Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-03-12
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existing" until 1908 This express provi-
sion, denying to Congress the power to pre-
vent the importation of slaves until 1908 into
the States &c now in existence" would seem to
indicate that the power did exist then at once
to prevent importation into Territories or fu-
ture States The Constitution expressly, in |
distinct terms, refers to the importations into
the States then existing; and this, think,
was the point Mr.. Madison was talking about.
He referred to " the abolition of the slave
trade,'' and not the introduction of slaves al
ready here from one State into the Territories.
This, think, is the fair construction of Mr..
Madison's speech.
But, Mr. Chairman, will not proceed fur
ther with this argument in regard to the Con-
stitution. | deem it demonstrable, that the
sovereignty over the Territories, the common
property of the United States, is in the people
of the States, and that this Government has
no other power over them but that which is
expressly delegated And the power conten-
ded for is certainly not delegated. And the
reader of the Constitution will observe, that
the clause which gives Congress power to
exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases
whatsoever, over such District (not exceed
ing ten miles square) as may become the
seat of Government" is much stronger than
the clause which relates to other Territories
belonging to the United States. In the first,
to Congress is granted exclusive legislation;"
and yet many of the wisest statesmen doubt
the power of Congress to interfere with the
inject of slavery in this District; while noar,
it is here boldly contended that Congress de-
rives power to prohibit slave property in the
other Territories from the words, s'needfM
regulations"
| ask, even if the Constitution does grant
us the power, is it expedient and just to use
it, Why do gentlemen press this question
upon US? What patriotic motive or conside-
ration is there that demands it? What is
there in the crisis which calls for it? What
motive can prompt them? What object can
they accomplishment good effect by it,
Do gentlemen tell me slavery is a sin Sir, |
confess my establishment at avowals ] have
listened to lately Iheard the gentleman from
New York [Mr. Wood1 earnestly denounce it
as contrary to the Word of God, and assert
that " the mantle of Christianity could not be
thrown around it." He invoked the aid of
Him who "spake as never man spake," TO
sustain him in his position against it: he went
to the Word of God, and almost went as far
as gentleman who had preceded him, who
consigned us, in the most solemn manner, not
only TO degradation while we live, but to eter-
nal perdition when we die.
Sir, was panied to hear this doctrine a.
vowed here. 1t forces from me a few words
in vindication of the people of the South, and
an aluson to that sacred volume which
should never be alluded to in the most heated
debate without solemnity and reverence. | dc
not profess to be a learned theologian. | dc
not claim to be as deeply versed in scri ptura
learning as l ought to be. Perhaps my read
ing, sir, has been too casual and inattentive
for surely, the part that consigns the slave
holder to perdition on account of the sinful
ness Of slavery has escaped my attention.
ask gentlemen to point out the scrlptural de
New Testament, do you find it , Is it de
nounced at the time when the white tents o
Israel were spread at the foot of the Mount
and the voice of Jehovah, amid the thunder
ings and lightniDgs of Sinai, gave the mora
law to Moses? Does the honorable gentle
man read in that moral law any warning t,
man against this terrible sin of holding slav'
property? Does be infer it from that com
mandment which prochims the seventh da,
as the Sabbath of the Lord, and saith to man
g in it thou shalt not do any work, thy man
servant nor thy ma1d-seruant % Does he in
saith &c thou shalt not covet thy neighbor'
house, nor his man-serUant, nor his maid ser
uant, nor anything that rs thy neighbours !?
, Or is it found in the New Testament, wher
the Apostle breaches thus: Servants, b
obedient to them that are your masters accord
ing to the flesh, with fear and trembling ~
Is it found in the same Apostles admonitio
: to masters to act we'll their part, "knowin
l that your Master also is in Heaven :" Is
found in the Epste to Timothy: g Let a
t many servants as are under the yoke coun
: their own masters worthy of all honor, tia
the name of God and his doctrine be not bias
phemed;''
, Sir, fanaticlsm, fanaticism must yield thi
point; intelligent piety has yielded it; philo
sophie Christians have yielded it. Sir, whe
: Moses came to find among the Jews slavery
| an institution of the worst sort-slaves VIII
2 had been taken captive-slaves by crime
e slaves by birth-did he denounce it? Did h
= become an Abolitonist, and proclaim it
r crime and sin, and that it must be abolished
= No; he only sought to regulate it. And whe
e our Saviour made his advent on earth, wha
t sir, does history teach us-both sacred an
: profane history? Did he not find then in e.
] istence sldrery, the acorst that the world
; ever seen "a slavery which gave the
:. control over the servant greater an
n unlimited than we have? Were NO
~ beings then bought and sold? DID
his holy teachings, waI1
he endangered his salvation if he
property Did he preach the nee
abolition of its sinfulness Ha
orable gentlemen perused the eu
to Philemon, which was sent by
runaway slaUe7 Paul sent hir1
Christian master; and in his ep
mon, he says of Onesimus, wv
have retained with me; but with
would do nothing" Sir, if Pa
vine inspiration, thought SLAYER
would have told Philemon, &c 81
you must die, and are accounta
take OFT his shackles, and liberate
No; he recommends him to his
sent him back to his master, becal
ne had no authority to keep him
tH lesson, By nhich our friends Il
tons of the Union might profit!
Is SAID the word servant does not mi
challenge investigation on this subject. Tn.
word translated servant, in the Greek, is dou
los, which means slave, and is used in contra
distinction to words used to mean ga hirelins
or servant" And | now insist that gentle
men, before they denounce us and consign u.
to infamy and eternal perdition, invoking tn,
Word of God against us, shall first read tina
hesy book, and know what it contains.
Mr.. Chairman, have not thrust this dis
cusslon here. did not commence this dis
cussIon about scrptural authority. But when
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