Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-03-06

eminent nave renamed mere near forty
years without the slightest Inconvenience
from the presence of domestic slavery
Is it necessary TO the well-being of the peo-
pie of the District that slavery should be
abolished from among them? They not
only neither ask nor desire, bot are al
most unanimously opposed 10 it. 1t ex-
lists here in the mildesi and most mitigat
ed form. In a population of 59,S34 there
were, at the last enumeration of the popu.
Iiation OF the United States. but GIG
Slaves. TEE number has not probably
much increased since. They are dspers-
led over the ten miles square, engaged in
Itae-qulet pursuits &C husbaedrv, o. in ne
NAL Offices in domestic life. If il were
necessary to the efficiency Of this place as
seat ofthe General Government to abol-
lsh slavery, which is utterly denied, the
abolition should Be confined 10 the re-
IcesSiiy which prompts il, that is, 10 the
limits of Washington itself. Beyond those
llmlts, persons concerned in the Govern
ment of the United States have no more
TO do with the inhabitants of the District
than they have with the inhabitants of the
adjacent counties of Maryland and Vir.
ginia which lie beyond the District.
10 abolish slavery within the District
OF Columbia, whilst it remains in Vir.
ginia and Maryland, situated as that Dis
llrlct' Is, within the very heart of those
States, would expose them to great prac-
teal inconvenience and ANNOYANCE. The
District would become place Of refuge
and escape for fugitive slaves from the two
States, and place from which a spirit of
discontent, INSTRUMENTATION, and insurrec.
ton might be fos;ered and encouraged in
the two States. Suppose, as was at one
time under consideration, Pennsylvania
had granted ten miles square within its
limits for the purpose Of a seat of the
General Government could Congress
without violation of good faith, have IN
troduced and established slavery within
the bosom of tina: Commonwealth, in the
Iceded territory, after she had abolished il
so long ago as the year 1852 Yet the
Inconvenience in Pennsylvania in the case
supposed would have been much less than
that to Virginia and Maryland in the case
we are arguing.
IL was upon this view OF the subject
that the Senate, at its last session, solemn
| ly declared that it would be violation Of
implied faith, resulting from the transac-
ton OF the session. to abolish slavery with
IN the District of Columbia. And would
it not be! BY implied faith is meant that
when grant is made for an avowed and
declared purpose, known to the parties.
the grant should not be perverted to an
other purpose, unavowed and undeclared,
and injurious TO the grantor. The grant,
!, IN the case we are considering, of the ter
rltory of Columbia, was for seat of gov-
eminent. Whatever power is necessary
, to accomplish that object is carried along
; by the grant. But the abolition of slave
ry Is not necessary TO the enjoyment O!
this site as seat Of the general govern
ment. The grant in the constitution, oil
} exclusive power of Legislation over the
=. District, was made to ensure the exercise
OF an exclusive authority of the general
} government, to render this place safe
and secure seat of government, and to pro
: note the well-being Of the inhabitants o
the District. The power granted ough
{ TO be interpreted and exercised solely tc
= the end Tor which it was granted. The
: language of the grant was necessarily
} broad, comprehensive, and exclusive, be.
cause all the exigencies which mich
5 arise 10 render this secure seat Of IN,
n general government could not have Leer
E foreseen and provided for. The Ianouar,
may possibly be sufficiently compreben
If sive to include power of abolition, bu
e It would not at all thence follow That tn
= power could be rightfully exercised.
o The case may be resembled 10 that Of
.e plenipotentiary invested with a plenar,
\. power, but who, at the same time, he
,e positive instructions from his government
r as to the kind OF treaty which he is TO ne
# gotiate and conclude. If he Violates thos
l. instructions, and concludes diferer
at treaty, his government is bound by it,
Al And if the foreign government is awar
l. of the violation, it acts in bad faith. O
< 1t may be illustrated by an example draw
is from private life | am an endorser 70
ie my friend on a note discounted in tanE
Or He applies to me to endorse another I
Z, renew it, which do in blank Now tbi
d gives him power TO make any other US
it of my note which he pIeases. But il, il
= stead of applying it TO the intended pul
Id pose, he goes to a broker and sells
u thereby doubling my responsibility f
n him, be commits breach Of trust, and
~ violation Of the good faith implied in II
er transaction.
IN But, MIR. President, if this reasonir
We were as erroneous as | believe it to
correct and conclusive, Is the affair of Il
in liberation of six thousand negro slaves
of this District, disconnected VITA the lhr
u millions Of slaves in the United States,
he sufficient magnitude 10 agitate, distra