Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-13

lection Ct the circumstances alluded 10 or 81 WHAT iee
resolutions contained; BIZ ers nor IN hs a''a .
PARTICLE of doubt that Congress aad an
rioht TO regulate the subject u starry q" ".s
Coiumba s;mpiy because they constituted INC td''nsIe
c,;<ot,,rc nj the District 1t appeared TO MN h'ie
sb3,, of an absurdity think that there were certain
subjects which must be tied up from all eglsia''o,
AMI os TO The other point the right 81 regulating me
,nsl,r Of sares from State to another, nc dd mol
ila he entertained any Doubt because The Constttu-
,oa gere Congress the right to regulate trade and COM
mare dct,ceen e States Trade chat' In ichaterer
,ras the subjst Of commerce aad cwnerShp y Saefs
cere The subjects Of o,cHcrhp, then fr0de an hch 0e-
tuecn the States subject 10 the regulation Of Congress
But while he held this opinion he had expressed none
on the side the other TO the matter OF eSpeui-
ency lie thought that ought 10 be discussed oy those
! who were most concerned III It.
/ Mr. w then asked whether, instead OF exhibiting SO
much Indignation that he should IN 1917 have nae any
thing to do in carrying such resolutions as had been re-
erred to- would have been better to show that the
Constitution, in speaking Of trade and commerce be.
tween the States, did not mean 10 ihcioue slaves:
While SO much pains were exhibited 10 rest iniorma-
ton on one side there should not be pains 10 misrepre-
cont nm the other To maintain the right Of Congress
was one thing hold the expectancy OF exercising II
was another
Mr.. CUTHBERT replied, and said that the country
now knew what were the sentiments OF the gentleman
from Massachusetts,, and It would be impossible Tor him
10 rive nny other them than encouragement
to legislation the subject of slavery The time md
the circumstances under which the resolutions were
adopied rendered this impossible They had been pass
ed in 1872 Just after the issue OF the Missouri ques-
finn taken IN connection with the time and the CIR
cums,ances the doctrines in the resolutions were cal
cula,ed to revolt the whole Southern States, nay TO
revolt the entire Union.
! Mr. WEBSTER called upon the Senator to remem
Der that he had rot admitted that tie doctrines referred
10 were contained in those resolutions.
i MIR. RIVES said TO present pcttion II respecun!
in its language, yrs duty which Senators were bound
to perform; but Ghen not satisfied with hs they came
forward and volunteered their views on so hazard
Gus and delicate subject, aud claimed for tins Govern
nent new powers the calculation must be extraordinary
on the passiyeness of the South If gentlemen suppose
they were sit in silence II solemn cecson o. 'u
Senate was entitled 10 command respect, lie wouid can
the attention of the Senator from MASSACHUSETTS ~ III.
overwhelming majority by winch 1t had pronounced
lilo Denomination thai the subject of slavery III the
District was not TO be contested on that moor mao
rity if he recollec,ed right, OF ~ To- her such IN
of the views Of this body, could any gentle
man persuade himself that II vas wise ana patrotc 10
throw into the Senate snch n iirchrand:
i The gentleman from Massachusetts had taken occa
sion moi only to read sentiments from the memorials
which were obnoxious to the South, but had volunteer
ed the expression OF his opinion as to The consu
tiona mower of Congress the subject oil slavery
IN The District of Columbia. Wherefore introduce tn,
subject again Why put forward the expression Q. al
opinion i'll regard 10 the regulation OF trade IN slaves
between the States 10 warrant which the senator coa
find nothing in the statute book. lie had tod Inc oe.
nate that laws had been passed that subject, and
with the sanction Of the South. Mr. IL. joined issue
with the Senator and called hun 10 point to the law
He was very confident there was none AS 10 Inc
laws TO which he presumed the reference had oeeh
made they did not touch the matter Laws 10 prevent
the escape Of slaves to secure Their restoration were
only in fulflment of the Constitution, which expressly
provided for the delivering up Of runaways; ana, so
far from being unfavorabe interference win the te
nure of slave property, was, on the contrary recos
milton of the right in slaves, and guarantee OF 'a'
right.
Mr. WEBSTER could not perceive the cause of that
warmth which had been exhibited by the Senator from
Virginia. while he was so strennousy eXhorng oihcr
gentlemen TO keep cool. That Senator could not ey
press more strongly the want OF power in the General
Government 10 interfere with slavery in the States
than MIR. W. had often and always done. The Senator
had said however, that those only interested III this
subject who suffering in the immediate presence
of the evil. This Mr.. w. could not but consider as
great mistake. Mr.. W., though living in Northern
State and State non-saveholdng, felt that evil too
from the train of consequences which it inevitably
drew after it. He had deep interest in the peace
and the preservation of the Union the Senator from
Virginia
Mr.. RIvES thanked the Senator from Massachu
sets for the edfying lesson OF GOODNESS lie had gwen
him. lie admitted the perfect business and proPricty
Of it in general But he begged leave TO re-
mind the honorable Senator that the spectator Of bat
tie, occupying distant and secure positton might LOOK
with great serenity. wlIc tHoSe VINO were III int
midst of the conflict defending their lives and persons
from the point Of the bayonet would reasonably exh
bit very different temper and dcmeanor The gen.
teman himself if it SO pleased his fancy, might dlspor'
hmselfn tossing squbs and rebrands about this hall;
but those who are sitting upon barrel Of gunpow-
der, liable TO be blown up by his dangerous missiles,
could hardly be expected to be quite so calm and PIN.
losophc-
The gentleman from Massachusetts, has taken oc-
casion also TO say that he had expressed no opnon N
regard TO the slavery, which was not sanctioned hy my
own sentiments. Now, Sir, has the gentleman ever
heard from any thing to counenance broad and
dangerous notions of interference with the subject OF
slavery this District: As TO the evil, otherwise, OF
slavery in ITSELF TO the existence non-cxstence
of power in this Government to interfere with 1t IN
the States these are mere abstract sons, leading
to no practical consequences. The real and only prac
cal question 10 the interference Of Congress with
the subject Of slavery in this District Here is the full
crum which the whole lever OF Abolition turns and
fyou give oohold here, IS virtually surrender of
the whole ground. The surrender Of this g vantage
ground 10 the Abolitioniss, il have not niisundcr
stood the Of the honorable Senator against cc
ing the prayer Of the petitioners during the last session
Of Congress- precisely what he has already done, and
is prepared still to do
i Thus, then, at the time Mr. Webster was publishing
and defending the doctrine, that Congress has autho
rty under the Constitution 10 regulate the slave trade
between the States and, according 10 Mr.. Webster,
las the Boston memorial maness,) the authority TO
regulate necessarily the
a, that very time, Mr. Webster did aver "at South
ern Senator could no, express strongly than he
had often and always done, the want of all power in
Congress to interfere with slavery in The States.
Thus, then, according 10 Mr.. Webster, the want of all
power in Congress TO interfere with slavery in the
States, is not inconsistent with full power TO regulate
or prohibit the slave trade between the States the as
crptlon Of all power IN the is not inconsst-
ent with the denial Of all power III the other. What
weight then, is to be given 10 the general declaration
of MIR. Webster in the canvass Of loiO They leave
him precisely where he was, asserting the power Of
Congress prohibit the slave trade between the States.
Mr.. Websters advocates rely chiefly on his speech,
delivered in Richmond in the autumn of 1910, TO prove
that he this period innocent of all opinions that
can be dangerous to tic quiet and the interests of the
slaveholding States. in that speech he declared that
he then neither added 10, substracied from, the SEN
tlmen,s he mad expressed these subjects in the Sc
nate in 1880. Now, in 1888, eight years after this