Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-03-05
70 q.

" dtytt1A W4ldt ~ CditSu. slle Saw G9NSS
or, in other words, to prohibit the reno.
val Of slaves from one slave state, to ahs
other slave state.
The grant IN the Constitution IS 81
power Of regulation and not prohibition.
/ It IS conservative, not destructive. Regt.
lation &c " teTminf implies the continued
existence or prosecution Of the thing =.
gulated. Prohibition implies total discon-
ltinuance or annihilatioB. The regulation
intended was designed to facilitate and e..
comodate, not to obstruct and ineommode
the commerce to be regulated. Can Il Be
lpretented thai, under this power TO regu.
late commerce among the States. Con.
gress has the power TO prohibit the
transportation Of live stock which, Ia
countless numbers, are daily passing
from the Western and interior States 20
the Southern, Southwestern, and Atlantic
States The moment the ineonleStibls
fact is admilted, that negro slaves are pro.
perty, the law Of movable property r..
fesistibly attaches itself to them, aid Sc.
cures the right Of carrying them from one
to another State, where they are fecoR.
Missed as property, without any hindFanee
" hateVer from Congress- go
But, Mr. President, viii not detafn
the Senate longer on the subjects Of sla.
very within the District and in Florida,
and Of the right Of Congress TO prohibit
the removal of slaves from one Stale 20
another. These, as lhaVe already init.
mated, with tra-abolitionisiS, are but 50
many masked batteries, concealing the
real and ultimatepoint Of attack. That
point of attack is the institution Of do.
mestic slavery as it exists in these States.
1t is to liberate three millions 9f slaves
held in bondage within them. And now,
allow me, sir, 10 glance at the insufmoun.
table obstacles which lie in the way Of
+ the accomplishment Of this end, and at
some of the consequences which would
ensue if It were possible to attainiit.
Il The first inrediment is the utter and
absolute want Of all power on the part of
the General Government TO effect the
purpose. The Constitution Of the United
States creates a limited Government,
comprising comparatively few powers,
) and leaving the FesiddaFy mass of politi.
/ cal power in the possession Of the several
: States. 1t is well known that the subject
] of slavery interposed one Of the greatest
: diGiculties in the formation of the Consli.
tuition. 1t was happily compromised and
! adjusted in spirit Of harmony and paiFi.
E totiSm.-According to that compromise no
power whatever was granted to the Gene
fa Government in respect to domestic
J slaye9ys bar that which relates 10 taxation
) stoFe fugitive slaves to their lawful ownerN,
! All otherpowep Iuregard 10 the institi.
t ttion of slavery was retained exclusively
f lby the States, to be exercised BY them se.
! perally, according to their respective
Views of their own peculiar interest. TIE
) Constitution of the United States Iiever
) could have been formed upon the principle
! of investing the General Government
! with authority to abolish the institution AZ
f its pleasure. IL never can be continued
fora single day If the exercise Of such a
power be assumed OF usurped.a,ssf5 g.ea5
: But 1t maybe cohtended by these ii.
tra-abolitionists that their gohiect IS not 20
J. stimulate the action of the General Go.
5 vernment, but b operate upon the States
e themselves in which the institution Of do.
!; nestle slavery exists. Ifothat be their
It lobjeet, why are these abolition sosiet;eo
}. and movements all confined TO the fra
: States? Why are the slave States wan.
l4Ouly ana cruelty assailed Why doefhe
I Eabolition presses TEEN viii, pubIcotions
t tending to excite hatred aud luminosity On
$ the part of the inhabitants Of the fsee
!; States against those of the slave Etates Z
t Why is Congress Petitionedl The free
States have no more poweFor right TO IA.
], ttenere with the institutions Of the slave
/. States, conided TO the exclusive. aiofisrlic.
S tioniof those States, than they would hav.
y to interfere with the institutions exisi,Sg
). in any foreign country. What goun -
e thought Of the formation of societies. 4,
c Great Britain, the issue Of numerous IN.
e hammatory publications, and the sending
!. out Of lecturers throughout the kingdom.
:. denouncing and aiming at the destruction
d Of any of the institutions. Of Pane 1
d Would they be regarded as, proceediaer
q warranted by good neighboFhoodl u5r
i what would be thought Of the Formation
8 Of societies in the slave States he i5su a
e violent and infammatOry tracts, and I'd
lt1 depuiation Of missionaries, pouring ont
Il impassioned denunciations against, iirsiifn.
ID tons under the exclusive control Of ths
al free States 7 Is their purpose g anDesI
le to eur understanding and 10 actnale or
le humanity And do they expect "a IS.
le conplish that purpose BY holding IS % 70
T. the Seorn. and contempt, and detesiSfion
y Of the people Of the free States and fhs
= whole civilized world THE slavery
e which exists amongst IS IS our affair. 80,
e theirs; and they have no more Just con.
:. Germ with i than they have Win SLAYER
e as it exists throughout The world. wiz
e not leave Il 70 Us, IS the common
!. tuition Of our country has left II. ~
= dealt With under the guidance 81 FroSi.
o.. dence, as best We may on can Z
E, he next obstacle IN tbs .Iya4 81 49,;
3 ton arises o,lt Of he fact 81 ,s ~. ~
2. 81 The slave States 81 fhsss siI,o. :
i. slaves. Incy efe there.
y. throug loqt We land palt AZ
q our Population. rbe1 were ~
e tie touqlf origin 81 under as. -
2e ct tae parent soy aenf Whist re
colonies and their ir1nor| .ie~ -. -
e ii1l g spils of ell lis reno.
Sc qsr. ofs. az ion ers
a. org qpes ion s.. s. -'r,1 4
g 5,a4es lq ne cpr1 Ne 5or'd 81