Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-09-05
MR.. VAN BUREN's OPINIONS ON ADOLF
trIHN


MR., VAN BUREN'S OPINIONS ON ADOLF.
'rl0N,
As expressed by him ut various times, com.
pared with those of General Harrison on the
sume subject
My opinions on the subject Of the power q
Congress over slave property in the Southern States
are SO well understood by my friends, that am sur
priscd ihatan attempt to impose upon the public
respecting them should be hazarled The subject
Is, IN my opinion, erclasreiy nRder the control 81
The State Governments" 1.-The charge, therefore,
TO which you have had the goodness to call my at
,enton, that am in favor Of an interference BY
Congress IN manumi,ilng your slave property, Is
without foundation. So lar from il, do not see on
what authority the General Government eould in.
terlore without change Of The Constitution, even
at the instance Of either or all Of the Siaeeholdins
Satts."- Lstfse 10 .Mr. .G.eia, Of Mass, dated
July II, 1884
The allegations which attribute to me views and
oplnlnns That are 50 Justly obnoxious 10 the slave.
holding States, are made in the face Of the most ex-
phcit declarations ON my part DENYING oil authority
on the part OF the Federal Government, against the
proprety Of agitating the question in The District
ot CoIumhia,--and in the absence Of single fact
giving the least countenanee 10 the nni0unded i'm.
pula,ton. II Letter 10 Cor. Schiey Of Ga, dated
'SeFttHHVF W. 1909.
:" do, therefore, believe that the Abolition Of Sh-
very ~ the District Of Columbia, against the wish.
g Of the slavehoding States assuming that Con.
gress has the power To effect I'D would violate III,
spirit 81 that compromise OF interests which lies al
INC basis OF our social compoct and am thorough.
y CONVINCED that Il could not be so done without
iu'lnienl pert, Il not certain destruction, 10 the
Onlol OF the States Viewing the matter in this
llsht.t ismy clear and settled opinion, that The Fed
e'al government ought 10 abstain from doing So
ana taatii $ the saefed duly of those whom The
people OF the United States eutrust with The control
OF tlils action, So 10 use the constitutional power
wan which they are invested as TO prevent -
lLeHerto Comnlittee III North Carolina, dated
,Ucreh q, 1896.
o. not hesitate 70 give II to YOU as NV delhi.
eraie aud we-considcred opinion, TINT there are Oh
Pclnns % the exercise Of the pnwer, In the Dis
inc OF Coumbla,) against the wishes Of the slave.
holding States, as Imperative IN their nature and
oodgmioHs, IA regulating the conduct Of public mon
as ne most PaJpatle irdat Of constitutional porer
tcoald b. - lid
" prefer that no, only you, but all the peonle of
Tue United States should now understand HAT n
tie desire oil that portion Of them which is favorable
70 my elevation 10 the Chief Magisracy should be
grained, must 90 into the Presidential chair the
ahter'oie and uncompremlsing opponent OF any al.
tempt, on the part OF Congress, 10 ahobsh slavery
70 The District OF Columbia, against the wishes If
The savehoding States; and also with he deter
mnalion equally decided to resist The slightest in.
reference with the subject in the States where il
exists. '-lU.