The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-10-03
y. f. MCCLELLAN, PRINTER.

and, consequently, according TO the spirit
of the understanding which prevailed at
the period alluded to, should be slave
state. 1t may b. true that the compro.
mise does not in terms embrace Florida,
and that it is not absolutely. binding and
obligatory; but all candid and impartial
men must agree that it ought not to be
disregarded without the most weighty con.
sdera,ions, and that nothing could bd
more 10 be deprecated than to open anew
the bleeding wounds which were happily
bound up and heald by ehat compromise.
Florida is the only remaining territory to
be admitted into the Union withthe inslitu.
tion of domestic slavery, while Wisconsin
and Iowa are now nearly ripe for admis-
sion without it.
The next instance in which the exer-
Use OF the power Of Congress is solicited
is tina, Of prohibiting what is denominated
by the petitioners the slave trade between
the states. or, as it is described in aboli-
ton petitions, the traffic in human beings
between the states. This exercise of the
power Of congress is claimed under that
clause of the constitution which invests it
with authority to regulate commerce with
forei gn nations, aud among the several
states, and with the Indian tribes. The
power 10 regulate commerce among the
several safes, like other powers in the
constitution, has hitherto remained DOR
mant IN respect 10 the interior trade by
land between the states. 1t was power
granted, like all other powers Of the gen.
eral government, 10 secure peace and har-
mony among this states. Hitherto it has
not been necessary TO exercise it. All the
cases in which, during the progress of
time, it may become expedient to exert
the general authority to regulate COM
merce between the states cannot be con-
ceived. We may easily imagine, however,
contingencies, which, if they were to hap~
pen, might require the interposition of
the common authority. If, for example.
the state of Ohio. were by law, to proh-
bit any vessel entering the port of CincinS
natl from the port of Louisville, in Keu>
lucky. iflhat case be not already provided
for by the laws which regulate our coast
ing trade, it would be competent to the
general government to annul the ptohibi>
ton emanaling- from slate authority. Or
if the state of Kentucky were 10 prohibit
the introduction within its limits Of any
articles oftrade, the production of the in
dustrY of the inhabitants of the state of
Ohio, the general government might, by
its authority, supercede the state enact-
ment. But l deny that the general gov>
ernment has any authority whatever from
the constitution 10 abolish what is called
the slave trade, or, in other words. to pros
hbit the removal Of slaves from one slave
state to another slave state.
The grant in the constitution is Of a
power Of regulation, and not prohibition!
1t is conservative, no, destructive. Regu>
lalion er VI termini implies the continued
existence or prosecution of the thing re-
gulated. Prohibition implies total dis
Continuance or anhlhilation. The regula-
tion intended was designed to facilitate
and accommodate, not to obstruct and in>
commode the commerce 10 BE- regulated.
Can it be pretended that, under this pow
er to regulate commerce among the states
congress has the power to prohibit the
transportation of live stock which in :ountI
less numbers are daily passing from the
western and interior states to the south
ern, south western, and Atlanl lie states !
The moment the ncontestible fact is ads
mitted that negro slaves are property, the
law of movable property irresis,ibly at
ttaches itself 10 them, and secures the right
of carrying them from one to another
state, where they are recognized as proI
perty, without any hindrance whatever
from congress.
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