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

dUQ UOtu HuNC UGH III AtOuS III paGICuA4E
localities, by the accession or abstraction
Of abolition support. If the account
were fairly stated, / believe the party to
which | am opposed has profeed much
more, and been Injured much less, than
that to which belong. But am fan,
for that reason, from being disposed to acs
cuse our adEersaries Of being abolition
lists. 80 A -eee
And, now, Mr.. President, allow me to
consider the several cases ia which the
authority Of Congress is invoked by these
abolition petitioners upon the subject of
domestic slavery. The FIRST relates to il
as it exists in the District of Columbia.
The following is the provision Of the Con.
stitution Of the United States in reference
TO that matter; 40 go 40
= UTo exercise exclusive legislation in
all cases whatsoever over such District
mot exceeding ten miles square, as may
by cession of particular States and the
acceptance Of Congress, become the Seat
of Government of the United States"
This provision preceded, in the point Of
time, the actual cessions which were made
by the States of Maryland and Virginia.
The object of the cession was to establish
a Seat Of Government Of the United
States; and the grant in the Constitution
Of exclusive legislation must be under.
stood, and should always be interpreted, as
having relation to the object of the ces-
sion. 1t was with a full knowledge Of
this clause in the Constitution that those
two States ceded 10 the General Govern
ment she ten miles square, constituting the
District Of Columbia. In making the
cession, they supposed it was to be ap.
piled, and applied solely, to the purposes
of Seat of Government, for which It was
asked. When it was made, slavery exist
ed in both these Commonwealths and in
The ceded territory, as il now continues to
exist in all of them. Neither Maryland
nor Virginia could have anticipated that,
whilst the institution remained within their
respective limits, its abolition would he
attempted by Congress without their con-
sent. Neither of them would probably
have made an unconditional cesSioh, i
they could have anticipated such a result.
From the nature of the provision in the
Constitution, ard the aEoWed Object of the
acquisition OF the territory, two duties
arise on the part Of Congress. The first
is, to render the District available, com
Portable, and convenient, as a seat of Co
vernnSe1t of the whole Union the other
is, TO govern the people within the Dis,
trict so as best to promote their happiness
land prosperity. These objects are totally
sSstllet IN tllsiT EIafEraS and, IN interpreting
and exercising the grant Of the power d
exclusive Legislation, that Distinction
should be constantly borne in mind. Il
it necessary. IN order to render this place
q comfortable seat of the General Go.
vernment, TO abolish slavery within its Ii.
mits No enc can or will advance such
a proposition. The Government has re,
manned here near forty years without the
slightest Inconvenience from the presence
of domestic slavery. Is it necessary 70
the well.being Of the ps ople Of the Dis
tFict that slavery should be abolished from
amongst thema They not only neither
ask nor desire, but are almost unanimous,
" opposed to it. 1t exists here IN the
mildest and most mitigated form. In q
population of 39.634 there we're, at the
last enumeration of the population of the
United States, but GLE slaves. The
number has probably not much increased
since. They are dispersed over the Ter
miles square, engaged in the quiet pur
suits of husbandry, or in mental Offices ii
domestic life. If it Were necessary to til,
| eficiencyfof this place as a5seat of TIL
tleneral Government, to abolish slavery
which is utterly denied, The abolition
should be confined to thelnecessity which
prompts il, that lis, to- the limits of tn,
city Of Washington itself. Beyondsthos,
limits, persons concerned in the Govern
ment of the United States have nc NOR
to do with the inhabitants Of the Distric
than they have with the inhabitants Of tn,
adjacent counties Of Maryland and Vir
kgina, which lie beyond the District.
To abolish slavery within the Distric
of Columbia while Il remains in Virgins
!, and Maryland, situated as that District il
within the very heart of those States
j would expose them to great practical ia
! convenience and annoyance. Ih
District would become a place of refug
! and escape for fugitive slaves from Cd
i, two States, and place from which'a spin
! itsof discomfort, insubordination and in
t. suFrection might be foStersd aud encouI
] tagged inth two States. SUPPOSE as wa
al one time under consideration, Pennsyl
J wanna had granted ten miles square awIth
IN its limits forthe purpose Of a seat q
! the General Government; could Con
J hgfess, withodta violation of good faitl
/ have introdocsd and established shaver
!. within the bosom Of THAT Commonwealth
] lin the ceded territory, after she had abo
ishedit 50 long as the year 17609 X.
! the Inconvenience to Pennsylvania IN d
] case supposed would have besnimuchies
) Than that 10 Virginia and Maryland 10 Ii
1 case We are arguing. 5s7a
! Il was upon this view ofihe snbieI
I thar the Senate, at Is last session, soIent
S n declared that i Wenld Be eiolationN
implied faith ssnllingfrom the lFansal
{ TOD IS tllie osi. 10 ab0li sIlgsI
Wiihia lie District ool1mbias a.
J. would itnnot Be- I BIZ implied faith
: fisant 1hal NIlIsna grant IS nlade Cor o.
s atuei and declared purposes known
g me parties tie grant Should not beeIge
Q ed IS sr n1osolged md su
q. Is 81 lII Sd q tie gfuntaF.
! fant, m We lre oona
e ne terri ol1n1 ia, gae l1l b "a
e Iof h1ieVeE