Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-09

MIR. HUDsoN's view of the question, has
Congress right to legslatc on slavery in tho
District of Columbial Mr.. IL. states some
facts not generally understood the slave
subject was well understood by Maryland and
Virginia, when they coded the District to the
United States, and gave Congress the right to
"legislate on ALL Subjects" even to abolish
slavery. Mr.. Hudson, in late speech on
the 2lst rule, said,-
awe are frequently asked sir, upon this subject,
whether we suppose that the States Of Maryland and
Virginia would have ceded this District 10 the United
States If they had thought at the time that Congress
would have abolished slavery whlnit WHY, SIR, at
that very time when those States ceded the District,
they were both moving on the subject Of slavery -
both States had then admitted that slavery was an
evil they both expressed regret at its existence with
in their own limits, and they were both taking steps
either directly OF indirectly, to endeavor abolish il
within their own jurisdiction. Now, sir taking Tho
action of these two States at that tne-taklng the
view of their leading men, as opponents of the vews
OF the two States themselves on the subject | con-
slider that we are authorised to say that they would
| have coded H. even had they known with certainty
that Congress would abolish slavery within IT. and
that moreover they expected that Congress wonld do
So But suppose that not their expecation-
Suppose that had they expected tina, result they
would not have cedcd the district. Is that to guido
US IN Inc are We 70 De prevented
from acting on the subect2 How should we act up.
on other subjects, under similar circumstances. Sup.
pose you give me the deed of your farm or purchase
| the deed of you. When it becomes mine have full
and perfect right to manage it as please. You would
know well that when purchased it, il became mime
and that have the unlimited rght TO put it to any
use think proper, without reference 10 your wishes
in any way. Thi YOU opposed to know THIS,
IN flCi yoH de know Uh,n vOu sell the Jht and los.
session of it to and 90 Oh. hey tn.. tase of
the District When they ceded this 10 miies square
,LnT -, a. k,,,,, IL
would be vested in Congress, completely and abso-
lutey, 10 do ms they pleased with it, so far as lepisla-
ton fned. II WIS thus coded bv these iwt
, States with their ewes wide open. Why Virglnip az
. med II OF this the case, because The Cl fcsIIo
fully discussed in the Convention Of iSNt 9'at
in regard to the adoption of the Constut foS an
, some ofthe leading statesmen OF the Cont {ouW "a
, among others. Patrick Henry-opposetd the con
stutlon upon this very ground hatit gave 90 CSl
gress the full power to legisate with reer trd to sl4,,
a ~ IN this District and to abolish it. WHILST on III
/ ohar hand, Mr. Madison supported it, ank coniende
that the power thus given TO Congress ~ the claus
in the Constitution, was not only tight nSd prope
but that it absolutely necessary hatl Congres
should possess this power and that this lew woul
II commend itself 10 every reasonable mlnGl | sn,
then, that it comes with very il, grace fronN Virgin
n IN or Maryland, at this time to say to us thaNf the
r. had known or supposed that Congress wouM has
e abolished slavery in the District, that they (nev.
n would have coded IT, WHY, II amounts TO this l. g
l. had known that You would have done you please
e with your farm, and TILED it as you thought proneyr
T. never woullhav let you have the deed ofiL" The
e two States, after limiting that Congress Ind full il
rsdction the whole subject, had given the deed
ID of esson; and these deeds of cesson contained
lie limitation whatever on the subject of slavery"