The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-19

| 3
such necessity, it must be confined 10 10 the city OF
| Washington alone, and not extend to Georgetown
oil Alexandria,
Mr. Clay recaptulated and reinforced his argu
ment of the last session, that slavery could not be
abolished in this district without the violation OF
| Implied faith Maryland and Virginia he contend
ed would never have made tho cession if they had
anticipated any such net. He urged with great
force and dwelt at great length The fact that
grant of power could not justly be perverted to
| other purposes besides those which were under
stood by the parties to the grant
With regard to the abolition of slavery in Fiori-
da, Mr. Clay commended that its geographical posi-
ton alone ought to decide the question. 1t is sur
rounded by slaye States, and the nearest island to
it is slave country. Besides, abolition could not
take place there without violating the treaty with
Spain, by which it coded TO the United States
and trampng under foot the compromise on the
Missouri question.
Another object at which the aboIitionsts aim is
the prevention of the removal OF slaves from one
State to another. They claim the exercise of the
power Of Congress on this point, from the clause
authorsing the regulation Of commerce. Bat that
he contended was Il grant of power to regulate
not prohibit 1t conservative, not destructive;
and furnis hes no ground at all for the exertion Of
the auth oiily which is here invoked. But there is
still another clause on which they rest-tbat which
refers TO the migration and importation of persons,
&c. This Mr. Clay commended was limited TO the
Alrican slave trade. The words synony nous J;
and both referred to the introduction, not The
moral of this description of persons.
real object Of the abolonists very far from
being confined to any purposes connected merely
with this dislrG or the territories. Their object
was the emancipation of all the slaves in the u.
nitod States. He then rapidly glanced ut OF
the obstacles to the accomp lshment of this design
| Among them he noticed particularly the limitation
of the power Of The General Government, the
number oil the slaves, and the amount of capital
| invested in this species of property.
The capital so invested he estimated at tluelue
hundred millions of dollars; and he conended that
| the Abotionsts, who earnest in pointing to
the British example, ought to remember that the
sense of Justice eXtorted 20 millions of pounds
| from the British Parliament for compensation to
the West India planters-.and they ought TO begin
by raising the twei0" h1n1reo ml,.ions to pay for
tho property of which they mean to despoil the
| people of the South.
lie next alluded to the effects Of these abolition
movements the slaves themselves, in the in
creased rgor Of the laws of the States respecting
them, and the interruption of nil the benevolent
| proceedings for their intellectual i'm rovement, and
general ameoraton. The Abolitionsts, he thought
! had thrown back the cause of emancipation by
years.
But, suppose they should accomplish their object
what would be tho consequence? A horrible
Struggle between the two races, ending in the eX-
tncton Of one or the other-or, if this should not
happen anal sama,ion, that revolving state, would
be the result. Separation or anal gamation this
is the alternative.
Mr. Clay dwelt with great power, and all his
characteristic eloquence, the consequences of an
immediate emanc pation of the slaves and he
closed with most iervld and impassioned appeal
| to all sides of the Senate, and to his fellow cit.
zens of every class and description to resist the
spirit which is abroad, and rally around the CON-
! sTITUTIoN, aud preserve the peace and tranquility
| of the country.
When Mr. Clay sat down, Mr. Calhoun rose, and
said he heard the speech Of the Senator from Ken
lucky with the greatest pleasure He thought it
Inc SOUTH S njtjhSf,AheG!io3 is eSGyia5eRyr an
this owing to the movement he had made at the
last session
The petition presented by Mr. Clay called for no
action. 1t was therefore not referred but simply
laid on the table and ordered 10 be printed.
February, 8, 1889.
Mr. Crttenden is well known to the country as a
captivating and impressive speaker, and the ntel-
gence that he would reply TO the report of Mr.
Wall against his (Crittenden's) bill upon inte-
ference in elections by office holders at some
! length sufficient TO fill the chamber 10 over
flowing long before the Senate met.
| That gentlemen then rose, and commenced a
speech, which in point of argument, satire, humor
and eloquence, all combined, has seldom been sur
passed
MIR Critenden said he was not surprised at the
decision of the Committee being adverse TO the
bill but he had expected it TO be treated with
candol and respect. Instead of that, however il
had tbeen loaded with angry and vituperative
TERMS designed to reflect discredit and obloquy on
its author and its supporters. Not only had il been
+ denounced as dangerous, unjust, unequal imp
ticable, lmpoltic, and unconstitutiona," but the
chairman had careered over the whole world, and
ransacked every quarter, for images wherewith to
illustrate bis hatred and adherence of tho mea.
sure.
Mr. Crittenden, after turning The laugh against
Wall, for these extravagarcies, proceeded TO ex-
anime the OBJ ecton of untOdStitutiOnaliV. How is
This bill unconstitutional What does It propose
Why, that certain officers, therein dcsignoted
(Nlarshas, Postmasters Receivers, Registers, Cot
lectors, &c. &c. &C. shall not intermeddle in G.
nrfIn ,l,n -...
ing THEFT own votes, shall endeavor to
persuade any elector to give, disuade any eleGtor
from giving his vote in such elections and if they
shall do so, the President shall forthwith remove
them from office. This is the substance.
The committee say that these provisions violate
the freedom of speech and of the press and the
right of peaceably assembling. But MIR Crilten-
den contended that the committee had confounded
all the just and solid distinctions between the
People and those who hold authority. They treat
the restraints which are imposed on officers Of Go