Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-08-09
From he ..Mational In,elEigeneer.
MR.. FRELINGHUYSEN & ABOLITION

We are glad Of an opportunity of correct-
ing erroneous statements which have been
made by some, and satisfying doubts which
have been expressed by others, as to the
opinions Mr.. Frelinghuysen on the sub
Iiect Of the power of the General Govern
ment, and the rights Of the States, over
the relation of Slavery as it exists in sew
} eral States of this Union. We do so by
presenting to our readers the subjoined
Extracts from an article published by Mr.,
Frelinghuysen in the year 1884, under his
own name, in the 'Literary and Theologi-
cal Review" which appears to have been
written in defence Of the Colonization So
ciety against the hostility Of Political Abo-
litionists,
at is universally agreed" says Mr.. FIRE.
linghuYaen, "that, by the principles of our
Confederation, the internal concerns Of
each State are left to its own exclusive
cogniRance and regulation, and he Fed
eral Government of the United States cam
not lawfully legisIate on The subject of sla-
very, 0s it exists in the several States
Prior to the adoption Of the Federal Con-
sttution, the thirteen States were sepcrate
and Independent Governments, There
was no political bond to Which was given,
by concession, the power ofconuol. The
State Of Massachusetts, for instance, pos
sessed no more right to Interfere with the
relations Of master and slave in Carolina
I than it had to interfere with the relations
OF prince and serf'of Russia. When the
Constitution was famed no such right was
acquired or could be obtained; and q sub
scqueat provision was cngrafted, which !
was merely dccIaratory Of the necessary
intendmont that all powers not deler2t-
ed to the United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the Suites, are re-
served to the States respectively, or to the
people, The precise extent Of these re-
served rights has, in many particulars, been
the subject OF grave debates but that they |
include the right Of interfering in the rea-
lions Of master and slave, no one has had |
the hardihood to prdtend. Such terms rs
the States respectively chose to insist upon
must necessarily have been Ecceded to, or
the whole compact remain imperative;
and 81 all events the slaves CT the South, |
10y its adoption, were placed in no worse
situation than before, and, in many respects |
much better. Nothing Of an unknd or
unchartable character is attributable, there
fore, to the Constitution, to those who |
framed, Or to those who adopted it. In
tcrosts were contemplated and protected,
in which our black population partcipat-
ed, and Of which they are now reapng,
slowly but surely, the favorable fruits"
In reference to the right of political &C.
ton claimed by the Abolitonists, Mr.. Ere
linghuysen says:
"What the political action is which the
Constitution pREsGRIBEs for the removal Of
slavery, we are yet to learn; nor is it easy
to imagine federal principle adequate to
that result, and ct the same time compatj-
bic with the sovereignty Of each State to
iogisIatc orciusiUey' on the subject, and
the disclaimer Of any right Of Congress;
under the present national compact, to in
teriere with any Of the slave States Oh this
n'omentous subject"
In contrasting the relative objects Of tho
friends Of Colonization Society and the
Abolitionists, Mr.. +. remarks;
"Thc question is at issue whether IN
mediate emancipation shall be conferred
upon q class ofmcn incapable Of seIEgov-
ernmcnt, to the utter destruction Of the
lives and property Of two and half mil
lions Of white inhabitants; or whether the
former shah await the march of events,
and the progressive influences Of phiIan-
thropy! But it is not two and half mill
lats Of whites only whose interests and
happiness are involved, Eight millions
more, north and west Of the Potomac; are
not only affected by, but distintIy includ-
ed in the result. Twcnty-lour States,
fvc-sixths Of whose inhabitants are white,
and are knit together by bond Of poti-
cal union, are threatened by this rash pro-
position to be driven back to state Of tn
Grchy, connection, and civil war. The
very first overt act that shall be made in
any of the Northern States to carry into
effect tho plans Of those who oppose the
Colonization enterprise will probably re-
eult in a separation Of the Union. Tho
political fabric erected with so much care,
and at the expense Of so many lives and .
so much treasure, will be prostroted in the .
dust The institutions under which we
have become a great and happy people
will be ubycrtedi and disalection and .
hostility assume their place"
"Whcn, therefore, We aro urged to the
immediate abolition Of slavery, the answer
is very conclusive, that duty has no claims
whore both the right and the power toeX-
a..