The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-06
THE VOICE OFF DOM.


task is hard, to make tappear that Congress have
no right to abolish slavery in the District. 1t
seems like trifing to examine his arguments T.; but
as some weak minds may possibly be troubled
with them, it may be we'll to bestow on them
moments attention. He says the object of the
cesslon was to establish seat of government of
the United States; and the grant in the Constitu-
ton of exclusive legislation, must be understood,
and should always be interpreted as having rea-
ton to the object of the cession. And he consid-
ers two duties incumbent on Congress: one to rem
der the District comfortable and convenient as
seat of government; and the other, so TO govern
the people within the District as best to promote
their happiness and prosperity.
Now from these premises, the mind of any man,
not poisoned with the spirit of slaveholding, would
draw conclusions exactly the opposite Of what Mr.
Clay has drawn.
Ought the District to be rendered comfortable
as a seat of government of the whole union Then
all the inhabitants should be free For slave
holding District governed by Congress is very I'M
comfortable to all those members of Congress who
are true friends of universalli liberty. All the men,
southern principles view the existence of slavery
under the jurisdiction of Congress with an utter
loathing. They are panied at the sight. They
are ashamed to hear the remarks of Foreign min
listers and other gentlemen of distinction from
abroad on this disgusting feature in the metropolis
of this boosted land of liberty. The sight of men,
women and children, chained, handcufed and
driven by the doors of the capitol of the United
States, sight often beheld, is to those members
nsuferably disgusting and horrible To be ac-
costed as they walk the street, as was once an hon
orable member from this state, with the question,
Do you wish to buy a breeding slave ? followed
by an enumeration of her good properties, and
the exceency of her stock, in the style of New
England horse jockey is an annoyance to the Rep
resentatves offreemen, more intolerable than heaps
of ofal at every corner of the streets. Never can
the present seat of Government be at all comfortable,
till slavery is abolished there, Mr.. Clay's asser-
ton to contrary notwithstanding. But says this
CHAMPION
here in its most mtigated form. And what then
So much more dreadful is the idea to the slaves
of being sold for the southern market: an evil to
which they are always exposed and of which
many, every year, are the agonized victims. And
we learn from Mr.. Clay himself that the right of
so disposing of them is inseparable from the right
in Anoi
10 govern the people within the District as best to
promote their happiness and prosperity? Then
they ought to give them all the enjoyment of free
dom, and equal rights. If Mr., Clay had not over
looked the six thousand slaves, when he spoke of
Congress best promoting the happiness and pros
perty of the people of the District had he regarded
hese slaves as part of the people and having as
good claim on Congress for the security Of their
happiness and prosperity the other part he could
not have made out his conclusion that the abolition
Of slavery was not demanded in order best to pro-
note the happiness of the people. His assertion
hat beyond the limits of Washington city, per-
sons concerned in the Government of the U. S.
nave no more to do with the inhabitants of the
District than they have with the inhabitants of
he ad jacent counties of the neighboring states,
will be duly appreciated by any person who reflects
hat Congress is responsible for their welfare so
ar as just and wise system of legislation can
wall to promote it.
Mr.. Clay contends that Virginia and Mary land
ould not have anticipated the abolition of slavery
n the District, by Congress, and would not have
made the cession ifthey had and therefore, such
ction would be violation of implied faith. But
hey might have anticipated this. 1t was rea-
enable anticipation. They ought to have antici-
ated it. They ought to have expected, and it is
to believe they did expect that Congress
would abolish slavery there. Nothing could be
more reasonable expectation, than that the gov
rnment of great and free people would refuse
D sanction by its own legislation system of op-
resson thousand times more grievous than that
rom which all the sacrifices of blood and treasure
f an eight years war had been made to deliver
heir country. Those states ought to have be-
eved and so ought the whole Union to have be-