Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-02-22

we're fairly stated, believe the party TO
lwbichI amopposed has prof,ed much more,
and been injured much less, than that 10
(which belong But un FIR, for that
teascn, from being disposed TO accuse our
adycrsarirs Of b,ina aboliionisis tsS~
And, now, Mr. President, ALLOW me TO
consider the severnfcascs in which the au
,horiiy OF Congress is invoked by these abo-
liion petitioners upon the subject OF domes-
tic slavery. The first relates TO il MS il exists
in the District Of Columbia The following
is the provision OF the Constitution oil the
United States in reference 10 lhn, matter.
g To exercise exclusive legislation in all ca
scs whatsoever over such District (nol ex-
seeding ten miles square) as may by cession
Of particular States, and the acceptance OF
Congress, become the Seat OF Government of
the United States.n
This provision preceded, in point oltine.
the actual cessions which were made by
the States Of Maryland and Virginia. The
object Of The cession was 10 establish a seal
nj Government Of he Uniicd STATES; and the
grant ia the Constitution of exclusive legis,
a,ion must be understood, and should be al
ways interpreted, as having relation 10 the
object OF the cession. Il was with iull
knowledge ofthis clause in the Constitution
that those two Suites cedcd 10 the General
Government the len miles square, constitn-
ting the District OF Columbia. la making
the cesson, they supposed that il was 10 be
applied, aud applied solely, 10 the purposes
OF II seat of Government, for which II was
asked. When il was made, slavery ex-
sted in both those Commonwealths, and
in the coded territories. as j, now con-
tnues TO exist in all Of them. Nei-
Their Maryland nor Virginia could have an.
lticipnted that, whilst the institution remained
within their respective limits, its abolition
would be attempted By Congress without
their consent Neither OF them would prob
ably have made an unconditional cession, II
they could have anticipated such result.
From the nature Of the provision in The
Constitution, and the ayowed object OF the
acquisition oflhe territory, two duties arise
on the part of Congress. The hrst is, TO
render The District available, comfortable,
and convenient, as n seat Of Government Of
the whole Union the other is TO govern the
people within the District so as best 10 pro-
mole their happiness and prosperity. These
objects are totally distinct 10 their nature,
and, in interpreting and exercising The grant
ofihe power Of exclusive legislation, that
mind. Is i, necessary, in order 10 render
this place comfortable seat OF the General
Government, TO abolish slavery within It's
limits No one can or Will advance such
la proposition. The Government has re-
manned here near forty years wiihou, the
slightest Inconvenience from the presence OF
domestic slavery Is il necessary TO the
well being of the people Of the District that
slavery should be abolished irom amongst
themi They not only neither ask nor de-
sire, but are almost unanimously opposed 10
liz. II exists here in the mildest and most
mliga,ed form. In population oil 39,S34,
There were, al the last enumeration oil the
population OF the United States, but 6,ll9
slaves. The number has no, probably much
increased since They are dispersed over
the ten miles square, engaged in the quiet
pursuits OF husbandry. or in mental Offices
in domestic life lfii were necessary 10 the
efficiency oflhis place as a seat OF the Cen
eral Government, TO abolish slavery. which
lis utterly denied, the abolition should be
confined to the necessity which prompts it,
that is, 10 the limits OF the city of Washing
ton itself Beyond those limits, persons con.
eerned in the Government Of the United
States have no more to do with the inhabi-
lants OF the District than they have with the
inhabitants of the adjacent counties of Mary
land and Virginia which lie beyond the
District
. To abolish slavery within the District OF
} Columbia, whilst it remains in Virginia and
MARYLAND, situated as that District is, within
the very heart Of those States, would expose
them to great practical Inconvenience and
! ANNOYANCE The District would become a
: place Of refuge and escape for fugitive slaves
: from the Two States, and place from which
= spirit of discomfort, INSTRUMENTATION, and
instruction might be lostrred and encoura-
ged in the two States. Suppose, as was at
: onetime under consideration, Pennsylvania
, had granted ten miles square within its
!, limits lorthe purpose of a seat of the Gener-
al Government; could Congress, without q
! violation Of good faith, have introduced and
, established slavery within the bosom Of that
ri Commonwealth, in the ceded territory, after
e she had abolished it so long ago as the year
. l7SO2 Yet the inconvenience 10 Pennsyl-
. vania in the case supposed would have been
i much less thar that TO Virginia and Mary
e land, inihe case we are arguing
e Twas upon this view Of the subject that
The Senate, at its last session. solemnly dec.
# Jared that it would be a violation of implied
0 faith. resulting from the transaction OF the
/. cession, ;oabolish slavery within the Dis
9 ,rict OF Columbia And would il not be-
V By implied faith is meant, that when gram
9 is made for one avowed and declared pnr
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