Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-02-06
VOL. XI. No. 90

Tor her counting five of her slaves the same
as three ofour citizens was, that II might
form counterpoise to thai power, given
by the Constitution 10 Congress, "to reg
ulate foreign commerce, commerce be-
tween the states and the Indian tribes. -
The South contending that the North, on
ly icing interested in commerce, would
regulate it TO the injury of the SouIh,
whether foreign or domestic and thar the
South must have an additional numberaof
representatives, In Congress, by counting
their slaves, to countervail the action of
the North on questions Of foreign and in
terGal commerce
Under the power TO regulate foreign
commerce, we abolished the old African
slave trade. Under the power 10 regu-
late internal commerce between the states,
we pc itiou Congress to abolish the inter
nal slave trade between the states. Now
the South denies that Congress has the
constitutional power TO regulate commerce
between the states. so as 10 :onfce The
slaves TO the states, where they now are.
Yes, alter we have purchased this power
SO dearly of The South, (Which gives The
South twen;y-eight additional membersl
we now find the South denying It's very
existence; in fact, the very consideration
money, if may so speak, for the privi-
lege of counting slaves as 8 free per-
sons is denied.
Why do the South deny il2 Because
il is the great door 10 the slave Baslile
leftin the side Of the constitutional temple.
so that when we have power 10 abol-
sh it in the District Of Columbia, we shall
have, the same day, power 10 ebact law,
that no slave shall be taken or removed,
or sold from one state 10 another, under
the penalty of perpetual imprisonment or
death. What is 10 be the effect of such a
law on slavery! First, to confne the
slaves 10 the states, where they are on the
day of the enactment of the law. The
state OF Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, and the western parts Of the
Carolinas have, for twenty years past,
maintained themselves By selling their sur
plus slaves to the states of Georgia, Ala
bama. Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkan-
sas, and not by selling the productions Of
slaves, but by selling slaves themselves,
as the great article of commerce. to the
great cotton and sugar districts Of the Ear
south. Now if these slave growing states.
in the north END of the slave section OF
the country, were unable 10 sell slaves,
the master and slave could not live togeih-
er, the slaves of Maryland and Virginia
would eat up their masters, and the mas
| tiers must emancipatc in selfdelence, 10
save themselves from destruction. Again.
the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi and others, if they could not import
slaves from the north end OF the slaye re-
gion, there is such havoc annually by
death, among the slaves ofihe great plant
efs, by the unhealihiness of the climate
and the cruel treatment Of overseers, that
in less than seven years, If no slave could
be imported. into those southern regions.
one half OF the plantations would lie un-
cultivated for want of slaves.
! This power, to regulate commerce be-
tween the states, is one OF The mighty pow
ers Of the confederacy which has lain hilh-
erto, in great degree. dormant, although
purchased al such cruel and bitter ex-
pense, now amounting 10 tweniy-ei2hf
members of Congress; yet il may, If prop
erly welded, become the baitering ram 10
knock down the fortifaations of slavery.
The power TO regulate foreign commerce
was the batlle-axe with which we suDder-
ed the neck ofthe old African slave trade,
in six successive cuts, OF Congress, enact
ed at different periods from 1908 10 1894.
Let no one say that the word "reeu-
late" as used in the Constitution, may
not mean 10 alter, change, DESTROY. aboi-
ish, or aEnihilaie That question has
been settled in favor OF The above delini-
tons by every department of the govern
ment, by both Houses of Congress, The
President yes, and several times by the
Supreme Court Of the United Siaies-
; These questions Of regulation under
the Constitution, have been up for consid-
Grafton, by our Senate. in forming treat
les of peace; declarations Of war by Con-
gress, embaTgoes. non-iniercourse acts
this word 40 regulate" foreign commerce.
and commerce between the states. has
drawn forth an immense amount Of incen-
ious reasoning 10 restrict the word 10 IFS
meaning, but The Supreme CouTi OF the
1 United States. as well as the other depart
ments oil government, have declared that
| Congress have power to annihilaie and
destroy any branch of commerce, for this
is one mode of regulating it, if Congress
in their wisdom see fit 10 adopt it. The
abolition ofihe old African slave trade he'd
no constitutional authority for It's exercise.
except what was derived from the Consil-
tuition, which coniers on Congress The
power 10 regulate foreign commerce-
The regulation Congress adopted was the
! utter abolition and humiliation Of The
trade.
!; BY the abolition OF the African slave