Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-10-22

ton Of The veto power, whereby it would
be rendered entirely immaterial whether
the president should be opposed OF not, tC
The abolition of slavery in the District, Of
epea in The States, as he would have no pow
er TO prevent either.
Having thus shewn the inconsistency OF
Mr.. Clay's views on this subject with those
the wings professed in 1910, we enquired
whether the coming was TO be any the less
contest for the maintenance of republi.
can government" that the "Freemen o.
Madison County" should not now be requir.
ed TO remember Mr.. CIay'S admission thai
Congress has the power to abolish slavery
not only in the District, but in the terrific
ries! Whether the wings of the south
will now assist in elevating to the presi-
dency, a man who entertains opinions
which they then said 'must result" in the
downfall of our free and democratic gov
eminent &c.--and we further enquired
whether if. because Mr.. Van Buren admit
ted the power. the wings resolved that
he was "totally unworthy and unfit to be
the chief magistrate OF the United States
and that it was "the solemn and impera-
tive duty Of every true hearted republican
and patriot TO use all honorable means to
prevent his reelection" should they not
now make, for the same reason, similar
rpcolVa IN rolatinn IN Mr. CLAW
Now, how have these questions been an
swered How have our "charges" against
Mr., Clay been "bown TO the winds" Has
the verify of the extracts we gave, shew-
ing the wing professions and principles of
1910, been questioned No. Has it been
denied that Mr.. Clay acknowledges the
power Of Congress to abolish slavery in the
District-No, nor can it be. Let us exam
inc, how it is that the pro. tenn. asserts SO
much in relation to Candodr's review of
our article.
1t is said that the objection which the
wings of 1910, urged against Mr.. Van Bu-
rem on account Of his view on this subject,
were made TO counterpose the charge made
in the south, that Genl. Harrison was an
aboltionst. 1t seems 10 be admitted in the
communication, that as an isolated ques-
ton, it is entirely unimportant what views
the president may entertain OF the power
of Congress over domestic slavery, provid-
ed he was "born and educated in Virginia
which is slave states" and olives in a
slave state and is the owner Of slaves"
Now we cannot agree that this is the fact
on the contrary it is well known that the dec
lamaton of the wings of 1910. was uttered
against the admission of Mr.. Van Buren,,
as an abstract question. 1t was said that
but "once admit the power OF Congress to
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia
and there was no longer any safety for the
south; her only safety was in the prohibit
tons Of the constitution; take away that
obstacle and the abolition Of slavery in the
District first, and then in the states, would
speedily follow. We appeal to the recoI-
lection of every man of sense to bear us
out in this. and we would refer particular
ly to the speech of Judge Jennings, in the
Court House, on the night of the Log Cab
in Rasing--a speech which received the
pIaudits of every wing who heard it and
especially called forth the praise of the
"Whig Advocate" We would refer too,
TO one of the numbers of the same paper
in which it is contended that mere "iner-
pediency'' of exercising the power of Con-
gress over slavery which Mr.. Clay admits
is 100 weak ground for the cause of the
south to rest upon--Let every one read the
aforesaid appeal to the "FREEMEN OF MADI-
son COUNTY" in 1910, to remember, in the
then contest for republican government"
the admission of Mr.. Van Buren, "that
Congress has power to abolish slavery in
the District of Columbia"-let them read
the charge made against Mr.. Van Buren, in
the wing manifesto before quoted and then
respond whether the wings then made such
grave a charge against Mr.. Van Buren,,
merely, to prove that Genl. Harrison was
not an aboIitonist (for such is the argu-
ment;)-Iet them respond, further, whether
they were made only by way of set-of to
the accusations made against general IL. or
were not, rather made as distinct and sub
stantive charge against MIR. Van Buren, and
an attack upon his opinions, on this subject,
because they professed to believe them to be
anti-Hepublican and corrupting tendency
and such as must result in the docafaH OF
our free and democratic government, and
the establishment upon its ruins of an obi
Gus desPotism."-The charge was made,
amongst others, TO shew "that Martin Van
Buren, is (was) totally unworthy and unfit