Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-02-21

tons, and that nothing could b. more to Dc de-
! precaied than 10 open anew the hlced.ug wounds
! which were happily bound up aai healed by
! mat compromise. Florida Is the only remaining
Territory to - admitted into the Union With the
institution Of domestic slavery, while Wisconsin
and Iowa IRE now nearly ripe for admission
without II.
The Gexi instance in which the exercise Of the
power oi Congress - solicited II that OF pfohi-
piiing what - dehominaied BY the petitioners the
slave-irade between the States, or a. It - de-
seIibed IN abolition petitions the traffic IN human
beings between the States. This exercise Of the
power of Congress II claimed under that clause
oi the Consultation which invests II With auihorI-
~ To regulate commerce with foreign nations
ana among the several States. and with the In
dian tribes. The power Ia regulate commerce
among the several States, like other powers m
the Constitution. has hitherto remained dormant
ia respect To the interior trade by land between
the States. Ii Vas power granted, like all the
Other powers Of the General Government, io So
cure peace aud harmony among the States. Ili-
iherio It has not been Necessary 20 exercise it,
All The cases IN which. during the pfcgrcSs u
timc, 1t may become eApedient Ia excr; the gene
| raj authority To- regulate commerce between The
states, cahno, Ice conccis ed. We may easily i'm
aeine, however, contingencies which. # they
were TO happen, might require the in,crpoSi,ion
OF the common authority. IT, for example the
Sale oi OHIO were, by Law, To prohibit any ycS-
sci entering the port OF Cincinnati, from the port
OF LOUISVILLE, IN kentucky, II that case bc not
already provided for by the laws which regulate
our coasting trade, 1t would be competent TO the
ltcnerai CoyeTBmen; to snBul tie prohibition
enanaiihs ifom State authority. or Il the State
OF heniGoky we're to prohibit the introduction.
within Its limits, of any articles OF trade u.e
production oil the industry oi tie inhabitants OF
| the State Of OHIO. the General Government might
by us authority, supeISede the State enactment
| but deny that the General Government has any
authority, whatever, from the Constitution 20
abolish what j. called the slave trade or m other
words, TO prohibit the removal OF slaves from one
| slave State 10 another slave State
| The grant ia the Constitution Is OF 4 -owcr oF
regulation, and not prohibition. II Is c1nserya-
| i've, not destructive. Regulation 81 u fsr4.iat
implies The continued existence or prosecution 81
The thing regulated. Prohibition nipple, total
| diScOniInuance OF annihi.alion. The regulation
iricnded was designed io facilitate ami accom-
| nodate, not To ob>iTuct and iucommOdc the COM
mefce 10 be regulated. Can Il h. pretended that
under tins power 10 regulate commerce among
! 'hc STATES congress has the power 10 prohibit the
iGanSporiaiIon of ike Stock which, IN countess
numbers, are daily passing from the Western and
interior States To- the southern Southwestern
and Atlantic States The moment the neon
| iesiahle fact - admitted, th.t negro slaves are
property, the law Of movable property iTreS!sii-
bly, attaches itself 10 them and securcs the rYh,
OF carrying them from one 10 another, State
"hcie 'hey are recognised "a property, without
| '
But, Mr. President will not deiain the Sc
naie longer on the subjects of slavery within the
District and In FLORIDA, and of the right Of Con-
greSs 10 prohibit tie removal Of slaves from one
Slate 10 another These, ~ | have already init
mated, with ulra-aholiGonisiS are but 50 many
! masked batteries, coDccaIIng the real and ul,I-
mate point of attack. That point of ailAck ~
The institution Of domestic slavery as II exists IN
these States. Ii IS 10 hbcraie three millions OF
slaves held IN bondage within them. And now
allow me, SIR. L. glance al the insurmounisblc
obstacles which lac IN tie way OF the accomplish
inent OF this end and AT sorie of the conseluen-
c's which would ensue If II were possible 10 At
| tain u.
The hrS' impcdimcni i the utter AM absolute
want ct all power on the part Of The General Go
'ernmeni 10 effect the purpose. The COnsuiu-
| uon OF the United States creates a limited Go !
vernmcnt. comprising comparatively iew pow
erS, and leaving the rcsidunry mas of poitcal
power IA the Possession Of the several States l.
~ we'll known that the subject of slavery inter-
rosed one Of the greatest difficult, IN the furIna-
iion Of the Constitution. Ii was happilv CON-
promised and adjusted IA a spiui OF harmony and
| patriotism. According To- that compromise no
power Whatever was granted To the General CO.
feTnrnent IA respect 10 domestic slavery but that
which relates e. taxation aud representation and
The power To restore fugitive slaves hc.r lawful
| o"ncr>. All other power ia regard 10 tie ins,,-
iuSIon % slavery was retained triusi y'v hv t,.
States, 10 b. exercised ~ them se,erlly. re-
cofdmg t. thar respective views of their own
| peculiar interest. The Constitution Of tl. United
States never could have been formed upon The
| principle at investing the General Government
Sith auihuuiy To- aboiI, the institution ut IL. plea
SURE IL never can ~ continued for a .iugi. .lsv
81 The exercise Of such power BE- a,suiGcd of
usufpcd
Bui 1t NAV lc con,ended ly these ul,fa.nloI-
honlsi- tia, their ohjrot n not ~ stimulate the
aci'on Of ne Geueral Gofcrnmeui. bur % cpe-
rate upon tbe States themselves 90 " hIch ne IA
Shtuiion 81 domestic slavery .ts.s. D. Thai L.,
their object, why arc ihc~c abolition srcictic. and
movements all confined % tie Zee Static WHY
are ihe slave States WantouIy aud cruelty as.sfi-
cd Why do he abolition presses trem with
pubir ationF tending 20 cxcur hatred and nnintr.-
~ 90 the part e the inhabitants Il tho free
states against those 81 The slave Siatcss WLv b,
Congress peuuonei' The FREE states have No
more power or Tght 60 interfere VII. institutions
m the slave States. conGf~i 10 the erclueive tu-
fiseiicicn 81 ibose States. than ihey would have
u" interfere With inNltuupns existing ~ any t.
reign country. What would - thought 81 the
formation a. SorIcNcs 90 Great Britain the issrie
~ numerous indafnmafDry pallicaffurs and d..
sanding out g lrutufrfs thfoultput ihe 1irr,lerr
dennuncinr and aiming al tie de.trurfiuh 10 aot
&C CO. institutions 81 Ffaucr' WouA ih.. D. f.-
sandft p. Proceedings warranted hy r.od ne.rh-
I hor''od or shat would hc ihon~ht ~ fhe fer
Waiion 81 soreiirs iu fhr slave States fIa f,.t.
~ violrHt and ihhammatar, Tracts. and r.. d..
pu'at0n II misstonafies, pouring ont innra ,siYu-
81 denunc atoms against institutions OIL. & fte
rtriu'tc ccnifnl ~ he fee State /, rlcif
purpose 20 APPEAL a. orr arfrfsfanfurs. ma o..
aciuaie our humanity Aod 81 u,st eiqect q.
accomplish hat pufpo-e hy tnti.ng 90. up %, il.
soorn, aud coBierapi. anil de,e.iat,l, 81 e. Co.,.
Ipi~ 81 The free Stairs ard ne whole civilized
world Tht slavery which EXISTS amongst us B..
"uf AFFAIR, noi theirs ard iel have n. rrfe lutf
concern Eiui ~ tisn hey have ulH s'a.t 90, st Of
rtists Throughout the vord Why not fage f
O. %. % fhs common CONSTITUTION q 1uf cour-
~ has i"f ". o. BE- dealt sab. under o. ru..
dance q Proyi3cace. a. lest a. ma, ~ cam
/ The neEf obstacle in ne way ~ afoiiieo
arises ouf - ihe far, q ne rreseoee boz n,e
slave States ~ tIee millions ~ slaves Tho
are there. drpefscd Throughout ice Land. lar
and pnfrci of COR popu'ahou. Thsy wsfe hfIr
inio u.e country originally Bbicf &C. ami f'Y
g ih@ parent Gutefnfnfnf whist see atrr crf...