Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-02-27

by slave STATES. aud Is several hundred miles from
the nearestfree State. II almost extends within
the tropics, and The nearest important island TO il
ON the water side is Cuba, slave island. This
simple statement Of its geographical position should
o. Itself decide the question. When, BY the trea-
~ of 1919 with Spain, j, was coded TO the United
States, slavery existed within IT, By the terms Of
thet treaty the effects and property Of the inhsbi-
tants are secured TO them, and they are allowed 10
remove and take them away, II they think proper
to do SO, without limitation as 10 time. If il were
eSpedent therefore. abolish slavery H. it could
not be done consistently with the treaty, without
granting to the aneient iuhabtantsa reasonable
time 10 remove their slaves. Bnl further. BY the
compromise which took place on the passage Of the
act Tor the admission OF Missouri into the Union in
tue year 1890, IL was agreed and understood that
The line OF SO deg 80 min. OF north latitude should
ma'k the boundary between the FREQ States and the
slave States to be created IN the Territories Of The
United States coded by The treaty Of Louisana;
those situated south of II being slave States, and
those north OF II fee States But Florida Is south
oil that lire, and, consequently. according 10 the
spirit ofthc understanding which prevailed at the
period alluded to, should be slave State. 1t may
be true that the COMPROMISE does no, in terms en-
brace Florida, and that il Is not absolutely binding
and obligatory but all candid and impartial men
mnssagree that ought not TO be disregarded with
out the most weighly considerations. and that moth
'ng could be more 30 be deprecated than to open
anew the pleading wounds which were happily
bound up and healed by that compromise. Flori.
ia Il the only remaining Territory to be admitted
into the Uaion with tho institution Of domestic sL,-
very, while Wisconsin aud Iowa are now nearly
ripe for admission without il.
The NJ xt instance in which the exercise of the
power OF Congress is solicited rs that of prohibiting
wint Is denominaied by the petitioners thu slave.
Bet =. Z.
abolition petitions, the traffic OF human beings BE-.
tween the States. This exercise oil the power OF
Congress Is claimed under that clause Of the Con.
sulation which invests il with authority to regulate
commerce with tlreign nations, and among the sew
eral States, aud with the Indian tribes The now.
er TO regulate commerce among the several States.
IKE other powers IN the Constitution, has hitherto
remained dormant IN respect to the interior trade
by land between tho States. IL was a power gran
ted, like ali other powers Of the General Govern.
ment, TO secure peace and harmony among the
States Hitherto it has not been necessary 10 ex
ercise il. All the in which, during the pro.
gtess OF tune, II may become oxpedient to exert
Inc general authority TO regulate commerce be.
tween the States, cannot be conceived We may
easily imagine. however, contingencies which, Il
ihey we're 10 happen, might require the inte=rosi-
ton oil The common authority. If, forexample, the
State Of Oao were, by law, to prohibit any vessel
Louisville in Kentucky, il that case be not already
provided for by the laws which regulate our ooast-
ing-tiade, II would be competent to the General Co
vernment TO annul the prohibition emnnating from
Stale authority. Or If the State o9 Kentucky were
TO prohibit the introduction within us limits Of amy
articles oftrade, the production ofthe industry &c
The inhabitants OF the State Of Ohio the General
government might, by IT'S authority. superoede the
State enactment. But deny that the General Go.
las Hny ulif hat
Constitution, to abolish what is called tho slave
trade or, In other words, 10 prohibit the removal of
slaves from one slave State another slave State
The grant Of the Constitution is of a power Of
regulation, and not prohibition. Its conservative
not destructive. Regulation &c vi termini implies
The continued existence prosecution Of the Thing
regulated. Prohibition implies total discontin,lance
or humiliation. The regulation intended was de-
signed to facilitate and Accommodate not to obsrnc
and incommode the commerce to be regulated. --
Can II be pretended that, under this power to rcgu-
late commerce among the States, Congress has The
power TO prohibit The transportation of live stock
which, in countless numbers are daily passing from
the Western and interior States to the Southern. |
Southwestern, and Atantc Siaiesi The moment |
tho ncontestsble factis admitted that negro slaves
are property, the law of movable property iriesis.
tibly attaches itself to them, and secures the right
OF carrying them from one 10 another State, where
they are recognized rs properly, without any hin.
drance whatever from Congress.
But, Mr.. President | will not detsin the Senate |
ongeron the lects Of slavery thin the District
and in Florida, and Of the right Of Congress to pro-
hbit the removal OF slaves from State to anoth.
pr. These as have already intimaied with ultra |
nbolitonists, but so many masked batteries.
conceulipg the real and ultimate point of attack
hat point Of attack is the institution OF domestic
slavery il exists in these States. II is TO ljbe-
tbtoa al Ill l..
them Aud now allow me, sir, to glance at the in
obstacles which lie in the wsy .oftbe
Of this end, and at some of the
which would ensue ifit were possible
TO attain il.
The first impedimeni il the utter and absolute
want of all power the part OF the General Govern.
meni to effect tie purpose. The Constitution of
the United States creates limited Government,
comprising comparatively few powers and leaving
the reslduary Of political power in the posses
sion OF the several States. 1t Is we'll known ihut
he snilect Of slavery interposed of the great
est difficulties IN the formation of the Consultation
II was happily compromised and adjusted in a spir-
II OF harmony and patriotism. According TO that I
compromise, power Whatever was granted 10 |
the General Government In respect to domestic sla-
very but that which relates to taxation and repre-
sentation and the power to restore fugitive slaves
TO their lawful owners. All other power in regard
by the States to be exercised by them severally |
according TO their respective views OF their own pc
cuar interest. The Constiiution Of the Y. States |
never could have been formed upon the principle |
oiiuvestng the General Government with authority |
to abolish the institution at it, pleasure. IL never
can be continued oi single day if The exercise Of
auch power be assumed or usurped.
But it may be contended by these ultra.abolition-
lists that their object is not to stimulate the action
OF the General Government, but TO operate upon
the States themselves in which the institution Of
domestic slavery exists. Ii that be their object,
Why are these abolition societies and movements all
confined 10 the free Statesl Why are the slave
States wantoniy and cruelty assailed2 Why do the
abolition presses TEEN with publications tending TO
excite hatred and anmosiiy the part Of the in
habitants Of The free States against those Of The
slave states7 Why Congress petitioned7 The
tree States have no power right to interfere
with institutions in the slave States eonfded to the