that all were hornitec,"
aud would become SO dc fdct0 whenever the colines
/ should be declared Independent. Within my ie-
membrane, IL the years 10 md 76, the volunteer
minute msn pataded til. streets with metallic letters
j " no slavery ON their caps-whoh. though mol in
tended peculiarly 10 bear upon the condluou of the
African race IN the South. pointed toieat0S a. 1t
WAS not easy ion The Moth to reconcile these doc
| times ol universal liberty with the same doctrine
/ proiessed b, the South, but qaadcd practically. by
then holdng slaves IN bondage. There was, then,
resource but to leave that subject rest, aud
cure the confidence OF the South by leaving sayeryo
State jurisdiction. 1t was III the Jealous.
les liars rrindcies and h,bits of The Souib MN
cpally cmanating from this cause, ihat Pe,tpn
X Randolph was unanimously chosen President oil the
first Congress. and George Washington commander
of the army Ard IL il notorious hat tins WAS the
sourcc ot thc /" ,mb,r,ssncn,s, and =, Jcl,y" !,
forming the Confederation I53s and in COMBINING
into one general system the ya,ions sentiments
and interests ola continent divided INTO so man,
sovcrele utcs and independent communities" which
are SO lntciby SCI forth in the address To the pco
pie OF the States by the Congress OF the preceding
year. Looking iulo the Confederation ITSELF We
find that the pmtles to II are lhe iee inhabitants
OF earh Of these Sntes'-teius involving hefeeos-
uItnn Of slavery. and erud asse 10 exclude
slaves lron tbc righls OF freedom. Passing dann 10
the TIA OF the federal Constitution 1t smauilest thai
the institution of slavery by lat instrument aSsrncd
10 and detftI 10 ie plolef'oi. The agreement to
surrender lneiuve slaves. aod ta1oloIdte the impor
tatIon for term Of years. would have been pcIl-
dious mockefy, II The rEla were mentally reserved
OF rendering these clauses nopeRtc by promoting
the liberation of slaves restored imported f.
qually delnsfc would be the power granted 10 the
General Government OF supptessiug lnsnuectiohs,"
IT IN those most likely 10 happen, the troops otde'ud
Tor service Should be led ly the naNfms OF ther
legislative commanders 10 ivor the lnshtg nts.
lhus' II IL bey"nd oon'fo'et5y, tat whatever
questions may respecting llle cottiet ct Iufs
dIclnn between mo cdefal ahd me STATE boRcth-
mehs rom various CONSTRUCTIONS ni Tue constitutions
al instrument tie 'erdiilon ol slavery IN the
several states is hiaatstA MOI case oil me tohs'i
tutlon--Ron cdSHs fedeJtS-but ono winch the feo-
RE ol lhe tnhcd STATES, hndef 'oli AMUSEMENT OF
ali circumstances nave a'solnieIy apJ"leh, an"
covonIrted not to ashaie by lhef representatives. IN
Congress. inns u.s. indeed so 'ocon'oVerfabie mat
do not find II dehleu ~ a'N quarter but INC al
mission Of tins pea 10 ! cueidi Jutlsdlctoh over
slave property fes'S'pE avs ai't' II 'e s''e CON
cluslon against The rIgii III state luilsdlctoh-ano'
consequently the right OF one State 10 attempt
through the medium Of It's Legislature, ny us ieso
lutlons or enacments, 10 operate Upon INC coha'oh
of slavery Iather than upon any Other aoncstc IN
stutiOn ol another State. Such rght II Ihseh.eV-
dent could have tonad-Gon but IN i edefal
compact. Not bans found therein, 1t becomes
non-en'ity. " heo' therefore, hhoae is'an" anu
Massachusetts adopt measures lh'ennen 10 nave
bearing on tue oohes'lc 'ps''u'onso " 'o"" '"''
lima aud Virginia ihey shoot from 'hen spne'es an"
assume the a'h'ude Oh indepenhen' 0t"'es manning
laws al other independent STATES "hch ca" nave no
legal force; thns eAhibilinga spectacle "n'ch ou'
tor lis SINISTER tendency would mercy oesr'e 'u'-
cule as aspeoIes oil butlesque legisla'lon. am a
ware thai the ianacal sophisiefs, IN Juslh aon OF
these vagaries, dsavow The expectation and nteht OF
promoting slave emancipation othefWise lbah by IL
Weakening tho conscleucts and enlighlening the un-
derslandings OF the owners WIN Individuals or
ssncaiions who sincerely expect TO attain the desir-
ed contamination by these means, my view oil inns
question has no concern. ! am not speaking oi me
freedom OF the press, nor OF speech nor 81 pen; bu
of legislative pfopreIy aud dignily-oi the wisdom
and decorun Of legislation by sovereign State,
IN order to euIighten the bewildered minds oil the
People Of auother-to enact moral discourses
hon,llcs on abstract rig his, aud abusive co'nnenla-
RES on laws and customs other than their o"D-to