Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-02

quirics addressed to them calculated TO elicit full ex.
preston Of thcr respective sentiments on subject SO
virtually important.
The undersigned believe, with portion Of those
who discussed tins question IN the Legislature OF Ken
lucky AT lis late session. that Statesmen are often con
trolled by clrcuGIStancesat times Impeed onward hy
currents winch are scarcely perceived anti they are
bearing downward on their turbulent bosoms every
thing valuable They moreover believe, Sir, that 10
the ruthless fanaticsm Of the Abolit;onss, nothing
can be successfully opposed save that love of the
Unlon which the Father o his Country so iee!Ingy j..
culcated in his Farewell Address, and which they have
reason TO hope still sincerely cherished by the great
mass OF the two great political parties OF the country
However widely we may fer questions OF policy,
or as 10 the mode By winch would cOnSrue the
Constitution, is to he hoped the parties AT least
unite III The opinion that the happiness, the strength,
the glory Of tie na.un depend on the perpetulty Of
the Union, and h-t each will ever be prepared through
its most distinguished members, ar highest public
functonaries, to unqualified repugninre to fac.
ton whose lnbvrS obviously tend "to disturb the ann
cable relations subsstnr between tie S!avchoidng and
non-savrhoding States. j; was therefore, matter OF
cougratullon, when the friends of the present Pre-
Sidrnt proposed, in the House Of Representatives
Of Kentucky, Undergraduates the subject Gs Abol
tionlsm, 10 him and his distinguished competitor that
only the FORM and not the substance Of the proposition
was deemed Objectionable By the Wing majority. They
contcndcd that such call from such a source, might
imply doubt they could mol entertain For this reason,
and this alone, Lcgisatirc Interrogation was opposed;
: and when reminded that Mr S. Williams had in 1896,
propounded questions the same subject 10 Of the
candidates for tho Presidency; probably at the sugges
ton Of the Kentucky delegation then IN Con@rrss)
that his inquiries fully answered, and that such
inquiries would be again responded to, without hesita-
4 on-ihc Wing members Of the House, with entire
unanmty, pledged themselves that their tayortc stood
as ready to respond Mr. Van Buren, did IN 1896,
and would reply as freely and frankly 10 any inquiries
which MIGHT be made Of him. We have therefore felt
authorized to address you THIS letter; aud 10 convince
Won that nothing unfair discour"ous is intended,
you duplicate Of the has been transmitted
10 your distinguished competitor.
We maintain that the object of the ccsslon of the
District of Columbia Twas TO establish seat OF Go
vrrmncnt OF the United States, and the grant in the
Constitution, of exclusive legislation, must be under
stood and should always b. interpreted rs having
laton TO the objects of the ccsSion II was under
stood By Maryland and Virginia, when they made the
ccssiOn-and, for this ~ bclIev2, however
broad may be the Language of the grant th"re are Oh
rcons to the Abolition OF slavery IN tie District, by
Z" Congress, against the wishes Of the slavcho!ding
Z" States as imperative IN their nature and obhgaton
% in regulating the conduct OF public men, as the most
"a alpable want OF constitutional power would be.
ave maintain that no power whatever was grant
ed the General Government with respect 10 slavery
as it exists the States, 'but that which relates I"
taxation and representation and the power to restore
fugitive slaves to their lawful owners that 'ail other
power in regard the institution OF slavery was re.
tanned exclusively By the States, 10 be exercised by
them scvcrav according their respective views OF
their pccuas interests that ''thc Constitution Of
the United States would have been formed upon
the principle of investing the Genera! Government
with authority abolish the institution OF slavery at rs
pleasure and that ct never can be- continued Tor
single day, ii the exercise of such power be assumed
/ or usurped.
We shall therefore be pleased to learn, whether you
concur in the view taken of the Abotonsts and the
tendency Of their action, in the resolution adopted by
the House of Representatives Of Kentucky at its late
session.
Whether we have in your opinion, correctly de.
fined the powers Of Congress in relation 10 the nstu
ton ofsllvery
! And whether if chosen President, you will 20 INTO
Office determined TO veto any bill that may be passed
by Congress FOR tie abolition Of slavery in the District
of Columbia, or IN any one or more Of the States,
With sentiments of high respect,
We are your obcdlent servants,
LEVI TYLER,
F. GEiGER,
! D. MERlWETHER.
I THOS. J. READ
Democratic Central Committee Of M
! The following note from Capt. VIM. Chambers and
G. Van Buskirk, Esq, confirms the statement We have
made shows that General Harrison will not come out
on Abolition to obIige friends or foes:
LOUISVILLE, Ky, April IL, lsiO
Gentlemen Early the 10th Of April instant, we
called at the residence Of Gen. VIM. h Harrison, at
North Bend Ohio. When entered the house we
were informed the General was ndisposed; but ia
something less than hour he made his appearance
After the usual salutaons were exchanged, one OF Inc
undersigned NFm ChamHcrs) handed Sen HARRISON
letter addressed 10 him by The Democratic Contra!
Committee of Kentucky, on the subject OF Abolition.
! He received il, peruscd -turned back ana re-eNa
mined parts of IT, expressed astonshincht mat ms OPT
Mons repeatedly expressed were MOI known 10 tosr
gentlemen and said that nothing could induce HIM /"
answer such ntcrroGaorcs coming either from friends
| or foes
In n subsequent conversation, he referred 10 opinions
heretofore expressed by him, but made no further re-
sponse to the letter OF the Genital Committee
/ Very respectfully, yours, &c.,
! WM CHAMBERS
c. VAN BUSKlRk
To he Democratic Central Committee ofKy.
duplicate of the letter sent to General Harrison,
was as is stated in the body Of il, also transmitted
TO the President who, instead Of taking shelter be-
hind committee, or "stanting mute, replied as i"'-
lows:
wAsurxorox, april 2lst, 1910
Gcntlemen:-I have received your letter OF the 2nd
inst, and checrnlly comply with with your request
You have Inadvertently fallen INTO an error m snpposn@
that the questions propounded 20 me by me non. on"'
rod Williams, in lc;6, embraced the subject OF ADO
| lition NV views and opinions N regard to II were,
| however communicated to The people OF The Unite"
States in reply to letter received in the same year
irom Junius AIMS, Esq, and other citizens o. NORM
Carolina and also through other channels fcrceiN'
inr lha, cannot do Justice ~ your inquiries IN Tue
form which YOU have given them, By general refer.
ence 10 the answers have heretofore gwen, VIII re-
peat the substance of them
First: That The relation Of mnstcr aud sa'r, Is MAJ
ter which belongs exclusively TO each state WITHIN u"
own boundorr2,iat Congress has no authority TO in.
tcrierc, in any respect Whatever with the eEancpa-
lion Of the slaves or in the treatment Of them in any OF
the States and that any ateP. 10 do soby the govern
ment or people Of any other State or by the Genera!
! Government would not only be Unauthorized, but vo-
late the spirit of the compromise, winch lies at the ha
sis Of the Federal compact; and which is binding IN
honor and good faith all who I've under the proiec-
ton Of The Federal Constitution and participate IN s
benefits This doctrine is in strict conformity 10 the
principles embodied in resolution passed by the House
of Representative Of The United States IN l13o upon
the report of Committee, consisting almost cntFciy
of Northern
Secondly: That concedinr 10 Congress the abstract
power OF interfering with, aboishing slavery IN me
District of Columb,n under the broad grant o. .S ~
sive legislation in all cases whatsoever Owe, '"'
tric there are nevertheless, objections 10 tie exercise
~ H.; ,cr -, g,ir.t the wishes 81; the slaSehold'rg