The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-03-07
speech of Mr. Clay ON the subject
Ot Abolition.
THURSDAY. FEBKUARY 7, 1889.
CONCLUDED. 7

senate longer on the subject of SLAYER
within the District and in Florida, and {
me right OF Congress to prohibit the reno
val OF slaves from ole State 10 anoiher
These, as have already ln,lmatcd, wit
utra'aboiiiionisls are but so many ma skct
4 batteries, concealing the real point of attack
nat point OF attack is the institution of do
nestle slavery as It exists in these States
u IS TO libefate three millions Of slaves bel,
"a bondage within them. And no. allow
me, SIR, 10 glance at the insurmountabIe Oh
stacies which lie in the way Of The accom-
plIshment of this end, and at some of The
consequences which would ensue If il were
possible to attain it.
ne ilTst impeachment is The utter and alb.
soluie wan. OF all power on the part OF the
General Government to EFFECT the purpose.
Inc constitution Of The United States ere,
aies limited Government, comprising com.
parat'ely iew powers, and leaving the resi-
duary mass Of po;ncaI power in the posses.
SION OF the several States. TtIswelI known
ihai The subject Of slavery lnierposed one
OF The greatest difficulties IN the formation
oil the Constitution. II was happily com
promised and adjusted ia spirit Of harmo.
uy and patriotism. According 10 that CON.
promise, no power whatever was granted
to the General Goyern .nent in respect TO
doB' ste slavery, but that which relates 10
taxation and representation and the power
TO res.Hfe iueiuve slaves 10 their lawful own.
ers. All other power in regard TO the ~.
slliuiion OF slavery was retained exclusive
y by the States, TO be exercised by then,
seyoialiy, according to their respective
views o. their own peculiar interest. The
Constitution Of the United States never
could have been formed upon the principle
Of investing the General Government with
u'houly to abolish the institution at lis
pleasure. IL never can be continued for
s'a@le day II the exercise of such a power
b. assumed or usurped.
But It may be commended by these ultra.
abolIti3nis's that their object ~ not to stimu.
late the action Of the General Government,
but TO operate upon The States themselves 10
WHICH the institution Of domestic slavery
exists. Ii that be their object, why are
these abolition societies and move ments all
coLhned 10 the free States WHY are the
slave States Santo1ly and cruelty assai!pd
Why DO The abolition presses teen with
publications tending tocxct,e hatred aud am.
mostly on the part Of the inhabitants Of the
irce States against those o.; the slave States
Why Is Congress petitoned The free
States have no more power o. night 10 IN
lerc with institutions ~ The slave States,
coutidcd Ia III exclusive jurisdiction ofthose
Safes, than they would have 10 interfere
With institutions EXISTING 10 any foreign
country. VI hat would be thought Of the
iuunailou Of societies 10 Grea, Britain, the /
ISSUE Of numerous inllammatory publtca
tons, and the sending out Of lecturers
throughout the kingdom, deu0uncng and
aiming at the destruction Of any Of the IN.
,liiuIonS Of France Would thew be re.
sarded as proceedings warranted by good
ncIghborhood Or what would be thought .
# the formation OF societies ~ the slave .
States, the issue Of violent and nnamma.
ory tracts, and the dcpu;ation Of mlsslona.
RES, pouring out mPasscued dcnuuclatous .
against institutions under the exclusive con.
troll Of the free States l. their purpose TO .
appeal 10 cur understandings, and 10 ac,u.
ate our humanity And do they expect TO .
that purpose BY holding US up
% the scorn, and contempt and detestatlon
( the people Of the free States and the
whole civilized world The slavery which
yisls among us ~ our affair, not theirs;
nd they have 10 more just concern with
than they have with slavery as II exists
throughout the world " ny not leave it
. US, as the common Constitution OF our
ountry, has left IT, to DO dealt with, under
he guidance of Providence, as best we may
II can {
The next obstacle in the way OF Ambition I
rises clt Of the fact of the presence IN the {
lave States of three millions Of slaves S
they are there, dispersed throughout the l
md, part and parcel Of our population
hey we're brought into the country origin. Il
lily under the authority Of the parent Gov.
rnmeut whilst we were colonies, and their $
nportatlon was continued in spite of all @
ie rcmonsrances of our ancestors. II the s
uestlon were an original question, whether, II
lere being no slaves within the country. o
&c should introduce them, and incorporate Il
ZEN into cur society, that would be to. a
lllv different question. Few, it any. OF 5
10 citizens of the Us would be found Il
favor their introduction. No man in IT II
oud oppose upon that supPosiuon, their a
lmissron with more determined resolution o.
I'd conscientious repugnancc than should u
ut that is not tho question. The slaves
70 here no practical scheme for their re- r.
oval or separation from us has been yet It
,vrsed or proposed, and the true inquiry II