The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-04-25

,hp ;nstituliOn Of ElaRRTy - ~ ahal ihaAiu-
-, ss,sOied 20. ard sgFsed 10 be pro-
$500 The agEeement 10 surrender u
s;,;ve slsEss. and to iolerase the imPorta-
,son far a Term Of years. would have been
.s,s5inus moskery. If The right were
nsnI.lly reserved Of rendering these
rlsusss inoperaliFe By promoting The he-
,ra,ion Of slaves restored or imported. |
Fovally decisive would he she power
Granted 20 the general government Of
..suDpressine instructions :; II in those
most Iiksly 10 happen the troops or
dered for service should he led by Che
m.rims Of their legislative e"mmandsrs
10 favor the insurgents.
THUS IL is beyond controversy that
uhs,eFer questions say arise respecting
The cnnfiri of jurisdiction between Tie
federal and the stale governments from
ysr;ous constructions Of The constitution"
Il instrument; the condition Of slavery
in the several states is manifeslly not
case Of the eonsIiiulinn-SOS cAUsHs TG.-
prRrs-but one which the people OF the
United Stslss. under foil sdTissmenl Of
al circumstances. have absolutely shjuT-
ed, and eorensnied nnl 10 ag;isie by itelF
REPRESENTATIVES, in Congress. This is.
indeed, so inecnlroSeEtiale that do not
lind |, denied in any quarter. But sae
admission Of this plea 10 federal iuFisaie-
lion over slave property irTesisi'bly draws
after il the same conclusion sgalnsi the
rish, Of state lnrisdieiion-and eonse'
ouen,ly the night Of one sis'e 10 attempt
through the medium Of iis Legislature.
BIZ lis resolutions or enaeIments, 10 oie-
rate upan the condition Of slavery. rather
than upon any other domestic institution
Of another state. Such right. il 10 self
evident. could have no foundation but IN
a federal compact. Not bring found
therein il becnmes a noneniiiy. When.
therefore, Rhode leland and Msssschu-
sells adop. measures intended 10 have a
soaring on the domestic institutions ol
ssuih Carolina aud Virginia, they shaoi
from their spheres. and assume the aisi-
,uie AZ independent staff making laws
q, OTHER independent states. which Cal
base no legal force: thus exhibiting q
speclac!e which but FER its sinister ten
dency would merely deserve ridlcUle as .
species OF baf'es3ae legislation. am
aware that ihe fana,ieal snphisIers 10 jus
tliica.inn Of these vsgaries disavOw he
expectation aud intent of promoting slave
emancipation otherwise than by awaken,
ing the consciences and enlishieniNg ,hs
understanding Of The owners. With in
diyiduals or assoeisiinns who sincerely
expecI 10 attain the desired consnmma
iiun BY these means. my view Of thI:
question has no concern. ! an no
speaking Of the f,eedum Of the press moi
of speech. nor OF pen; but Of legislative
pruprieiy and dignity the wisdom
and drcorum Of Legislation by one soTe
reign state in ordcr 10 enlightrn the be
wIIdercd minds Of unnlher--tJ enact mo
raj Jiscanrses, homiiiss on abstract rlehu
and abusive commentaries on laws an,
customs other than their owu--in fulmI
nate snalaemas against the religious in
siilui,nns NJ Canada, or the so:i,l insu
buttons Of Louisiana. which in this rels
ton stand on The same parallel. Neiihcr
| does this reasoning apply 10 those whn
laying their hands en- their hearts, eai
say that their object IN inc ting tie rciio'
of the state Legislature Is ronfned To ill,
District OF Columbia. Their number,
imagine, is exceedingly snail, and while
they believe il 10 BE- exped'en, and obh
galoTy Oh theft cunscieuces 80 pursue hi,
course. nobody is snitled to be iuhg,
over them. As 10 the rest, wnahl to Cos
the folly OF our legislative proceeding
. were the worst OF their eiTect.. But
am profoundly convinced. that il this ma
MA inF lsmperlDg with the slave tenure q
The plantation states shall generally per
wade the Legislatures OF tie NDrlli, OF IN
deed be permitted 70 60 much further
| the days OF ,lis Unlun val shortly b
numbered. Tie people of those stste
already think they discern 10 it, the CON
ne"cemenI aud slow arproach Of a mr.
destined TO blow their social fabric inn,
air, aud they will anticipate the explosion
BY cutting of the communication. Thes,
suggestions. avn aware. are, with many
! theaIes Of t!erIsion and coniemri. In
strain Of brsggars self.eomplsc,Bey tia
undervsiues all powers but their own
/ they INSIST that the South Care nui sect,lc
| that the measure would place this fe,o
rite interest in greater jeopardy. and b.
destruction 10 other Interests. IS
nurIhern man, have no disposition T.
break lance with hose Who hold 4
these opinions. | am willing t. believ,
thai tn the event vi paTu,iUn of the f.
mhy estates they could not manage thei
share oI the inheritance without Us. Bu
II is lamen.ably true that they think 9th
etwlse, aud tia: great names aud splan
did in.eIlects among them are enlisted il
ProPaga!ing The opinion that they couI,
not only do as we'll but beIIer--crrt1inl,