Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-10-01


CoNoREss HAs TIE TOWER TO ABOLISH SLAVE
RI IN THE DfsrRIcr OF COLUMBIA"
Thus spoke the Wing party Of 1910
through their organ in this county.
But there is yet more solemn evidence oil
what the Wings of Mississippi thought on
this subject, at the last election. Tn the
18th day of July, 1910, many Of the Wings
of Adams, Warren, Yazoo, Holmes, Alfalfa,
Leake and Kinds counties, joined the
Wings of Madison, at their memorable log
cabin raising at Canton, and they united in
the adoption, by reclamation. of nantes
to, alleging, in the form Of the declaration
of Independence, the following charge,
amongst others, against Mr.. Van Buren,
:" He HAS CONCEDED THAT CONGRESS has the
Constitutional Po,0er to aboiish slavery in the
District of Columbia" After completing
the list of charges, this manifesto proceeds
to say: ".aH which practices and prnci-
Piles are of a,lti-repubtcan and coruptiag
tendency, and, if permitted to continue,
must result in the total decentralization of the
people, the do,cnfaH Of our free and demo-
cratic government, and the esiabiishnent upon
its ruins Of an odious despotism." The
meeting resolved, therefore, "that Martin
Van Buren, is totally un worthy and unfit, 10
be the Chief Magistrate of the United States;
and that it is the solemn and imperative duty
Of every true hearted republican and marriott,
TO use all honorable means in his power, to
prevent his reelection to that h gh and res
ponsible office"
Such was the measure which the Wings
melted out to Mr.. Van Buren, in 1910.
Let US test Mr.. Clay by the same standard.
Mr.. CLAY ADMITS THE CONSTITUTIONAL POW
Err OF CONGRESS TO ABOLISH SLAVERY, NOT
ONLY IN THE DISTRICT, BUT IN THE TERRIFIC.
RIEs OF THE UNITED STATES. We submit the
facts and his own declaration. In the Sc
nate of the United States. on the eth Dec,
1887, Mr.. Calhoun offered series of reso-
lutions on the subject of domestic Slavery,
which placed slave property in the States,
Territories and the District, alike under the
same high CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTY. Mr..
Clay moved to strike out the 5th resolution of
Mr.. Calhoun, and insert in the place thei eof,
a resolution declaring simply that it would
be HIGHLY INExPEDIENT TO ABOLISH SLAVE
RY IN FLORIDA &c. Mr.. Calhoun refused
to accept the amendment, and in the de-
bate which ensued on the 18th January,
1888, Mr.. Clay said -
ale was very sorry that the Senator
from South Carolina could not reconcile
his judgment to vote for the resolution
now under consideration. He (Mr. Cal.
houn) thought the declaration in the reso.
iu,ion,the. abolition was inexPedien,,~os not |
strong enough, & that higher grounds ought
to be assumed. But what higher grounds
Was any one prepared to say the naked
popers IF abolition did not erist ? Mr..
c. spoke Of the naked power, and not Of
its exercise, but the abstract question of
the existence of the power, now; though it
did not exist in relation to the States, on
the mere question of abstract power. Mr..
c. thought that the Senator from South
Carolina would not declare that il mould
be unconstitutional for Congress to abol.
ish Slavery in the District or Territories.
The power, like many others, was not to
be exercised, on high considerations, a.
mounting in the District to the plighted
faith of the Government cheering the er.
istence of state of things ,ehich put a
restriction on the exercise Of the poDer,
but When that state Of things should no
longer erist, The poper might be exercised
So as 10 Florida: the power existed, but,
for considerations, was not to be exercis.
ed"
Mr. Clay then, fully admits the power of
Congress to abolish slavery in the District
and in the territories With what show of
consistency, therefore, can the Wings of
1910, now support HINT If, then, Mr.. Van
Buren, was required by them, to stand on
constitutional grounds in opposition to this
measure, wherefore agree that Mr.. Clay
may stand on less high ground NOW. 1.-THE
Wings Of 1910, in the tn en- CONTEST FOR THE
MAINTENANCE OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT,
were exhorted, long and loud, to remem-
Der his (Mr. v. B's.) admission, that Con-
gress has power TO abolish Slavery in the
District Of Columbia" We ask, is the coming
contest to be one of less sacred principle; is
j, to be any thing else than contest for
THE MAINTENANCE OF REPUBLICAN GOVERN.
NENr," that no voice is now to go forth from
the same ranks, exhorting the "FREEMEN OF
MADISON COUNTY" to remember Mr. Clay's
admission, that Congress has the power to
abolish Slavery not only in the District, but
in the Territories If the Wings t ere sin