Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-02-19

The ultra Ahoiiiouis's bcEsn Their chofte by ep-
pesling to our bumsnlty. and then 10 our under
standing Not content With Tins assumption OF
their wisdom, they nov appeal TO the ballot box
sud he must be blind TO The history OF thlngs who
cannot see what is 10 folloS this appeal.
Mr. President, continued Mr. Clay. there arc
three periods in our county when this subjee, was
sgstsied
lfrs,, Immediately afler tho adoption Of the Con
s,ituton. Then nomefous Abolition Societies
we're formed. They pciiiuned Congress and Con.
grrss received Their petitions, heard their prayers,
referred their petitions, reported upon them. ThOt
report declared that Congress had no power to IN.
iertere with Slavery.
The mex, Jcfiud was tho discussion of the Ms
sotn Question IN 1870. The struggle which took
place on that occasion vas long, exciting and .
farming. But IT terminated through one Of those
compromises which The people of this Union have
often united upon for calming the public uind.
The third period Is the present state of things
which perhaps has been brought about IN part BY
The Buil.h Emancipation Act. The Abolition Of
Slavery in the West India Islands has led Aboh-
,ivnists TO believe that the scheme practicable
here. They haze imagined, and bit imagined
similarity Of institutions. The British Psrliam.n,
hiss unlimited power aud those powers have often
been defined omnlpUtent.
3
few md limited, and the powers of the two gov
enmcnls totally distinct. There is a vide and
distinctive difference between the Two Govern
ments.
! Here Mr. Clay stated succlncily the differences
! between the British and American Constitutional
/ Had there been any analogy bet Seen the lns,i
/ tutons of the two countries, emancipation, would
| nave been impossible N Great Britain.
! Mr. President, continued Mr. Clay it is one of
/ he misfortunes incidental TO free government,
/ that The foil powers of freedom often lead to the
abuse of freedom, and this has been true in com
nen,s made upon this subject. Abolition was now
used for party and political purposes. 1t is not
true continued Mr. {. that either of the great par
ties in this country have any Abolition designs. II
it were true, should consider il extremely unfor-
tunale for the country.
i Mr. Clay then considered some Of the opinions
of the Aboh,ionists in regard to the Abolition OF
Y Slavery in this District. He read The article in
The Constitution which gives the United States
Exclusive jurisdiction all subjects whatsoever
within the District" and commented at length up
on this article. This provision preceded in time
the location of the seat OF Government here nnt
the nature of the grant made, ought especially tc
be considered
II it be necessary for the peace md quiet of til,
seat of Government that Slavery should be abol
i shed, the question would be different. Do, !, il
6 not. Nearly 40 years the seat Of Government ha
been here, and slavery has beer here, and witt
here can specify an evil which has resulted iron
d the institution. In the District there are GIL!
r slaves in o population Of about 5000. SLAYER
exists here II It's mildest forms. Those ensave
are scattered over the district engaged as servan;
e and employed in hus bandry, and they were bette
o here than If disturbed.
. Another fuct. This District is in the very hear
Of Maryland and Virginia. aud abolish slavery her
and you make this District place of refuge ia
the runaway slaves of both States Neither Stat
would have coded the District here had they su,
N pected TINT Congress would have abolished Slave
N ry IN The District.
N 1t was continued Mr. Clay, at my instance tn,
OF the Senate ct the last session of Congress declare
le that there was on implied faith in the cession
his District to the Government. Abolition
Slavery in This District would be violation of Il
Of good faith between the three partes-the U. S
4. Maryland and Vngira.
'yI The case may he Familiarity illustrated. If
&c Foreign Minister had plenory powers to execu
an act under ccrtoin Instructions real or implied
= would be Necessary for The parties to agree upt
~ and act up to tho decision 1t may be illustrate
IS IN pirate life. may endorse a blank note for
ed friend, the amount to be filed up by him. Tn
friend may Ga up beyond the amour, agreed upo
OF and Bank or Broker might purchase my no
IT, thus falsihed, but would II not be a violation
We islhl
~ Ipass to Florida, said Mr. Clay. Florida W
ceded to Us BY Spain in 1919. Its southern be
der is in the tropics. 1t is surrounded on the la
with slavery. aud the nearest island has slave
y within is borders. 1t contained slavery in Is
" and by one ofthe articles of The treaty with Spa
+, the inhabitants Of Florida have right to reno
their effects. We cannot Justly or legally int
iere with the slaves. BY the compromise "
Missouri, 1t ws5 decided that the line 80 dcgr,
80 minutes should be the boundary Of the sls
=, limits Florida is south Of this line, and #
State does not come actually within the letter
that comprnlnlse, becsuse the treaty was ayr,
upon subsequently, still It comes within the sp
OF The act, and We cannot abolish slavery II
- without interfering with that act.
Mr. Clay then examined the article in the C.
nm s,tution Which treats Of the migrstou and lmI
L.,, 'atiou Of Slaves.
= of Mr. Clsy then said that the Abolition Of Sla
YER ~ IN the Distinct Of Columbia ana 10 Florida
d intended but for the Accomplishment Of gre,