Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-10-15
resscd in the following terms: :

pressed in the following terms:
''Resoiced, That Congress have no authori-
~ to interfere in the emancipation of slaves.
or in the treatment of them in any of the
States--it remaining with the several States
alone to provide rules and regulations therein
which Humanity and true policy may re.
quire."
This resolution received the sanction of the
House of Representatives SO early as March,
1870. And now, sir, the honorable gentle
man will allow me to remind him, that not
only were the select committee who reported
the resolution, with single exception, all
Northern men, but also, that of the members
then composing the House of Representa-
tives, large majority, L believe nearly two
thirds, were Northern men also.
The House agreed to insert these resolu-
tions in its Journal, and from that day TO this,
ii has never been maintained or contended
that Congress had any authority to regulate
or interfere with the condition of slaves in the
several States. No Northern gentleman, to
my Knowledge, has moved any such question
in either House Of Congress.
The fears of the South, whatever fears they
might have entertained, were allayed and quiz
etcd by this early decision, and so remained
until they were excited atresh without cause,
but for collateral and indirect purposes
When became necessary, or was thought
soby some political persons, totind an unva-
rying ground for the exclusion of Northern
men from confidence and from lead in the af-
fairs of the Republic, then, and not till then,
the cry was raised, and the feelings industri-
ously excited, that the influence of Northern
men in the public councils would endanger
the relation of master and slave.
Formyself, claim no other merit, than that
this gross and enormous Injustice toward the
whole North. has not wrought upon me TO
change my opinions or my political conduct.
1 hope am above violating my principles e.
ven under the smart of injury and false impu-
tations. Unjust suspicion and undeserved re-
proach, whatever pain may experience from
them, will not induce me, trust, nevcrthe-
less, to oycrstep the limits of constitutional
duty, or to encroach on the rights of others
The domestic slavery of the South, leave
where find tin the hands of their own
Government. 1t is their affair, not mine.
go for the Constitution as it is, and for
the Union as it is but am resolved not to
submit in silence to accusations, either against
myself individually, or against the North,
wholly unfounded and unjust; accusations
which impute to disposition to evade the
constitutional compact and to extend the pow
er of the Government over the internal laws
and domestic condition of the States. All
such accusations, wherever and whenever
made,a all nsnuationS of the existence of any
such purpose, know and feel to be ground
less and injurious.-And we must confide in
Southern gentlemen themselves; we must
trust to those whose integrity of heart and
magnanimity of feeling will lead them to a
desire to maintain and disseminate truth, and
who possess the means of its diffusion with
the Southern public, and we must leave it to
them to disabuse that public Of its prejudices.
But in the mean time, for my own part, |
shall continue to act justly, whether those to-
wards whom that justice is exercised receive
it with candor or with contumely.