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

| that ohSoy WuooC uoSuiHCV u sHAS 3eS"'S
they have, themselves, so recently curses
with deep and bitter curses
Mr.. Clay must suffer, on candid com
parison of his views, with those Of Mr.. Val
Buren, on this subject. Mr.. Van Buren, |
decidedly more Southern in his views
five are not greatly mistaken, he denies TN
power Of Congress to abolish Slavery in tht
Territories; this Mr.. Clay admits. Mr.. VaI
Buren, says in relation TO the power to a
bolish it in the District, that there are objec
tons to its exercise, !" as imperative in thei
nature, as the most palpable want of Con
stilutional power would be-" His objec'
tons to its exercise, are, then, co-extensive
co-equal with the Constitution, and they
must continue as long as the Constitution
for otherwise they would not be as " impe.
ratlve as the Constitution" Mr.. Clay, on the
other hand, thinks the power " is not to be
exercised DURING THE EXISTENCE OF STATE
OF THINGS, which puts a restriction on the
exercise of the power; but when that state
of things should no longer exist, the power
might be exercised" How indefinite -
What estate of things" is here meant. II
may be want of consent of the slave-hold-
ing States, or Of the people of the District, or
ii may be mere selfish party policy, which
forms " the state of things" making the ex-
ercise OF the power" INExPEDIExr."
We say not that Mr.. Clay is in favor OF
abolshing Slavery, either in the District, or
in any of the Territories. We are glad to
believe that, INDIVIDUALLY, he is opposed TO
the exercise of the power. But mark We !!
He admits the power to exist, and is he not
the champion of the doctrine that the Ex-
ecutive should interpose no veto to laws,
except FOR Constitutional objections! If
then, the non-slaveholding States, who
elect the great majority of the members to
Congress, should send men there in favor
Of tie abolition Of slavery in the District or
in the Territories, and such majority should
pass bill to abolish it in either, what fate
would such bill meet at the hands Of such
President as Mr.. Clay! To ascertain this,
we have only to believe that he would not
do, what in the article first quoted from the
Wing Advocate, it is tauntngly, and most
unjustly coNJEcTURED, Mr.. Van Buren, would
do--promise one thing, and perform anoth-
err. If we believe Mr.. Clay will do as he
promises, there is no room forthe least hope
full CONJECTURE, but that he would make it a
natter Of avowed principle to do what, in
he face Of Mr.. Van Buren's solemn declar-
alton to the contrary, it has been asserted
and conjectured he would do--that is, sign
me Dill. [Mr. C.) could not refuse TO do so,
without changing his views either upon the
question Of Constitutional power, or upon
he policy OF the exercise Of the veto power
o defeat laws not unconstitutional. More
han ths-Mr. Clay is the great advocate
# the destruction OF the veto power. We
'ay DESTRUCTION Of the veto power, for GER
ainly no man who is sane and un preju-
iiced, can deny that so to alter the Cons,i-
ution, that the same majority which passes
/ bill, in the first instance, shall have pow
n to e-pass it, after hearing the Presidents
objections, is, in effect, the DESTRUCTION Of
he power. And when Mr.. Clay shall have
(which God forbid,) in destroy
ng the veto, where is the security to the
South, agains, the power of the Congress
ona majority to abolish Slavery, not only
n the District and in the Territories, but in
he States themselves! Verify we would
hon be left in the whitening grasp Of
perhaps merciless majorty--naked and de-
enceless--without remedy for our rights,
,ut such as would lie in bloodshed and civil
war, in revolution or (disunion.) 1t may
De said that such a majority for abolition,
will never, probably, be procured =, But is
he improbability greater now, than in 1910!
Is it any more improbable than the passage
If Protective Tariff Bill by Congress, in
l842 was, two years ago, considered to be
We may rest assured that it has been sense
'fther own weakness and incompetency to
fleet much against the veto power and its
promised exercise in opposition to them,
hat, more than any thing else, has kept the
lbolitionists SO long comparatively quiet
Remove this restraint, and what new cour-
lge, what new zeal, what new incentives
md hopes, will be furnished to fanaticism
is spirit will spread over the land, as do
he waters, on lifting the aoodgates.
We do not mention this subject for the
purpose Of getting up excitement against
Mr.. Clay on abolition. We only wish to