The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-23

i
what consisted that power by which the free States
abolished slavery within their limits Z Was IL by a
provision or reservation Of power In the original CO.
lonial charters, or In their state constitutional Or
was the power exercised In conformity whthe viii,
/ appreciation, or desire Of the people expressed
through the ballot boxesl This BY me must go I'M
answered. for am not in possession OF the means oil
Information. II there existed neither charter nor
constitutional power TO authorize The abolition oil
slavery and the sayetrade In those States where
slavery has been abolished, (and any provision 10
colonel charter must have been Recognized oy ine
constitution &c there was constitution then lhe
power must have emanaled directly from the people
| Such being the case, the same power now exists as
applied to the slave States and TO The abolition Of
| slavery The work must be directed BY the people
| lii must be the work OF the people for nothing
short of majority of their voices would warrant The
/ passage OF a law which could consuionally affect
their properly In their slaves. The constitution
In direct terms 10 every citizen In the United
States inviolate, the benefit of his contracts and The
peaceable possession OF his property except that II
should be necessarily condemned for the public use
and then the public is bound 10 pay hia fair and
full compensation for II.
The moral thought may be horrible that one man
should hold property in another-shond hold him
invounary In unlimited slavery and unconditional
bondage In this land of liberty and OF laws, whose
| fundamental principles and whose constitution re-
cognise all men on political equality. We have
legal hctionsthey appear TO be ridieuiousi but po-
lical hctions seem 10 be superlatlvely ridiculous
when they serve TO keep nearly three millions OF the
human race within the borders Of this happy and
free republic in unconditional slavery and invoun-
tary bondage. say such thought may be horrible
TO the philanbropis, and big with fraud, crime and
inquity; but we must take things sometimes in this
world as We find them; they not as we would
| like TO have them
| regret that am not prepared to give definite
answer TO your third question II is one which re-
quires careful del beraie and patient investigation,
and the only apology have for not being better
prepared to answer your inerrogaory is that il has
never been my duty TO act officially upon the sub
jec: when that time shall come will be AT my post
and prepared as well a am capable and suscepli-
Bile of preparation, and will try 10 discharge my duty
with reference to what suppose TO be for the best
interests Of my country, and 10 The support of the
| constitution.
| Ihave stated that am not prepared to give you
| definite ansaerto your third interrogatoIy. This
may be construed Into wish Ia dodge the question
| NOT so; and 10 avoid such a superstition or
| srucuon, will show you that | am not entirely
without opinion on this important subject, nor haveI
any hesitation in expressing thai opinion all lines
SO far as have made il up.
There is no man living, perhaps, who is more
deadly hostile 10 slavery than | am. NV feelings,
my education, the circumstances hat have surround
ed me through lite, together with my principles of
what lbeieye to constitute the natural and political
rights OF man-all conspire To make me abhor Il as
one OF The greatest evils that exists on the face OF
the earth. Yes, greater in its moral effects and cor
ripping tendencies Than all other human evils put to-
! geiher. II is not only moral and political evil
within itself, intrnsically so of the darkest and
most damning character but in all its bearings and
effects calculated 10 produce the most fatal effects
both the moral and the political institutions OF our
country II is an evil Il AT has, does now, and will
in all time TO como while IL exists, involve in II, as
well in It's present possession in its future opera
tons, crime fraud THEFT, robbery, murder, and death
For the truth of what say 10 its present effects
upon The institutions of our country, have only to
refer you TO view OF the slave states in our Union,
and a comparison between the relative condition Of
the improvements OF them and the free states You
see the free states happy and ourishng, TO the ad-
4 miration and establishment Of all who see them
Public Improvements and private prosperity
/ swim and head and head in the race, while on the
other hand poverty, lean and hungry rility and
squalid wrechedness, seem TO cover the face Of the
land in many pats where slave institutions have
residence. Cross the line that separates the free
from the slave state or stand upon il and look
the former you will see mparalively all ife all
happiness, all prosperity both public and private;
bui turn your eyes upon the latter and survey it
every thing material, (except few OF the wealthy
proprieoIs,) bearing the impress of poverty and di
lapdation; all look as if peslilence and famine had
been making their sad innovation. The anger Of
God and the vengeance Of Heaven seem 10 rest upon
every thing upon which you can cast your eyes
Every prospect seems to be withered and wilted by
the frown and disapprobaton Of avenging Justice
and violated humanity. In short, almost every in
stitution eyeryprosperiiy public and private seems
to be sickening and dying from the corrupting and
corroding effects of slavery. But the curse be on
the head o. those who sustain such institution
We found it when found ourselves in possession
of our new, our Free and our independent (free and
independent OF other powers) government
We have neither share nor lot in either the bcne-
fits or the crimes OF slavery. twas tolerated by our
ancestors al The formation Of the government and the
adoption of the constitution, TO secure and perpelu-
ate our independence, which had cost so much blood
so much treasure, and SO much toll. The federation
OF slavery was Of the conditions upon which The
slave states agreed to enter into the confederation
and TO adopt The constitution; and to disturb the
question now contrary 10 their wish, and in the face
Of their appreciation is in degree violate the
constitution upon which the federal government
established, and if persisted in may greatly endan-
ger happy Union. IL would be arrogance in me,
and show great want of generosity and liberaliy,
to hesitate for a moment 10 believe that in the great
er number OF cases the spirit of abolitionsm flows
from any other THIN the pures fountains OF charity
and humanity. believe that hundreds and thou
sands OF those who are Zeaou>y supporting the abo-
lilion cause are governed by other than wish for
the best interests OF the country and the pures prin
cipes OF humanity; yet have not been able 10 con-
cur in abolitionisln; have thought, and do think,
that II Is mistaken philanthropy and would fear
the effects Of abolitionism, even if there were no
constitutional objections, or violation Of personal or
state rights in carrying out the system. tear the
effects would be more fatal 10 the unhappy and IN
fortunate African than even slavery itself Nor
| help fearing some fatal consequences from the
continuation of slavery and the slave trade. The
Grecian helos ruled their masters with rod of IRON
and all history is false if slavery does eventually
work out II own salvation and perhaps with fear
Jul waking up. have ever been in favor Of the
colonization plan of ameiorang the condition of
slavery and OF finally abolishng it within the United
States The process may be tedious, but it will be
safe, and il there is acquisition of slave
ritay TO the Union, it is 10 be hoped that the humane
ana glorious undertaking may be some day consum-
mated.
Many OF The feelings have expressed on the sub
lect OF slavery are not selfish, or those Of my own
they may be safely said 10 be the feelings OF those
who are born and reared in The tree states and I'M
der The blessings and influence of our free inSlu-
IONS nor are those opinions confined TO the people
oil me Tree states-they entertained by hundreds
and thousands OF intelligent, viruou<. wealthy and
patriotic citizens Of The slave states and many OF the
Shareholders themselves see the wihering and hghi-