Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-01

oil the House black cloud over
hanging country and Of there being danger from abolition
ism 10 tile South, was impossible mistake their meaning
A did not then regard such remarks in Order allowed
them pass without reply. We have now, however, the
subject fairly before The President says his
now under consideration that must have territory from
Mexico and his friends this floor from the North insist
that this territory shall be appropriated the use OF the free
States exclusively This presents great question: ques-
ton which has been discussed for twelve months over the
whole county, and which be met by this House. If
that question be debated in good temper no evil can result TO
the country from thadscussion therefore avail myself Of
this the first fair opportunity for the expression OF my views
in relation 10 the whole subject.
1t is known, sir, that former occasion differed with
majority of the Southern members OF this House upon
question indirectly having relation to the subject OF sa
very voted against the rule excluding abolition petitions
not only because regarded that rule infringement of
the right petition, hut because well that most
Of the citizens OF the Northern States viewed it in that light
and willing do violence to the feelings Of large
portion Of the Union for the purpose of preserving rule
that % practical advantage in ITSELF voted against
the rule because that by its continuance obliged the
friends OF the constitution and of the South to fight the abo
onsts home upon the weakest Of all the that could
be presented, that losing ground and the abo
tionss gaining thereby clearly that by this
these dsorganers had acquired great show Of strength by
blending with themselves the friends Of the right Of petition
They thus too, promoting the object they had in view
of getting up excitement and producing i'll feeling between the
North and the South saw, 100, that seeking this
defence implied that the constitution and laws Of fore
fathers insufficient barriers for protection, and that
this seeming confession Of weakness and fear had
encouraged adversae and stimulated them to fresh at
tacks For these and other reasons which have heretofore
been stated opposed that rule, and now 10 merely
say that subsequent experience has given me additional
reason to ne satisfied with my course.
That obstacle has been removed, and thrown
back old position the original ground of defence
pied BY US in the morning of government when the
Of the constitution Just rsen shed its freshest and pures Eight
the Unon Thirteen States till then independent,
eregn and equal had united to fom government for their
benefit. Il their avowed purpose to create such
svstam as yyond equal ADVANTAGES each
and It's citizens If in the formation of that government any
inequality Produced which admitted, that injustice
the object Of the makers and not intended by them
II their plain purpose only give each of the States
and its citizens equal advantages throughout the Union and
its territories but of abundance of caution they provided
that every Of the United States should in each State be
entitled all the privileges Of citizen Of that State each
and its citizens might claim fair share only of all
that the Government had in possession, but of all it had
prospect Of acquiring Not only each State entitled TO
the equal protection Of such armies and fleets the Govern
then held but should armies be raised other ships
I've built in aiermes, they stand the
ing. Whatever the Government might acquire, simply be-
it the Government Of the United States it would
hold for the Of all the States Foexampe when
afterwards the lower Mississippi river acquired from
France, all the States equally entitled the benefits OF
It's navigation. Had Congress excluded the citizens of any
State from its might have been said them You have
no night TO complain OF this all the rivers within the limits
OF the United States 10 which you became party are still
open TO you There the Hudson the Potomac the Ohio
and others we do not exclude you from them to this
SO.
have no grounds to complain Of the exclusion Such an act
and such reasoning would have been with the spirit and
against the plain intent Of the constitution This view that
all the States and their citizens equally entitled the
advantages oil the Government both possession and in pros
pect, is so obvious that need not dwell on it,
has been coniened, however that the constitution in
tended limit slavery the States where then existed
10 exclude il from the Territories Of the United States OF
the thirteen States which created the constitution tn eve were
then slaveholdng Massachusetts, alone having during the
war Of the Revolution, abolished slavery The suPPosion
that the States would exclude from MI The Territories Of the
United States an institution which prevailed generally
among hem Improbable in ITSELF and those who main
tain may well be required TO furnish the evidence There
IS not SIR, 10 the whole constitution any clause which,
either directly indirectly avors the idea that slavery was 10
he limited 10 the States where it then sed or 10 lie exclud
ed from any part of the United States The idea Of identify
ing slavery with territory have entered the
minds Of the trainers OF the constitution There is however
Mr. Chairman, another limitation Of slavery Of different cha
racer TO which will beg leave call the attention of the
House The constitution provides that Congress may, its
discretion after the 1908, prohibit the importation
slaves into the United States The circumstances under
which this provision adopted may properly be brought to
mind II well known that in the Convention which am
I'd the constitution there great difficulty upon the subject
Of allowing slaves TO be represented After however had
been settled by repeated votes Of the Convention that three
hhs OF the slaves should be counted in appoonng repre-
senta,ion among the States, Luther Martin, Of MARYLAND
the subject OF the regulation Of trade being under considera
on said that as hrcehs Of the slaves were to be counted
misrepresentation that might operate "a an induce
men 10 the importation Of such persons and he moved 70 give
congress the power to prohibit the Importation Of slaves
This motion met strenuous opposition from The members Of
the Convention from South Carolina and Georgia Tbev
supported in their opposition by the members from Con-
nectcui and Massachusetts, who insisted that every state
should be allowed TO import what peased that the morai
wisdom Of slavery belonged the States alone thai
political matter, which should be left 10 them while
the other hand, the members from Virginia and Pennsy
vania with Martin in favor of giving the power Of excu
sion. The debate long and excited There was also
much difficulty the subject Of giving the power 10 regulate
trade by navigation II contended that the PRINCIPAL
indictment which the North had form the Union was The
benefit which they expected to derive from the exercise Of this
power while the Southern members insisted that vote Of
twothrds IN Congress should be necessary give validity to
navigation acts which would in effect have rendered the
power migratory In the midst Of these difficulties which
seemed likely 10 render the attempt form common Gov
eminent ahortive, GouverneW Norris of Pennsylvania sup-
gested that the subject Of the importation OF and that Of
TAX on exports and navigation should all be committed
70 as 10 TORN bargain between the Northern and Southern
states The report from the committee provided that the i'm
poraon might he prohibited after the wear 1900 but on the
motion OF Cen Pinckncy the time was extended ,ll IsOs
the members from New England voting with MARYLAND and
me three Southern States while Virginia. who was said TO
have then more slaves than she needed voted against The
amendment with New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware
In this iom II was ultimately adopted as consideration for
the power gwen the Government psss navigation acts and
regulate trade. woud be OF place here 10 inquire which
section has gained most by he bIgainwhetber the North
has been benefited y tariff laws than the south bv
me Importation Of slaves =
My purpose is 10 call the attention oC Tho Hopse T., H.
ure Of the limitation Of slavery established Nv the
pres rypd he nsf i,tio,,