The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-06
THE SOUTH-ABOLITION.

THE SOUTH-ABOLITION.
| perceive, from your Congressional report
Of yesterday, that, upon motion Of Mr.. Drom
goole to recommt, and the amendment of Mr.
Black, of Georgia, instructing the Committee
to report the old 25th rule of the House prohibit
ing the reception of Abolition petitions, an ami
mated debate arose, OF a character which clear
ly points out to the whole South the proper
course to pursue, and what they may expect
from Congress protesting to be Democratic,
with a majority Of nearly two-thirds. The OBJ
ject of both parties is to conciliate the Adolf
tionists, and secure their votes in the coming
election, as has been fully illustrated in every
debate upon this question. Mr.. Beardsley, o!
New York, the exponent of Mr.. Van Buren's
views, goes as far upon the subject of a right to
petition as either Mr.. Giddings, an avowed Abo
litonsi, or Mr.. Adams !; but, while he attempts
to satisfy the Aboliionists of the North upon the
right of petition, and Acknowledges The constr
stutional power Of Congress TO abolish slavery in
the District of Columbia and the Territories, he
throws crumb Of comfort TO the South, by de-
claring that, although he is fully convinced Of
the constitutional power, YET he is not disposed
TO exercise il in the District of Columbia, be-
cause il would affect the rights OF Maryland and
Virginia, who ceded This territory for perma-
nent seat Of Government. Is the South 10 be
enuapped by such hollow professions, when the
constitutional right TO exercise the power Of
Abolition is boldly proclaimed by the personal
and political friends of Mr.. Van Buren,, whose
main political strength in 1910 was in the Sourh7
The last Congress, which had a large Wing
majority, refused to receive these petitions, w
on the ground that the petitions themselves
were unconstitutional, and ought not TO be re-
ceived. | deny the constitutional power 10
toto either TO abolish slavery in the District Of
Columbia or the Territories. No such power
is delegated ia the Constitution, and if il should
be exercised, ii must be done under the old
Federal doctrine of construction and implca-
lion, which is at war with the rights OF the
States and the People, the sheet anchor OF the
Union. W ilh this unequyocal declaration oil
Mr.. Beardsey, upon this subject, before me, do
not hesitate to proclaim him Federast in ev-
cry essential particular. The advocates Of a
National Bank derive their power to create such
an institution by implication, because IL is not
delegated, and the power which MIR. Beardsley
claims TO abolish slavery is also implied, IL being
no where delegated in the Constitution. l.,
then, in all sincerity, ask the South what can
they expect from such an alliance2 They must
Gu, the Gordon knot, and maintain their own
rights in their purity, at every hazard.
was really surprised at the sentiments
Of Mr.. Clingman, of North Carolina, upon the
subject of petition. He has tamely surrendered
every inch Of ground for which the South has
batted. in favor of their constitutional ri.bts, and
goes farther in his views OF the right OF petition
than Mr.. GJdings ever dared, and whom, he
says, is not an Abolitionisl, because he denies
IT, Is his simple denial satisfactory to him that
he is not an Aboitionisl7 II so, he is more
crcdulous upon a subject Of such importance
to the South than ! am. look upon his
votes on this subject as positive evidence Of his
being an AboIitonist, which is far more potent
than his abstract denial. Mr. Clngman is oc-
cupying the same ground upon this subject that
was maintained by Mr.. Slanly, to counterpoise.
the influence of Mr.. Beardsley with the Adolf
,ionists, and secure portion of the Abolition
party, Ga majority Of whom are in favor Of a
United States Bank and protective Tariff
in favor of Mr.. Clay. ], is high time for
the true friends of the South to repudiate all
sucblsubterfuges, and &C, independently upon the
broad ground Of the Constitution. II the sup
port of the Aboiuonists is Of more importance
to the two great parties than that Of the South,
why, let them have it, and then | shall be able
to discern which is OF the most importance, the
integrity of the Constitution, or the triumph of
a Presidential aspirant. ] say to The South
stand firm. STATE RioBrs.