Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-02-22
VOL. XH.-No.6OO

spue The STATE enactment. But I dew
| hat the General Government ha. any
authority. Whatever. from the CONSTITUTION.
to abolish what is ca He'd the slave trade.
or. in other words, to prohibit the removal
Of slaves from one slave State TO another
slave State.
The gran, in the Constitution 10 Of a
power Of regulation. and not prohbl,ior,
Ii is conservative. not Destructive. Recn-
la'ion er vi termini implies the continued
existence or prosecution Of the thing regu.
lated. Prohibition implies ,o'a, ti,con,,n-
vance or annihilaton. Tue regulation
intended was designed 10 facilitate and ac-
| commandment to obs,ruct aud incom,node,
he commerce to be regulated. Can It no
pretended that, under this power TO be
regulated. Can it be pretended that.
under this power to regulate commerce
| among the states. Congress has the power
to prohibit the transportation Of live e,ock
which, IN countless numbers, are dsiiy
| passing from the western and interior
states 10 the southern, southwestern and
Atlantic s'a'es' The moment the neon.
tes,'b'e fact ls admitted, that negro slaves
are property. the law Of movable property
irres-tibly attaches itself 70 them, and
secures the right Of carrying them from
one to another state, where they are recno-
nzed AS property. without any hndrancs
whatever from Congress.
But, Mr.. President, I will not detain tho
Senate longer on the subjects Of slavery
within the District and in Florida, and OF
the right OF Congress 70 prohibit the remov.
al Of slaves from one state to anuther.-
These, as have already intimated. with
Ultra.a Olitlonlsts are but so many masked
batteries cpnceallng the real aud ultimate
point of attack. That point Of attack is the
inst lotion OF domestic slavery as il exists
m these states. IL is to hberate three
millions of slaves held in bondage within
Them. And now allow me. sir, to glance
at the insurmonntable obstacles which ie
IN the way OF the accomplishment of this
end, and az some o. the Consequences which
would ensue 1t 70 were possible ~ alta IN It.
The first imp"dlment is the uHer and
absolute want OF all power on the part Of
the General government. To effect the
purpose. The Cunst tuilon of the United
States creates limited government.
comprising comparatively few powers. and
Leaving the residuary mass of pol,t'cai
pnwer IN the possession Of the several
states. II is well known th the subj ct Of
slavery ,nterposed one Of the greatest diff.
Guides in the formation of the consolation.
II was happily compromised and adjusted
IN spirit of harmony and patrlotsm,
According to That compromise. no power
whatsver was graded % the General
government IN respect u domestic slavery,
bnt that which relates to taxation and
representation. and tho pnwer t. rest,re
fngtve slaves IL their lawful owners, All
other power IN regard 10 the insttutlon of
slavery was retained exclusively by tho
States. ~ be exercised bv Them severaliv,
according t. their respective views of their
own peculiar Interests. The Const tltlon
ofthe Urlted States never could have been
formed Upon the principle of invest ne the
General Government with authority to
abolish the lnstItJtion at ts PLEASURE. Is
never can be contnned for . single day #
the exercise OF such power be assumed or
usnrDeh.
But it may be commended by these ulirn.abolilion.
ISIS that Ihrir object ,s not 10 stimulate The aciioa
OF the Geupral Government, bu TO operate Upon
the States themselves in which he ,ns,iulinn OF
domestic slavery exists. lf that he their object,
why are h-se abpuon societies. and mpvemIrnrs
all confined 10 The free Staies? WHY are the slave
the alml,'Ion presses ,eem with publication. tending
to excite haired and aniniosii, on The part of Tho
nhabanis of The Tree States against hose of the
slave States WHY ~ Congress peIilinnpd The
free States have no more power Or righ tn inierfee
with ins, u ons IN the slave Sta cDnfilrd 10 tho
exclusive jurisdiction Of those States, han they
would have 10 interfere with institutions existing 10
any foreign country. What would lie thought Of
the lnrmaion Of societies in Greal Britain The ia.
sue of numerous inf ,mndtnry publication, !. and The
seniIng out of lecturers throughout The kiugd m.
drnunc,ng and aiming the des'ruction of any of
the institutions ofFiance Would ,hey I've rrgar.
del ~ prnceedin. warranted by gopi neighrmlIoodl
Or what would he ihongh Of The formation Of soci-
cites IN the slave States, the issue of Violent ard
inn,mma,ory tracts, and The depuraion Of .sion.
aries, pouring ou impass'oneiI denunciaons again 6
institutions under the exclusive con r0l Of the irs
States j. their purpose 10 appeal TO onr unItr.
standings, and 10 acinaie our hun,niIyl And 10
they exprci 10 accomplish thai purpose by holdrg
Insnp 10 the scOrn and con empt and de CESSATION Of
the people OF tile Tree States aud the whole civilized
worId' The slavery winch exists amongst us ia
our affair, MOI theirs; and they have no more Just
concern with II than they have with slavery as it
exists throughout The world. Why no. leave it 10
u, as the common Constitution Of onr country las
left it, TO i've dealt with under the guidance of Prov
dence, as best we may or can
The next obstacle in the way of abolition arises
of the Tact Of the esence IN the slave STATES Of
three IN llluns of slaves. they there, dispersed
throughout the Land part anl parcel Of our p'puln-
ton They we're brou.h 1T mo the country original.
I, under the authority of The parent Governnert
wh,ls, We were colon,es, and their mnporIaihB
was continued in spite Of all he remonslrances e
our ancestors. If The question were an origin !
uuesi,on, whether. there beng M slaves within II
country, we should introduce Iem and incorporate
rIen into our society, that would I've totally df.
raren, question. Few, il any, of HE citizens Of the
United States would he f,uod TO favor their in'ro-
duc,ion No man in il wonl oppose, upon that
suprosilion, Their admission wih mo,e determined
= resolution AMI conscen ious repngnance than !
= shond. But that is no, the qneson. The slaves
p are here no praccal scheme Tor their removal ~
sep ,raon from us has yet been devised proposed;
and the ,rue Inopiry ia what ia hest IN he dane ~